Cathie Hillian (she/her) received her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Springfield College and has been a practicing clinician for the past 17 years. She has spent most of those years working in independent schools as a counselor among other roles, including Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Class Dean, Coach and currently Associate Director of Counseling at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, CT. In her earlier years she held roles as Clinical Supervisor and Clinical Director for several programs with a non-profit organization, NAFI. Inc. She is currently serving on the Board of Education in Watertown, CT, advocating and working to provide the best curriculum and environment for all students in the district. She is also a commissioner on Connecticut Association of Independent Schools- Commission for School Growth and Collaboration.
Working in schools has put Cathie in a lot of meetings and conversations discussing the needs of students, what is needed to best serve them and help them thrive to be successful socially, emotionally and academically. She has worked a lot with LGBTQ+ youth and is passionate about advocating the needs and wants of all students. She wants to see that all students’ needs are met and believes it is important to teach students about our differences and to have empathy for and celebrate one another’s different backgrounds, stories and paths.