As chief executive officer, Kat Ling leads the organization and team to actualize Moonshot’s mission and long-term strategic plan, as well as manages fundraising, external partnerships, and new initiatives. Kat joined Moonshot in 2019 as chief of staff, later serving as chief program officer where she facilitated the Moonshot Fellowship for Cohorts 3 and 4, including a re-design of the fellowship into a virtual format in the pandemic. Kat became chief executive officer in November 2021, after serving as interim chief executive officer.

Prior to Moonshot, Kat was the managing director of alumni and lifelong leadership development at Teach For America - Greater Delta, where she led a team responsible for supporting a cross-state 500+ alumni network. Their additional prior experiences include serving as the manager of teacher leadership development, coaching 50+ educators in southeast Arkansas, and as director of diversity, equity inclusiveness when she designed and facilitated training on cultural responsiveness, racial equity, and multicultural leadership for 100+ educators and a 15-person staff. She managed the team responsible for district partnerships, licensure, hiring, and placement for new educators in Arkansas. Kat also served as a leadership team member and board chair of the national Asian American Pacific Islander Resource Group, and was a founding member and board chair for Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Arkansas.

She graduated from Cornell University magna cum laude with a major in English and a minor in feminist, gender & sexuality studies. She has a master’s degree in public service through the University of Arkansas - Clinton School of Public Service. Kat is a member of Leadership Denver Class of 2022 and serves on the Denver Mayor’s LGBTQ Commission and several local school boards.