News Article

Let's meet Dr. Katie Hill, the director of the newly opened R.M. “Bob” Wood Sales Leadership Center. The center provides a laboratory environment for students to perfect their sales and presentation skills.

Katie Hill

Place of birth:

Valtice, Czech Republic (near Brno and Breclav; close to the Slovakia border)

What brought your family to America?

My father is a doctor and a physiologist hired by Cornell Medical center in New York to do kidney research. My dad came to the USA without my mom and me in 1988. We were not able to come with him due to the Communist government. They did not allow families out of the country in fear that they would not come back, so by dad had to go on his own. After a year, the Berlin Wall fell and my mom and I joined my dad in New York and I started first grade there.

Who was your favorite teacher (and why)?

My favorite teacher was my first and second grade teacher Mrs. Lynch at P.S. 183 in New York City, New York. She was amazingly patient with me as a new student from a foreign country that spoke zero English. She was creative in how she taught me and showed me kindness and made sure that I knew she was interested and committed to teaching me.

How many languages can you speak?

3.5: Czech, Slovak, English and proficient in Spanish

Your philosophy on education in seven words:

Create Curiosity, Unleash Creativity and Cultivate Passion

What makes for a good student?

A good student is one that is curious and goes the extra mile to learn.

If you could teach another field, which one and why?

Psychology... I love to study and understand how people think, cope and make decisions in the changing world.

What is the one thing you wish you could teach everyone about your field?

That no matter what job you have in life, you will always be selling in some capacity.

What are you working on right now?

Marketing, fundraising and organizing for the new sales leadership program and a couple of manuscripts on team selling and improvisation.

Before you retire I want to...

write a book on the art of team selling.

In college, I was known for...

volleyball and being the director of student orientations.

What music is playing in your car?

Top 40 and lots of Adele, Taylor Swift, Madonna and Paula Abdul

What makes a good professor?

Many students lack the confidence to express their opinion for fear of being wrong. I strive to foster an environment that is free of ridicule and judgment, but also challenges the students to take risks and think critically about the information studied. As a professor, I seek to provide an atmosphere where that fear is mitigated by the use of real-world organizational practices, such as brainstorming, logic path problem-solving, and SWOT analysis.

My favorite motion picture is...

Love Story.

The television series I must TiVo...

Grey's Anatomy.

The last book I read for fun was...

The Nighingale by Kristin Hannah.

Why did you choose A-State?

The undeniable camaraderie in the College of Business and the fantastic leadership by our Dean, Shane Hunt. I chose A-State because I wanted to develop and run a professional sales center and A-State and the College of Business shared in my vision.

My favorite trip was...

Costa Rica with my little brother before I went into the PhD Program.

If I could travel anywhere it would be...

Australia.

The best advice I ever received was...

Never settle… always strive to do more than you think you can… and when you are ready to give up, don’t and just go even harder - My mom

What is the one thing I’ve learned I’d tell my college self...

You remember all of the times that you asked, “when am I ever going to need to know this?” well you will! At some point down the line you will be grateful that you know this stuff, even if it seems irrelevant now.

My hobby is...

cooking, baking, crafts, volleyball and tennis.

My passion is...

teaching and coaching others.

My pro sports team is...

the Memphis Grizzlies.

My pet peeve is...

rude people.

My favorite meal is...

sushi (the real stuff... raw!).

A perfect day is...

A snow day... being snowed in with my family and settling in around a fire.

E-book or hardback?

Definitely hardback!

Beach or mountains?

That is tough... mountains.

I wish I could...

Draw and play the piano

Only my friends know I...

love to have dance parties!

My favorite saying is...

“Be optimistic, don’t you be a grumpy, when the road gets bumpy, just smile, smile, smile and be happy!”