FEATURE KATIE HILL
From the White House to
Harpeth Hall alumna Katie Hill’s communications skills and passion for storytelling has guided her professional career to the highest levels of political and professional sports arenas
by Jessica Bliss
People often ask Katie Hill what the hours were like during her time working in the White House. “I tell them there weren’t hours,” she said. “It just never ended.”
Yet, every morning the Harpeth Hall alumna and Class of 2000 Lady of the Hall found herself marveling at the opportunity to serve her country as she walked in the Northwest gate of the White House and took in the iconic view. First, as the national press secretary for health care at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and then as assistant press secretary for President Barack Obama’s administration, she played a significant role in informing the nation about the important decisions of the executive branch. Though the lines between night and day often felt blurry, she settled into the rhythm. Work began pre-dawn as she read news stories from across the world and monitored “what was popping on Twitter.” By mid-morning, she joined calls with Cabinet agencies to see how they handled tough stories published overnight. She prepared talking points for the White House press secretary's briefing and then spent an hour or more readying the press secretary to speak to White House press correspondents. By the time Ms. Hill took a downbeat to watch the briefing each day, “it felt like I’d run a full marathon, but the day was only half over,” she said. She spent the second half of the day reviewing news coverage, talking to reporters to correct stories, and working on strategic plans for upcoming policy announcements or events. As a student at Harpeth Hall, Ms. Hill never foresaw her future in the White House or in her new position as the National Football League’s senior vice president of communications. From public relations to politics to professional sports, her professional path has taken many turns — “I majored in ancient Greek in college, for example,” she joked. With each step, however, there has been one constant guiding her.
Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy 32 | HARPETH HALL HALLWAYS
“I wouldn't be who, or where, I am today without Harpeth Hall. Period,” she said.
