Bel Kuhl BA ’25, Nick Kay BA ’27, and Jayden Simpson BA ’24 at the Bates Center
by Hanna Merzbach BA ’20
Portrait illustrations by Paddy Mills / Photos by Robert Reynolds
Spotlight
John E. and Susan S. Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership
Lewis & Clark alums are pioneering initiatives that do everything from reducing single-use plastics to creating healthy desserts, and many of those ideas have their roots at the John E. and Susan S. Bates Center for Entrepreneurship and Leadership.
With a slew of classes, internships, and networking opportunities, the Bates Center equips students with an “entrepreneurial mindset,” according to Chrys Hutchings, managing director of the center.
“We’re building on our deep liberal arts strength here at Lewis & Clark,” says Hutchings. “We help students apply their education and prepare for roles as advocates for themselves and others in the future of work, venture, and adventure.”
In just the last three years, enrollment in Bates courses has grown by 230 percent, with about 300 students enrolled at a time. Participation is especially strong among first-generation, low-income, and international students. There’s so much demand for courses that, last fall, the center added a third section of its introductory class.
This comes with the launch of a minor in entrepreneurial leadership and innovation in the spring of 2020. It has quickly become the most popular undergraduate minor, providing students the opportunity to connect the dots from their outstanding liberal arts education to the impact they have post-graduation.
The Bates Center gives students the opportunity to apply entrepreneurial thinking to help solve many of our world’s most pressing challenges.”
Brent Hutchings BA ’84, Campaign Cochair and Trustee
These courses tap into students’ “eagerness to search for innovative ways to solve problems, driven by a sense of urgency and a willingness to take risks,” says Professor of Psychology Brian Detweiler-Bedell, the center’s founding director. “When they leave Lewis & Clark, they’ve developed their curiosity into lifelong creativity, resourcefulness, and resilience, as they strive to bring their ideas to life and make a meaningful impact on the world.”
One of those students is Amelia Eichel BA ’20, who cofounded Wonderfil, a green business that saves consumers money while removing plastic from the supply chain. Based in Santa Cruz, California, the company installs refill stations for liquid and cream products at universities, grocery stores, and businesses across the map.
Eichel first started researching plastic consumption and circular economy solutions through the Bates Center when she was at L&C.
“The center encourages entrepreneurs to delve deeply into understanding complex social or environmental problems before working on solutions,” says Eichel.
We’re excited to support the Center for Social Change and Community Involvement, another programmatic opportunity for students to develop leadership skills and strengthen our communities.”
Patrick Nielson BA ’71, Trustee, and Dorris Nielson
OTHER INVESTMENTS IN L&C PEOPLE INCLUDE…
Programs addressing social suffering brought by incarceration, inequitable access to higher education, and physical or mental illness, thanks to the Mellon Foundation
The creation of the Lewis & Clark Advocacy Center, solidifying the law school’s leading role in experiential learning
An endowment to support equipment, travel, and other costs associated with the men’s soccer program
Funding for women’s athletic programs and additional opportunities to boost the female student-athlete experience on campus
She also participated in Winterim, a five-day immersive workshop over winter break where students pitch ideas and learn from leaders in the for-profit and nonprofit professional community. This past winter, an anonymous donation made Winterim free to students for the first time.
In addition, the Bates Center recently received a $1.5 million grant from the Robert D. and Marcia H. Randall Charitable Trust to endow its first professorship. With a match of $1.5 million from the college, the Bates Center plans to make the full-time faculty hire by fall 2024.
“We know students are motivated by what the Bates Center has to offer,” says President Robin Holmes-Sullivan. “We can now better serve our students and our community by expanding the center’s work and influence.”
With the help of campaign dollars, we’ve been able to make high-impact investment in our campus spaces, making sustainable decisions that prioritize adaptive reuse.
The Exploring for the Global Good campaign was the most ambitious in Lewis & Clark’s history. Together, we met–and exceeded–our $155 million goal a full year early.
Our campaign success has enabled us to make significant investments in the people of Lewis & Clark. This translates into expanded scholarship opportunities as well as endowed faculty positions in areas such as entrepreneurship —plus, much more!
More than 18,000 individual donors contributed to the success of the Exploring for the Global Good campaign. We extend our thanks to each one, including the campaign leadership who helped spearhead this landmark effort.
The L&C Magazine staff welcomes letters and emails from readers about topics covered in the magazine. Correspondence must include your name and location and may be edited.
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