Dr. Kathryn Burnham received her BA in Sociology from the University of North Carolina Greensboro, her MA in Criminology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and her PhD from West Virginia University.

She conducts mix-method research on the micro- and macro-level barriers that contribute to societal disparities, with a focus on how these obstacles affect individuals and communities. Her earlier work examined sexual assault on college campuses, emphasizing improvements in prevention programming to reduce incidence rates. More recently, she has contributed to statewide initiatives aimed at collecting health outcomes and healthcare experience data from LGBTQIA+ populations in West Virginia.

As an evaluator, Dr. Burnham has assessed a range of programs, including those focused on workplace accommodations for individuals with disabilities, diabetes education, and bi-directional referrals for patients between healthcare providers and community-based organizations that address the Social Determinants of Health. She has also evaluated initiatives for the West Virginia State Cancer Coalition and a micro-grant program supporting policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) changes at the community level.