Kate Pakenham | Gonville & Caius

Kate Pakenham

Photograph of Kate Pakenham

“I grew emboldened by an education which encouraged us to follow our passions and find our own voice.”

Kate Pakenham (1993 English), Theatre Producer

I started school in 1979, aged 4, the same year that Caius first accepted female undergraduates. Until I went to Caius, my education had been entirely in an all-girls environment.  

My secondary school had advised me not to apply to Caius - no-one from my school had ever gone there - and should instead look at the all-female colleges. So it was a surprise to everyone when I received an ABC offer, and pretty daunting to find myself, aged 18, living in the cheek-by-jowl mixed environment of Harvey Court, and being taught in an English faculty run by three men.  

I was struck by the confidence and volume of the majority male voices, both academically and socially, and was I think subliminally, but viscerally, aware of how recently women had been part of the College. The privilege I felt at being part of the changing face of such a historic and beautiful college ultimately overcame my anxieties, and over 3 years, I grew emboldened by an education which encouraged us to follow our passions and find our own voice. I have no doubt that my work as a theatre producer - which often focuses on celebrating and empowering women’s voices - has been profoundly influenced by my time at Caius; and it fills me with hope and joy that Caius is today led by a female Master in Dr Pippa Rogerson.