About
Cassidie Carmen Bates
I am a graduate researcher on grief and bereavement leave at the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy and a certified grief support specialist. My work explores how bereavement policies can be strengthened when informed by the lived expertise of grievers alongside subject-matter research.
With nearly a decade of experience in public policy, I transitioned into grief policy following the sudden passing of my dad, John. At 25, I served as the sole executor of his estate—an experience that revealed how little infrastructure exists to support grieving workers, particularly those carrying significant legal and administrative responsibilities while navigating personal loss.
Before graduate school, I spent over five years in nonprofit leadership within the Feeding America network, where I developed and implemented award-winning legislative advocacy models nationwide.
Today, I am channeling both my professional experience and personal journey into Soul Executor, a forthcoming venture designed to guide executors through the complex, often overwhelming realities of estate settlement while grieving. My work is rooted in one belief: grief is inevitable—but better systems of support can be built.
If you are a:
Employer rethinking your bereavement leave policies
Sole executor navigating loss and responsibility
Leader building grief-informed systems
Conference, organization, or media platform seeking thoughtful conversation on grief and infrastructure
Someone carrying more than you were prepared for
I would welcome the opportunity to connect.