Looking for a "Big Name"

by Elizabeth Bordonaro '07

"I had always planned to attend a 'big name' school," says Dan Bates '98. "I was visiting colleges and universities up and down the West Coast before a 'chance' visit to Houghton, a visit that would change not only my academic decision but my life as a whole," he recalls. "I was so impressed by the warmth and encouragement of all the people I encountered. I became convinced over that weekend that this was the place. I couldn't have predicted it at the time, but that visit to rural western New York in the spring of my senior year of high school changed my life."

Now the director of government affairs for the city of Portland, OR, Bates has learned first-hand the value of the high-quality, Christian, liberal arts education he received at Houghton. While at Houghton, pursuing a double major in history and political science, Bates decided to pursue a law degree. "I've always had a passion for politics and policy," he says, "My assumption was that if you want to make effective changes you should understand the under-girding of our entire system: the legal system. I enjoyed advocacy and the legal field is a natural place for an advocate."

This time Bates decided to pursue that "big name" experience, setting his sights on what he called "top-10 law schools," and winding up at the University of Virginia. "I couldn't have been more equipped to compete and collaborate with world class law students," Bates says, "the ones that did attend the 'big name schools.' The rigors of Houghton's history and political science majors as well as the style in which each course was taught made the transition to law school fairly simple."

Bates explains it this way: "Many law students are fearful of the Socratic method of teaching prevalent in American law schools today. The Socratic method relies upon the teacher teaching through a series of questions with students regarding the underlying material being studied. That was the basis of my Houghton education. The vast majority of my classes were discussion classes where it was abundantly obvious if you hadn't done your reading. It was hard to hide in a discussion-based class of eight students! Being called on in class and being prepared to respond wasn't a fear for me; it was an expectation."

In much the same way that Bates' undergraduate experience set the stage for successful passage through law school, it also made his transition into the work world easier—even at the premiere public policy firm in Washington, DC. "Basic substance and skill sets learned at Houghton were critical as I began my career," Bates says, "For example, Dr. Ron Oakerson's American political system course helped give me the substantive background I needed to represent cities, counties, ports and transit agencies from around the country before Congress and the Administration."

Bates points out that it wasn't just a single course that prepared him for where he is now, though. "From class reading and instruction to negotiation in student government, lobbying was a natural fit for me and Houghton prepared me to utilize my passions with a solid course foundation," he says. Then he explains that for him the Houghton experience was more than solid academics. "While at Houghton I was given the opportunity to lead student organizations, to engage the college administration through my student positions on various college committees, to learn to work in a team environment, to participate in an academic culture that required cross application of academic disciplines. In short, Houghton provided the opportunity for me to look at issues with a broad view and to engage those issues with more than recitation of facts on a test. This has proven critical in subsequent career endeavors."

After a few years in DC, Bates' career journey took him home to Oregon, the place from which he'd come to Houghton 12 years before. "Those lessons learned and discovered at Houghton were all the more practical and real in my most recent role leading the government relations operation for the City of Portland," Bates says. Even given all of the academic and experiential preparation Bates recalls from his Houghton years, what he most appreciates is the foundation of faith. "Houghton gave me freedom of thought," he says, "This, in my mind, is the greatest heritage of Houghton in my life."

"Everything from my faith to my politics came with me in a little neat box when I first arrived at Houghton. Everything was explainable, predictable— and if it wasn't either of those it wasn't relevant," he says. That changed for Bates while he was at Houghton. "For the first time in my life I encountered people who were sincere in their faith and disagreed with the conventional thought box that I had neatly packed," he recalls, "All of Houghton— the teachers, students, administrators and staff—forced me to own my thoughts, perceptions, beliefs and politics, but they did so with a kindness and grace that can only be described as Christ-like."

"I've had opportunities in my career because I'm willing to ask difficult questions, think radical things and yet be grounded in the firm foundation of my faith, a faith that was tested and made stronger while at Houghton," Bates says. "The tools I was given while at Houghton I continue to take with me on my journey today, whether I'm putting together a legislative strategy to secure funding for a transit project, advising the mayor on the ramifications of a policy proposal or building relationships with rural communities to partner on economic development."

As Bates ponders his journey from political science and history major to director of government affairs for a major U.S. city, he credits Houghton with preparing him to serve in a thoughtful way and in a manner in which he hopes is characterized by integrity. "I've considered what my journey to Houghton meant and I've realized that in many ways it's meant everything. The Houghton liberal arts education has both set the stage for my present service and vocation and provided the tools I need to be a person of faith and conviction in all areas of life."

Liz Bordonaro '07 works in the alumni office at Houghton College.