Katie Ma is an incoming freshman at Oberlin College in Ohio studying Public Health and Creative Writing. Originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana, she has a deep appreciation for the Midwest and the communities that shaped her. Katie is a member of the NAMLE Youth Advisory Council and is passionate about media literacy and civic engagement. She believes media literacy is a form of empowerment, one that helps young people navigate misinformation and participate more thoughtfully in civic life.
Outside of NAMLE, Katie participated in #HalfTheStory’s Digital Civics Academy and previously served as Editor-in-Chief of her high school’s newspaper, where she led student journalism and opinion writing. She also served on the Fort Wayne Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council, working alongside local leaders to elevate youth perspectives on issues affecting her community. Through her work, Katie is committed to helping young people find their voices and use them to create meaningful change.
Katie enjoys connecting storytelling with public health, exploring how narratives shape the way communities understand one another. When she’s not advocating for youth, she’s probably writing poetry, with hopes of one day earning an MFA while continuing to work in public health.