Originally from south Georgia, Kate comes to Durham most recently from Massachusetts, where she graduated from Mount Holyoke College in 2022 with duel degrees in Political Science and Sociology. Her research interests include the causes and effects of democratic backsliding, voting attitudes and behavior, and the elements of effective U.S. elective administration. Prior to starting at the Sanford school, Kate worked as a senior researcher at the MIT Election Data and Science Lab, which deepened her commitment to advocating for equitable American election policies. She is particularly passionate about strengthening local election infrastructures and working to build voter trust in election administration through policy. In her free time, she can be found reading novels, enjoying nature, and eating desserts.