Hi! My name is Cate Anthony, and I am the Chief of Staff for YDS’ 2018 Before the Fall Orientation! First things first: Welcome to Yale Divinity School. You belong here, and we are so excited to greet you soon, and to see all the ways that you each will make our community more rich and exciting.
As Chief of Staff, I’m the point of contact and management for all members of the BTFO leadership team. Most importantly, this includes all of our Small Group Leaders. When you arrive at BTFO, you’ll each be placed into an orientation small group. Your small group will be your micro-processing unit in the midst of the macro (sometimes overwhelming!) experience of BTFO. Your small group leader– a current second or third year MDiv or MAR student– will serve as your go-to for all questions related to BTFO, life at YDS and in New Haven, and pretty much anything else (for real, y’all: there’s no question too small or big for these folks). You’ll meet with your small group a number of times over the course of BTFO to get to know one another on a deeper, more-than-chitchat level, to talk about logistics of starting your degree at YDS, and to unpack all of the important information you’ll receive during BTFO. My hope for small groups is this: that you’ll understand the important information that’ll help your transition go as smoothly as possible, that you’ll feel safe to ask all your questions and share any concerns or hopes or thoughts you have, and– most importantly– that you’ll make some long-lasting friends.
As for me: I’m a second-year Master of Divinity Student, affiliated with Berkeley Divinity School and a postulant for ordination in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. I grew up in Delaware, went to university in Canada, and moved to Chicago after school, where I worked as a hospital chaplain and in educational fundraising. I love to cook (and look forward to having you over for dinner!) and am pretty silly. My dream church is housed in a pie shop on the coast of Maine, and I am a big fan of Reese’s Big Cups, ginger beer, and private-eye novels. I have a hamster named Arthur, and can’t wait to introduce him to all of you.
One last note: as Chief of Staff I am– along with Emily and Claire– also available for any questions, needs, or concerns you have during BTFO and in the weeks leading up to your arrival at YDS. The transition to Div School is awesome and hard, and if I can help make it even a little bit easier, it’s my privilege.
See you soon!