Katie earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the College of William and Mary and her Juris Doctorate from Roger Williams University School of Law during which time she also served as a Visiting Scholar at Washington and Lee University of Law. She received her PhD in Communications from Penn State where she taught International Communications, Comparative Media Systems, and Mass Communications Law for six years.  Katie is currently teaching Global Politics at James Madison University. She has an active research agenda that is focused upon social movements, international political activism, and freedom of speech. 

Katie is also an experienced attorney, barred in Pennsylvania and Virginia as well as for practice in the United States Supreme Court.  She serves the community of Charlottesville, Virginia as a housing attorney.