In this program, guest speaker Patrick W. Quirk, Ph.D., ’03 offered insights into his own career pathway and  advice for students interested in pursuing careers in international affairs.

Patrick currently serves as Senior Director for Strategy, Research, and the Center for Global Impact at the International Republican Institute, a non-partisan and non-governmental organization that works to advance democracy and freedom worldwide. As Senior Director, Patrick manages a team of 30 thematic experts, researchers, and global project staff who help IRI monitor and develop innovative approaches to address emerging trends and challenges. This includes helping IRI incubate and scale up innovative, cross-cutting, democracy and governance programs to address global challenges to democracy, as well as maximize impact in priority technical areas such as political processes, electoral transitions, fragility and stabilization, countering authoritarian influence, and digital democracy. He also oversees IRI’s institutional efforts on monitoring, evaluation and learning, and applied research.

Concurrent to serving at IRI, Patrick is a Nonresident Fellow in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution. Before joining IRI, Patrick served on the U.S. Secretary of State’s Policy Planning staff in the Department of State as the lead advisor for fragile states, conflict and stabilization, and foreign assistance. From 2018-2019, he conceptualized and managed the process to advance the new U.S. approach to fragile states. Prior to Policy Planning, he served in State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations as Senior Advisor for Policy and Strategy. Prior to government service, Patrick was a Research Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States, where he led a research study on how rising powers like China, Russia, and India use foreign aid to advance their national interests and the implications for U.S. national security.

Patrick is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University, teaching courses on stabilization and political violence. His book, Great Powers, Weak States, and Insurgency: Explaining Internal Threat Alliances, was published in 2017.

In this program designed for current STEM Scholars, graduates from the class of 2023 shared their experience in their first professional jobs, how the STEM Scholar program prepared them for the world of work, and what they are doing next in their careers related to science.

Guests included:

• Sokona Magane ’23 – Data Analyst, Ayers Saint Gross
• Jessica Kissi ’23 – REACH Postbaccalaureate Researcher, Stanford University School of Medicine
• Olivia Whittaker ’23 – Clinical Research Coordinator, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital

In this collaboration between Purposeful Work and the Psychology Department,  graduates who studied psychology discussed a wide range of career paths in journalism, technology, non-profit and community development.

Guests included:

• Niraj Chokshi ’07, Reporter, The New York Times
• Jevan Sandhu ’21, Program Manager, DEI Programs and Strategy, Boston Planning & Development Agency
• Paige Sonoda ’22, Outreach and Training Coordinator, Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project
• Nicole Baltazar ’06 (University of Chicago, ’06, Ph.D. ’12), UX Research Manager, Project Starline, Google

To explore opportunities in social services in Portland, Maine, this virtual panel brought together representatives from Avesta Housing, 75 State Street, and Preble Street — three social services agencies focused on supporting diverse communities in Portland.

Panelists shared: how and where they decided to start their careers with nonprofits and social services, how their undergraduate experiences prepared them for post-graduate life and work, how their early jobs in social services led them to their current roles, and what keeps them committed to doing work that can be challenging and complicated. They also shared what characteristics, experiences, and qualities they think effective social service professionals have, and what kind of entry-level and summer opportunities exist for students and graduates exploring the field.

Guests included:

• Nick Kjeldgaard (Bucknell ‘04), Resident Services Manager, Avesta
• Leah McDonald (Bates ’02), Senior Director of Teen Services and Anti-Trafficking, Preble Street
• Naomi Kordak, LMSW (Bowdoin ’07), Director of Independent Living, 75 State Street
• Moderator: Matthew Starr (Bates, ‘20), Resident Service Coordinator, Avesta

Current Law School Students

For this session of the reflection series, three Bates alumni currently in law school shared their experiences with the application process, and their insights on what to expect in your first and second year of law school as well as what you can do now to prepare for what is ahead.

Guests included:

• Aidan Temperino ’21, Northeastern University School of Law
• Ashley Koman ’22, Boston College Law School
• Jack Frye ’16, George Washington University Law School

Practicing Lawyers

For this session of the reflection series, this panel brought together alumni currently working as practicing lawyers from a variety of firms and practices.

