CHIR Welcomes Two New Faculty Members, Stacey Pogue and Kennah Watts

We are delighted to welcome two new faculty members: Stacey Pogue and Kennah Watts.

Stacey Pogue, Senior Research Fellow

Stacey Pogue is a Senior Research Fellow at CHIR. Her current research is focused on behavioral health care access, implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and health care cost containment policies.

Prior to joining the Georgetown faculty, Stacey worked at Every Texan, where she provided policy expertise and direction for the organization’s advocacy and research on health care access. Her work focused on health coverage affordability, adequacy, equity, and enrollment, with a focus on lower-income, uninsured, and marginalized communities. She testified before the Texas Legislature frequently, and her analysis was often featured by state and national media outlets. In 2010 and 2011, she served as an appointed consumer representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Her previous roles include working on health coverage initiatives at both the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Insurance.

Stacey holds degrees from the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.

Kennah Watts, Research Fellow

Kennah Watts is our newest Research Fellow. At CHIR, her research focuses on access to behavioral health services, health insurance affordability, and state regulation of prior authorization.

Before joining CHIR, Kennah worked as an Associate at Avalere, where she conducted mix methods research, monitored state Medicaid waivers, and analyzed federal regulatory changes to advise clients. Kennah has also conducted research for the Center for Gun Violence Solutions and the Maryland General Assembly. She received a B.A. with a concentration in International Studies from Soka University of America and a Masters of Science in Public Health Policy from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

CHIR is thrilled to have Stacey and Kennah on our team!