Katie P. Desiderio
Professor of Management; Assistant Vice President, Corporate-Educational Partnerships (2009)
Education
- B.A., MBA, Wilkes University
- Ph.D., Barry University
Contact
Email: desideriok@moravian.edu
Areas of Research and/or Expertise
Holding a doctorate in leadership with a specialization in human resource development, Dr. Desiderio’s teaching interests include a mindfulness thread in courses such as, Leading People in Organizations, Management & Organizational Theory, Organizational Behavior and Leadership, Mindfulness in Sport, and Happiness in the Workplace. Her research is in optimizing human performance at work, employee engagement, organizational citizenship behaviors, and flow at work, which fuels her work in and out of the classroom.
Biography
Katie P. Desiderio, counts her blessings starting with the people in her life, which guides her approach to work where her focus is on every organization's most important asset - you! Her personality and behavioral attributes emphasize collaboration and all things that keep human beings in focus, which fuels her intrapreneurial spirit.
As an athlete, she found flow in sports and later discovered flow at work to fuel her professional trajectory. After working for several years in corporate marketing, Katie chose a second career in higher education, where she celebrates the honor of being the first female chairperson of the Economics and Business Department at the sixth oldest institution in America and first to educate women.
As the mama of two extra ordinary girls, she is committed to the development of rising leaders, namely in the spirit of leading from any seat. Along with her work as a tenured faculty member at ˿Ƶ, Desiderio is Principal Partner in Learning of Proximal Development, LLC, an authorized DiSC partner, specializing in leadership development and the advancement of performance through learning.
Katie's personal mission is grounded in her r²C model, where she had devoted her work to recognize what we give our time and energy to grow, to reflect on how we [choose to] interact with and see the world, and at the heart of her approach, to connect with why this fuels transformative growth. This model is delicately nurtured in the interplay of our mindset and our [mindful] behaviors, so when she falls along the way, she chooses to fall up. This inspires her to lead with grace while tickling curiosity and encouraging discovery in working with and through others.
Dr. Desiderio is a proud alumna of Wilkes University, where she earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees, and of Barry University, where she earned a Doctorate in Organizational Learning and Leadership with a specialization in Human Resource Development (HRD).
As a scholar-practioner, she has been co-authoring journal articles and conference proceedings in the field since 2009. She most recently co-authored Wall Street Journal Best-Selling Business book, The Beekeeper: Pollinating Your Organization for Transformative Growth.
Awards/Distinctions
- 2023 Earned Full Professor of Management, School of Business, ˿Ƶ
- 2023 Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author, The Beekeeper: Pollinating Your Organization for Transformative Growth.
- 2022 Lehigh Valley Business Power 30 in Higher Education: those who hold positions that give them the ability to shape our communities and influence our quality of life through education.
- 2021 Lehigh Valley Business Power 30 in Higher Education: those who hold positions that give them the ability to shape our communities and influence our quality of life through education.
- 2019 Lehigh Valley Forty Under 40 Honoree: Chosen for contributions to their companies, industries, and communities, each of the honorees was selected for his or her commitment to business growth, professional excellence and the community.
- 2018 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award
- 2017 Moravian College Commencement Speaker-elected by graduating class.
- 2015 Earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor of Management
- 2015 Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary Inductee, the national leadership honor society
- 2013 Timothy M. Breidegam Memorial Faculty/ Administrator Service Award, Moravian College
- 2011 Moravian College Commencement Speaker-elected by graduating class.
- 2011 Track Chair Assistant Editor, Critical HRD/Social Justice track, AHRD conference
- 2010 Golden Apple Award recipient for teaching excellence sponsored by Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK)
Academic Publications
Desiderio, Katie P. & Frino, Michael G. (2023). The Beekeeper. Hoboken, New Jersey: Wiley.
Desiderio, Katie P., Frino, Michael G., and Toppin, Matt. (2021), Pressure as a Motivator: A Conceptual Paper on the Physics of Stress and Flow. Performance Improvement, 60: 31-35 doi:10.1002/pfi.21956
Frino, M. G. and Desiderio, K. P. (2019), The Agile Sales Force: Understanding Generational Differences to Influence Change. Performance Improvement, 58: 6-19. doi:10.1002/pfi.21893
Frino, M. G. and Desiderio, K. P. “A Piece of Cake for Coaches.” World Coaching Magazine. June 2019. Pg. 43-48.
