She received one Bachelors of Arts in Foreign Language and International Trade, two Bachelors of Science in Marketing and Business Administration, a Master of Business Administration, and a Ph.D. of Business Administration (Marketing) from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Dr. Hale's previous work experience includes eleven years of military service (U.S. Army Active, Reserve and Illinois National Guard) and seven years of sales within the service, advertising, and transportation industries (e.g. Zimmer Radio Group, Brandt Trucklines, Color Associates). Her research interests include Services Marketing, consumer self-efficacy, mature consumer decision making, age cohort comparisons, service innovation, and self-service technology.