Seven years after graduating from Southwestern, Eric Batch says it's rare that a day goes by without a call or e-mail from a former classmate. "That's one of the special things about the University--the lifelong friendships."

Recently, Batch and seven SU friends became partners by forming BMU, a business services group aimed at assisting liberal arts colleges and community-based organizations. "It's very much in its infancy, but we are already positioned to offer financial services and consulting expertise."

Earlier this year, BMU helped secure funding that allowed the Southwestern University student group Ebony to attend a regional conference.

As a student, Batch served as president of Ebony, played varsity golf, was a mentor with Operation Achievement and participated in the London and Jamaica study abroad programs.

Batch currently resides in Carson, Calif., the L.A. suburb where he spent his youth and the hometown he left to move halfway across the country for college. Although he was ready to experience life outside of the Golden State, Southwestern didn't appear on his radar until he arranged a last-minute Central Texas stopover on his way to visit Columbia University in New York.

"I was taken aback by the physical beauty of the campus," he recalls. "The people there made the strongest impression. I attended one of John Chapman's Calculus classes during my visit, and after seeing the student-teacher interaction and small class size, I was sold."

He went on to attend graduate school at USC on full scholarship. During that time, he worked for President Bill Clinton's Office of Management and Budget in Washington, D.C., and former California Governor Gray Davis' Census 2000 campaign. While at USC he met his future wife Terri, who was also studying to get her Master's degree. They were married last October.

After working for the past four years as a senior consultant with Deloitte Consulting, Batch recently accepted a position as Vice President of Advocacy for the Western States Affiliate of the American Heart Association.

Batch says the new position will allow him to return to his "roots." "I received my undergraduate degree in political science and my master's in public policy. Professors such as Eric Selbin really pushed me to explore the depth of my potential and to develop as a thinker, researcher and writer. My new position will allow me to return to work that is more in line with my educational background."

His primary charge is to implement the Advocacy Program, the goal of which is to reduce heart disease, stroke and risk by 25 percent by 2010. "The transition from the private sector to non-profit work will provide its share of challenges, but I'm excited about the opportunity to do work that will bring awareness to some of the top health threats for all Americans, and African-Americans in particular."

In his free time, Batch enjoys playing basketball and golf. Batch also volunteers as a youth basketball coach. "It is both fun and eye opening to teach life skills through basketball. It's very rewarding."