Cate Johnston (’12)

Cate Johnson on developing the non-profit management skills for success with Raising A Reader, MA

For Cate Johnston (‘12), BUSSW and the macro practice major shaped her earlier career. Johnston came to BUSSW with an interest in non-profit management.

“I had never heard of macro social work before looking into graduate school,” she says. “[But] the School of Social Work’s program was the perfect intersection of the two fields I’m interested in.” The macro program is what drew Johnston’s attention to BUSSW, and it has been instrumental in shaping her early career. Besides her involvement with the Alumni Association, Johnston was also part of the Steering Committee, where she worked with admissions and financial aid, and the Macro Subcommittee, which was especially important for her.

For Johnston, the opportunity to be a part of the Alumni Association Board helped her develop professional connections with other alumni, and taught her the art of collaboration and communication. Since July 2012, she has been working with Raising A Reader, MA—an early literacy and family engagement program for young children—in different capacities. She began her career as the regional program manager for the Chelsea/Revere area, and is now associate director of program quality. “My role is a beautiful blend of every macro skill that exists,” Johnston says. “A big reason I got promoted so quickly was the managerial skills I learned at BUSSW.” She also spends time with The Children’s Trust (MA), serving as a bilingual facilitator for the Child Sexual Abuse Prevention division of the Family Support Training Center.