they/them

Katherine Watkins has been an Event and Media Coordinator for Iowa QSA since August 2024 and the Communications Director for QSA since June 2025. They are from Sioux Falls, South Dakota and is currently a Junior at Iowa State in Genetics, with a minor in Spanish.

Katherine has been on the Dean’s List in Spring 2024 and Spring 2025, and is a Peer Learning Mentor at ISU in Biology for the Fall 2025 semester. They are also a part of the ISU STEM Scholars, a group who wants to bring diversity to the future STEM workforce.

Katherine became a member of Iowa QSA so they can help queer students in small towns and be someone students can look up to, like they wish they had when they were in high school. They also want to show young queer scientists that they belong in their chosen field.