As we celebrate our graduating seniors, wishing each of them the very best in what is ahead, we are highlighting some Bates students who are already turning the page to their exciting next chapters. Read ahead to learn about 14 Batesies with a range of experiences awaiting them.

Tomas Alberola

Miami, Fla.

Economics major

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

After Bates, I’m heading to New York City, where I will be continuing to grow a small business in the skincare space with a friend of mine. We are focused on treating skin damage from solar, environmental, and chemical radiation. At the same time, I’m starting a master’s degree in global sport, with a focus on international football, at NYU. Soccer has been my longest passion, so getting to study the business side of it, such as how agencies work, how clubs and brands build commercial value, and how the global game actually runs, will be an unreal opportunity for me.

How did your time at Bates prepare you ?

It took me a while to fully appreciate how much help I was getting along the way, and now it makes complete sense to me. I can’t wait until I’m further along in my career and I’m the one on the other end of conversations, sitting down with a current Bates student, sharing whatever insight I’ve picked up, opening a door for them the way people opened doors for me. The Bates network was really amazing throughout my time here. 

What were some favorite Bates experiences?

Definitely exploring Maine! Honestly, Maine wasn’t what drew me in to Bates, but once I got here, I understood why it pulls so many people to want to come to Bates. I had never been to the state before, and four years later some of my favorite memories are exploring the islands off the coast, the beaches, the wildlife, and getting to live through four real seasons.

John Campana

Plymouth, Mich.

Religious studies major, Spanish minor

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

I will be attending Harvard Divinity School this upcoming fall in the Master of Theological Studies program. There, I will be studying the religions of South Asia and the interactions between religion and empire for the next two years. 

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

The most obvious answer for me has to be my Short Term abroad experience in Ladakh, India, led by my advisor, Associate Professor of Religious Studies Alison Melnick, and Eric Dyer of the Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning, when I was able to learn more about Tibetan Buddhism as well as ethnographic research. Alison and Eric taught me how to act appropriately as a guest in another’s culture and the importance of relying on my peers for support, whether it was academic or emotional while we were on the other side of the world. 

What were some favorite Bates experiences?

Upon my arrival at Bates, I specifically told myself that I did not want to join a singing group because of some negative experiences in high school, but after going to the a cappella concert at the amphitheater during orientation, I decided to audition and see what happened. I ended up joining the Bates College Deansmen (somewhat reluctantly at first, I must admit), and as each year has passed here, I have come to thank my past self profusely for taking a chance and auditioning for the group.

Gail Curtis

Rockport, Maine

English, creative writing major, rhetoric, film, and screen studies minor

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates?

I’ll be spending the summer at home in Maine before leaving in August for my Peace Corps assignment. For the next two years, I’ll be teaching English at a university in Mexico, where I’ll lead classes, assist students with career preparation, and help organize local projects within my community. After that, I hope to continue my education and pursue an MFA in creative writing.

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

The most significant mentorship I have received during my time at Bates has come from my major and thesis advisor, Senior Lecturer in English Jessica Anthony. Writing is such a personal and intimate process, and over the past year, she has guided me with incredible skill, kindness, and generosity through the experience of writing a novel for my thesis.

What were some favorite Bates experiences?

Honestly, my favorite activity at Bates is just spending time with my friends. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing — we could just be sitting in Commons or on a porch somewhere or laying on Garcelon or dancing in the Gray Cage — but I’m always happiest whenever I’m with my friends! Also, I didn’t anticipate when I arrived at Bates how passionate I would be about Tea Club. I was a coffee drinker before I came to Bates, but now I only drink tea.

Yuleibi De Los Santos

The Bronx, New York

Neuroscience major, chemistry minor 

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

After Bates, I will be attending Tufts University School of Medicine in Fall 2026, where I will pursue a master’s degree in biomedical sciences. I am excited for this next chapter because it will allow me to continue growing academically and personally while preparing for a future career in healthcare and medicine.

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

When I arrived at Bates in 2022, I carried fear with me of my accent, fear of making mistakes, and fear of not belonging. Senior Director of Sponsored Programs and Research Compliance Shonna Humphrey constantly reminded me that I deserved to be here and that I was here for a reason. Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Geneva Laurita showed me the importance of being not only a good professor, but also someone who leads with empathy and kindness toward students. Assistant Director of Learning Strategies Eric Dyer always encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone, reminded me of my potential, and made me feel seen and supported during moments when I doubted myself the most.

How did your time at Bates prepare you?

My chemistry classes and labs, along with my biology courses, gave me a strong scientific foundation and taught me how to think critically, manage challenges, and work through complex problems. Beyond academics, Bates taught me the importance of asking for help when I need it and understanding that I do not have to face challenges alone.

Mary DeWitt

Litchfield, Maine

Double major in American studies and gender and sexuality studies

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates?

