Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, she served as lead tax attorney at a major public research university where she managed complex corporate governance and tax-exempt matters, including employee benefits and public-private partnerships. Ms. Cavanaugh began her career in private practice where she represented educational organizations, museums, private foundations, and other tax-exempt organizations. Ms. Cavanaugh has a J.D., University of Virginia; M.A., Sociology and a B.A., Economics, Stanford University.