Press Release: New Hires At The Leelanau School: Katherine (Kate) Murdock Olson, Director of Development and Catherine Creighton, Director of Admissions
CONTACT: Kristie McCaw, Director of Marketing and Communications
The Leelanau School
kmccaw@leelanau.org
231-334-5831
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 23, 2020
New Hires At The Leelanau School: Katherine (Kate) Murdock Olson, Director of Development and Catherine Creighton, Director of Admissions
Glen Arbor, MI
The Leelanau School is excited to announce two new hires starting July 2020.
Katherine (Kate) Murdock Olson will be joining The Leelanau School as Director of Development. Kate’s experience, commitment, and belief in Leelanau will lead us in our efforts to secure support for our important and historic school. Her professionalism, humor, and kindness will extend our family and friendships. She is excited to become part of our community, spend time with our students and alumni, help grow our school, and amplify our impact on the world.
Kate’s vast and successful experience will bring great leadership to our program. She is formerly the Director of Donor Relations at Interlochen Center for the Arts. In this work, she has managed historically significant campaigns, cultivated relationships with benefactors, administered scholarship funds, created data systems, produced materials, and coordinated countless events. In Kates’ illustrious career, she also served as Associate Dean of Admissions at Cranbrook Upper School, Director of Conservatory Admissions at Lawrence University, Director of Alumni, Parents, and Volunteers at Interlochen, and Admissions Officer at San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Kate is a graduate of Oberlin College with a BA in Religion with concentrations in Music History and Studio Art.
Kate has been a part of the local community for decades. She has many fans and friends at Leelanau and across the region. Kate says, “The lore of The Leelanau School has played an enormous role in my life, with dear friends and family serving on both the faculty and staff. I am delighted and inspired to join this purposeful community, and look forward to stewarding Leelanau’s history, beauty, and educational mission”.
Catherine Creighton will be joining The Leelanau School as Director of Admissions. Catherine has both personal and professional experience in independent schools and boarding schools. She has years of expertise in recruitment, admissions, and financial aid. She demonstrates an ardent enthusiasm for schooling and a belief that, in her role, she can have a lasting and positive effect on the life of a child and the health of a family. She has great admiration for Leelanau’s mission and recognizes how all children could benefit from what The Leelanau School offers. Her intellect, integrity, and kindness will extend our family, our friendships, and our recruitment efforts.
Catherine’s successful experience in independent schools, as well as college admissions, will bring great leadership to Leelanau. She was previously the Senior Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Interlochen Center for the Arts in Northwest Michigan, where she worked for 12 years. Her duties spanned the entire admission cycle, including managing the re-enrollment processes for returning families, hosting campus visits, and processing financial aid. Prior to her work in the Admissions Office, Catherine developed a passion for the significance of residential life programming while serving as a Residence Hall Counselor and Residence Hall Manager. Catherine is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Education, with a double major in Art and English with a Creative Writing Emphasis and a Certificate in Celtic Studies.
Catherine is a local resident, connected across the community, well prepared, and ideally suited for the role of Director of Admission at Leelanau. She exudes energy, joy, and enthusiasm for the work ahead. Catherine says, “What an incredible community [Leelanau] is! As I begin my time with you all, I am filled with thought, hope, wonder, and excited butterflies for the upcoming school year. Recalling your first moments with The Leelanau School, I’m sure you can relate! I am eager to meet [everyone], listen to stories, and learn about the Leelanau experience. It will be such a joy supporting and celebrating [everyone] this upcoming school year!”
About The Leelanau School
The Leelanau School is a Glen Arbor, Michigan based independent boarding and day high school offering students an experiential college-prep education with integrated learning support, individualized attention, small classes, and a commitment to whole-person wellness.
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