Kathryn Sorensen

Director of Research, Kyl Center for Water Policy at the Morrison Institute for Public Policy | Phoenix, Arizona

Kathryn Sorensen is a nationally recognized water policy leader and researcher with decades of experience advancing sustainable water management in Arizona and across the Colorado River Basin. She currently serves as Director of Research at the Kyl Center for Water Policy at Arizona State University, where she oversees strategic research initiatives focused on water resilience, governance, and long-term resource planning.

Prior to joining ASU, Kathryn served for more than a decade in executive municipal leadership, including as Director of Phoenix Water Services for the City of Phoenix and Director of the Water Resources Department for the City of Mesa. In these roles, she was responsible for delivering safe, reliable water services to millions of Arizonans while strengthening water stewardship across Arizona and the Colorado River Basin.

At Arizona State University, Kathryn also serves as a Professor of Practice in the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and as a Senior Global Futures Scientist with the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory. She is an active member of the Colorado River Research Group and serves on the board of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council.

Kathryn earned her PhD in Agricultural and Resource Economics from Texas A&M University and her Bachelor of Arts in Economics from University of Michigan. Her career reflects a deep commitment to sound water policy, evidence-based research, and collaborative leadership in one of the most water-challenged regions of the United States.