Complex, multidimensional abilities-such as problem solving and perspective taking-can make the connection between education, work, and citizenship, which, in turn, can rekindle public trust in higher education and stimulate college/ work/community collaboration. How abilities are defined and assesseddeterniines how useful they are to educators, employers, and the public. The authors demonstrate an assessment strategy that infers abilities from perf orniance and compares alumni abilities with professional, national, and f acuity expectations. The strategy helps educators to become more explicit about how learning transfers, and helps students to better meet immediate expectations for perf orniance, envision future roles, and continue to learn in the face of rapid change.