Hi!
My name is Nimco Jama (she/her). I am a rising senior from Hargeisa, Somaliland, majoring in Biology with a minor in Hispanic Studies. In the past summers I have spent working at the Bates PLOT, growing produce that would come to commons in the fall. I have also interned for Trinity Jubilee, working as an assistant for their doctor to translate for Somali patients and help clients with vaccination records.

In my free time, I love to go on hikes, find different bodies of water in Maine, and go on runs with friends. I am excited to get to know different groups of students at Bates this summer and connect them to the Purposeful Work office. As my third summer in Maine, I am looking forward to showing everyone what my favorite spots have been, as well as finding different activities for entertainment after the work day! Maine is beautiful over the summers and I can’t wait for all of you to experience it!

My name is Sebastian Leal. I am a Politics major with a strong interest in the legal field. Within Politics I am interested in analyzing data on topics such as public opinion. I also have a passion for music, performing in groups such as Bates’ jazz band as a double bassist. In the fall semester I will represent the class of ‘26 in Bates College’s Student Government.

I have enjoyed learning about career pathways through Purposeful Work and look forward to working with you all.

Hello all,
My name is Kyra Friederich (she/her) and I am a Politics major and Asian Studies minor from Munich, Germany. I am a rising junior and very excited to join the PW Team this summer. I am looking forward to connecting with Bates Students, and helping to facilitate internship reflections. Apart from working with PW, I enjoy being a part of the International Club and being a mentor at Lewiston High School.

In my free time, I love to travel. Last summer, I spent 3 months in Taipei, Taiwan studying Mandarin at the National Taiwan Normal University. Most of my time there, I spent exploring the Island and visiting different cities. Traveling is one of my passions, so I was very grateful for the opportunity to try different foods and see exciting sights. Next year, I will be studying abroad in Windhoek, Namibia and Shanghai, China, and I am looking forward to reconnecting with purposeful work in my senior year.

For this summer, I am looking forward to getting to know you all and to explore Maine.

Seonmin ’26 is an Economics and Mathematics double major from Anyang, South Korea. Seonmin is interested in how data can be used to gain useful insights in various fields such as sports and science. Outside of the classroom, he will be working as a tutor at SASC and a manager for the Bates football team, assisting coaches with statistics and film. He also enjoys making coffee and searching for cool espresso machines. Before coming to Bates, Seonmin served in the Korean Navy, where he enjoyed the cooperation and interaction with people from different backgrounds.

Seonmin is excited to join the Purposeful Work team, help other students find their purpose, and listen to their experiences and stories!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Coming soon!

Izzy Beck ‘25 (she/her) is a Politics major and Philosophy minor from Montclair, NJ. This fall, she is studying abroad in Montpellier, France, but she is excited to return to Bates in the winter as a Peer Advisor at the Center for Purposeful Work. Izzy is also a coxswain on the Bates Rowing Team. Izzy’s academic interests primarily include identity and legal studies.

This past summer, Izzy enjoyed a Maine summer interning at the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and at the Center for Purposeful Work. She researched ways to make Maine a more equitable place for new immigrants, in addition to leading PW internship cohorts to help her peers reflect on the way that their internships are informing their purpose in work.

Izzy is very excited to be a part of the Purposeful Work team again this year, and to help her peers find careers that align with their passions.

Charlie Breyfogle ‘25 (he/him/his) is a double major in Politics and French & Francophone Studies with a minor in Asian Studies from Columbus, OH. Aside from working as a peer advisor with the Purposeful Work team, Charlie is an editorial fellow at Cultivated Media, a French-English translator for the Immigration Legal Advocacy Project, and a frequent volunteer at both the Trinity Jubilee soup kitchen and Rosati Leadership Academy. Charlie also spent his Spring 2024 semester studying abroad in Japan.

Charlie looks forward to utilizing his experience (and perhaps even his ability to speak both French and Japanese) to help Bates students find the career that is right for them.

