Kathryn R. Johnson
School of Education and Social Policy
Northwestern University
kathryn.johnson@northwestern.edu
Academic Positions
2026-current Postdoctoral Scholar, RISEI Lab, School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University
Education
Ph.D., Public Policy, American University, School of Public Affairs, May 2026
“Three Essays on Idiosyncratic Shocks to Mood and Cognition”
J.D., cum laude, American University, Washington College of Law, May 2012
B.A., Anthropology, Yale University, May 2006
Publications
Persico, Claudia and Johnson, Kathryn R. (2021). “The Effects of Increased Pollution on COVID-19 Cases and Deaths.” Journal of Environmental Economics and Management. Vol 107.
Working Papers
Persico, Claudia and Johnson, Kathryn R. “Broadband Internet Access, Economic Growth, and Wellbeing.” NBER working paper w32517.
Johnson, Kathryn R., “Invisible Variance: Air Pollution, Judges, and Criminal Justice Outcomes” (available upon request)
Churchill, Brandyn and Johnson, Kathryn R. “Internet Access and Adolescent Mental Health.” NBER working paper w34614. (R & R, Southern Economic Journal)
Works in Progress
Johnson, Kathryn R., “Sentiment Differences in Argument and Decision: A Machine Learning Approach to the U.S. Supreme Court”
Aslim, Erkmen, Johnson, Kathryn R., Tekin, Erdal, “Unpacking the Role of Body-Worn Cameras in Police-Citizen Interactions during Traffic Stops Following Felonious Killings of Police Officers”
Grossman, Daniel, Persico, Claudia, Johnson, Kathryn R., Tekin, Erdal “Mountaintop Mining and Infant Health”
Research Interests
Criminal Justice, Economics of Crime, Environmental Policy, Health Policy.
Teaching Interests
Criminal Law, Economics of Crime, Research Methods, Health Policy, Environmental Policy, Policy Analysis, Legal Research Methods.
Presentations
National Bureau of Economic Research, Health and Healthcare Variations Across Populations, “Internet Access and Adolescent Mental Health,” May 2026
American Society of Health Economists “Invisible Variance: Air Pollution, Judges, and Criminal Justice Outcomes”, Summer 2024
Association for Environmental and Resource Economists “Invisible Variance: Air Pollution, Judges, and Criminal Justice Outcomes” (Poster Presentation), Spring 2024
Association for Public Policy and Management (APPAM). “Broadband Internet Access, Economic Growth, and Suicides.”, Fall 2023
Association for Public Policy and Management (APPAM). “The Effect of Broadband Internet Access on Suicides: Evidence from the United States.”, Spring 2022
South Carolina Law School. Guest Lecture for “New Models for Legal Service Delivery,” taught by Professor Elizabeth Chambliss, Fall 2015
Research Experience
Graduate Assistant, Dr. Brandyn Churchill, American University, 2025 – 2026
Graduate Assistant, Dr. Claudia Persico, American University, 2020 – 2026
- Provided support on projects that resulted in a publication and working paper under review. My responsibilities ranged from cleaning and organizing data to helping design and implement research at every stage.
Graduate Assistant, Dr. Erdal Tekin, American University, 2021 – 2026
- Provided support on several research projects at various stages of the publication process. I assisted in creating literature reviews, finalizing manuscripts, and participated in conceiving and managing projects from conception to production of working papers.
Other Training and Skills
- CITI Program for Social & Behavioral Research September 2020
- Special Sworn Status
- Equitable Teaching Workshop, Greenberg Building Future Faculty Program September 2023
- Stata, R, Python
Teaching Experience
Instructor, Economics of Crime and the Criminal Justice System, Northwestern University, Fall 2025.
- Designed and taught a master’s degree level class on the Economics of Crime. Incorporated both economics and legal literatures to provide a clear picture of the functioning of the U.S. criminal justice system.
Teaching Assistant to Dr. Claudia Persico, American University, 2021-2023.
- Assisted with grading all assignments for master’s level Education Policy class and PhD level methods class.
Florida Coastal School of Law. “Legal Expert Systems.” Taught with Marc Lauritsen, Richard Granat, and Aaron Varner (taught virtually).
- Responsible for lectures and assignments related to software conception and design.
Dean’s Fellow (teaching assistant) to Professor David Spratt, “Legal Rhetoric and Writing.” American University, Washington College of Law, 2010-2011.
- Responsible for lectures and assignments relating to legal citations and other technical topics.
Service
Referee: Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Economics of Human Biology, Association of Public Policy and Management.
References
Erdal Tekin
Department of Public Administration and Policy
American University, School of Public Affairs
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
Claudia Persico
Department of Public Administration and Policy
American University, School of Public Affairs
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
Valentina Duque
Department of Public Administration and Policy
American University, School of Public Affairs
4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016
