Aneeza Ahmad ’25 is from Sharon, Massachusetts, double majoring in environmental studies and philosophy. On campus, Aneeza helps lead the Muslim Student’s Association (MSA), plans sustainability events like Trashion Show as an EcoRep, and plays violin in the Small Ensembles club, among other things!

Aneeza spent the past couple summers interning in the environmental sphere — this summer doing research at the Environmental Law Institute in DC, and last summer at a solar developer in Portland ME. Aneeza appreciates Purposeful Work for the support throughout her professional journey, so she is super excited to give back as a peer advisor this year.

In her free time, Aneza likes to sing and write songs (catch her at VCS!), spend time outside, and explore farmers markets, bookstores, and cafes. She can’t wait to get to know more students and help in any way she can!

Tomas Alberola ’26 (he/him) is an Economics major with a minor in French from Denver, Colorado. He is a member of the Men’s Soccer team at Bates and a frequent volunteer at Rosati Leadership Academy. During the Spring semester of 2025, Tomas will be studying in Florence, where he will continue his Economics studies and begin learning Italian.

Over the summer, Tomas interned at Copley Equity Partners, where he focused on sourcing potential investments by developing and exploring promising investment theses across different industries. Next summer, he will intern at Barclays in their investment banking division. Tomas is eager to reflect on and learn from these experiences to deepen his understanding of the finance industry and identify his specific interests within the field.

Tomas is very excited to join the Purposeful Work team in the fall! He looks forward to leveraging his experiences to help other Bates students discover early career opportunities that align with their passions and help make them competitive candidates for internships.

Emmy Baird ‘25 (she/her) is an Economics major and Mathematics minor from Bernardsville, NJ. Emmy is joining the PW office as a Peer Advisor this year. At Bates, Emmy is involved in the Women in Economics club and plays intramural sports with her friends, and is interested in pursuing a career at the intersection of her Economics and Mathematics studies. Outside of the classroom, Emmy enjoys running, skiing, and exploring Maine with her friends.

Emmy spent her last summer as a Business Consulting Intern at Opus Consulting Group, a business advisory firm in Portland, Maine. This opportunity was provided to her by Purposeful Work. At Opus, Emmy was staffed on a variety of projects and was able to apply concepts she learned at Bates directly to her work as a summer intern. Additionally, Emmy was able to collaborate with her coworkers on projects and learn from them about what consulting really looks like. Emmy is passionate about upholding Purposeful Work’s mission to help her peers find meaningful professional experience, and she can’t wait to get started this Fall!

Izzy Beck ‘25 (she/her) is a Politics major and Philosophy minor from Montclair, NJ. This is her second year as a Peer Advisor with PW. At Bates, Izzy is a coxswain on the rowing team and a dedicated member of the chess club. When she can, she loves to spend time hiking, running, or just enjoying the outdoors with friends. After college, Izzy hopes to work in the legal field and eventually go to law school.

This past summer, Izzy conducted research in preparation for her senior politics thesis, in which she plans to analyze the development of unitary presidential control in American politics. Izzy is very excited to be a part of the Purposeful Work team again this year, and to help her peers find careers that reflect 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.

Kyra Friedrich ‘26 (she/her) is a Politics major and Asian Studies minor from Munich, Germany. Apart from working with PW, she enjoys being a part of the International Club and being a mentor at Lewiston High School.

In her free time, Kyra loves to travel. Last summer, she spent 3 months in Taipei, Taiwan studying Mandarin at the National Taiwan Normal University. Most of her time there, she spent exploring the Island and visiting different cities. Traveling is one of her passions, so she was very grateful for the opportunity to try different foods and see exciting sights. Next year, she will be studying abroad in Shanghai, China in the spring.

Having worked on the PW Internship team during the summer of 2024, Kyra is looking forward to continuing with Purposeful Work as a Peer Advisor this year!

Nora Fox ‘25 (she/her) is a philosophy major from Minneapolis, MN who is interested in politics and legal studies. She is excited to continue her time at PW as a Peer Advisor. On campus, Nora is a member of the Bates Student. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys exploring all of the amazing outdoor opportunities Maine has to offer. Nora enjoys biking, hiking, and skiing and has had fun discovering new hiking and ski trails throughout her time in Maine.