Luke Dai ‘25 (he/him) is an Economics and Psychology double major from West Hartford, Connecticut. Luke is a member of the Cross Country and Track & Field team at Bates, is a Senior Admissions Fellow, and tutors economics as a Course Attached Tutor. He also spent the Spring 2024 semester studying abroad in Copenhagen and exploring Europe.

Luke spent his summer interning at the Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition (MIRC) as the Policy and Research Intern, assisting MIRC in researching and organizing information on legal and policy issues affecting immigrant communities across Maine. Specifically, he worked closely with the Maine Attorney General’s Office, analyzing key legislative developments and policies impacting immigrant families, such as changes in immigration laws and access to legal aid. This internship was meaningful for him because he knew it would reach a wide audience, helping many immigrant families navigate their legal challenges and advocate for their rights.

Luke is excited to utilize his experience and knowledge to aid other Bates students in discovering career opportunities that resonate with their passions and fit with their professional goals. He has been with the PW team since the 2023 Summer as a Summer Fellow.

Nora Fox ‘25 (she/her)is a philosophy major from Minneapolis, MN who is interested in politics and legal studies. Nora is joining the PW team this year as an Office Assistant. On campus, Nora is the Features Editor for the Bates Student. Outside of the classroom, Nora enjoys exploring all of the amazing outdoor opportunities Maine has to offer. She enjoys biking, hiking, and skiing and has had fun discovering new hiking and ski trails throughout her time in Maine.

Nora spent her summer interning at Teens to Trails as the Outdoor Program & Research Assistant, assisting Teens to Trails & Maine GearShare in researching and organizing information that shows where they work, and the locations of partners and resources in the Teens to Trails network. Specifically, Nora spent time researching where to rent/borrow outdoor gear in Maine to increase access to the outdoors for Maine youth. This research topic was meaningful for Nora because she knew it would reach a wide audience, helping a lot of teens like herself get outside. This internship helped further her interest in pursuing job fields that make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Nora is excited to begin working as a PW Office Assistant and join the PW team!

Coming soon!

Adam Joseph (AJ) Matos ’26 (he/him/his) is a Sociology and Theater double major with a minor in History from Springfield, New Jersey. At Bates, AJ serves as both the Associate Technical Director of the Robinson Players and the secretary of TakeNote, one of the a cappella groups on campus.

Through PW, this past summer, AJ interned with L.L.Bean on their Talent Acquisition team. He researched and recommended L.L.Bean retail DEI practices and initiatives to assist the company’s diversity recruitment efforts. In addition, he was the head of communications and social events for all L.L.Bean interns.

AJ is excited to join Purposeful Work and to assist his peers in their career exploration and discovery this Fall.

Olivia Smith ‘26 is a Philosophy major from Lafayette, Indiana. She is also a member of the Bates Rowing Team and a Cycling Club officer. Olivia is drawn to Philosophy because of its application to everything from conversation to biking.

This summer, Olivia worked at Purdue University where she lifeguarded for Olympic and Olympic hopeful divers. She also spent time cutting logs on a portable sawmill and learned to make wood bowls on a lathe. While these activities may appear to starkly contrast the kind of academic work Olivia is interested in, she is a big believer in collecting experiences to expand her worldview!

Olivia is thrilled to be joining Purposeful Work as an Office Aassistant and looks forward to working with the Bates community this year.

Amanda Zerbib ’25 (she/her) is a Psychology major with a minor in Education and Hispanic Studies from Larchmont, New York. Amanda is on the field hockey team at Bates, gives tours to prospective students and families, and spends a lot of time working with students at Lewiston High School. Amanda also spent the Spring 2024 semester improving her Spanish and exploring in Madrid.

Amanda loves Purposeful Work’s mission and goals, and has had the opportunity of completing multiple job shadows throughout her time so far at Bates. Amanda has also utilized PW resources to work in internships in graphic design/marketing, education technology, and higher education research. Amanda joined the PW advisor team in the fall of 2023.

