Kate grew up on a farm outside Cadiz and graduated from Harrison Central High School in 2005. Next, in 2009, Kate graduated from Marietta College with a BA in Psychology, a minor in Political Science, and a Certificate in Leadership from the McDonough Leadership Program. In 2010, Kate completed her MA in Psychology at Marietta College and moved to Lincoln, Nebraska where she entered the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Law–Psychology joint JD/PhD program. In 2014, Kate graduated from the University of Nebraska College of Law with a concentration in Constitutional Law and is currently finishing up her PhD in Psychology.

During her childhood and high school years, Kate was active in her school and community through activities like band and 4-H. While at Marietta College, Kate was in various organizations such as sorority, Student Senate, honoraries, and volunteer opportunities. While at the University of Nebraska, Kate worked as a graduate research assistant, conducting experiments examining decision-making in cases involving free speech, religious rights, and discrimination. Kate has worked as a server, a legal intern to two judges, a senior certified law student, and a program evaluator evaluating the effectiveness of problem-solving courts.

Although there is no place like Nebraska, Kate loved growing up in Harrison County and is proud to call it home. After spending six years driving the 935 miles between Lincoln and Cadiz for visits and holidays, Kate, her husband Jeff (also a Harrison Central High School and Marietta College graduate and a beekeeper), and their older daughter moved back to eastern Ohio. Once settled in Cadiz, Kate and Jeff welcomed two more daughters to the family. Kate and Jeff, along with their three daughters, are happy and proud to live in Harrison County with their Collie, a coop full of chickens and millions of honeybees.