Vanessa Cruz Santana

Admission, Administration
805-684-4127 x261
vanessa_cruzsantana@cate.org

Vanessa Cruz-Santana first arrived at Cate as a 9th-grade student from Santa Ana, California, through the A Better Chance program. A 2006 Cate graduate, she earned her bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College and her master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania.
Vanessa began her career in admission at Cate in 2010 before moving to New York City to work in kindergarten-through-middle-school admission. She returned to Cate in 2018 and now serves as Director of Enrollment Operations and Financial Assistance, overseeing enrollment, re-enrollment, and financial assistance. Drawing on both her experience as a Cate student and her years in admission, Vanessa brings a thoughtful, student-centered perspective to helping families navigate the admission and enrollment process.
Vanessa values Cate’s commitment to holistic education and its vibrant community. She is a dorm parent, student advisor, and avid sports fan, especially baseball and football. She lives on the Mesa with her family.