Kate Westaby

Kate’s experience as a young parent began at 16, when she found out she was pregnant and was told success was out of reach. Peers circulated fliers stating that “less than 2% of teen moms get a college degree by age 30.” This only fueled her determination to challenge these narratives and dismantle barriers in the way of young parents’ aspirations. Now, with a doctoral degree, she is the founder of the Young Parent Collective (YPC) and is committed to addressing systemic inequities that impact young parents in education and beyond.

As the YPC director and a researcher at the Urban Institute, Kate’s work focuses on young parents and student parents, with the goal of alleviating educational and health inequities and improving institutional support. She is an experienced researcher, evaluator, and project manager with a background in reproductive justice and health equity. Her previous work with the Collaborative on Reproductive Equity Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Madison deepened her commitment to reproductive justice and policy change.

Kate is also a skilled community engagement partner, having developed and facilitated community advisory boards and conducted community-driven research. She collaborates with a local school district, community college, and health department—partners invested in supporting young parents.

Through her research and advocacy, Kate works to transform the way young parents are perceived and supported, ensuring that they are recognized as capable students, professionals, and leaders who deserve equitable access to education, well-being, and opportunity.