Dr. Jokima Hiller

While building a career in the hospitality industry, Jokima Hiller’s entrepreneurial record was established as early as college when she created computer-generated baby shower invitations and wedding programs under the heading of Hiller Ink. She would go on to find her niche in assisting in the planning process of bridal and baby showers, family reunions, and weddings. Later, she would become part owner of Alpha Basics, an online marketing company, offering bath and body products and jewelry, using a drop-shipping business model.

Merging her hospitality and business education with her hotel and entrepreneurial background, Jokima is an award-winning authorpreneur, co-authoring The RevPAR Formula and The Red Book and authoring 7 EASY Ways to Show Your Employees YOU Care! as well as contributing to the collaborative book written by survivors of life’s challenges, I Survived. Jokima’s story coloring book, Sabrina and Her New Shoe offers a way for adults to start conversations with children about people with differences.

Honored to be teaching students in her hometown of Gary, Indiana, Jokima is excited to share her knowledge, experiences, and passion in the areas of management and entrepreneurship! Recently a nominee of and recipient of the Indiana University Northwest Trustee’s Teaching Award, her research interests are in social intelligence for hotel managers, the treatment, training, and development of hospitality industry employees, and the university’s role in the entrepreneurship ecosystem.

As the first African American faculty member for the hospitality leadership department at Missouri State University, Jokima became an above the knee amputee which has added a new layer of understanding from which she approaches her role as a hospitality and business professional. Noted as one of the 25 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality 2021, one of the 100 Most Powerful People in USA Hospitality in 2022, one of the 30 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality 2022, one of the Notable Leaders of 2023, and one of the 50 Most Influential Educators in Global Hospitality 2024 by the International Hospitality Institute, Jokima is a leader in the hospitality industry. As part of the book writing, educating, and training duo BET on Hospitality, she is a speaker, author, podcaster, workshop facilitator, consultant, mentor, and change agent!