Her primary research interests include public economics and consumer finance, with a specific focus on low-income tax and transfer programs. She’s coauthored two articles in the National Tax Journal on tax credits for low- and middle-income households, one of which won the Musgrave Prize for the best paper published in the National Tax Journal in 2010. Her current work focuses on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly the food stamp program; food insecurity; and, financial decision-making of lower income households. Prior to coming to Seattle University, Dr. Fitzpatrick worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (ERS) and served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She previously worked at the Health Policy Institute, the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, and the Brookings Institution.