Meet the Advancement Team
Director of Development
kim_bluitt@cate.org
Appointed: 2026
B.A., Stanford University
M.A., University of Southern California
As Cate’s Director of Development, Kim Bluitt partners with the Head of Advancement to strengthen philanthropic support and deepen engagement among alumni, parents, trustees, and friends of the School. As she settles into life at Cate, she looks forward to becoming an active member of the campus community, building relationships across the Mesa and beyond, and finding meaningful ways to contribute to student life.
Before joining Cate, Kim held advancement leadership roles at Stanford University, the Council on Foundations, the University of California Education Abroad Program, and California State University Channel Islands, where she built meaningful partnerships that strengthened communities, inspired generosity, and advanced institutional missions.
A Santa Barbara native, Kim enjoys travel, live music, volunteering in the community, and exploring California’s Central Coast. She lives in Santa Barbara with her husband, Spiro, and their rescue dog, Spiritt.
Cate Fund Director
alison_boris@cate.org/ 805-684-4127 ext. 266
Appointed: 2022
B.A., Florida State University
As Cate Fund Director, Alison Boris is dedicated to supporting the School’s mission by building meaningful connections with Cate’s alumni, parents, and friends. Through these relationships, she helps secure the vital resources that strengthen financial assistance, support our dedicated faculty, and enhance our campus.
Alison brings over a decade of experience in independent school education. Her journey began in the classroom as a preschool teacher at Garrison Forest School in Maryland before she transitioned to Advancement work, serving as a Development Officer at King’s Academy in Jordan and later as Associate Director of Leadership Gifts at Webb in Claremont, California.
Beyond her fundraising efforts, Alison loves connecting directly with students through Cate’s Public Service Nights. She regularly joins students on visits to local non-profits such as Transition House, Stevens House, and Cornerstone, helping support their impactful programs across the local community.
Happily rooted in Santa Barbara, Alison lives with her husband, Tim. Outside of school life, you can usually find them enjoying local concerts, traveling, volunteering with the Dream Foundation, or exploring the area’s beautiful beaches and trails.
Advancement Operations Manager
beth_engel@cate.org / 805-684-4127 ext. 215
Appointed: 2023
As Advancement Operations Manager, Beth Engel manages daily office operations and serves as the central hub for the Advancement team. She plays a key role in planning major school events, including Commencement, Mesa Dinner, and Family Weekends.
Beth brings over a decade of experience in hospitality and event management, along with a background in sales from the surf industry with Rip Curl and Havaianas. An avid surfer and former top-ranked competitor in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) Central California division, she coaches Cate’s surf team and loves watching students develop into confident surfers.
At home in the Ojai Valley, Beth lives with her husband, CJ, their daughter, Piper, and their two dogs. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, skiing, rock climbing, and spending quality time outdoors with her family.
Director of Advancement Communications
guille_reynoso@cate.org / 805-684-4127, ext. 285
Appointed: 2026
B.S., California Polytechnic State University
As Director of Advancement Communications, Guille Gil-Reynoso leads strategic communication, storytelling, and stewardship efforts to engage alumni, donors, and parents with Cate’s mission. She enjoys supporting the Cate community as chair of the Mark Metherell ’87 Service Challenge, a grant program that empowers students to lead impactful community service projects.
Before Cate, Guille managed key grant programs at the Santa Barbara Foundation centered on health care, behavioral health, and youth leadership. A dedicated advocate for women’s issues, she co-founded both the Santa Barbara Latina Leaders Network and the Santa Barbara Latino Giving Circle. As an active member of the broader regional community, Guille serves as a trustee for the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara and is a member of the Association for Women in Communications.
Guille resides in Santa Barbara with her husband, Jorge, and their daughter, Victoria. Beyond her work on the Mesa, she loves traveling, salsa dancing, and making memories with her extended family.
Alumni Director
jake_kim@cate.org / 805-755-8741
Appointed: 2024
B.A., Emory University
As Alumni Director, Jake Kim engages Cate alumni through intentional relationship-building, regional events, and mentorship programs. He is committed to nurturing lifelong connections that strengthen community and bridge generations of graduates, so that learning never ends.
Jake began his career in the Advancement Office at Fay School in Massachusetts. After Fay, he spent several years as a K-pop songwriter. He led a collective of Asian American musicians from New York, Boston, and Nashville, touring cities across the East Coast to celebrate their shared heritage. Throughout those years, he served as a Youth Program Director, developing leadership programs for students ages 12-18.
In addition to alum work, Jake teaches Basic and Advanced Music Production and serves as faculty advisor for Cate’s International Student Club. Fluent in Korean and English, he shares his culture the way he knows best: at the dining table, over homemade Korean food.
Jake lives in Ventura with his wife, Whitney, and daughter, Clover.
Head of Advancement
andrew_macdonnell@cate.org / 720-289-5506
Appointed: 2011
B.A., University of Denver
As Cate’s Head of Advancement, Andrew MacDonnell partners with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to advance the School’s fundraising priorities and foster a culture of philanthropy across the Cate community. He leads the Advancement Department, overseeing annual, capital, endowment, and planned giving initiatives while providing leadership for alumni and parent engagement, advancement communications, and fundraising.
Since joining Cate, Andrew has held several advancement leadership positions, expanding the School’s philanthropic support and deepening relationships with alumni, parents, and friends throughout the Cate community. He has long served as a dorm parent and trip leader for the 11th-grade Outings Week adventure to the Sierra Nevada.
Andrew lives in Carpinteria with his wife, Hannah, who teaches history at Cate. An avid trail runner, he has completed more than sixty ultramarathons.
Regional Advancement Manager
clare_wang@cate.org
Appointed: 2026
M.S., Durham University
Clare Wang serves as Cate’s Regional Advancement Manager, cultivating meaningful connections with domestic and international families. Drawing on her extensive background in investment management and corporate finance, she brings deep expertise in relationship management and cross-cultural communication to the Cate community, where she is also a proud parent.
Based in Los Angeles, Clare enjoys traveling with her family and unwinding with a classic Agatha Christie mystery.