Katherine Hawksworth, MPH
Program Manager
Katherine Hawksworth, MPH, is a Program Manager at the Public Health Institute’s Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN). In this role, she provides training and technical assistance to schools, health departments, and community members to foster healthier environments. Her expertise includes Local School Wellness Policy, curriculum development, training design, and facilitation, particularly in school and community nutrition, physical activity, and wellness initiatives.
Katherine’s dedication to youth development began during her time as a VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) volunteer, where she discovered her passion for working with young children and adolescents. She has held various roles that support child and youth development, including Personal Educational Director and Program Director at Boys and Girls Clubs in Martinez, Napa, and Tracy. In these positions, she implemented academic enrichment and character development programs and managed the planning, development, implementation, evaluation, and direct delivery of a wide range of programs for youth aged 6 to 18.
Continuing her commitment to youth, Katherine has also served as an Early Care and Education teacher and site director, supervising teachers and volunteers in a before-and-after school program that provided a safe, supervised environment with age-appropriate activities for school-age children. Additionally, she has been an adjunct faculty member at San Francisco State University, where she was invited to teach adolescent health courses.
At PHI CWN, Katherine leverages her extensive planning, development, implementation, and facilitation skills, honed through her work with California Project LEAN. She supports various projects, including those funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the California Department of Social Services, focusing on school wellness, curriculum development, nutrition and food security, and physical activity. Her work is deeply informed by a commitment to health equity and racial justice.
Katherine holds a Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies with a Minor in Health Education, as well as a Master of Public Health from San Francisco State University.
Outside of her professional work, Katherine enjoys planning family vacations, participating in community fun runs/walks, and cooking creative recipes to share with family and friends.