Katherine Nace received her Master of Public Policy degree at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management with a concentration in Economic and Racial Equity in May 2024. She is passionate about alternative approaches to public safety that advance civil rights of those incarcerated and decrease power of the carceral system, especially surrounding mental health. Since being at Brandeis, she interned for the American Civil Liberties Union in their Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives Department and the National Political Advocacy Department. She spent her Segal summer internship with Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts working on their policy team.

Before coming to Heller, she worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture - National Institute of Agriculture, as a Program Assistant supporting the competitive grant review process. Katherine also served in the Peace Corps in Guyana as an Adolescent Health Promoter from 2019-2020, until evacuation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Katherine graduated magna cum laude from Truman State University in 2019, majoring in Psychology with minors in Sociology and Statistics. Originally from Springfield, Missouri, Katherine loves listening to podcasts, going to sporting events, and traveling to new places. Katherine is excited to continue engaging in meaningful reform and advocacy efforts surrounding the intersection of the criminal punishment system and mental health policy as she transitions into a post-graduation career.