As a Bates student, Rodney Galvao, class of 2014, majored in Rhetoric and minored in Religious Studies and Education. His passion for community service began during his early years as a participant in SquashBusters, a youth development program that combines academic support, squash, and community service. SquashBusters strives to bring out the best in its students and support their life journey – a mission that resonated deeply with Rodney and inspired his own path. The organization instilled in Rodney a love for giving back, which continued throughout his educational journey.

After high school, Rodney’s mentor at SquashBusters encouraged him to apply for the Bonner Leader Program at Bates, a program that aligned with his desire to pursue community service at the college level. The Bonner Program meant a lot to Rodney, providing him with a community within Bates that he could lean on for support. It involved much more than just community service. Similar to SquashBusters, the Bonner Program opened many doors for him. As a Bonner Leader, Rodney dedicated countless hours to Tree Street Youth in downtown Lewiston, volunteered at Lewiston Middle School, and helped at the local YWCA. He also spent his summers supporting Lewiston Squash Camp as he taught the game of squash to kids from Lewiston.

Rodney is a strong believer in giving back to the community that shaped him. After college, he returned to work at SquashBusters, the program that provided him with the guidance and encouragement to attend Bates College. Now, after more than a decade with the organization, Rodney serves as the CEO of SquashBusters, where he oversees the programs in Boston, Lawrence, and Providence, helping to ensure that today’s young people have the same transformative opportunities that shaped his own journey. 

Rodney’s Harward Center fans and other Bates mentors are so proud of him! For more information, check out this post from SquashBusters about Rodney’s appointment as CEO.