Catherine Somefun serves as Chief Financial Officer of Friendship Public Charter Schools, one of the largest public charter school networks in Washington, DC. She oversees the organization's financial strategy, budgeting, accounting, procurement, treasury, facilities financing, and operational systems, ensuring that financial resources are aligned with the network's mission of delivering high-quality education to more than 4,500 students. Catherine has led major financial initiatives, including enterprise system modernization, strategic capital planning, bond financing, and long-term sustainability efforts that strengthen organizational performance and support student success.

With more than 20 years of leadership experience in finance and operations, Catherine is passionate about building high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, and using data-informed decision-making to improve outcomes. As a FOX Fellow, she looks forward to collaborating with fellow leaders, strengthening her strategic leadership capabilities, and advancing innovative financial and operational practices that create lasting impact for schools and the communities they serve.