Kaitlyn Gonzalez, C’27, is the student café executive officer (SCEO) of the Mount St. Mary’s University’s Saxbys café for the spring semester. Gonzalez, who is from Toms River, New Jersey, took over the semester-long position from Abigail Hucks, C’24.
She was inspired to apply after taking an entrepreneurship class. “I thought it would be exciting to be a CEO and to gain real-life experience in entrepreneurship,” she noted.
After a simple online application and four interviews—including with the founder of Saxbys Café—Gonzalez was notified that she was selected for the position. She’s most excited to help build up community with her teammates and for the chance to learn something new each day.
“I believe adapting, developing creative solutions, and learning from past mistakes are the most helpful strategies I can use. There is so much to learn, and so many opportunities for growth!” she exclaimed.
Gonzalez is the first-ever first-year student to hold the position of SCEO at the Mount’s Saxbys location. Already making the most of 
her time on campus, she looks forward to the next three-and-a-half years as a Mount student.
“The Mount has provided me with this wonderful opportunity, and the support to be successful. Even as a freshman, I have already started getting hands-on experience in a field I may be interested in. I don’t believe this could be the case anywhere else, and it just shows how special Mount St. Mary’s is,” she said.
Saxbys, a Certified B Corp based in Philadelphia, has over two dozen locations on and around the East Coast. Most of these are on college campuses, entirely staffed by students as part of Saxbys’ experiential learning platform (ELP). SCEOs are trained in café operations and in Saxbys’ three pillars of team development, community leadership and financial management.
To learn more about Saxbys Café, its mission and the ELP, visit https://www.saxbyscoffee.com/.