Cate Connect

Jessie Lau ’11
April 9, 2025

Jessie Lau ’11 returned to the Mesa with her husband, Daniel Goodwin, to speak with Cate’s journalism students. An international journalist based in London, Jessie has reported for outlets including The Guardian, The Economist, CNN, Foreign Policy, and WIRED. Specializing in China and Asia, she has reported from Hong Kong and Beijing and produces documentary films, including the BBC’s China’s Silenced Feminist. Jessie discussed her path into journalism, her global experiences, and answered students’ questions about reporting abroad.

Stephanie Ruys de Perez ’10
January 16, 2025

Stephanie Ruys de Perez ’10 joined a Cate Connect meeting hosted by WoFo in the McIntosh Room, where she spoke about her career in finance and her experiences as a woman in leadership. She reflected on how Cate prepared her for college and the corporate world, offering practical advice on navigating competitive environments and adapting to life abroad. Stephanie encouraged students to embrace challenges, build confidence, and seek opportunities that foster both personal and professional growth.

Lukas Ferrer ’11
December 5, 2024

Lukas Ferrer ’11 visited Cate’s Data Science Club to share his journey into data science and the challenges that have shaped it. After earning a Biomedical Engineering degree from Cal Poly, SLO, he worked at Neuralink, contributing to innovative design improvements. He now works with a startup developing machine learning tools that summarize lengthy medical records, reducing doctors’ workloads and improving healthcare efficiency. Lukas credits Cate with strengthening his character, supporting him through a learning disability, and helping shape his professional resilience.

Trey Jackson ’15
November 8, 2024

Trey Jackson ’15 returned to the Mesa to meet with leaders of Ross Robins’ Club for Equality (RRCE), Cate’s LGBTQ+ advocacy group. Now pursuing a dual MBA in Business and Healthcare at UC Berkeley, Trey reflected on his experience as a queer student at Cate, noting the absence of official LGBTQ+ clubs during his time but recognizing the beginnings of a supportive community. He discussed the club’s growth and highlighted his work with wayOUT, encouraging students to continue building strong, inclusive communities.

Flora Hamilton ’17
October 8, 2024

Flora Hamilton ’17 spoke to the Environmental Club and Data Science Club at Cate about the powerful role that data science plays in environmental science. Flora shared how her time at Cate, including her involvement with the “stream team”, was key to shaping her career path. Flora works at NASA DEVELOP and the Natural Resource and Ecology Laboratory (NREL) at Colorado State University, focusing on projects that use remote sensing and machine learning to better understand vegetative landscapes.