National Conference of State Legislatures
Kate Blackman, MSW, MPH has a diverse work experience in the field of public health and policy. Kate is currently serving as the Vice President of State Policy & Research at the National Conference of State Legislatures, overseeing a team of 55+ professionals and leading policy work on various issues. Prior to this, they were the Director of the Health Program at NCSL, where they managed a team of 18 staff and a grant portfolio worth $3+ million. Kate also has experience as a Program Director and Senior Policy Specialist at NCSL, focusing on public health and access to care issues.
Before joining NCSL, Kate worked as a Project Director at the UNC Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, managing a community-based research project to address obesity and social determinants of health. Kate has also worked as a Graduate Research Assistant at the UNC-CH School of Social Work, evaluating a mental health program, and as a Social Work Intern at Carrboro High School. Earlier in their career, Kate served as a Program Coordinator at The Ophelia Project & Boys Initiative, establishing curriculum-based programs and launching the Girls on the Run program.
Kate began their career as an Outreach Assistant & Volunteer Coordinator at Passages Northwest, where they coordinated budgets and managed volunteers for summer programs. Throughout their career, Kate has demonstrated strong leadership skills, grant management expertise, and a commitment to improving public health and access to care.
Kate Blackman earned a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, completing their studies from 2002 to 2006. Later, they pursued a Master's Degree in Social Work from the same institution, which they obtained from 2010 to 2012. Additionally, Kate Blackman also earned a Master's Degree in Public Health from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, completing their studies during the same time frame. In 2005, they obtained a certification as a Wilderness First Responder from the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute (WMI).