Cathy Chen

Cathy has been a professional educator for the past 20 years. She started her career as an undergraduate admissions officer for the University of Southern California, which led her to a college counseling position at Menlo School, a prestigious prep school in Silicon Valley. Once her passion for supporting students was ignited, she left to earn her Master’s degree in Prevention Science and Practice from Harvard University. She then returned to Menlo as the Dean of Student Life Programs where her primary charge was to create SEL programming and support student wellness. 

Cathy created Village because too many of her students were withering under the pressure to succeed and get into the “best” colleges. The alarming upward trend in teen mental illness and suicide rates were the final push she needed to create a place were teens could get the coaching and guidance they needed to live their best lives - as defined by them. Her methods go far beyond strategy, they are rooted in research and decades of practice. 

Cathy lives in Silicon Valley with her partner Adin and their beloved doggo, Winston. Her love for Asian food is only matched by her love for karaoke, thanks to her Chinese roots. When she isn’t busy coaching students, she spends most of her time in the ceramics studio, learning a new hip hop routine, or trying to stand on her hand (emphasis on “trying”).