College Counseling Team

Our counselors are deeply familiar with the college admission process, and they understand how to help students identify the criteria they want in a college and how to present themselves confidently and fully in an application.

At Cate, this process is individualized, deliberate, and comprehensive.

Maude Y. Bond
Head of Admission & College Counseling

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BA, Sarah Lawrence
MFA, The New School
Appointed: 2020

Maude Bond was recently appointed as the Head of Admission and College Counseling and will lead both admissions strategy as well as college counseling efforts, creating a student-centered experience from first inquiry through Commencement.

Maude previously built Cate’s nationally recognized College Counseling program, known for its personalized, data-driven approach with an emphasis on highlighting each student’s distinct strengths. She brings a deep knowledge of Cate’s culture as well as a nuanced understanding of admission from her time as Director of Multicultural Recruitment at Columbia University

Born in rural West Tennessee, she studied African-American literature, theater, and writing at Sarah Lawrence College, spending a year in Madrid, Spain, where she became fluent in Spanish. She later earned an MFA in creative writing from The New School.

Her career spans AmeriCorps service supporting refugee children, admissions roles at Sarah Lawrence and The New School, and Columbia. She also worked as an associate director of college counseling at the United Nations International School and as an upper school dean at Harvard-Westlake. Her commitment to student success has earned her accolades such as the Excellence in Service Award from The New School, Excellence in Programming from Columbia University, and the Centennial Fellowship from Cate School.

An expert in international education, essay writing, and public speaking, Maude empowers students to tell their stories with clarity and confidence. She lives on the Mesa with her husband, Richard McDonald, and is an avid reader, writer, and traveler.

Margot Dorion (On Sabbatical 2026/2027)

Senior Associate Director of College Counseling

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BA, Colby College

Appointed: 2002

Margot Dorion began her career teaching history, coaching, and dorm parenting before transitioning to college counseling—a role she has excelled in for over two decades. At Cate, she supports students in identifying colleges, navigating financial aid, planning courses, and maximizing their experience. She collaborates on parent programming, leads college trips, and oversees the University of California A-G course submission process.

Having visited over 100 campuses, Margot combines deep knowledge with a personalized approach to help students find the right fit. She also serves on the Academic Leadership Team and Admission Committee.

A proud mom to Molly, Olivia, and Charlie, Margot enjoys hiking, biking, swimming, and exploring new places. She has a soft spot for animals and never passes up a hole-in-the-wall ice cream stand.

Amy Giles
Associate Director of College Counseling

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BA, Denison University

Appointed: 2012

Amy Giles joined Cate’s College Counseling Office in 2012 after a career in public relations, marketing, and event planning with the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. She also worked in school administration at Marymount of Santa Barbara, collaborating with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and Admissions.

As part of Cate’s College Counseling team, Amy helps students navigate the college process with expertise and care. In 2023, she and her team received The Centennial Fellowship for their innovative work.

Amy lives with her family on Shepard Mesa, where she enjoys time in their orchard. She is the proud mom of Cate graduates Eliza ’13, Warren ’15, and Daniel ’22.

Carolyn Starks
Interim College Counselor

Appointed: 2026

A Southern girl through and through, Carolyn grew up in Auburn, AL and chose to follow her father’s footsteps to attend Rhodes College in Memphis, TN where she studied English and Africana Studies. During her time at Rhodes she found her passion helping young people discover themselves as well as Rhodes through the tour guide program. Carolyn followed that passion to a career in college admissions admissions.

After graduation, she moved to Portland, ME to work at Bates College where she focused on supporting historically excluded, first-generation-to-college, and/or low-income students through the admissions process. After two years, she joined Pomona College’s Office of Admissions where she became a member of the Access Team, ran the College’s diversity fly-in programs, and learned to be justice oriented in her approach to educational equity.

Carolyn moved to “the other side of the desk” to work in 2021 where she served as an associate Director of College Counseling at Oakwood School in North Hollywood, CA. Most recently, she was Co-Director of College Counseling at Santa Fe Preparatory School in Santa Fe, NM. In her free time, Carolyn enjoys indulging in local cuisine (she’s on the hunt for the perfect bean and cheese burrito) and watching Bravo with her husband and her dog, Ms. Pecan Pie.