¡Bienvenidos a La Vida Kate Dana! Welcome to the Kate Dana Life. 🌟

I’m a communications specialist, educator, and artist who enjoys creating clear ideas to help people connect while bringing a creative eye to whatever’s next.

With applicable words, curious intentions, and unique ideas, my life is a whirlwind of continuous adventures and discoveries that grow greater each year.

Writing & Communications

Concise, engaging content can make a place, an idea, or an organization feel inviting and authentic. With more than five years of experience as a Communications Specialist and countless years as a “word nerd,” I’ve developed meaningful content for materials and websites serving a range of audiences.

Cocameca is my own travel website, where authentic experiences and new adventures take center stage, sharing useful guidance that inspires readers to take their first step into exploring the unknown. Whether it’s to Carnivales in Colombia, Artfields in South Carolina, or coastal towns in California, Cocameca connects travelers with ideas and information to enjoy the journey.

Spanish: ¡el amor de mi vida!

Spanish is the love of my life and has been an amazing part ever since I began studying at Los Rios Community College in 2010. Living in Mexico and Colombia, first with Spanish-speaking families, then independently as I continued my teaching career, gave me the chance to learn through daily immersion. I picked up slang, learned colloquialisms, and absorbed cultural practices that no classroom experience could have provided.

I am certified bilingual in Spanish by the State of California, use my language skills in my current position as a Communications Specialist, and continue my studies in classes at Casa de Español in Sacramento.

People often ask me how to start learning Spanish as an adult. I tell them it’s never too late to learn and the best time to begin is now. ¡empieza hoy!

Teaching

With five years of experience teaching English and Computer Science in Mexico and Colombia, I’ve served a wide range of learners, from fourth graders to professional adults. Young minds bring wonderful energy and fresh perspectives to their learning adventures, while adult learners benefit from my specialty in teaching Business English.

My teaching credentials include:

• Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, International Teacher Training Organization (ITTO), Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
• Teaching with Technology certification, Cambridge University Press
• Teaching English as a Second or Other Language (TESOL) Technology certification, ITTO
• Teaching Business English certification, ITTO
• TESOL coursework, Trinity College London, Oxford TEFL program

Art & Creative Work

A Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Atlanta College of Art, now part of the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), supports my creative and artistic foundation, with a focus on art history, printmaking, and design.

After graduation, I spent several years in Atlanta attending remarkable shows, interning at the visual arts nonprofit, Nexus Press, and exhibiting in eclectic spaces, including the Inman Park home that is now the iconic WhiteSpace.

After relocating to Baltimore, Maryland, I taught elementary art through the Baltimore City Teaching Residency Program before moving to California, where I began working in graphic design and systems administration.

These days, Sacramento keeps my creative wheels turning with classes at the Sacramento Center for Fine Arts, visits to shows at Verge Center for the Arts, and exhibitions at the California Museum and the Crocker Museum.

TL;DR /Overview

Communications, teaching, art, and travel: each offers a different way to learn, make, and connect. My time spent living and working in Mexico and Colombia brought new perspectives, while years in communications and education have kept the focus on people, ideas, and clear storytelling.

I value thoughtful collaboration, good questions, and work that helps people connect with ideas. When I’m away from the screen and outside of the studio, you’ll find me exploring new arts scenes or planning my next adventure.

¿Algo Más? Anything else?

Have a project, opportunity, or idea to share? Want to learn more about my professional experience? Reach out! I’m always ready to hear something new!

Disclosure: Some links on katedana.com may be affiliate links. Through these links, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you when you buy the featured products I trust and recommend. These links support my blog so I can continue sharing information with everyone. Thank you!