From the Dinner Table to the Boardroom

On a typical afternoon at Carnegie Mellon University, it is not unusual to find members of the Schaefer family crossing paths on campus.

Sometimes it is a quick stop between classes. Other times it is an impromptu lunch. Occasionally, their conversations sound less like family catch-ups and more like a Tepper School study session filled with discussions about professors, coursework, and business strategy.

That is because Cathy Schaefer and her two children, Cole and Lillian, are all students at the Tepper School of Business.

Their shared experience represents more than overlapping schedules. It reflects nearly two decades of connection to Carnegie Mellon, a campus that has shaped their lives, careers, and education.

For Cathy, Carnegie Mellon has been part of daily life for nearly 19 years. As a Senior Director of Finance and Operations in the College of Engineering, she oversees finance, operations, and administrative functions that support the academic mission of the university. Over time, the university became woven into the rhythm of her family’s everyday life.

Cole and Lillian often stopped by their mother’s office after school while growing up, attended summer camps and campus programs, and spent countless afternoons exploring the same spaces they would later walk as students.

“They've been at CMU their entire life,” Cathy said. “They don't know life without CMU.”

Lillian remembers spending summers attending coding and STEM camps that sparked her early curiosity about technology.

“I did a lot of coding camps when I was younger,” she said. “Having my mom work here gave me those opportunities.”

Cole’s memories of campus were a little different but just as vivid. As a child, he often stopped by his mother’s office while she worked.

“I vividly remember going there often,” he said with a laugh. “They had a snack closet, which I really liked.”

Those early experiences made Carnegie Mellon feel less like a distant university and more like an extension of home. When it came time for both Cole and Lillian to consider where they wanted to study, the Tepper School of Business was already a familiar name. 

Cole, now a junior studying business administration with a concentration in finance, had long envisioned himself pursuing business. The Tepper School’s curriculum allowed him to explore different areas before focusing on his chosen path.

“I think they do a good job that first year not narrowing you into a box,” he said. “You get to take classes that are important to all forms of business before deciding your concentration.”

Through courses in economics, finance, and investment analysis, he developed a strong interest in financial markets and asset management. Along the way, he also gained practical experience through a wealth management internship.

Lillian, now wrapping up her first year at the Tepper School, is beginning to explore her own interests within the business world. Through classes and student organizations, she has already started gaining hands-on experience. She has become involved in both Women in Business and the Tepper Marketing Association, where she has had the opportunity to work with a Pittsburgh-based organization on branding and social media strategy.

“I knew I wanted to do something with marketing,” she said. “But actually trying different things helped me realize what I liked and what I didn’t.”

Watching her children begin their journeys at Carnegie Mellon also inspired Cathy to take on a new challenge of her own. After years of working with data and analytics in her professional role, she enrolled in the Tepper School’s Master of Science in Business Analytics program.

“I work with data all the time, and I’ve always loved it,” she said. “This program was just the perfect fit.”

The program’s online, cohort-based format allows her to balance coursework with her responsibilities at the university while collaborating with classmates from across industries and backgrounds. Just as meaningful, however, has been the ability to apply what she learns directly to her work.
“The things I’m learning in class, I can actually apply to my job,” she said. “That’s been incredibly valuable.”

Despite their different programs and schedules, the family often finds their experiences overlapping in unexpected ways. Conversations about professors, assignments, and projects regularly carry over into discussions at home. Sometimes, Cathy and Cole have even had the same instructors.

“I’ll ask one of them if they had a professor before,” Cathy said. “And sometimes we’ve had the same one. That’s been really fun.”

One thing was clear between the siblings: their admiration for their mother’s strength and dedication to whatever she put her mind to.

“She works so hard,” Cole said. “Seeing how much effort she puts into everything is really inspiring.”

“Getting a taste of how much work it takes here makes me realize how much she’s been doing for years,” she said. “She’s handled it better than she gives herself credit for.”

For the Schaefers, Carnegie Mellon has always been part of their lives. Now, the Tepper School of Business represents something even more meaningful: a shared journey of learning, growth, and family.

Interested in pursuing your own path at the Tepper School of Business? Explore the Undergraduate Business Administration program or the Part-Time Master of Science in Business Analytics program to learn how Carnegie Mellon prepares the next generation of business leaders.