Dr. Kathryn Tapp is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at Colorado State University. She earned her Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Arizona State University, where her dissertation examined the intersection of women's health, punishment, and carceral control. Her research explores how punishment and carceral systems shape the health and well-being of system-impacted populations across the life course, with a particular focus on health equity and reproductive justice. Using qualitative and community-engaged research methods, she collaborates with system-impacted individuals, practitioners, and community partners to produce translational research that bridges academic inquiry and community collaboration to improve well-being and inform evidence-based policy and practice.

Her work has been published in Criminology & Public Policy, Women's Health, Corrections: Policy, Practice and Research, Policing: An International Journal, and Police Practice and Research.

Beyond academia, Dr. Tapp is committed to ensuring that research benefits the communities it serves. She is the founder of the annual Bleed with Dignity Period Product Drive, which has provided more than 140,000 period products to system-impacted women and girls since 2021. She has also developed reproductive health education resources for incarcerated and detained populations and collaborates with community organizations to expand access to health education and essential resources.