Originally from a small Eastern NC town, Katie graduated from UNC with a BA in Public Policy and a Minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE). Her MPP concentration is in global cooperation and conflict where she is delving into the complexities of global relations and democracy, exploring avenues for positive change on an international scale. She completed an MPP internship with the NC Department of Commerce, Office of Science, Technology & Innovation, where she used data analytics to promote the One NC Small Business Program as well as contributed to the NC Tracking Innovation report. Currently, as a Graduate Research Assistant within the UNC School of Education under the mentorship of Dr. Matt Springer, she is immersed in researching a range of education policy. Katie’s policy interests span a broad spectrum, encompassing global relations, democracy, and education. She has a special interest in researching post-secondary education barriers faced by marginalized communities as she is passionate about dismantling inequities and ensuring equitable access to quality education for all individuals.