I will be a student at Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

I took a practitioner-taught short term in 2024 which was taught by Vice President of News at CNN Elizabeth Hartfield ’08, who really helped me hone my journalism skills and develop the confidence to apply to grad school. She also wrote my letter of recommendation!

How did your time at Bates prepare you? 

Through both of my majors I got to develop skills I will continue to use in the field of journalism. I was able to take an abroad program which was a journalism course with a 10-day simulation aspect that really inspired me to follow a path that I had been passionate about since I was a kid!

James Hillers

De Witt, N.Y.

Biology major, digital and computational studies minor

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

I am going to work at Harvard Medical School as a research technician in Alice and Rodman W. Moorhead III Professor of Neurobiology Bernardo Sabatini’s lab. My time will be spent doing research on the integration rules between the motor cortex and the brainstem motor nuclei.

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

I have worked as a peer mentor for both first-generation college students and younger STEM students. It gave me an opportunity to give back to the Bates community so much of the knowledge that it gave me and bring my lived experience outside of Bates into the campus as well.

How did your time at Bates prepare you for this next chapter? 

Working with and receiving mentorship from faculty like Wagener Family Professor of Equity and Inclusion in STEM April Horton and Colony Family Professor of Digital and Computational Studies Barry Lawson early on was key in getting me thinking about my future early and allowing me access to my first couple research experiences. This was facilitated by the STEM Scholars program and Bobcat First programming.

McKayla Kendall

Bangor, Maine

Biochemistry and French and Francophone Studies double major

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

I will be heading to medical school at the Tufts University School of Medicine’s Maine Track program. I’ll be heading to Boston in the fall for my first year of medical school and then will be in Portland at Maine Medical Center for the three years following. 

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

I experienced mentoring from the relationships that I formed with professors at Bates, particularly Visiting Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Michael Sommer, Lecturer in Biology Levi Adams, and Associate Professor of Biology Larissa Williams. On the flip side, I was able to spend the last year or so working as a teaching assistant for the biology department and a peer advisor within the Center for Purposeful Work.

How did your time at Bates prepare you for this next chapter? 

I truly believe that the liberal arts experience at Bates played a large role in preparing me for the next steps. I had the ability to explore courses of all varieties, ending up with majors in biochemistry and French and Francophone studies. I was able to study abroad in Senegal during the fall of my junior year and complete a public health-related program and internship, which provided the foundation for my senior thesis.

Aleisha Martinez Sandoval

Mexico City

Biochemistry and politics major

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

I am headed to Harvard Medical School to work as a research technician at Boston Children’s Hospital. I will be working at the Agarwal Lab, conducting research on rare mitochondrial diseases and helping lead a clinical trial with a newly-approved FDA approved drug.

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

One of the most meaningful mentoring experiences I had at Bates College was through the STEM Scholars program. They helped me navigate everything from adjusting to rigorous STEM coursework to thinking about internships, research opportunities, and long-term career goals. What I appreciated most was that the mentorship never felt transactional; mentors genuinely cared about our growth and well-being both inside and outside the classroom.

What were some favorite Bates experiences?

I loved being part of Bates EMS. It gave me an incredible sense of community and taught me how important it is to stay calm, support others, and work as part of a team. Another experience I’m especially proud of was starting and growing the menstrual product drive on campus. What began as a small initiative turned into something much bigger, and it showed me how much impact students can have when they care deeply about an issue and are willing to advocate for change.

Matthew Peeler

New York City

Politics major, math minor

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

After Bates, I am heading to Yale Law School to study constitutional law, with a focus on the Second Amendment. 

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

As a first-year student, I took “Constitutional Law I” with Professor of Politics Stephen Engel. Every day after class, I stayed back to talk with him about various legal topics. While these conversations were initially somewhat short, over the semester, Engel and I began having longer and longer conversations, to the point that we inevitably ended each class in his office. Engel became easily one of the most important figures in my college experience, introducing me to various opportunities, most notably the Truman Scholarship.

What were some favorite Bates experiences?

My favorite activity at Bates was being part of the Deansmen. Before college, I never sang a cappella, but I was in such awe after my first-year Puddle Concert that I immediately signed up to audition. I made some of my closest friends over the past four years through the Deansmen and I will miss them all dearly.

Izzi Sander

Needham, Mass.

Earth and climate sciences major

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

Following graduation, I am pursuing a Master of Science in City Planning at Boston University. I was also selected by MassDOT to be the transit planning coordinator co-op for the rest of 2026. There, I am updating the statewide visual database of transit routes (public and private) across Massachusetts.

What were some favorite Bates experiences?

