Katherine Peinhardt is a German Chancellor Fellow (Bundeskanzlerstipendiatin) supported by the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung in Germany. Her research dives into links between place and resilience, exploring the ways that communities are already building both physical and social resilience through urban design and public space planning and management. This examination of community-based resilience-building will guide the emerging paradigm around a place-led approach to climate resilience and disaster recovery.

She previously worked as a Project Reporter and Communications Associate at Project for Public Spaces (PPS), during which time she focused on telling the story of placemaking. She managed written content and promoted a narrative for building cities around places.

Prior to joining PPS, Katherine worked at World Resources Institute Ross Center for Sustainable Cities, coordinating digital communications and producing written content to promote a vision of more sustainable urban development. While in this role, Katherine conducted research on urban mobility and development, and supported messaging on more equal urbanization in advance of global convenings like Habitat III. Previously, Katherine pursued her Master of Arts in Columbia University's Climate and Society program, focusing on a combination of atmospheric dynamics, urban sustainability, and environmental policy. She is a great believer in the power of cities to chart a path toward a more sustainable future.