Kate Sweeney

Each of us brings our own set of meaning making schemes, identities, cultures, and individual experiences to every situation we encounter. These impact the way we respond to others as well as the perceptions others may have of us. We often see the world through our own cultural lens and this lens shapes the reality that we perceive, which may be entirely different from someone else’s reality of the same situation. How can educators ensure we bring the mindset and tools to the classroom that allows us to consider multiple ways of adjusting style and content to meet different cultural and identity expectations that impact the way students approach different learning situations?

Kate Sweeney Biography

Kate Sweeney is an educator and a communication and leadership expert. As an educator, she has taught communication courses at Columbia University, Baruch College, NYC College of Technology and Borough of Manhattan Community College. As a consultant, she has taught communication and leadership skills to senior management and executive leadership at Fortune 500 companies around the world.

Kate spent 12 years in the United States Army as a Chinese, Italian, and French linguist. Having lived and worked in countries as diverse as Japan, China, India, Italy and France, she used her language and cross-cultural communication skills to liaise effectively with embassies and diplomats worldwide. In the United States, Kate worked for the Department of Defense, training military personnel in tactical and strategic leadership and communications skills.

Kate holds a B.S. in International Relations from the University of Maryland, an M.S. in International Management from the University of Maryland, and an M.A. in Adult Learning and Leadership from Columbia University’s Teachers College. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Adult Learning at Columbia University Teachers College, where her research is focused on the psychosocial factors that impact student success in community college settings. She is fluent in Italian and conversant in Mandarin Chinese, French, and Spanish.