Kate McKerlie, MSSW, MPH, Director of Communications & Strategy

“We are a collaborative team here at TXICFW. We utilize each other’s strengths and support each other through opportunities for growth while always striving towards a shared vision of promoting the wellbeing of children and families.”

Kate McKerlie is the Director of Communications & Strategy at the Texas Institute for Child & Family Wellbeing at The University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work. Kate’s work is rooted in the belief that well-designed information and thoughtfully facilitated engagement can change how families experience systems and, ultimately, whether they connect to the support they need.

Kate leads the overall strategic direction of external communications for the Institute and its projects and grants, managing the team responsible for the Institute’s websites, e-newsletters, promotional print materials, and social media platforms.

At the core of her work is user research and experience design. Kate conducts stakeholder engagement, including interviews, focus groups, usability testing, journey and service mapping, and co-design workshops, to ensure that the people most affected by systems and services have a voice in shaping them. She translates that insight into digital tools, campaigns, and learning experiences.

Kate has led both statewide and local organizations and coalitions through strategic planning and transformation using human-centered, co-creative approaches to bring together researchers, practitioners, families, and policymakers around shared goals. Before coming to communications and design, Kate worked directly with youth, families, and communities across health and social service settings, an experience that continues to shape her approach to her work.

katelynmckerlie@austin.utexas.edu