Art Department Faculty
Do you like to sing, draw, act, or dance? Do you write music or follow the score?
However you answered these questions, you’ll be in good company among Cate’s arts faculty. They are accomplished performers who lend their eyes, ears, and hearts to the job bringing young artists along.
Visual Arts Department Chair
joy_doyle@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x114
BA, Kenyon College
Appointed: 2015
Joy Doyle has been a member of Cate’s Visual Arts Department since 2015 and has served as department chair since 2022. A practicing artist with expertise in drawing, painting, and sculpture, Joy has also taught digital art, foundation arts, ceramics, and other visual disciplines, reflecting her wide-ranging interests and skills.
Before joining Cate, Joy worked in graphic design and taught art at the Francis Parker School in Chicago, gaining experience across divisions and integrating art into broader academic subjects. At Cate, she brings a passion for creative exploration and has been recognized with the Ellis Jones Teaching Chair in 2021.
Originally from Delaware, Joy is familiar with the rhythms of boarding school life and has lived and worked in several dorms on campus. Outside the studio, she enjoys exploring a variety of artistic mediums and supporting her students’ creative growth.
Performing Arts Department Chair
john_knecht@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x115
MBA, UCLA
BA, UNC Chapel Hill
Appointed: 2012
John Knecht brings a dynamic combination of arts advocacy, innovation consulting, and music education to Cate. A former arts advocate on Capitol Hill and Innovation Consultant for Fortune 500 companies, John’s career reflects a blend of creative and strategic expertise. He has performed professionally in orchestral, jazz, rock, and world music groups in LA and Chicago, as well as founded Pulse Beat Music, an education initiative for Chicago Public Schools.
At Cate, John serves as Instrumental Music Director and Chair of the Performing Arts Department. A dedicated educator, he was recognized with Cate’s Teaching Award in 2012.
An Eagle Scout and avid outdoorsman, John enjoys world travel, having studied music in over 30 countries. He’s also a college basketball enthusiast, a strength and conditioning advocate, and a proud dad who shares his love of sports with his family.
Director of Vocal Music
BM, University of Delaware
MM, Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University
Appointed: 2022
Gabrel Di Gennaro brings extensive experience as a music educator, performer, and director to Cate.
A former Dean’s Scholar at the University of Delaware, he designed an interdisciplinary curriculum in music education, voice, and theater. His career includes roles as Vocal Music Director at the Latin School of Chicago, Music and Stage Director at Cab Calloway School of the Arts, and Associate Artistic Producer at Chicago Fringe Opera.
Gabrel has performed nationally and internationally, including with the Rolling Stones’ 50 & Counting tour, and led music education exchanges in Jamaica and Sweden. He lives on the Mesa with his spouse Gretchen, their children Felix and Gioia, and their dog Bruno. Outside of work, he enjoys camping, hiking, climbing, and exploring the outdoors.
Director of Theater
kiara_downey@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x141
Kiara Downey
MPhil, Trinity College Dublin
BA, University of Montana
Appointed: 2021
Kiara Downey brings over 20 years of experience in literature, theater, and social justice education to Cate. She has taught English Literature and Theater at schools worldwide, including the United Nations International School in New York, where she helped establish and led the Theater Department. Kiara’s work spans Ghana, San Francisco, and Washington, DC, where she has developed programs in devised and applied performance.
A participant in the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab and an Edinburgh Festival Fringe-selected director, Kiara has presented at NYU’s Devised Theater Conferences and the Theater of the City of New York Symposium.
A native Montanan, Kiara enjoys long walks in nature, exploring cities, and indulging in French cheese. She shares her home with her dog and three cats, all named after literary characters and authors.
Photography Instructor
mikaela_ducote@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x108
BA, James Madison University
Appointed: 2022
Mikaela Ducote brings her diverse creative and outdoor expertise to Cate. With 13 years of experience running a freelance photography business, she specializes in portraits, commercial projects, and travel photography, collaborating with brands and local businesses. A certified yoga teacher and seasoned backpacker, Mikaela has also led outdoor trips focused on photography and adventure.
A long-time soccer player and lover of the outdoors, Mikaela enjoys exploring new trails, savoring good food, and reading poetry. She lives in Savage with her husband, Kern, and values the chance to combine her passions for creativity and nature.
Assistant Theater Director and Manager
Richard_Mcdonald@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x107
BA, UC Davis
MFA, Brooklyn College
Appointed: 2020
Richard brings a dynamic blend of athleticism, artistry, and cultural heritage to Cate. A proud Australian-Fijian, his roots inspire his art and island style. Richard discovered his passion for acting later in life, transitioning from athletics to theater after football and track injuries. His journey includes studying theater in the UK, performing across the U.S. and Australia, and teaching as a graduate fellow at Brooklyn College.
An award-winning filmmaker, Richard’s short films have been featured at festivals like the National Black Film Festival and the Culver City Film Festival, where he won the Social Impact Award in 2018. At Cate, he applies his acting expertise to the Servons program, helping students hone their public speaking skills.
Richard lives on the Mesa with his wife, Maude Bond, Cate’s Director of College Counseling. Together, they enjoy traveling, dancing, hosting game nights, and making each other laugh.
Art Instructor
amy_sharp@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x282
BFA, Whitman College
MFA, Art Center College of Design
Appointed: 2022
Amy Sharp combines her passion for art, craftsmanship, and outdoor education in her role at Cate. A working artist with an MFA in Visual Art, she has taught middle and high school students, fostering creativity and leadership both in the classroom and outdoors.
Amy enjoys working in the woodshop, sharing her love of the outdoors, and climbing at local crags. She lives in Ventura with her partner, who also works at Cate, and their son, Cosmo. On weekends, you’ll often find her biking with Cosmo or seeking out art wherever she can.
Dance Instructor
bethany_sutherland@cate.org / 805-684-4127 x133
BS, Westmont College
Appointed: 2024
Bethany Sutherland is a multi-creative artist, engineer, and educator who came to the Mesa as Cate’s Dance Instructor in 2024.
She has a fundamental desire to bring people and concepts together in a unified way. In 2012, she graduated with a BS in Engineering Physics and a minor in Art from Westmont College. Since graduating, she has dabbled in many entrepreneurial and creative areas out of a passion to cultivate community through collaboration, creativity, and confidence.
In her free time, she loves to relax at the beach, hike outdoors, invest in community, host exquisite dinner parties with friends, and spend time with her husband.
Ceramics and Foundation Arts Instructor
john_swain@cate.org / 805-684-8409 x264
BA, Pomona College, 1997
MA, Columbia University, 2002
Appointed: 1997
John brings a lifetime of experience in residential education to Cate. Growing up at Midland School, where his father was headmaster, John developed an early appreciation for boarding school life. After graduating from Pomona College, where he majored in art and was a multi-sport athlete, John began his career teaching and coaching at Dunn School. He later taught at Rutgers Preparatory School in New Jersey while completing his master’s degree at Columbia University.
At Cate, John has served in a variety of roles, including athletic director, dean of students, assistant head, history instructor, and ceramics instructor. His dedication to education has been recognized with one of Cate’s teaching awards.
In his free time, John enjoys woodworking, camping, and riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle.