Katherine Broten grew up in Farmington, New Mexico, where she saw early on the importance of public education. She attended a public school and saw the impact her mother made as a teacher in rural districts. “This inspired me to work to increase resources for education,” Katherine said.
Katherine attended the University of Mississippi on a National Merit Scholarship and enrolled in its Public Policy Leadership program. She interned at a Washington lobbying firm and later in the office of U.S. Co
ngresswoman Melanie Stansbury of New Mexico. “I just loved Capitol Hill immediately,” Katherine said. “I knew it was what I wanted to do.”
After graduation, Katherine joined the office of U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich as a legislative correspondent covering health care and education. Today, she serves as a legislative assistant for Senator Heinrich, where she leads the education policy team. Her work with the Indian Health Service and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) has given her a firsthand view of the important role advocates play in the policymaking process. “BIE schools and tribes are so entwined with the federal government, you really need a lobbyist to help present and sift through the facts,” Katherine said.
Katherine is also pursuing a master’s degree in public administration at Northeastern University. She is grateful to have been selected as a Bryce Harlow Foundation Fellow and is looking forward to learning from her mentors and expanding her advocacy skills. “I’d like to learn more about how lobbyists help move policy forward — and how to be better at networking,” Katherine said.
