ɐ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi fˈoːɹ ˈɑːnɚz ɡɹˈædʒuːət ʌv hˈɑːɹvɚd jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi, kˈeɪts wˈɜːkt fɔːɹ sˈɛvɹəl jˈɪɹz æt hˈɑːɹvɚdz kˈɛnədi skˈuːl ʌv ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ɹˈaɪɾɪŋ pˈʌblɪk pˈɑːlɪsi kˈeɪsstˈʌdiz.
A 1984 honors graduate of Harvard University, Kates worked for several years at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government writing public policy case-studies.