hi, i'm kate — a software engineer & web developer based in monterey, ca.

I build clean, reliable, and accessible websites that balance usability and performance. My work combines the structure of software engineering with the creativity of front‑end development.

see my work get in touch

about.

a bit about me

Portrait of Kate Sawtell

I’m a CS grad focused on web development. As a software engineer, I enjoy bringing ideas to life through clean, maintainable code — from intuitive front‑end interfaces to reliable back‑end logic. My goal is to build web experiences that feel effortless to use.

Outside of code, me and my boyfriend run Foolhardy Coffee — a mobile coffee catering business. It’s a mix of community, creativity, and caffeine that keeps me inspired both in and out of tech.

education.

Before computer science, I studied social science and environmental resource management. The intersection of people, behavior, and the world we live in — still shapes the way I work. It pushed me toward building tech that feels thoughtful, accessible, and considerate of the communities it serves.

CSU Monterey Bay — B.S. Computer Science (Software Engineering), GPA 3.89

San Jose City College — A.A. Social & Behavioral Science; A.A. Arts & Humanities, GPA 3.90

De Anza College — CA Environmental Resource Management & Pollution Prevention (certificate), GPA 3.92

projects.

Firefox Recap poster thumbnail

Firefox Recap

Capstone project: an offline‑AI browser add‑on that summarizes your browsing by day, week, and month. Privacy focused. Featured by Mozilla on their blog.

Preview of Foolhardy Coffee website

Foolhardy Coffee

Co‑founded brand. I built and maintain the website and handle design for packaging.

Preview of Foolhardy Coffee admin website

Foolhardy Coffee Admin

I created a custom internal admin dashboard using Vite, React, and Supabase for streamlined event scheduling, inventory tracking, and business operations.

Screenshot of personal blog

Custom Personal Blog

A fully custom static blog using semantic HTML5, modular CSS, and a responsive grid layout, featuring reusable components, custom typography, and a lightweight design inspired by early-web aesthetics.

Screenshot of Hangman game

Hangman

An early JavaScript project with hand‑drawn animations and multiple categories. This was one of my first projects for my Internet Programming class- which I later TA'ed for

contact.