Katie O’Brien, Ph.D., is a Program Advisor at the National Institute for Student Success (NISS) at Georgia State University. Her work focuses on supporting data-informed decision-making, guiding institutions through change processes, and helping translate qualitative and quantitative data insights into actionable, sustainable improvements. She brings an interdisciplinary lens grounded in educational and performance psychology, with a focus on how individuals and organizations adopt new practices and sustain behavior change over time.
Dr. O’Brien brings a strong background in mixed-methods research, program evaluation, and practitioner-focused consulting. Prior to joining NISS, she served as a K–12 and collegiate educator. As a Higher Education Research Analyst and Senior Research and Evaluation Specialist, she led program design, implementation, and evaluation across educational settings, working closely with educators, administrators, and cross-sector partners to support continuous improvement and capacity-building. Most recently, she played a leading role in a national miced-methods study in partnership with the Gates Foundation, examining how institutions and intermediary organizations are adopting artificial intelligence; she also contributed to the development of practitioner-facing public goods that translate research insights into actionable tools for institutional leaders.
Dr. O’Brien earned her Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from Georgia State University. She also holds a Master of Arts in Music Psychology in Education, Performance, and Well-being from the University of Sheffield, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Ithaca College.