One club I didn’t expect to join when starting at Bates was WRBC. However, I am extremely grateful I discovered it and broadcast for five semesters. From early morning Monday 8 a.m. shows, to late night 1 a.m. shows, to my personal favorite time slot Thursday from 7-8 p.m., every minute on air was a blast. I looked forward to making my playlist for each show every week.

How did your time at Bates prepare you? 

The skills I learned at Bates are very transferable to all aspects of life. Academically, I will be prepared for the rigorous coursework for my master’s program, in writing and analysis. For work, I will be performing computer programs, data synthesis, and analytical research that STEM at Bates has prepared me well for.

Evan Skufca

Niskayuna, N.Y.

Biochemistry major, music minor

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

Following Bates I will be working in a post-baccalaureate research program at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. Here I will spend two years conducting research on brown fat tissue as a metabolic regulator and potential target for therapeutic treatments of metabolic disease.

What were some favorite Bates experiences?

I really enjoyed competing as a cross-country/track athlete and performing at many on and off campus events as a musician through the Bates Musicians’ Union. Music especially has become a much larger part of my life than I ever could have expected thanks to the friends and mentors I found at Bates who encouraged me to keep learning and performing.

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

During my last semester I was able to conduct an independent study with Associate Professor of Music Hiroya Miura. Despite not being a music major, I completed a semester-long creative project with the support of Miura. This was an experience way beyond what I imagined I could complete at Bates, and would not have been possible without the encouragement of Miura, his belief in my independent and creative abilities, and the support of the rest of the music department at Bates.

Olivia Smith

Lafayette, Ind.

Philosophy major, Russian minor

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

I will be working in Almaty, Kazakhstan, as the assistant resident director for the Russian Overseas Flagship program, a federal government initiative that provides immersive overseas language study for undergraduate students from major US universities. 

What were some favorite Bates experiences?

During my first few weeks here, I decided to walk on to the rowing team. It was a real challenge to learn the lingo, wake up for 5 a.m. practices, and actually just learn how to row, but I deeply enjoyed the opportunity to be a novice in a place where hard work was expected from both the most and least experienced. Led by Head Coach Peter Steenstra, the Bates rowing program is all about “making good people better,” and I cannot overstate the positive impact that the program has had on me.

How did your time at Bates prepare you? 

I started studying Russian in my sophomore year at Bates, and during my time here I reached the professional level of fluency necessary to work in Kazakhstan with Russian as my primary language. Visiting Lecturer in Russian Cheryl Stephenson pushed me not only to learn the language thoroughly, but also to take advantage of the opportunities that my Russian studies made available to me. In my first week of studying Russian, when I still didn’t know how to pronounce most letters of the Cyrillic alphabet, the idea of studying abroad in an immersive program in Kazakhstan came up. At the time, this sounded like a crazy idea, but with Cheryl’s encouragement, I jumped on it and spent the fall of my junior year in Almaty. Doing so would ultimately lead me to accepting a job offer there after graduation. 

Aidan Stark-Chessa

Falmouth, Maine

Philosophy major, rhetoric, film, and screen studies minor 

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

After Bates, I will be living in Portland and working on the business I started while at Bates, Weeping Willow Co. The business is a non-alcoholic cocktail company. We are currently in stores and restaurants around southern Maine. 

Can you share an example of mentoring that you experienced at Bates?

I think what stands out to me most is my time in my second year, when I pitched my business to Bobcat Ventures. I received help and support from many people at the Center for Purposeful Work and from the easily accessible alumni network. After I won, I reached out and was able to access support moving forward.

How did your time at Bates prepare you? 

Bates is a place where each student is given time and space to be creative and supported in doing so. I was pleased to have my academic interests align with my extracurricular ones. This, in turn, allowed the two to work in tandem and give me balance, and gave me the opportunity to enrich my whole life. Living sustainably, in every sense of the word, is very important to me, and Bates allowed me to meet this end. 

Lucy Whitelam

Reading, Mass.

Earth and climate sciences and dance double major

Where are you headed for your next chapter after Bates? 

I will be attending the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, to pursue an MSc in geology. I am specifically studying igneous petrology and volcanology, and will be using geochemical techniques, fieldwork, and modeling. Additionally, I will be working as a field/ teaching assistant for Frontiers Abroad, a geology abroad program that I attended my junior year. 

What were some favorite Bates experiences?

I came into college with no intention of dancing, let alone pursuing the major! However, after I took one class my freshman winter, I was hooked. The faculty and the students have formed such a beautiful community, and I was exposed to a thoughtful and collaborative type of dance education that made me excited to come into the studio and learn. 

How did your time at Bates prepare you? 

The thoughtfulness and commitment of the professors and students has created an environment that makes me so grateful to be learning, and I can’t wait to continue to build on my education. Additionally, all of my time in the EACS department, from field trips to time in the lab to my rigorous thesis process, has made me feel very prepared to jump into this next step.