Kate Montgomery

Dr. Kate Montgomery serves as Clinical Assistant Professor and inaugural Department Chair for the Doctor of Liberal Studies, Master of Dispute Resolution, Master of Liberal Studies and associated graduate certificate programs. In her extensive innovative and interdisciplinary career, she has worked with world-renowned and DFW organizations such as SMU, Mary Kay Inc., Frito-Lay, Inc., Anheuser-Busch Companies, Dallas Museum of Art, and Gannett Co., Inc. In addition, she co-founded the DLS program, one of four in the world. Kate serves on the board of the national Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Program, collaborating with fellow program directors and having co-presented at director workshops since 2013.

She is active in the International Academic Forum (iafor), encouraging interdisciplinary discussion, facilitating intercultural awareness, and promoting international exchange, principally through educational interaction and academic research. She has presented at iafor conferences in London, Tokyo, Dublin, and Singapore. Her teaching and research interests include organizational development, creativity and innovation, human-centered leadership, and global studies within industry, education, and non-profit sectors at home and abroad. She teaches graduate courses (e.g., Organizational Communications, Creative and Critical Thinking, Languages of Advertising, MLS Capstone) and develops special topics courses (e.g., Organizational Culture: A Virtual Immersion at Home and Abroad, Strategic Innovation and Mission Alignment) tightly focused on the intersection of interdisciplinary, human-centered learning with a professional orientation.

Dr. Montgomery received her doctorate in Higher Education from SMU, her M.L.A. in Global Studies from SMU, and her B.S. in Marketing from University of Colorado, Boulder and possesses additional post-master's coursework in anthropology (globalization and development), business (international entrepreneurship), and engineering (innovation and design) which attest to her love for lifelong learning.