Guests included:

• Peter Brann ’77, Partner, Brann & Isaacson
• Rosie Zaklad ’99, Principal, Groom Law Group
• Paul Brunetti ’04, Partner, Clifford & Golden
• Kent Sinclair ’86, Founder, Sinclair Law LLC

This virtual panel brought together local public health professionals to discuss their career paths, academic backgrounds, and insights into their work within the field.

Guests included:

• Destie Hohman Sprague ’01 (Tulane), 06 (New England College), Executive Director, Maine Women’s Lobby
• Hannah Miller, ’14, Director of Outreach, Maine Mobile Health Program
• Hibo Omer, Executive Director, New Mainers Public Health Initiative
• Lauren Gauthier ’08 (Emory), MPH ’11 (Tulane), Western Public Health District Liaison, Maine Department of Health and Human Services

This virtual panel explored opportunities in public, charter, and private education as panelists discussed their pathways from college to their current roles, as well as the unique benefits and challenges of three different educational contexts.

Each panelist addressed: how their undergraduate experiences prepared them for post-graduate life and work, how their unique schools and school systems operate, what keeps them motivated and committed in their daily work, and what kind of entry-level and summer opportunities exist for students and graduates exploring the field.

Guests included:

• Dr. Angela Yang-Handy P’27, Assistant Head of School, Hebron Academy
• Dr. Ayesha Farag ’96, P’27, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education, Newton Public Schools
• Kati Cabral ‘20, Recruitment and Retention Manager, KIPP Massachusetts

Guest speaker J.J. Cummings ’89, a retired aircraft carrier captain for the U.S. Navy, joined the Bates community to discuss his unconventional approach to authentic leadership. His “show them you care” leadership style focused on connection, humility, and empathy improved the morale, culture, and performance of each Navy organization he led.

With a military career spanning three decades and culminating in serving as the captain of the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS GERALD R. FORD, he led thousands of young sailors in the unforgiving world of fighter and aircraft carrier aviation. J.J. was the first technical advisor for Top Gun Maverick and helped Paramount create the original screenplay. He was also the Executive Officer of the aircraft carrier USS NIMITZ, Commanding Officer of the amphibious assault ship USS Anchorage, and Commanding Officer of an FA-18F Super Hornet squadron. Prior to assuming command positions, J.J. was an F-14 Tomcat instructor pilot and a Top Gun graduate, and he successfully completed the prestigious Navy Nuclear Propulsion Program. He completed multiple overseas aircraft carrier deployments, logged 3,900 hours in fighter aircrafts, completed 740 aircraft carrier landings, and completed 137 combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan.

J.J. received his B.A. in Physics from Bates College, an M.S. in Education from Old Dominion University, and an M.A. in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. While at Bates, J.J. played football, rowed, and was a student athletic trainer. He currently works for a major defense aerospace corporation, serves on the Bates College Alumni Council, and started his own leadership consulting business.

Dr. Amy Bass ’92 is a history professor and an award-winning writer and sports journalist who served as senior research supervisor for NBC Olympic Sports across eight Olympic Games, winning the Emmy at the London Olympics in 2012. A leading scholar of sports, culture, and politics, she is currently Chair of the Division of Social Science and Communication and Professor of Sport Studies at Manhattanville College.

In this program, Professor Bass and Marianne Cowan from the Center for Purposeful Work discussed:

• Empowerment and equity in sports – and why it matters – from the 1968 Olympics to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
• Looking at the world through the lens of spectator sports
• Balancing and choosing CNN, NBC, mainstream media, and teaching history in the college classroom

As part of Government, Policy, and Public Service Week, Purposeful Work hosted a panel of alumni who spoke about their career trajectories, how Bates helped them achieve their goals, and the purpose they find in their respective roles.

Guests included:

• Jenny A. Kai ’12, Senior Manager of Government & Public Affairs, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association
• Laura Campbell ’01, Deputy Director, Global Health Bureau’s Office of Infectious Diseases
• Arianna Fano ’19, Economic Policy Analyst, Bipartisan Policy Center
• Sam Prawer ’13, Director of Government Affairs, Maine Department of Corrections
• Ainsley Jamieson ’18, Director of Scheduling, U.S. Senate – Senator Joe Manchin’s Office

This panel engaged guests in a discussion about their pathways from college to their current roles in different areas of human resources — talent acquisition, learning and development, executive search, and organizational change. They also shared how their undergraduate experiences prepared them for life beyond college as well as their current roles and responsibilities.

