Kate Okker-Edging

Kate Okker-Edging’s research focuses on improving mental health and well-being for youth/young adults and LGBTQ+ people through digital health interventions. She is also interested in conducting research at the intersection of tobacco use and mental health.

Kate Okker-Edging is a doctoral candidate at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. She focuses on how digital technologies and resources such as social media and AI can be leveraged to improve mental health outcomes and promote joy. She is particularly interested in examining the mental health communication needs of youth/young adults and LGBTQ+ people.

Okker-Edging received an M.P.H. and an M.A. in Journalism (concentration in Strategic Communication) from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has a B.A. in International Relations and Arabic from Tufts University. Prior to Annenberg, she worked as a researcher at Fors Marsh, where she conducted research on health communication campaigns and messaging.