CASA | Center for Academic and Social Advancement

Cathy Gamble’s involvement with CASA and La Clase Mágica began over 11 years ago when she was an undergraduate Human Development major at the University of CA, San Diego. She joined Dr. Olga Vásquez’s research project as a Ronald McNair Fellow studying the role that Spanish and English played in the cognitive development of Spanish-English bilingual children from a small Mexican immigrant community.

Cathy fell in love with the goals and philosophy of La Clase Mágica, the after-school program where she conducted her study. She stayed on after her Fellowship and took on the task of developing a proposal to help the project sustain itself independently as a non-profit organization. With the help of her father, an attorney, La Clase Mágica became incorporated as the Center for Academic and Social Advancement (CASA).

When she completed her Master’s Degree in Sociology from UCSD ten years later, Vásquez’s and Cathy’s paths fortuitously crossed once again at a time when CASA was in need of an Executive Director. Cathy was the rightful heir to CASA and her ambition, dedication, and most importantly her passion for making a difference guaranteed her the position. It was “divine intervention” as she and Olga would later conclude.

Cathy’s passion to making a difference showed in everything she did. In spite of her disabilities (she was legally blind and at times on dialysis) she was an integral member of the research and implementation team, taking the non-profit to heights not reached before. Her energy, her faith, and her love to help others in need will always be remembered.

She will forever be honored in the work we do and is the inspiration for our upcoming project, The Cathy Gamble Learning Academy, dedicated to reaching children who everyday overcome life’s challenges.

Donations on behalf of Cathy’s memory and in honor of her academy can be sent to: