STORY: Olin Visits Alumni, Students in Bay Area

July 7, 2022

Olin College staff and faculty visited the Bay Area in June, enjoying a series of fun and informative events in Palo Alto and San Francisco that brought together alumni and students living and working in the area for the summer.

A large group of people pose in front of a white wall.

Olin staff and faculty, including Sally Phelps, Director (center), visited the Bay Area in June, bringing together alumni and students living/working in the area.

Zach Del Rosario '14, Assistant Professor of Engineering + Applied Statistics, Katie Rollauer, Program Director and Sally Phelps, Director, made the cross-country trip that culminated in 34 alumni and 25 students meeting up in Palo Alto and San Francisco for coffee and lunch, evening dinners, s’mores and some tasty food truck fare.

The Oliners also got the opportunity to experience the first ever live Frank Talks event, listening to alumnus Zach del Rosario ‘14 talk about his dream to become a college professor and how he made it happen. 

Watch Zach's Frank Talk

A large group of people take a selfie while sitting and standing at a long table filled with dinner glasses and plates.

Sally Phelps (right) Director, smiles and waves as part of a group selfie taken with alumni, students, staff and faculty at dinner in June in San Francisco. Professor Zach del Rosario is glimpsed at top.

“It warms my heart to see how much Olin students and alumni love to be together,’ said Sally Phelps, Director of External Programs and Partnerships. “Whether it’s connecting with old friends or meeting new students and alumni, they just really love to listen, share stories, and laugh together.”

One of the many highlights of the trip was lunch with several Tesla, Inc. employees and a ride in one of the latest Tesla models. The group also met up with Nick Ostrom '14, Capability Development Engineer at Tesla Motors, and three students currently interning at the Palo Alto facility.

Four people pose in front of a grey wall.

(L to R): Tesla interns Ishaan Oberoi ‘24, Adi Ramachandran ‘23, Laurel Mitton ‘23 pictured here with Tesla Capability Engineer Nick Ostrom '14 in Palo Alto in June 2022.

There was also plenty of laughs, food and fun on the trip, with a meet-up at a food truck and fire pit one night, and a group dinner another evening with nineteen students and alumni sharing stories and listening to the latest news of what's new at Olin. 

A group of ten people smiling and laughing in front of a food truck.

A group of Oliners, including Professor Zach Del Rosario '14 (right), share a good laugh while dining out during the visit.

View a slideshow below with more photos from the week's events in the Bay area.

Sharing meals, stories, news of Olin...

Four people smile while sitting next to each other at a table.

Five people pose together outside at an event.

Six people look to the camera while seated next to each other on one side of a wood table.

Two Oliners site in a brown booth at a restaurant.

Oliners pose for a photo.

Five people look to the camera while seated next to each other at a wooden table.

Four people smile while sitting next to each other at a wooden table.

A group of people sit and stand around a dinner table.

Four people look to the camera while seated and standing around a small bar table.

Three people lean in around green Adirondack chairs at an outside gathering.

Six people look to the camera as they sit and stand around a bar table.

Two brothers, one with a tie, stand next to a table with plates on it.

Stay tuned as Olin staff and faculty look forward to continuing to bring students and alumni together in key cities in the months to come.