Kathryn “Katie” Weitz ’96 is a community organizer, philanthropist, and systems-change leader whose career has been defined by a deep commitment to equity and measurable social impact. After studying political science at Carleton, she earned an MA in teaching and learning from DePaul University. Continuing her academic pursuit of social impact, she obtained a second MA and a PhD in human development and social policy from Northwestern University. Weitz’s career reflects a deep commitment to empowering underrepresented populations. As president of the Weitz Family Foundation, she pioneered more equitable philanthropic practices, such as accepting video applications and providing multi-year general operating support for minority-led organizations. Her leadership was vital in the “Save Yates” campaign, which rescued a historic school building to create Yates Illuminates, a collaborative nonprofit hub serving diverse immigrant and refugee communities. She was also a founding force behind the Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, an organization that has dramatically increased voter registration and turnout among marginalized Nebraskans. Her impact extends into public health and education through several key initiatives, including chairing a campaign for the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Public Health that raised $27 million; helping run Carleton’s annual Weitz Fellowship program; and leading the Angel Fund during the COVID-19 pandemic, which raised over $9 million to support over 32,000 individuals, including essential workers excluded from government stimulus checks. Weitz demonstrates visionary leadership in philanthropy and an unwavering commitment to building a more just, healthy, and representative society.