Katherine was born and raised in Ripon, California. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara, with a double major in global studies and film and media studies. At UCSB, she served as editor in chief of the Daily Nexus student newspaper. Since moving to Washington in 2022, she has worked as an intern covering politics for both USA Today and National Public Radio. She has also interned for Here & Now, NPR’s national afternoon program, and most recently was the energy and environment reporter at National Journal.