After a semester abroad in Amsterdam, Nora spent her summer interning at Kellogg, Hansen, Todd, Figel & Frederick PLLC. At her internship, she learned about the legal profession, working closely with associates and mentors, and assisted partners on high-profile antitrust cases.

Nora is excited to be a PW Peer Advisor and looks forward to continuing her work with the Bates community this year!

Elizabeth ’26 (she/her) is a junior from Denver, Colorado majoring in sociology with a concentration in law and society, and a minor in educational studies. In addition to serving as PW peer advisor, Elizabeth is a First-Generation Peer mentor, Harward Center Outreach Fellow, and enjoys supporting LPS teachers.

This summer she completed a PW internship with Casa de Paz, a nonprofit organization focused on supporting individuals in immigration detention. During her internship she conducted research on immigration policy while forming part of the welcome team, which supported individuals who were released from detention.

Elizabeth looks forward to hearing about all the amazing journeys Bates students will take on this year!

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 has been on the Purposeful Work team since last year when she was an Office Assistant and looks forward to supporting the Bates community as a Peer Advisor once she returns from her semester abroad in the Spring of 2025.

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.

(she/her) is a Neuroscience major with a minor in Philospohy from Scarborough, ME. Safa is joining the PW office as The Special Projects Assistant this
year. At Bates, Safa is a member of the Ronj and enjoys playing intramural sports with
friends. After college, Safa hopes to gain clinical experience during her gap year and
eventually attend physician assistant (PA) school.

Safa spent her summer as a Health Plan Quality Intern at Martin’s Point HealthCare, a
local not-for-profit organization deeply rooted in Maine. Safa’s main project this summer
was developing a New Member Outreach Program that will be implemented at MPHC in
the near future. Additionally, Safa’s internship gave her the opportunity to shadow
providers in many different specialities and locations across Southern Maine.

Safa is passionate about healthcare and is thrilled to utilize both her clinical and
nonclincal experience to further support students interested in pursing STEM and
healthcare professions!

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, and the Honorary Degree Committee on campus. Along with her work in PW, she also works with DCCE in Commons.

Her professional and academic interests are centered around data, food, and housing justice. Outside the working world, she enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with friends.

This past summer, she worked a virtual internship with We Are All America and Bates’ alumn Fatima Saidi. ARose is excited to join the PW team again and to support students as they explore their purpose through intentional, meaningful work with internships!

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.

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!

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.

Maddie Kemp ’25 (she/her) is a Politics and Art + Visual Culture major from Bethesda, Maryland. She is so excited to be joining the Purposeful Work team as a Digital Marketing Assistant this semester. At Bates, Maddie is a member of the women’s rowing team. She is also an artist and spent her Fall 2023 semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy.

This past summer, Maddie worked as a public affairs intern at SKDK. She worked on communications strategies for political, nonprofit, and corporate clients, and is passionate about developing strong and creative messaging for progressive causes.

Yuka Enkh-Orgil (she/her) I’m a Biochemistry major and Digital and Computational Studies minor from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. On campus, I’m VP for the Environmental Coalition and a member of the International Club and Students for Justice in Palestine. I also work as a SPARQ Peer Mentor for the Student Center for Belonging and Community. I used to coordinate chapters of volunteer youth organizations called RevolutionizeSTEM and ClimateScience, where I utilized my skills in graphic design, computing, and marketing to enhance outreach. The main goals of these organizations were to advocate for female and non-binary representation in STEM and promote affordable climate education to the public. I aim to continue my efforts to support underrepresented groups and provide accessible resources to all, specifically through active contributions to the PW goals of helping students find meaningful work that inspire them and connect them with professional resources through accessible and user-friendly online materials.

My favorite pastimes include reading and drawing, as well as listening to anything alternative hip hop, indie rock, and R&B while enjoying a cup of coffee.

Hi everyone, my name is Lorenzo and I am a Politics and Economics Double Major from Nuremberg, Germany. I work in the PW graphic design team and I enjoy putting my passion for design to use to help students engage with all the amazing opportunities that PW has to offer. Beside my work in the PW office, I am active in various law and politics focused groups on campus!