Frino, Michael & Djibo, Idriss & Desiderio, Katie P. (2019). Organizational Alignment as a Predictor of Employee Engagement. Performance Improvement. 58. 21-27.10.1002/pfi.21847.
Frino, M. G. and Desiderio, K. P. (2018), The Genesis of Flow: What to Explore Next?. Performance Improvement. doi:
Frino, M. G. & Desiderio, K. P. (2018). Toward a Theory of Patient Focused Selling. Performance Improvement Journal 57 (2): 33-39. Doi: 10.1002/pfi
Djibo, I., Frino, M. G., Martinez, J., Desiderio, K. P. (2016). Impact of a Didactic and Experiential Sales Training Based on Empathy: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Performance Improvement Journal 55 (9): 18-25. Doi: 10.1002/pfi.21612
Ross, L.R, Desiderio, K.P., Knudstrup, M., Frino, M.G., (2014). Sales Teams or Sales Persons: Performance Implications for Embracing Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultural Values in a Global Marketplace. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 26(4): 53-73.
Frino, M.G., Desiderio, K.P. (2012). Functional Considerations for Gender and Experience as Predictors of Sales Performance in Business-to-Business Sales Organizations. Performance Improvement Quarterly, 24.4.
Kopp, D.M., Nikolovska, I., Desiderio, K.P., & Guterman, J.T. (2011). "Relaaax, I remember the recession in the early 1980s...": Organizational storytelling as a crisis management tool. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 22, 373-385.
Kopp, D.M, Nikolovska, I., Desiderio, K.P., Guterman, J. T. (2011). Organizational storytelling as a crisis management strategy. Human Resource Development Quarterly, (in press).
Djibo, I., Desiderio, K.P., Price, N. (2010). Predicting Temporary Employee's Organizational Commitment and Citizenship Behavior: The Role of Leader Behavior. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 21(4):
Kopp, D.M, Desiderio, K.P., McAtavey, J.M. (2010). When job aids attack: On the social history of dubious job aids. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 21(2): 209-221.
Kopp, D.M, & Desiderio, K.P. (2009) Training's woeful countenance. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 20(1): 135-142.
Academic Conference Proceedings
Djibo, I., Frino, M. G., Martinez, J., Desiderio, K. P. (2016). Impact of a Didactic and Experiential Sales Training Based on Empathy: A Quasi-Experimental Study. Proceedings of the Academy of Human Resource Development 2015 International Research Conference, Jacksonville, FL.
Desiderio, K.P., Frino, M.G., Kopp, D.M. (2015). The Leadership Compass: Exploring the Depths of Flow. Proceedings of the Academy of Human Resource Development 2015 International Research Conference. St. Louis, MO.
Frino, M.G., Martinez, J., Desiderio, K.P., Ramsay, C.L. (2015). Toward a Theory of Patient Focused Selling. Proceedings of the Academy of Human Resource Development 2015 International Research Conference. St. Louis, MO.
Frino, M.G., Desiderio, K.P. (2013). The Role of Demographics as Predictors of Successful Performance of Sales Professionals in Business-to-Business Sales Organizations. Proceedings of the Academy of Human Resource Development 2013 International Research Conference. Washington, D.C.
Desiderio, K.P., Kopp, D.M., Nikolovska, I. (2011). The locus of flow: A framework for research and practice. Proceedings of the Academy of Human Resource Development 2011 International Research Conference.Schaumburg, IL.
Kopp, D.M, Nikolovska, I., Desiderio, K.P., Guterman, J. T. (2010). Organizational storytelling as a crisis management strategy. International Conference 2010, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
Nakov, L., Nikolovska, I., Kopp, D.M, Desiderio, K.P., (2010). The insights of Social and Transitional Justice- Towards a New Global Perspective for HRD. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Human Resource Development across Europe. Pecs, Hungary.
Kopp, D.M, , Desiderio, K.P., McAtavey, J.M. (2010) When job aids attack: On the social history of dubious job aids. T. Chermak, J. Storberg-Walker, C. Carroll, (Eds.), Proceedings of the Academy of Human Resource Development 2010 International Research Conference. Knoxville, TN.
Djibo, I., Desiderio, K.P., Price, N. (2010) Predicting Temporary Employee's Organizational Commitment and Citizenship Behavior: The Role of Leader Behavior. T. Chermak, J. Storberg-Walker, C. Carroll, (Eds.), Proceedings of the Academy of Human Resource Development 2010 International Research Conference.Knoxville, TN.
