Serving as the organization’s Senior Technology and Program Consultant, Kate has managed their AspireIT program, and currently works across departments to support technology SaaS needs and project manages the organization’s web updates including NCWIT.org, Tech Inclusion Journey tools, and Aspirations.org.
With more than 20 years of youth development experience working with both local and national organizations, Kate’s career has focused on engaging girls in the exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through informal education venues. She has a proven track record of developing strong collaborations which leverage each party’s strengths to reach a common goal. She has developed youth programs through her work with Girl Scouts (local and national), and has a reputation for building strong relationships with funders for long-term support to meet mutual goals.
Kate has served on the National Girls Collaborative Project Champions board, as an advisor for Boston’s WGBH public broadcasting station for shows like FETCH and Design Squad, and been an active member of the National Center of Women in IT (NCWIT) community and the K12 Alliance since its inception. She has also managed relationships and programs with organizations such as NASA, FIRST, and Society of Women Engineers (SWE). Most recently, she worked with a local non-profit in the Greater Boston area, Science Club for Girls, to help grow their program and improve their internal structures. Ms. Pickle is always thinking about how to leverage existing resources, fill gaps in services without duplication of efforts, and how to work together for the greater advancement of girls in STEM with a generous, non-competitive spirit.
Prior to entering the youth development field full-time, Kate was a staff marine scientist for Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) with primary responsibility for survey work related to dredge material monitoring, including geotechnical and bathymetric data analysis. She also worked on project teams for software development, global information systems (GIS) projects, environmental impact studies, and implementation of technology to monitor dredge material dumping activities. Kate earned her Bachelor of Science in Marine Science from Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine.
When not working, Ms. Pickle can be found enjoying the out-of-doors with her yellow lab, Bailey, and living a full-time nomad lifestyle around the United States. Home is currently wherever she parks it – and it’s the best thing ever!
