Last week, the McKeen Center welcomed Megan Birnbaum ’21 back to campus as its new department coordinator. The McKeen Center team expressed enthusiasm regarding Birnbaum’s hiring in its “Catching Up with the Common Good” Newsletter on Monday.

Birnbaum graduated with a coordinate major in Environmental Studies and Psychology and a minor in Hispanic studies. Additionally, Birnbaum was a member of the Varsity Volleyball team throughout all four years of her Bowdoin career.

In between her graduation and return to the College, Birnbaum worked for the Climate Initiative and Campaign Zero, grounding her interests in social issues and serving communities in need. She also spent time working with neurodiverse children, helping them in both the classroom and at home.

“These experiences have expanded my understanding of the ways in which we can support one another’s interests, learning styles, sensory and psychological needs and specific tendencies, across spectrums of neurodiversity and disability,” Birnbaum wrote in an email to the Orient.

For Birnbaum, returning to the College means a chance to serve the community.

“Since graduating from Bowdoin in 2021, I have worked several different jobs in the state of Maine. In my recent job application process, I actively sought roles that would allow me to support and strengthen the communities of which I am a part,” Birnbaum wrote. “I feel so lucky to have landed a role in this department that has ‘common good’ in both its title and everyday practice.”

Birnbaum’s new role will include a lot of behind-the-scenes support for the McKeen Center.

“My role as department coordinator means supporting the organizational and administrative side of our many different programs at the McKeen Center, which is exciting because it means learning about all the incredible community work that staff and student leaders are doing,” Birnbaum wrote.

The part of her job about which Birnbaum is most excited is making service opportunities more accessible to students.

“I am excited to connect students to community engagement opportunities that align with their passions and interests,” Birnbaum wrote. “Each of us has unique strengths, skills and lived experiences that we can apply to serving the common good, and I am excited to help operate the logistics that make that connection happen for students.”

Outside of her administrative work, Birnbaum hopes to create meaningful connections with students and help all students access the resources offered through the McKeen Center.

“I love learning about what students are doing, as well as helping connect them to opportunities for community engagement—no experience required!” Birnbaum wrote. “Even if you are a senior and have not yet been involved with the McKeen Center and are curious, I’d love to answer questions and help connect you to opportunities that match your interests and capacity!”