As a 23-year-old Foreign Service officer in Tokyo, Kate Szpila ’98 represented the United States in a border dispute between Japan and Russia. In her early thirties, in Kabul, Kate helped Afghan women overcome hurdles to serving in the military.

“I have been able to do some incredible things,” says Kate, currently based in Washington, D.C., as Acting Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of State’s Political Training Division. Recognizing the influence Miss Hall’s had on her path, Kate recently joined the MHS Heritage Society by naming the School in her will.

“I was fortunate to receive a scholarship to Miss Hall’s, and I wanted to be able to do the same for others,” says Kate, who notes that exposure to international relations, foreign languages, and students from other cultures at MHS shaped her worldview. “This is my way of supporting the next generation of women.”