Cathryn Asp

MPP, 2021

Research Analyst, Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation [Research Division of HAI Group]

Cathryn (Cate) Asp is a Research Analyst at the Public and Affordable Housing Research Corporation, the research division of HAI Group, where she helps maintain the National Housing Preservation Database (NHPD) and advances research on affordable housing programs. Her work includes investigating disparities in affordable housing, promoting equity within housing communities, and providing user support for the NHPD and other data tools. Cate’s expertise spans both quantitative and qualitative research, often utilizing tools like Stata and ArcGIS in her work. She is also employed as a data consultant with Charter Oak Group where she conducts survey research and quality assurance. Prior to her time at PAHRC, Cate was a Technical Research Analyst in K-12 education at MDRC.

Cate’s Master’s in Public Policy (MPP) from the University of Connecticut has been pivotal in her current role. The MPP’s focus on policy analysis and evaluation provided her a strong foundation in data analysis and tools such as Stata, which she uses daily. Her training in advanced research methodologies helps her conduct thorough research and the program’s emphasis on equity informs her approach to researching inclusive and impactful housing solutions.

Cate earned her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Western Washington University in 2019 at 19 years old, earned her Master’s in Public Policy and Certificate in Survey Research from the University of Connecticut in 2021, and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Urban Informatics at Northeastern University, with an expected graduation date of 2026.

Outside of work, Cate enjoys reading, writing, working on house projects, and spending quality time with her partner, friends, and cat, Gus.