Kate Simpson, President

Kate, daughter of an American diplomat, spent most of her youth in France, where she was born. Kate has lived and studied in Australia, Algeria, Ireland and Taiwan. Kate graduated from Yale with a degree in East Asian Studies and pursued a post-graduate fellowship in Chinese Literature at Taiwan National University before settling in Washington, D.C. After stints in public relations and working on the Hill for Senator Harry Reid, Kate began her career at Academic Travel Abroad, Inc (ATA) in 1988 as their China Program Manager and is now a proud owner of the business with two partners. Her company’s vision is to “enhance global understanding through travel and education.” In 2008, Kate completed a three-year executive education program for owners and presidents at Harvard Business School. In 2010, Kate and her partners founded a non-profit, the Fund for Education Abroad (FEA), to support Black and other students of color, as well as first-generation students, in their quest to study abroad. Kate now serves as FEA’s Finance Director, Co-chair of the Campaign Steering Committee, and a Trustee Emerita. Kate has also served on the Board and on leadership committees for the NTA (National Tourism Association) and was awarded NTA’s Woman of Vision title in the fall of 2019. Kate currently serves on the Yale President’s Council on International Activities.