ND Alumnae Fighting to End Poverty
Presented by Katie Kuka '98, Mary Kate Batistich '12, Catherine Lawlor '21, and Jill Pentimonti ’99 of the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO)
Join four graduates who will discuss their formation at Notre Dame, the impact of the Notre Dame mission on their career paths, and the work they do at LEO to reduce poverty and improve lives through evidence-based programs and policies.
Katie Kuka ’98 is an Associate Director at LEO. From finances, personnel, and fund development to systems and processes, Katie oversees the administrative side of LEO. She also works closely with LEO’s Managing Director to set strategic priorities and implement LEO’s strategic plan. Earlier in her career, Katie served as a Senior Auditor for Arthur Andersen, LLP, a Financial Projects Manager at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, and later as a Philanthropic Impact Manager at JD Levy & Associates, an organizational development consulting firm that serves nonprofit organizations. She received her BBA in Accounting from the University of Notre Dame and her MPA in Public Affairs from Indiana University. She lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, with her husband and three children.
Mary Kate Batistich ’12 is part of Notre Dame's Economics Department as an Assistant Research Professor in the Wilson Sheehan Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO). Her research focuses on domestic poverty, including its connection to homelessness, crime, labor markets, and health care. She also has work quantifying the roles of international trade and technology on the loss of manufacturing employment in the U.S., with special attention to black and non-college workers. Mary Kate earned her PhD in Economics from Purdue University in 2020 and a BA from the University of Notre Dame in 2012.
Catherine Lawlor ’21 is originally from Summit, New Jersey and graduated from the University of Notre Dame as part of the class of 2021. During her time at Notre Dame, she lived in Pasquerilla West Hall, became president of the Irish Dance Club, and participated in programs such as College Mentors for Kids and the Catechist Academy. She graduated with a BBA in Finance and Economics. After graduation, Catherine joined LEO as a Research Associate, where she works with research faculty and service providers on a portfolio of impact evaluations. She eventually plans to return to graduate school for a PhD in Economics, and continue to do impactful, policy-relevant research.
Jill Pentimonti ’99 is LEO’s Federal Relations Specialist. In this role, she supports the dissemination of LEO research to federal policymakers and stakeholders, monitoring and analyzing federal regulatory and policy action, and writing policy briefs, memos, and legislative language for evidence building federal activities. In addition to her federal relations role, Jill is also a researcher with LEO. Her work focuses on ensuring young children in poverty have access to high-quality instruction in foundational school-readiness skills. Specifically, she conducts empirical investigations of interventions designed to support young children’s development of early language and literacy skills. Jill earned her PhD in Education from The Ohio State University in 2011, a Masters in Reading Education from the University of Virginia in 2007, a Masters in Education from Northwestern in 2000, and a BA from the University of Notre Dame in 1999.