|
|
Your Alumni Connection
Four new members joined the Alumni Council this summer -- Melissa Meigs Barbeau
'51, Nancy Flynn Bass '92, Bruce A. Campbell '76, and Jennifer E. Gibbons '89
-- each had a chance to answer a simple question: Why volunteer for Bates?
- Enriching Students' Lives: As one-half of a very active
husband-and-wife Bates volunteer team, Melissa Meigs Barbeau '51 volunteers
because "my life has been enriched in many ways by the experiences of my years
at Bates. By staying involved, I have been able to keep up with the College's
growth and participate as Bates enriches the lives of students into the next
century."
With husband Wilfred Barbeau '51 (a former Council member), Melissa Barbeau
has served as a Rhode Island Club leader, a fund-raising and career services
volunteer, and college inauguration representative for Bates. The Barbeaus,
co-presidents of their class and 1991 recipients of the Alumni Distinguished
Service Award, are retired from their own public relations firm.
-
Expanding the Bates Experience: Nancy Flynn Bass '92 initially
volunteered for Bates "to give back to the place that gave me so much: friends,
a career, self-confidence -- and a husband! [David '91]." She added: "Since
then, I've learned that Bates is more than just what you did prior to
graduation. I get to work with fun people who have a common interest and
similar experiences, which continually expands my definition of `the Bates
experience.'"
Bass, a senior underwriter at UNUM in Portland, is lead class agent for the
Annual Alumni Fund. She co-chaired her Reunion Gift Committe in 1996.
-
Helping Meet New Needs: When discussing his volunteer involvement,
Bruce Campbell '76 reflects on his Bates years. "Some of my fondest memories
and strongest friendships are rooted in Bates College," he said. "The College's
learning environment helped shape my family, career, community involvement, and
appreciation for life. I volunteer to help Bates meet the changing needs of
students, so they can reap similar benefits."
Campbell, a Portland resident and holder of an M.B.A. from Thomas College, is
vice president of payer relations and clinical business development at NHC Inc.
in Lowell, Massachusetts.
- Belief in the Mission: "I volunteer for Bates for the same re to
attend Bates: I believe in the College's mission, its goals, and its vision for
the future," said Jennifer Gibbons '89 of New York City. "We can all help Bates
continue to be one of the country's finest learning communities. As Bates has
given me much, College volunteer opportunities let me give back to Bates."
Gibbons is a class agent and has been a leader in the New York City Bates
Club. A holder of master's degrees in art and architectural history from
Columbia University, she works at Gallery Systems, a designer of cataloguing
software used by museums.
Your Alumni Council President: Nancy Higgins '81
Nancy Higgins '81 has done it all as a Bates volunteer, and now she'll use that
experience as the new president of the Alumni Council, succeeding Geri
FitzGerald '75.
A member of the Council since 1993, Higgins is a past winner of the College's
Distinguished Young Alumni Award, joining three other current Council members
who are past winners: Susan Peillet Yule '78 (1990), Jennifer Gibbons '89
(1995), and Nancy Flynn Bass '92 (1996, co-winner with husband David '91).
A former Annual Alumni Fund Committee member, Nancy has served as class agent
and class president and as a member of her Reunion Gift Committee. As a club
leader, she's helped the Boston Bates Club win club-of-the-year honors in 1988
and 1991. She's also hosted several Bates students through the Ladd Internship
Program. A certified financial planner, Nancy is a sales associate in
investment services group at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in Boston. She
lives in Charlestown.
|