Ken Catandella is the Senior Executive Director for CAA and University Relations at Columbia University, where he has served in various alumni relations and development capacities for two decades. In his current role, Ken is responsible for administrative and logistical oversight of the CAA Board, as well as many of its committees. He also serves as a University liaison to the Columbia University Club of New York, where he serves on the Board of Governors. Ken is involved in numerous intra-School activities, as well as strategic initiatives and development programs, including Columbia Alumni Leaders Weekend and the CAA 2023 Strategic Planning process.

Ken came to Columbia as director of alumni relations for Columbia College. Prior to joining Columbia, he oversaw various alumni relations and development functions at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, Sarah Lawrence College, and Emerson College, among other institutions. Ken is active in the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) in both North America and Europe. He is the recipient of a CASE Quarter Century Award for service to the field of advancement and has been recognized as a CASE Stellar Speaker.  He has consulted for colleges and universities in the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Ken holds an AB from Boston College and an MS from the University of Bridgeport. Outside of higher education, he is the principal of a boutique consulting firm that advises clients on fine and rare wine auction and cellar purchases, and serves as Vice Chair of the Board of the Harlem Link Charter School in New York.