Alexandra (ARose) Long ’25 (she/her) is a Mathematics major and Digital and Computational Studies minor from Newtown, Pennsylvania. ARose is a member of the women’s basketball team, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, the Honorary Degree Committee, and BSU on campus. She also works with DCCE in Commons.

Her professional and academic interests are centered around data justice and the digital humanities.

This past summer, she interned with PW as a Cohort Facilitator and volunteered with the Center for Wisdom’s Women in their Herban Works initiative.

Katherine Moe ’25 (she/her) is a Politics major with a concentration in Identities and Interests, and a Rhetoric, Film, and Screen Studies minor from Washington, DC. Katherine is a Class Representative on Bates Student Government and a ‘big sister’ for Big Brother Big Sister at Connors Elementary. She is passionate about voter education and likes to spend her time skiing on the weekends.

Katherine recently joined Purposeful Work on the Digital Marketing and Internship teams after returning from a semester abroad in Prague, Czech Republic. She is excited to promote PW’s mission and assist people in their internship search process!

Uche Anyanwu ’25 (he/him) I’m an Economics major with a minor in music from Brooklyn, NY. On campus, I’m VP of the Africana Club, Community Liaison for the DJ club and I provide DJ services for Athletics and am a frequent student performer at large-scale campus-wide events. I also work in ResLifeas a Team Leader. Over the summer, I worked at a nonprofit music education organization that helped teach NYC youth about music production, DJing, the music business, and connecting with music industry professionals. I hope to utilize my experience with nonprofit work, education, and the music industry for those willing to learn how to pursue their opportunities and create unique ones that didn’t exist before them.

Emily Gonzalez (she/her/hers) is majoring in Politics and Gender and Sexuality Studies. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida. On Campus, she works with the Office of Intercultural Education and the Bonner Racial Program.

Particiaptipating with Purposeful Work, Emily has shadowed the New York City Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the City of Colorado Springs, which was allowed to explore political opportunities to learn about governmental responsibilities. While during the Summer, she also interned with a nonprofit organization, Roof Above, which provides homeless services seeking to end homelessness.

Her Junior year mission at Bates is to seek stories and perspectives from Bates students developing new opportunities with Purposeful Work. It is also essential for her to amplify Purposeful Work resources for first-generation and students of color —such as job shadows and networking online like Linkedin. Emily is very excited to utilize her experience to help Bates students find the right career for them.

Salma Ali’24 is majoring in Economics and minoring in History. Salma is from Hargeisa, Somaliland. On campus, she serves as the co-president of the Africana club, runs the Bates Thrifts initiative, and is a member of the Budget and Finance Advisory Committee as well as the Library and Information Services Advisory Committee. This past summer, Salma traveled to Rwanda for a PW internship in data analysis- an experience she wholeheartedly cherished and enjoyed. Outside of school, Salma likes listening to podcasts, music, reading, and traveling.

Syed Shaheer Asim ‘26 is a double major in Politics and Economics. He grew up in Lahore, Pakistan, where he played regional-level cricket and participated in international scientific research. On campus, he is the Treasurer of the Investment Club and a board member of the Consulting Club. He is passionate about the financial markets, global macroeconomics and the politics regarding climate change and inequality. Shaheer’s hobbies include mixed martial arts, films and reading modern literature from the subcontinent, Russia and Britain.

I am Enathe, I was born and raised in Rwanda and I am a Biochem major at Bates. Thanks to Purposeful Work, I got a fund from National Science Foundation and did summer research with one of my professors during my freshman year.I have done job shadows and got my job application documents reviewed through PW, my freshman year wouldn’t have been any easier, and I can’t wait to help other students explore their career opportunities. On campus, I am a publicity director of the International club as well as a member of Africana and Consulting Club.I am so excited to work as a Digital Marketing Assistant and share beautiful memories with the Bates community.

In my spare time, I enjoy reading books, listening to podcasts, exploring new places, spending time with friends and can’t wait to meet you all.

