Katie is a postdoctoral associate working with the Einhorn Center and the Bronfenbrenner Center for Translational Research in the College of Human Ecology to examine the impact of community-engaged learning at Cornell. She is working to analyze, publish and disseminate insights from Cornell’s embedding of CEL throughout the undergraduate experience with the goal of inspiring and informing other higher-education institutions to do the same.

Katie received her Ph.D. in communication from the University at Buffalo in 2021. In 2022, she completed a postdoc with the Leuven School for Mass Communication Research in Belgium. Her research examines narrative and media message effects with a focus on how certain narrative experiences can foster positive, prosocial outcomes such as empathy and helping, moral sensitivity and well-being. Her research on restorative narratives examines a unique approach to sharing stories about tragic events or social issues through emphasizing character strengths and meaningful progression.

A quote that inspires Katie

“Always believe in yourself. Do this and no matter where you are, you will have nothing to fear.” —Hayao Miyazaki, The Cat Returns (2002)