Meet the Coordinators

AESOP is student-led with support from the Office of Campus Life. We are free to explore new trip ideas and keep the program fresh and student-focused! We love our school and we love what we do: a wonderful combination that allows us to infuse our own joy about AESOP, Bates, Maine, and Lewiston into the beginning of your four years here.

We are dedicated to making this the best AESOP possible! We work steadily throughout the school year to prepare for the upcoming AESOP program and will work continuously throughout the summer in preparation for your arrival on campus in August. We look forward to meeting each of you and hope you are all excited about coming to Bates. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at aesop@bates.edu. We’ll answer your questions as quickly as possible, but bear in mind that there are many of you and only a few of us, so please be patient!

Genevieve Unterseher ’27 – Head Coordinator

Hometown: Pasadena, CA

woman posing on skis on a snowy mountain slope

What AESOP did you participate in as a First Year?

Acadia Adventure

Meow meow baby bobkittens! Get STOKED for what is sure to be one of your most memorable Bates experiences. AESOP is like no other. Getting to know new people and new parts of yourself while exploring Maine is such a special prologue to your time in college. Whether this is your first time in the outdoors, you are a world-class backpacker, or you want to explore some of Maine’s uniquely quaint urban areas, we are excited to get you on a trip you are excited about!

Bates has encouraged parts of me that I didn’t even know existed. Being from Los Angeles I have been thrilled to get to explore my outdoors-y side here at Bates, which started on my AESOP! As a trip leader for the Bates Outing Club I get to engage with nature more than ever and help people do the same. I am a Sociology and Hispanic Studies double major here at Bates. You can catch me spending my time in the Bates radio shack playing tunes with my friends, giving a guided campus tour, or in commons doing a 5-hour long debrief. 

I can’t wait to meet all of you and help you get started on one of the best adventures life has to offer – college!

Zain Ali ’27 – Head Coordinator

Hometown: Mason, OH

man posing in front of city scape

What trip did you participate in as a First Year?

Community Engagement in Maine

Hey Bobcats! I’m thrilled to meet you as you make some of your first memories at Bates through AESOP! Speaking from my own journeys as an AESOPer and an AESOP leader, the experiences and friendships you make on your trip are beyond meaningful and truly connect you to Bates and the wider community here in Maine. AESOP is the perfect time to be yourself as you step into a new, fascinating adventure with your peers. 

I’ve grown up in the United Kingdom, Canada, and currently live in Mason, Ohio. The Midwest and Maine don’t have a lot in common, but through experiences like AESOP I was able to make Maine my home away from home. 

At Bates, you’ll see me taking a bunch of science classes for my Biochemistry major. When I’m not studying, you can find me working as the Secretary for the Bates College Student Government (BCSG) or competing with Club Soccer and Volleyball. When I’m feeling festive, I’ll be celebrating cultural events with the South Asian Student Association and Muslim Student Association. I also love being involved off-campus, and my favorite way to do so is by volunteering at the Central Maine Medical Center.

I looking forward to meeting you as you participate in AESOP and make your own Bates moments! I’d be happy to answer any questions – zali@bates.edu. See you so soon!

Alexander Voglmayr ’27 – Head Coordinator

Person smiling outdoors in front of purple flowering bushes, used for a Bates College AESOP profile.

Hometown: Washington, D.C.

What Trip did you participate in as a First Year?

Surfing 2

Wow, Bates College, where do I begin? From the beautiful sunsets of our campus, where all you want to do is just lie on the quad, to the six-foot snow days making snow angels with my friends. I really just can’t get enough. I’m overjoyed at the thought of guiding you through your first days as a Bobcat! The places you’ll go on your AESOP and the people you will meet will be sure to kickstart your Bates College experience. When you start to look for your AESOP trip, I can guarantee that there will be a place for you to explore your interests. Whether it is something you’ve never done before or something you are incredible at, you’ll create memories that will stick with you!

I grew up in Washington, D.C., and Bates was a big change in scenery. But through my time at Bates, I have kept doing the things I love, such as skiing, hiking, playing soccer, and found people that I can call my best friends for life. Around campus, you’ll see me in the Bates EMS car, of which I am a Captain of the service, playing some kind of sport as a multisport amateur athlete, or studying. You’ll also see me around the city of Lewiston sometimes as an EMT for United Ambulance. I am also a Biochemistry Major and a bit of a nerd with a love for Organic Chemistry mechanisms and human biology.

I’m so excited to meet you all and be a part of your AESOP journey. And remember, it’s just a leap of faith. I believe in you! If you have any questions, please let us know. – Alexander