Our Mission
The Mays Alumni Society's mission is to strengthen Bates College by directly addressing the need for its Black alumni's sustainable support and establishing a productive interaction among Black alumni, students, faculty, and staff.
Members of Mays Alumni Society shall endeavor to channel their energies toward broadening opportunities for the Black community of Bates College and maximizing Black alumni participation in the College's life.
The members shall also work with organizations that further interest Bates College, including but not limited to the College Key, Development Office, Alumni Association, Office of Admissions, and student diversity clubs.
The Society is formed in honor of Dr. Benjamin Mays and Henry Chandler, the College's first African American graduate; Stella James, the first African American woman to graduate; John Davis, journalist, intellectual, and political organizer of the Harlem Renaissance; and William Worthy, world journalist.
Origins
Bates College has a rich history of developing Black leaders who dedicate themselves to servant leadership and giving back to the community. The Mays Alumni Society is dedicated to sustaining this legacy for future generations.
The Society was formed in honor of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays and the pioneers who led the way for all students of color to follow in their path. The original concept was created through a conversation with Reggie Floyd '86 and Benjamin Robinson '86, after they attended the ceremony celebrating the statue of Dr. Benjamin E. Mays — Bates Class of 1920, at the Benjamin E. Mays Historic Site in Greenwood, S.C., on November 4, 2017.
On August 17, 2019, the Society was established at a meeting with Benjamin Robinson '86, Carol Huntington Boone '63, and David Boone '62 in Westlake, OH. Further support and endorsement were garnered in the Fall of 2019 from John Amols '72 and Bryant Gumbel '70.
Who We Are
Join Us
The Benjamin Mays Black Alumni Society is an inclusive organization comprised of all persons who support the Black community and our alumni (as defined by the Bates Alumni Association).
