Welcoming Kate Nicholson, PiTech’s new Director of Programs and Partnerships, Joining Us From Civic Technology Nonprofit, BetaNYC
With 10+ years of experience supporting public-facing innovation, most recently as Director of Programs and Partnerships at BetaNYC, a civic technology nonprofit, Kate is thrilled to join Cornell Tech’s Public Interest Technology (PiTech) Initiative.
In her role, as the PiTech Director of Programs and Partnerships, she will oversee programs that provide the Cornell Tech community with opportunities to develop and implement technology in the public interest. “Public interest technology (PIT) is a broad field, united by the goal of prioritizing community needs in technological processes and development to advance society. I look forward to creating pathways for students and the Cornell Tech community to demonstrate that commitments to PIT can transform lives and address complex societal challenges here in New York City.”
Prior to Cornell Tech, Kate served as the Director of Programs and Partnerships at BetaNYC, a civic technology organization. In her role, she spearheaded initiatives that enhanced civic engagement through data, technology, and design. Her efforts included building partnerships with city government, community groups, and tech enthusiasts while implementing core programs like Open Data Week, the Open Data Ambassadors, a Mobility for All Abilities Hackathon, and Hack League. Additionally, Kate was instrumental in strategic planning efforts that guided the organization’s long-term vision and operational goals, securing City Council awards and co-authoring grants to expand BetaNYC’s impact.
Kate’s commitment to addressing complex societal problems is reflected in her work across industries. Her career includes roles such as Impact Director for the pandemic preparedness campaign, "It Takes All of Us," leading design research at Ikana Health Action Lab, where she focused on digital solutions for medical networking in low-income countries, and running engagement efforts with environmental sensing pioneers in the wearable technology space.
Kate holds a Master of Fine Arts in Design for Social Innovation from the School of Visual Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Tufts University, where she also minored in Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies. Her graduate work included initiating a program that paired NYC high school students with MFA students to explore challenges facing social enterprises. A native New Yorker and urban cyclist, she’s passionate about air quality and loves discovering cities and the vibrant lives of their inhabitants.