Kate Watkins has been named the new state demographer, according to an announcement on Wednesday from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

Watkins spent seven years as an economist with the General Assembly’s Legislative Council. She served as the council’s chief economist from November 2017 to May 2022, leading the council’s economic team through the state revenue forecasts during COVID.

She then founded Bright Fox Analytics, an economic, socioeconomic and data analysis consulting firm.

“It is truly an honor to step into the role of State Demographer,” said Watkins in a statement Wednesday. “I look forward to working with communities across the state to provide the information needed to understand Colorado’s demographics and to plan for the future.”

She replaces Elizabeth Garner, who has been the state demographer since 2004 and is retiring on Nov. 29, 2024. Watkins will start part-time on Nov. 2 and move into the full-time role on Dec. 2.

Q&A with State Demographer Elizabeth Garner, retiring after 20 years in numbers

Maria de Cambra, executive director of the Department of Local Affairs, said “[e]veryone who has worked with Kate speaks of her stellar reputation and describes her as their go-to resource. Kate is a pillar in the Denver business economics community, and we’re lucky that she’ll be able to carry on the legacy of excellence at the State Demographer’s Office.”

The state demography office “provides population estimates and forecasts for Colorado’s regions, counties, and municipalities developed by the State Demography Office and the U.S. Census Bureau.”

Watkins holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and international studies from the University of Denver, a master’s degree in sociology from Cornell; a master’s degree in global finance, trade and economic integration, also from DU; and a Ph.D. in sociology from Cornell.