Matthew and Noah Bates: intersecting UO journeys 
 

When Matthew Bates, BA ’96 (magazine journalism), told his son, Noah, to “find his school,” he never expected that Noah would choose his alma mater. But Noah fell in love with the Eugene campus and is now entering his first year at the UO studying planning, public policy and management.  

“I never thought about the idea that he might come here . . . and the fact that he’s going to be going to the same school that I was going to, studying in the same buildings, it just feels like there’s a bond there I was pleasantly surprised and excited about that we’re going to get to have,” Matthew says. 

Noah was motivated to join the UO because of its balance between big school opportunities and small school connectivity. He is especially excited about the UO’s academic programs and world-class instructors.   

“A lot of the schools would have a more general political science program where I’d be in the room with multiple hundreds of other students. I want something where I could actually make a connection with my instructor, so having a smaller program like this especially inside a larger school where there are a lot of options was something that was really appealing to me,” Noah says.  

While Noah is drawn toward activities related to sustainability, his father was propelled toward a career in creative design and currently serves as the creative director at NanoString Technologies in Seattle. As a student, Matthew was involved in the marching band; worked for the student magazine of the School of Journalism and Communication; and was a resident assistant in Smith Hall, part of the Walton Hall complex, which is now the site of the UO’s newest residence halls.   

Matthew was initially a little nervous about all the changes on the Eugene campus and how the registration process has evolved, but he believes “there are so many more opportunities for kids to find themselves and for kids to discover their passions.” He’s excited for Noah to begin his own journey.