Alumni Feature: Heather Cate (’15)
“All of the conversations and classes and seminars at King’s helped me to engage in the world with my faith as a foundation. . . . I now work in the non-profit sector to address the hyper-sexualization of our culture.”
This fall, we connected with a number of young alumni from The King’s College to hear how they’re spending their time. How do they reflect on their years at King’s, and what has it looked like in practice for them to pursue the mission of shaping institutions? Read more alumni stories here.
Name and Graduation Year
Heather Cate, B.A. Media, Culture & the Arts, 2015 (Literature Minor)
Current Occupation
Office Manager & Executive Assistant at Proven Ministries in Lynchburg, Virginia
What does a typical day look like for you?
I spend the first part of my day on the office manager side of the job. I fulfill book study orders, process donations, and make sure our donors feel loved and appreciated. In the afternoons, I work on projects, such as managing data, editing marketing emails with our outreach team, and planning a fundraising dinner. Our team is small, 6 people, and we operate like a start-up. We all help each other and wear multiple hats. It’s exciting to be joining at a pivotal growth point and get to be a part of shaping the future of our ministry. My team encourages me to use my creative and organizational skills, so there’s a lot of potential for growth in my role.
How did your experiences as a King’s student (either in class or outside of it) give you a deeper perspective that you now use in your day to day?
I would not have my current job if I hadn’t taken Human Sexuality with Dr. David Talcott. In that class, I became passionate about sexual ethics, particularly through the work of Christopher West, a theologian who disseminates the work of Pope John Paul II. I never imagined I would have a job in that sphere! Classes with Prof. Alissa Wilkinson and Dr. Dru Johnson also helped shape the way I view the world and understand what’s happening in today’s culture and society. All of the conversations and classes and seminars at King’s helped me to engage in the world with my faith as a foundation.
In what ways do you see your current work contributing to God’s restoration of the world (or whatever larger purpose you see yourself as part of)?
Because I now work in the non-profit sector to address the hyper-sexualization of our culture, I see a direct correlation and fruit. That’s such a blessing! We are helping men and women find freedom from sexual addictions through spiritual disciplines and intimacy with Jesus. But in other seasons of my life, when I wasn’t directly working for a Christian ministry, I saw my work as an opportunity to shape my little circles of influence and to bring truth and light and beauty wherever possible, whether that was working at a local bookstore, acting in a play, or writing a blog post.