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 Multifaith Chaplaincy and is part of the Bonner program.

Through Purposeful Work, Emily has shadowed the New York City Mayor’s Office of Intergovernmental Affairs and the City of Colorado Springs, allowing her to explore political opportunities and learn about governmental responsibilities. During the summer, she also interned with the National Disabilities Rights Network.

Her senior year goal at Bates is to assist students in finding internships that align with their goals and implement resources to help them achieve their missions. She also focuses on amplifying Purposeful Work resources for first-generation students and students of color, such as job shadowing and online networking through platforms like LinkedIn. Emily is excited to use her experience to help Bates students find the right career paths.

Anise Williams ’25 (she/her) is an English and Psychology double major with a concentration
in Law and Society from Oakland, California. Taking many community-engaged courses, she’s
had the opportunity to deeply connect with people at Bates and Lewiston. In her personal time,
Anise enjoys reading books authored by Women of Color and exploring works related to the
Black Power Movement of the 1960s.
In Community- Based Research Methods class, she partnered with Valo, an organization based in
Yarmouth, Maine, to plan a weekend mental health retreat off-campus for a small group of Bates
students. The retreat created a space for important conversations about vulnerability, self care
and rest. During the 2024 Short-Term, she volunteered at the Maine Museum of Innovation,
Learning, and Labor (Maine MILL). She organized memorial items related to the recent
Lewiston shooting and old textile prints. At the museum, she learned the value of preserving
history as a means of strengthening community. She learned that these preserved pieces of
history can unite people by acknowledging past struggles while reinforcing the community’s
sense of belonging and achievement.
Her academic interests, combined with her community-engaged courses, have fueled her passion
for Public Law, where she plans to advocate for marginalized communities. As a Senior and a
Purposeful Work Office Assistant, Anise is eager to assist fellow students on their Purposeful
Work journeys and offer the same support that prompted her growth at Bates.

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!

Rowan Cody ‘25 (she/her) is an Environmental Studies major with a concentration in Global Policy from Madison, Wisconsin. Rowan is a student notetaker and spends her time frequenting Maines beautiful outdoors. She also spent the Fall 2023 semester studying abroad in Granada, Spain, practicing Spanish and exploring Europe.

Rowan spent her summer interning at Wisconsin Land and Water as the Policy and Research Intern, assisting WI Land+Water in researching and organizing information on legal and policy issues affecting farming communities across Wisconsin. More specifically, she was able to create new advocacy resources for their membership and attend many statewide environmental policy discussions. Additionally, Rowan worked as a Section Director for Camp Manito-wish YMCA. In this role she was able to gain experience managing her own team of staff members.

Rowan is excited to utilize her experience and knowledge to aid other Bates students in discovering career opportunities by ensuring that the office is a welcoming space for all.

Asha Abdisamad ’27 (she/her), i’m a Biochemistry major and Education minor from Maine. On campus I am a member of Africana Club, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and a part of the Bonner program. As an education minor I work in the Lewiston Public schools, l enjoy working kids, talking about college opportunities and supporting them through school.
In my free time I like reading, spending time with friends, and listening to podcasts. Look forward to meeting everyone and helping out anyway I can.

Cal Dagner ‘27 (they/them) is an Earth and Climate Science major from central Virginia. They are thrilled to be joining the purposeful work mission this year as an office assistant. At Bates Cal is a member of the rowing team and the circus club. They are also an outdoor enthusiast and love to spend time hiking, climbing, and looking for cool rocks or bugs.

This summer Cal was selected as a farming apprentice through the Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund to work as an intern on Glidden Point Oyster Farm. They are passionate about sustainable agriculture and finding ways to fight food shortages and climate change at the same time. At the farm, Cal gained first hand experience working on the water learning about food safety regulations, sustainable harvesting, and oysters’ role in their ecosystems as filterers and carbon collectors. They also completed a storytelling project as part of their apprenticeship to share their adventures and encourage others to get involved with ASLF. The help Cal received from the peer advisors at Purposeful Work while applying for the farm inspired them to seek out the position of office assistant at PW this year.