Katie Cochran serves as the Director of Strategic Initiatives for Bridges to Independence. Prior to joining Bridges, Katie supported homeless service providers and continuum of cares through her consultancy, Cochran Strategy and Analytics, which specialized in incorporating trauma informed care into strategic planning, organizational design, and monitoring and evaluation.  From 2019-2021, Katie served as Executive Director of Opportunity Place, a Florida shelter for families and women experiencing homelessness. During her tenure there she re-oriented services around trauma informed care and housing first principals while expanding programing to include prevention, stabilization, and youth empowerment. Before pivoting her career to the human services sector, Katie served as Chief Scientist and Managing Director of Good Judgment Inc, a geo-political forecasting firm. Katie has a PhD from Duke University in Political Science, with a specialty in quantitative methods. She has taught at American University, served fellowships at George Washington University and the Center for a New American Security, and contributed to research at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She also hosts a podcast that explores U.S. electoral politics through a trauma lens, offering conversations and pathway forward to inner healing and cultural change. In her spare time, Katie cheers on her kids at various sporting and music events throughout Arlington, dances with Ground Share Arts Alliance, and tries to keep up with multiple book clubs.