 Guests included:

• Scott Miller, Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources, The Academy, Bank of America, Enterprise Strategic Initiatives Education & Change Management Executive 
• Marquise Clarke ’19, Associate, Financial Services & Technology Officers Practices, Heidrick & Struggles

Product Management

Associate Product Manager David Akinyemi ‘21, discussed his exploration and entry into technology, his journey to Atlassian, finding purpose in product management, and all the lessons he learned along the way. He provided insight into what exactly product management entails, the relevant skills to pursue this kind of work, and how you can get started while still at Bates.

Software Engineering

Bates alumni shared their experiences and advice for students interested in exploring engineering and software development. A variety of Bates experiences set them on the path to where they are today, so they connected those dots for us and discussed how they continue to craft work that aligns with their interests and sense of purpose.

Guests included:

• Rakey Drammeh ’14, Partnership Engineer, Pinterest
• Peter Kreig ’15, Lead Software Engineer, Logickull
• Michael Somkuti ’19, Software Developer, Comcast

User Experience (UX)

Bates alumni who are also UX professionals shared what drew them to UX work, how they established themselves in the field, and where they think the field is going. They shared guidance and resources for how a student ca determine whether UX is a field where one can find meaning and purpose.

Guests included:

• Raven Moore ‘03, Design and Research Operations Manager, CDK Global
• Eric Vilanova ‘17, freelance product designer
• Colleen McCretton ‘93, Director of UX Design, Fidelity Center for Applied Technology

Featured alumni in admissions and financial aid, advancement, athletics, and student success. Alumni discussed their pathways from Bates to their various areas of higher education and shared how their Bates degrees prepared them for navigating through different institutions and roles.

Guests included:

• Tahsin Alam ’04, Associate Dean of Advancement, University of Washington, Michael G. Foster School of Business
• Carolyn Bassett ’89, Associate Provost for Student Success, UMass Amherst
• Flora Chan ’11, Director, Harvard Financial Aid Initiative and Senior Admissions Officer, Harvard University
• Caroline Gattuso ’13, Associate Athletic Director, Emerson College

Highlighted an impressive panel of Bates alumnae founders and innovators! Trustee Emma Sprague ’10, co-founder of Upswing Strategies, facilitated a conversation about women in entrepreneurship and innovation.

Guests included:

• Jennifer Stevens Spatz ’88, Founder, Global Family Travels
• Mbali Ndlovu ’09, Founder, Lukafit
• Joselle Deocampo-Gautam ’00, Chief of Staff, LinkedIn Talent Solutions
• Kristy Browder Edwards ’94, Co-Founder & Chief Product Officer, Zen Data Privacy;  President and Chief Product Officer for a stealth start-up

Highlighted alumni engaged in policy research, communications, consulting, and strategy, with representation from: Brookings Institution, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), DCI Group, and Internet Association.

Focused on alumni operating in roles and organizations at the intersection of STEM and business. From healthcare to pharmaceuticals, from marketing to operations, alumni shared their academic and professional pathways from Bates to: Boston Scientific, CVS, LevelEx, and Pfizer.

Exposed students to alumni with a broad range of experiences in environmental careers, including: climate impact research, corporate sustainability, environmental law, municipal planning, and urban planning. The program also included alumni at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Invited students to connect with alumni and friends operating in the mental health space. Students had the opportunity to hear about the similarities and differences in the work being done by those with a PhD, a PsyD, an MD, a DNP, and a MA/MS in counseling.

Provided students with the opportunity to hear Bates alumni discuss their experiences with entrepreneurship, ranging from building their own businesses, to supporting their communities, to innovating within large organizations. Led by Bates Trustee and longtime entrepreneur Chris Barbin ‘93, the program also served as a kick-off for Bobcat Ventures, Bates’s entrepreneurial program and pitch competition.

Offered students the chance to hear from alumni engaged in different kinds of consulting work, with representation from: Analysis Group (AG), Artisan Healthcare Consulting, Beacon Group, Business Intelligence Advisors (BIA), and Ernst & Young (EY).