Torie Keeton provides clients with an issue-focused perspective on public policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and strategic advocacy. Her experience spans state government, rural economic development, healthcare, mental health and addiction policy, and corrections, giving her a broad understanding of the policy landscape and the diverse stakeholders involved in shaping public policy.

Most recently, Torie served as the Legislative Liaison at the North Carolina State Department of Adult Correction, where she focused on inmate rehabilitation and reentry, as well as correctional healthcare cost containment. Prior to joining the Department of Adult Correction, Torie served as Policy and Government Affairs Director at a rural economic development organization, where she designed and implemented a tiered policy and political engagement strategy. Her work supported initiatives addressing healthcare availability, broadband deployment, commercial finance options, and other issues critical to rural communities.

Earlier in her career, Torie worked in the nonprofit sector specializing in health policy, where she developed a deep appreciation for the perspectives, priorities, and challenges of stakeholders across the healthcare system—from patients and providers to payers, financers, and policymakers. Her work encompassed a range of issues, including commercial insurance coverage, involuntary commitment, Medicaid eligibility, patient treatment records, and provider reimbursement. She also served as the Kennedy Forum’s Research and Advocacy Advisor, managing state and federal government relations efforts focused on mental health and addiction policy.

Torie graduated summa cum laude from the State University of New York at Potsdam with a bachelor’s degree in community health. She received the 2018 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence in recognition of her leadership on the university’s tobacco-free campus initiative and the 2016 National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York State’s Young Adult Leadership Award for her work engaging young adults in state advocacy campaigns. She is a graduate of the 2025 spring cohort of the North Carolina Institute of Political Leadership and a 2026 fellow of the Health Reformers Academy.

Torie lives in Raleigh with her special needs shih tzu and sings as an alto with the North Carolina Master Chorale.