Kimberly Mathe-Soulek appointed assistant professor of hospitality and tourism management
Kimberly Mathe-Soulek has been appointed an assistant professor in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business.
Mathe-Soulek is one of nine new faculty members at Pamplin this fall. They are part of the college’s efforts to strengthen and expand its teaching, research, and business outreach programs under the leadership of Robert Sumichrast, who became dean in July.
Mathe-Soulek received her Ph.D. in hospitality administration in 2011 at Oklahoma State University, where she also completed her MBA and bachelor’s degree in marketing.
Her research interests are in food and beverage operations and management as well as product innovation. She has published in such top-tier journals as Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, and International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management.
In her former career, she worked in the consumer insights department of Sonic Drive-In Corp. in Oklahoma City, helping to pioneer product development processes.
She has also been a front-of-house manager/event supervisor for a bistro in Stillwater, Okla., and has served as a business and dining etiquette guest speaker for many organizations and universities in Oklahoma.
She holds an introductory sommelier certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers and received a Level 1 Award in Wine from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust.
