Executive Director

Dr. Cathy Gaston

Executive Director

Dr. Cathy Gaston is a native Mississippian who earned a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a minor in Special Education, along with a Master of Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Mississippi State University.

She served as Deputy / Early Head Start Director at Friends of Children of Mississippi for ten years before becoming Executive Director in February 2021.

Dr. Gaston leads FCM as a 501(c)(3) private, nonprofit, tax-exempt human service agency providing the highest quality comprehensive early childhood development services and a broad range of services to children and their families.

A driven and organized leader, her philosophy centers on developing and improving relationships with staff, parents, children, and community partners to ensure children and their families are prepared for the future.