Katherine Hale joined the Gatton College Undergraduate Resource Center in 2020. She is particularly passionate about helping students achieve academic success and engage in high-impact experiences such as education abroad, internships, research, and service learning. In her current role, she manages various global initiatives for the College and serves as a resource for Gatton students participating in education abroad programs as well as the primary academic advisor for undergraduate international business students. Prior to coming to UK, Katherine worked for eight years as a study abroad advisor and has previous experience in residence life and ESL instruction. She earned a Master of Arts in Student Affairs in Higher Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, German, and Religious Studies, both from Western Kentucky University. Her most cherished college memories are from her study abroad experiences in Mexico and Austria. Post-graduation, she had the opportunity to spend an academic year in Argentina working as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant.
Gatton students can schedule a meeting with Katherine at https://myuk.uky.edu/zapps/appointments/availability/kha261.
Introducing Katherine Hale!
Katherine's roots lie in Nicholasville, and she has spent most of her life in Kentucky, with a few short stints living abroad. Her journey in higher education began with a residence life position at the Gatton Academy of Math and Science on WKU's campus. After eight fulfilling years as an education abroad advisor at WKU, Katherine found her way to academic advising in the Gatton Undergraduate Resource Center in October 2020.
What captivates Katherine about Gatton and its students? It's the entrepreneurial spirit she observes in many of our students and their determination to achieve success during and beyond their college years. She admires the intentionality her advisees show in setting and pursuing their career goals, something she wishes she had been as focused on during her own college journey.
Now, here's a fascinating fun fact about Katherine: She is a polyglot! She speaks three languages, including Spanish and German, both of which she majored in during her undergraduate years. Her love for Spanish started in middle school and continues to be an integral part of her daily life as she communicates with her Argentine husband and her soon-to-be bilingual toddler. Her interest in German grew from her exposure to Austrian culture and the German language through her maternal grandparents, who were immigrants from Austria.
