Center Staff

Katherine Himes, Ph.D. practices muddy boots science policy. Her expertise includes natural resources, collaborative governance, research partnerships, science diplomacy and international development. Dr. Himes has developed programs, policies and collaborations connected to water, energy, forests, rangelands, fire, disaster risk reduction, higher education, women in science, technology transfer and economic growth. Her work spans local, state, federal and international levels. 

Currently, Dr. Himes is co-chair of the U.S. National Academies Roundtable on Global Science Diplomacy, associate editor of the journal Science & Diplomacy, vice chair of the University Network on Collaborative Governance (UNCG) and president of the Boise Committee on Foreign Relations (BCFR) board of directors. She also serves on grant review panels for the U.S. National Science Foundation, National Academy of Sciences and Department of State.

Before joining the McClure Center in 2017, Dr. Himes was an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellow. In the U.S. Foreign Service, she served as regional science advisor at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Mission to Central Asia and supported science and technology in five countries of the former Soviet Union: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as Afghanistan. While an AAAS Fellow based at USAID Washington, she led scientific and engineering partnerships between the U.S. and Pakistan; built entrepreneurship programs with researchers in Morocco, Pakistan and southern African countries; supported USAID missions through the use of science, technology and science-based policy and was a member of the U.S. delegation to the United Nations Committee on Science & Technology for Development. Dr. Himes worked across USAID and the U.S. Department of State to integrate science-based approaches into development and diplomacy, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Her innovative approach to development and diplomacy was recognized with multiple USAID awards. 

Prior to her time in Washington, Dr. Himes served as special assistant to the provost at the University of Minnesota during a major strategic positioning initiative. In this capacity, she led research, science and education policy efforts, working closely with students, faculty, staff, leadership, alumni, the Board of Regents and the community. Dr. Himes received several awards for her inclusive leadership. 

Dr. Himes earned a doctorate and bachelor's in neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, and an MBA in entrepreneurship at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Liz Bageant is an applied economist with expertise in a wide range of topics related to human welfare and the environment. She uses a quantitative and qualitative analysis toolkit to understand how humans are impacted by and adapting to economic transformation and ecological change, and to understand policies and programs designed to improve lives.

Ms. Bageant employs a range of approaches, including quantitative modeling using micro-level data, and qualitative methods to identify appropriate quantitative approaches and deepen understanding and contextualize quantitative findings. She has applied these skills to a wide range of topics including index-based livestock insurance, rural agricultural and fishing livelihoods, international food assistance policy and a range of food security and nutrition topics. She has a strong background in the conceptual and technical skills to support transparent and reproducible research processes that generate high-quality, credible evidence for decision-making.

Ms. Bageant has extensive experience mentoring students and scholars from many backgrounds. Her own research career was jumpstarted through inspiring and effective mentorship as an undergraduate student and she has participated in formal and informal mentorship and advising of students ever since. In addition to working closely with students, she led the STAARS and STAAARS+ Fellowship Program from 2016 to 2021, collaborating on research with and providing technical training to 40 early-career African agricultural economists.

Ms. Bageant was born and raised in northern Idaho.

Crystal Callahan is an expert in qualitative analysis and ethnographic research, linking evidence to real world actions and outcomes. Her research explores the intersections of natural resource management, public policy construction and culture, and has spanned Alaskan salmon fishing industry to Idaho collaborative governance efforts. Ms. Callahan is focused on understanding policy construction within state, federal and international frameworks while working with communities in her home state.  

At the McClure Center, Ms. Callahan leads undergraduate student programs, participates in collaborative governance research and facilitation, fosters external partnerships and ensures the McClure Center is able to create impactful programs that further policy conversations in Idaho.  

In 2022, she was elected vice chair for University of Idaho Staff Council and serves on several University of Idaho working groups.  

Megan Foster, Ph.D. is a multi-method geographer who specializes in public engagement and collaborative governance in public policy. Her work involves complex project management across large multi-stakeholder teams. She also has broad experience in outreach — translating and communicating technical information for non-technical diverse audiences. 

After finishing her Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies and planning at Sonoma State University, Dr. Foster went on to complete both her Master of Science in community development and doctorate in geography at the University of California, Davis. Her graduate research work at UC Davis centered around collaborative governance and public lands management, by specifically exploring the role of Federal Advisory Committees within the U.S. National Park Service.

Dr. Foster’s most recent work focused on managing the Idaho Climate-Economy Impacts Assessment while a postdoctoral fellow at the McClure Center. She co-directs the Idaho Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (ISTPF), supervises law student externs and contributes to overall efforts within the McClure Center.

Dr. Foster currently serves on the Steering Committee for the University Network on Collaborative Governance (UNCG).

Kate Walker is a development professional with a background in natural resource policy. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Boise State University and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from Idaho State University. Kate began her professional journey in Washington, D.C., where she served under U.S. Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID). Later, she transitioned to a consulting firm specializing in the representation of irrigation districts across the western U.S., where she demonstrated her expertise in water resource policy.

Upon moving back to Idaho, Kate took on a pivotal role within the University of Idaho's central advancement team as an assistant director of development in January 2023. Within this capacity, she has expanded her focus to include development work at the McClure Center. Kate is enthusiastic about leveraging her skills to engage with Idahoans who share an interest in supporting nonpartisan policy research and advancing the McClure Center’s mission.

Kate was born and raised in Boise, Idaho.