Ana Fowler ‘24 (she/her) is an English and Politics [Security, Conflict and Cooperation] double major from Westfield, NJ. Ana is joining the PW team this year as an Office Assistant. On campus, Ana is co-President of the Crosstones, the oldest all-gender a cappella group at Bates, and the Managing Editor of the Arts & Leisure section of the Bates Student. Besides joining the PW team as an Office Assistant, you can find her on Garcelon playing soccer with Women’s Club Soccer, which she is a co-founder of. Or, if you really want to see (or hear) her in action, you can attend a field hockey match at Campus Avenue field where she is PA announcing fall sports. Ana continues to explore her academic and extracurricular interests as Community Liaison for Filmboard, where she can feed her appetite for film. She is most interested in pursuing a career in law, particularly in entertainment/media law, to protect intellectual property rights amidst the rise of AI.

After studying abroad in Amsterdam, NL in Fall ‘22, Ana interned with an environmental and public finance law firm, McManimon, Scotland and Baumann, LLC as a Legal Assistant in a PW Summer Internship. In this position, she drafted official statements for bond purchase agreements, cross-checked the usage of NJ statutes and federal legislation in city ordinances, and assisted attorneys with deposition and trial preparation.

Ana is excited to begin working as a PW Office Assistant to welcome students, alumni, and employees to PW’s beautiful new space in Chase Hall!

Lucy Del Col ‘24 (she/her) is a Sociology major from Wellesley, MA. Lucy is joining the PW team this year as an Office Assistant. On campus, Lucy is a coxswain on the Bates Rowing Team and will be one of the captains for this upcoming year. Lucy’s academic interests include education and legal studies. She furthers her interest in education through community engagement with Tree Street, an afterschool program in Lewiston. She is excited to be back on campus for the full year after studying abroad in Amsterdam, NL in Fall ‘22.

Lucy spent her summer working as a teaching assistant at a summer academic program in Dedham, MA. She worked with a lead teacher to develop her teaching skills as well as teaching lessons on her own and leading activities such as book club and study hall. This helped to further her interest in working in education and build confidence in herself as a teacher.

Lucy is excited to begin working as a PW Office Assistant to welcome students, alumni, and employees to PW’s beautiful new space in Chase Hall!

Anise Williams ’25 (she/her) is an English and Psychology double major from Oakland, California. At Bates, she has taken many Psychology and Community Based courses where she has been able to improve her community building skills. She hosted a Mental Health Retreat for her Community Based Research Methods course open to all Bates, fostering her love for community building. Moving from California to Maine, she learned first-hand the struggle and value of finding community and wishes to support others in their journeys to do so. Additionally, she worked with girls at Hebron Academy doing body image workshops where she was able to play a role in building the confidence and knowledge of young girls in the larger Maine community. Both of these experiences as well as volunteer experiences in high school played a role in her interest in practicing Public Law in the future.

In her free time, Anise enjoys reading, spending time with family and watching true crime documentaries. Throughout her life, Anise has always valued the different communities she has belonged to. Having access to Purposeful Work resources has been important to her own experiences as a Batesie. Anise is excited to have the opportunity to work as a Purposeful Work Office Assistant and welcome students into the new space in Chase Hall!

Aazayah Ross ‘26 (he/him) is an undecided major and Education Studies minor from Freeport, NY. Zay is joining the PW team this year as an Office Assistant.  He loves music and working with children.

Last year Zay was a Teacher’s Assistant in an ELL classroom both semesters at Robert V. Connors Elementary School in Lewiston. He is interested in studying how students from marginalized backgrounds experience the educational system.

This summer Zay was a senior counselor at Island Quest Day Camp on Long Island, working with sixth graders. He managed a large group on a daily basis employing the classroom management and SEL best practices he learned as a Student Teacher to ensure a fun and safe summer for his campers, and was twice named Counselor of the Month.  Zay is interested in exploring other areas of education over the next three years.

Aazayah is excited to begin working as a PW Office Assistant to welcome students, alumni, and employees to PW’s beautiful new space in Chase Hall!