Katherine Bright

Katherine Bright is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS), part of the College of Public Service. Her work integrates over two decades of direct service with trauma survivors into her research, teaching, and advocacy. She holds a Ph.D. and focuses on technology's role in gender-based violence, human trafficking, and trauma-informed methodologies.

Before academia, Dr. Bright worked with homeless youth, teenage mothers, and formerly incarcerated adolescents. Her research includes twelve projects, notably The Digital Footprint of Sexual Violence, examining how digital documentation exacerbates victimization. She founded the Trauma-Informed Methodological Activism Lab, challenging traditional research ethics through equity-focused, emotionally-engaged approaches. Students collaborate on the Anthology Textbook, an accessible resource for underserved communities.

Her expertise spans sexual violence prevention, CSEC intervention models, and gender-affirmative policies. She emphasizes intersectional inequities in victimization and advocates for survivor-led research. Office hours are by appointment, and she can be reached at kbright@uccs.edu.