Maude Bond

College Counseling, Admission, Administration
805-684-4127 x235
maude_bond@cate.org

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

Maude Bond serves as Cate’s Head of Admission and College Counseling, leading both admission strategy and college counseling efforts to create a seamless, student-centered experience from first inquiry through Commencement.

As Head of Admission, Maude guides the Admission Office's work and enrollment strategy and serves as the team’s primary travel and territory strategist. She leads Cate’s international admission efforts, with a particular focus on building relationships across Asia, and works closely with the team to thoughtfully expand Cate’s reach and connect with students and families around the world.
Before assuming this role, Maude built Cate’s nationally recognized College Counseling program, known for its personalized, data-driven approach and its emphasis on helping each student highlight their distinct strengths.

She brings a deep knowledge of Cate’s culture and mission, as well as a nuanced understanding of admissions from her previous work as Director of Multicultural Recruitment at Columbia University.
Born in rural West Tennessee, Maude 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 College, The New School, and Columbia University. She also served as an associate director of college counseling at the United Nations International School and as an upper school dean at Harvard-Westlake School. Her commitment to student success has earned her numerous honors, including 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. Maude serves as an advisor, dorm parent, and faculty advisor to the Women of Color at Cate affinity organization and the Muslim Students Association. An avid presenter, Maude has presented at several conferences, including CIS, NACAC, ACCIS, WACAC, and NAIS. Maude lives on the Mesa with her husband, Richard McDonald, who teaches technical theatre in Cate’s performing arts program.