Kopp, D.M & Desiderio, K.P. (2009) Training's woeful countenance. Proceedings of the Sixth International Critical Management Studies Conference. Warwick Business School, The University of Warwick, UK.
Kopp, D.M & Desiderio, K.P. (2009) Training's woeful countenance. T. Chermak, J. Storberg-Walker, C. Carroll, (Eds.), Proceedings of the Academy of Human Resource Development 2009 International Research Conference. Washington, D.C.
Industry Associations/Research
- Academy of Human Resource Development – Associate Proceedings Editor, 2012-2013
- Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD) Member, 2008-present
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Member, 2009-present
- SHRM Lehigh Valley Student Chapter Co-Chair, 2009-present
- Current Research: Leadership, Flow, Job Satisfaction, Training & Organizational Behavior
Manuscript Reviewer
- Human Resource Development Quarterly (HRDQ)
- Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD)
- Cutting Edge Committee
- Dissertation of the Year Committee
Symposium Chair
- (2009, 2010, 2013) AHRD International Research Conference of the Americas
Student Engagement
Dr. Katie P. Desiderio, associate professor of management, is trying to put her students in that first camp before they even cross the commencement stage. For the fourth consecutive year, students in her Management 342 class presented their self-created ePortfolios to panels of esteemed alumni and members of the community who have experience hiring employees. /
Katie Desiderio’s delight about becoming chair of the department of economics and business has everything to do with the fact that now she lives what she teaches. Being able to connect her classroom work and her research with what she is living is paramount. https://www.
The morning of Wednesday, November 2, 2016, began with a better-than-usual buzz in the HUB at ˿Ƶ. The students in Management 255: Mindfulness and Flow in Sport Organizations, in cooperation with their professor, Dr. Katie P. Desiderio and Dean Amy Saul and Pat Hanna of the Center for Career and Civic Engagement, held the third annual Hounds Connect at Home event.
Although Strauss had decided to leave Moravian, he felt a special connection to his First Year Seminar advisor, Katie Desiderio, assistant professor of management. “I felt that she was one of my main supporters when I transferred to the Academy. Despite where I was going to school, her mentorship and friendship never swayed,” Strauss recalled.
Casey Raymond shares of talent of making their day with MoPaws.
The ˿Ƶ Community can add great value to your journey if you allow it...(see magazine pages 13-15 for more):
As part of this Organizational Behavior and Leadership course, taught by Dr. Katie P. Desiderio, assistant professor of management, students made ePortfolio presentations to different panels of professionals. Each student was allotted 10-12 minutes to highlight their ePortfolios, which consist of information regarding achievements, experience and self-assessments. A short critique from on-hand panelists followed.
In the fall of 2013, students of ˿Ƶ’s “Mindfulness and Flow in Sport Organizations” course tackled one of the most difficult questions facing a minor league baseball affiliate, “How do you successfully promote an early-season weeknight game?” Boiled down, when the temperatures are hovering around 40 degrees, what will get fans through the turnstiles and into the stands?
On Oct. 4, 2013, the Fan Cave proved to be a great classroom setting for more than 40 ˿Ƶ students and faculty interested in sports and sports management. Mostly comprised of students in the University’s “Mindfulness and Flow in Sport Organizations” course, offered by Katie P. Desiderio, assistant professor of management, the contingent took in a three-hour visit of the Fan Cave, but discussed a lot more than just balls and strikes.
As the crowd of 9,000-plus fans settled into their seats to watch the 2013 Gildan Triple-A National Championship Game, hosted by the Lehigh Valley IronPigs at Coca-Cola Park on Sept. 17, many in attendance likely couldn’t name the three teams in action. Helping the staff facilitate the game day experience that evening were 30 students enrolled in ˿Ƶ’s “Mindfulness and Flow in Sport Organizations” course, offered by Katie P. Desiderio, assistant professor of management.
Throughout the fall 2012 semester, students from Dr. Desiderio’s Human Resource Management classes experienced a unique hands-on learning opportunity as they partnered with the Women’s 5K Classic, Inc.
˿Ƶ stood for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness long before the country’s founding fathers wrote that famous phrase into the Declaration of Independence. But what does “happiness” really mean? Dr. Desiderio explored the essence of the Moravian culture with her FYS students with the help of alumni mentors.