Tell us about your path to becoming a psychologist?
My professional path has included experience in community mental health, state facilities, private practice, and academic medical centers. Over time, my work expanded beyond individual clinical care to include systems-evel advocacy, driven largely by seeing how policy decisions affect patient access, quality of care, and the sustainability of psychological practice.
Within NPA, I currently serve as Chair of the Professional Affairs Committee (PAC), after first joining the committee during the pandemic. When I was initially asked to join, I had no idea what the PAC actually did. Over the past five years, my professional focus has increasingly centered on advocacy, including protecting the public, promoting access to psychological services under Medicaid, and advancing thoughtful scope-of-practice initiatives, including prescription authority for psychologists (RxP) in Nebraska. Through my work with NPA and the Professional Affairs Committee, I was directly involved in advocacy efforts that led to the passage of LB381 and LB332.
- LB381 addressed program integrity and audit practices under Medicaid, helping balance accountability with fairness and access to mental healthcare.
- LB332 expanded Medicaid coverage to include psychology services provided by supervised doctoral interns and postdoctoral fellows, a critical step in supporting training pathways, improving access, and recognizing the essential role trainees play in service delivery.
Being part of these legislative successes was both humbling and energizing. I never set out expecting to work in legislative advocacy, and now it is one of the most meaningful parts of my professional life. I am especially excited to continue supporting RxP-related efforts and hope to contribute to similar success through ongoing committee work.
In addition to my work with NPA, I serve as the Vice-Chair and ASPPB Delegate on the Nebraska DHHS Board of Psychology, where I am involved in regulatory oversight, education and investigation consultation, and professional standards. This role has deepened my appreciation for the balance between public protection and supporting ethical, accessible psychological practice across the state.
What do you love most about your current position?
At Nebraska Medicine, I enjoy the complexity and collaboration. Working in a medical center requires psychologists to think beyond individual treatment and consider systems, ethics, policy, and interdisciplinary care. I enjoy being part of teams where psychology has a clear voice and a tangible impact. It is challenging work and exactly the kind of challenge that keeps me engaged.
Any tips or advice for new NPA members?
State association membership matters. NPA plays a critical role in protecting the profession, supporting ethical practice, and advocating for access to psychological services in Nebraska, work that directly affects how and where we practice. From there, I encourage new members to explore the committees and attend a few meetings. I did not anticipate the depth of advocacy I would reach through my role on the Professional Affairs Committee, and I certainly never imagined I would help get not one, but two bills passed in Nebraska. Committee involvement is where you see what is really happening behind the scenes and where your voice can matter more than you expect. Sometimes showing up is the most important first step.
What do you like to do when you aren’t working?
When I’m not working, I spend a lot of time with my dogs and my family, which is always grounding and reliably never boring. I enjoy crocheting, playing video games (currently Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing), running, and unwinding with TV, especially The Pitt and many cooking shows. I also spend a fair amount of time in the kitchen myself. Having a mix of creative, active, and purely fun downtime helps me recharge and keeps me sane alongside clinical work and advocacy, which both tend to follow me home if I let them.
Who is someone who’s made a big impact on your life? Why?
My family has had the biggest influence on who I am. I was inspired early on by my grandmothers, one who taught in a one-room schoolhouse and another who went back to earn her high school diploma later in life, graduating the same year as my mother. My parents consistently emphasized the importance of education, and my brilliant siblings, whether they knew it or not, were my fiercest academic competition. That family culture around learning and persistence continues to shape how I approach leadership, advocacy, and my career.
Download Member Spotlight PDF: Kate Linder
You can connect with/send a message to Dr. Linder HERE
