
Position Title
Student Affairs Officer
Katherine “Kat” Ampaw-Matthei, M.Ed. is an experienced scholar-practitioner, with a strong focus on educational leadership, academic advising, and student success. She serves as the Student Affairs Officer in African American and African Studies at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). In the last decade, Kat has supported historically marginalized students at a variety of institutions including UC Davis, UC Center Sacramento, University of Southern California (USC), UC Irvine, and California State University Fullerton. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2014 and Masters in Education, Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs from USC in 2017. Her passion lies in supporting and empowering marginalized students’ academic and personal growth in higher education. Kat has consistently worked to create inclusive environments that foster student engagement and leadership. She brings expertise in program development, program management, research, student services, academic advising and strategic planning. Kat is committed to advancing higher education through innovative solutions and mentorship. Kat is dedicated to shaping the next generation of leaders and contributing to the ongoing evolution of higher education.
Kat can be reached for the following questions:
- Anything related to undergraduate student needs
- Departmental questions
- AAS events and programs
- M.Ed. Postsecondary Administration and Student Affairs, University of Southern California (USC)
- B.A. Gender Studies University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- A.A. Women Studies, Cerritos College
- NACADA Region 9, Excellence in Advising Award-Primary Role Advisor Certificate of Merit, 2025
- UC Davis Outstanding Advisor Staff Award, 2024
- AAS 198-Looking to the Future: Preparing for Careers and Post-Graduation Pathways-4 units
- AAS 99/198-Dreaming up New Worlds in Community with AAS-2 units