Cate Hamilton has been a member of the SMU community since enrolling in 2003 as an undergraduate student in the Meadows School of the Arts. While in school, Cate took on student worker positions in Dedman College and the University Registrar's Office. She earned a B.A. in Advertising in December of 2007 and began her career in the Registrar's Office shortly thereafter.

Cate transitioned to the Academic Ceremonies Coordinator position in April of 2009. Her primary duties include assisting Gretchen in preparing for each of the five academic ceremonies held throughout the year, maintaining and improving Academic Ceremonies websites, managing the production of programs, scripts and Marshals' instructions for each ceremony and creating communications to students and parents regarding ceremonies.