Dr. Cato received her Doctor of Education and two Master's degrees; one in International Educational Development from Columbia University Teachers College and the other in International Affairs from Columbia University. She also holds a certificate in East African Studies from Haile Sellassie I University in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Chicago. Dr. Cato has been involved in either learning or teaching Black History, including high school history, geography and civics. Cato has also taught in East Africa to Tanzanian youth and African freedom fighters. Later she served the Phelps-Stokes Fund as a Research Assistant for African Programs. She joined the faculty of the City University of New York, teaching at Manhattan Community College, Hunter College and Lehman College where she eventually served as Chair of Black Studies and Director of Women's Studies.