Hob Brooks ’02 graduated from Bates in three years, but made the most of his fast-track experience, immersing himself fully in college life and creating an enduring connection to Bates. “My friends, the coursework, and the track team — all of these were formative and foundational. Bates is an incredibly special place that made me successful in my career and a better member of society.” 

Hob’s connection to Bates is the driving force for his support of his alma mater, leading him to join the Bates Board of Trustees in 2024 after several years as a member of the Bates Alumni Council. Reflecting on his time, Hob credits Bates for instilling in him not just knowledge but a profound sense of community and leadership, which guides his continued service and philanthropy.

Hob, managing director and partner for The Boston Consulting Group, and his wife, Riya Sen, partner at EY-Parthenon, live in Philadelphia with their three children, Arden, Harrison, and Kai. Much like his time at Bates, his postgraduate life has never slowed down. After graduating from Bates with a history major, he remained on campus working in Bates Admission and as the assistant coach for the men’s track and field team before going on to earn a master’s in education from Tufts and an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania. His journey from student to trustee reflects a deep-seated passion for his alma mater, driven by a transformative experience that continues to shape his philanthropic endeavors.

For Hob, being a scholar-athlete was formative. He is still closely connected to the men’s track and field team and it continues to influence his relationship to the school. Hob recalls how his coach, the late Al Fereshetian, known as “Coach Fresh,” created a deeply meaningful team culture that helped Hob and his teammates become lifelong friends. “Some of my closest friends today were my teammates from the track team.”

Hob and Riya became lead donors to the project that has transformed Russell Street Field into a state-of-the-art multipurpose athletics facility that features FieldTurf and stadium lights. The project also honors Fereshetian’s legacy with an upgraded digital scoreboard to serve track and field as well as soccer.

When Hob was a student, Bates did not host home track meets due to the poor condition of the old track around Garcelon Field. As a post-grad coach in 2002, he saw the installation of the new track and field complex at Russell Street. But with limited grandstands and no scoreboard for track meets, the project never felt finished for Hob. “For me, this is the opportunity to finish something that we never quite completed since I first saw it come together.”

Hob Brooks exemplifies the transformative power of a liberal arts education and the enduring impact of philanthropy. “I attribute the vast majority of my professional success to my Bates education,” he says. “To me, being a consultant is all about structured thinking, communicating clearly and concisely, and thinking outside the box. All of those kinds of skills are products of Bates and a liberal arts education.”

As Bates evolves and grows, Hob’s dedication ensures that its legacy of excellence and community endures for generations to come. “It’s an honor to have the opportunity to be a part of shaping the strategic direction of an organization that is so fundamentally important to me and whose mission I so fundamentally believe in.”