Meet the Advancement Team

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Director of Advancement

lindsay_newlove@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x269

(she/her/hers)

BA, University of Massachusetts Amherst
MA, UCLA
Appointed: 2016

Lindsay joined the community in 2016 as director of advancement. She oversees development, alumni relations, and fundraising for the School, including capital and endowment campaigns, major giving, annual giving, planned giving, stewardship, events and special gifts. Lindsay’s non-profit advancement experience includes positions at The Buckley School, UCLA Anderson School of Management, UCLA Alumni Association, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance. A native of Los Angeles, Lindsay received her BA in Cultural Anthropology at UMass Amherst and MA in Social Science and Comparative Education at UCLA.

She, her husband Eric, and their two children live on the Shelf on the Mesa where they enjoy waking up to the sounds of birds chirping in the morning.


Advancement Database Manager

evan_akers@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x211

(he/him/his)

BA, The Evergreen State College
Appointed: 2019

Evan joined the Cate Advancement team as the Database Coordinator in 2019, with a background supporting education, advocacy, and leadership development for youth. He recently moved back to Ventura County after several years in Washington state, where he earned his bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College and served a year with AmeriCorps teaching robotics to elementary and middle students in Tacoma, Wash. Prior to working at Cate, he was the executive assistant to the CEO at Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, a non-profit organization that specializes in leadership programs for high school youth. Evan and his partner currently live in Ventura with their two cats.


 

Advancement Associate

beth_engel@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x215

Appointed: 2023

Beth joined Cate as the Advancement Associate in 2023, with more than ten years of experience in hospitality and event management. Before her career in hospitality, she worked in the surf industry as the Southern California regional sales representative for Rip Curl clothing, swim, and snow apparel. She is an avid surfer and ranked #1 in her division, competing in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (N.S.S.A.) while attending college.

When not on campus, Beth enjoys early morning surf sessions, skiing, hiking, backpacking, and the outdoors. Beth grew up in the Ojai Valley, where she lives with her husband CJ, daughter Piper, and their two dogs.

 


Advancement & Communications Manager

guille_reynoso@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x285

(she/her/hers)

BS, California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo
Appointed: 2019

As Advancement & Communications Manager, Guille is responsible for prospect and foundation research, communications, and program management of Cate’s key stewardship programs. Guille previously worked for the Santa Barbara Foundation, where she managed various grant programs, including Health Care, Behavioral Health, Youth Leadership, and grants to empower disadvantaged populations. Guille graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture and is an alumna of the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) Executive Leadership Program, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Program, and the Center for Creative Leadership. Guille is an advocate of women’s issues and co-founded the Santa Barbara Latina Leaders Network (SBLLN) and the Santa Barbara Latino Giving Circle. She is a trustee of the Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara and an Association for Women in Communications member.

Guille was born in Zacatecas, Mexico, and lives with her husband and daughter in Santa Barbara.


Director of Planned Giving and Major Gifts
P ’13, ’15, & ’22

chris_giles@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x237

BA, Denison University
MEd, Rosemont College
Appointed: 2012

Chris is a graduate of Denison University. For 16 years Chris was a teacher, coach, and administrator at his alma mater, The Episcopal Academy, near Philadelphia. During his tenure there, he earned his MEd from Rosemont College. In 2005 Chris and his family moved to Santa Barbara, where Chris was appointed English department head at Marymount of Santa Barbara. Three years later, Chris joined a team of entrepreneurs to launch an internet startup that helps nonprofits raise money online. In 2012 Chris joined Cate’s Advancement team.

Chris and his wife, Amy, who works in the College Guidance Office, live down the road on Shepard Mesa and are parents to Eliza ’13, Warren ’15, and Daniel Boateng ’22.


Director of Mesa Association Giving

alison_hansen@cate.org/805.684.4127 ext. 266

(she/her/hers)

BA, Florida State University

Appointed: 2022

Alison joined Cate School as the Director of Mesa Association Giving in 2022. She is responsible for engaging with key teams of volunteers to help Cate meet its annual fund goals. She comes to Cate with twelve years of experience in independent schools in the United States and abroad. Before joining Cate, Alison was the Associate Director of Leadership Gifts at Webb in Claremont, CA. She lives in Santa Barbara and enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, gardening, and all things beach-related.


Senior Advancement Officer

andrew_macdonnell@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x281

BA, University of Denver
Appointed: 2011

Andrew holds a BA in Communications from the University of Denver. He first joined the Cate community in the Spring of 2011 when he came to the Mesa to serve as the Boys’ varsity lacrosse coach, and in August 2011, Andrew moved into Long House and joined the Office of Advancement as the Alumni Director.


Major Gifts & Special Events

sarah_preston@cate.org / 805-684-8409 x286

BA, Colorado College
Appointed: 2012

A native Californian, Sarah returned to the West Coast and joined Cate’s advancement team as Special Gifts and Events director in 2012 after 17 years of living in New England. Sarah’s background in art history served her well in a decade-long stint as docent for high school students at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. She is a graduate of Santa Catalina School and Colorado College. Through her long association with independent schools, she has spent countless hours volunteering. She enjoys books, movies, yoga, and taking long walks at low tide in Santa Barbara.


Alumni Engagement Manager

emily_sosrodjojo@cate.org / (805) 684-4127 ext. 224

(she/her/hers)

BA, Boston College
Appointed: 2022

Originally from Jakarta, Indonesia, Emily Sosrodjojo joined the Cate community in 2010 as a sophomore and graduated from the Mesa in 2013. She attended the Lynch School of Education at Boston College and graduated with a degree in Elementary School Education and Applied Psychology and Human Development. Emily spent five years in the classroom teaching second and fourth grade students before encountering the opportunity to return to the Mesa to work in the Advancement Office. She is excited to be working at her Alma Mater and looks forward to engaging and connecting Cate alumni with current students. Whether she is visiting family in Indonesia or exploring new locations, Emily is always looking for new food to try, trails to hike, and books to read.