Dr Cappy Hill

Catharine “Cappy” Hill is a senior advisor at Ithaka S+R and its former managing director (2016–2025), where she advances initiatives to expand access to higher education for underserved populations, including veterans, adult learners, rural students, and low-income communities. She also leads programs supporting college presidents and trustees as they navigate the changing higher education landscape. Previously, Hill served as president of Vassar College (2006–2016), where she restored need-blind admissions and replaced student loans with grants for low-income families, earning national recognition for expanding educational equity. Earlier, she was provost and economics professor at Williams College. Hill holds degrees from University of Oxford and a Ph.D. in economics from Yale University. Her career also includes leadership roles at the World Bank, the U.S. Congressional Budget Office, and economic reform initiatives in Zambia.