Kathleen has been involved in environmental affairs for over 30 years, since graduating with a BS in Toxicology from Northeastern University and an MS in Marine Resource Management from Oregon State University College of Oceanography. Most of her work has focused on assessment and clean up of marine environments, and three years ago she returned to her other passion – protecting human health. Kathleen manages several programs at Washington State Department of Ecology that protect the public from toxins in consumer products. Kathleen also co-founded and operated a small business for 20 years, Lyman Burk & Associates, which created software for the marine construction industry.

Kathleen has been a long-time volunteer or board member of several non-profits including Forefront Suicide Prevention, US Pony Club, Catholic Community Services, and several youth sports and education organizations. Her true passion lies in normalizing the conversation around mental health, with a focus on families and veterans. For the past 7 years, Kathleen has worked with the highly collaborative “Safer Homes, Suicide Aware” Task Force in Washington State, helping to formulate and pass 9 laws related to suicide education and prevention. In 2017 Kathleen was recognized by the Legislature as a “Champion of Change,” receiving the Representative Tina Orwall Community Advocate Award, which honors the critical role that public service plays in suicide prevention.

Kathleen recognizes the power of the intersection of art and mental health, and has twice performed at the National Alliance of Mental Illness fundraisers called “The Brainpower Chronicles.” She is working on a TED Talk and a personal memoir book with a focus on teen mental health/suicide prevention.

Kathleen has a son, David, age 36, and a daughter, Garnet, age 26. David is a senior chemical engineer at Vaxcyte, and Garnet is a cook at a local farm-to-table organic restaurant,and is also finishing her prerequisites for application to Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine. Her youngest child, a son named Palmer, died by suicide in 2012 and Kathleen founded a small nonprofit, The Factman Foundation, which focuses on teen suicide education.