Kat’s journey in disrupting the criminal legal system is deeply rooted in personal experiences, including having a formerly incarcerated father and justice-involved loved ones. These experiences have fueled her dedication to investing in communities and divesting from systems that exacerbate harm and limit individuals from living their most authentic lives.

Kat is uniquely positioned to influence systems-level change through nearly a decade of direct service work, complemented by her significant contributions to research and policy. Her extensive background working with clients across multiple sectors has shaped her approach to advocacy, as she uses these on-the-ground experiences to challenge policies that are often disconnected from the realities of the people they are meant to serve. Kat’s work has highlighted critical gaps in services and knowledge that hinder positive change, leading her to contribute to key publications and reports that bridge the divide between research, policy, and practice.

With a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan, Kat has dedicated herself to learning, helping, and creating positive social change. Her career includes impactful work with public defender organizations like the Neighborhood Defender Service of Detroit and the Ingham County Office of the Public Defender, where she served as a Criminal Defense Social Worker and helped launch the social work program alongside defense attorneys.

Outside of her professional work, Kat is a harm reduction advocate and an active leader in community-based initiatives, amplifying the voices of historically marginalized communities. She organizes community discussions on local issues, fostering an environment where difficult questions are welcomed, and discomfort becomes a path to deeper understanding. In her free time, Kat also leads civic education initiatives, guiding educational workshops on local municipal government and strategies for addressing community issues. Through these efforts, she empowers individuals with accessible knowledge, helping them become informed decision-makers. Kat believes in the power of mobilizing communities and amplifying voices to drive meaningful, lasting change.