Alumni Association Board
Katia Hudspeth
'19
International Hospitality & Service Management with a Minor in Business Administration
Katia Hudspeth is a people and organizational development consultant, and founder of Hudspeth Consulting LLC. Hudspeth Consulting supports organizations across the U.S. by providing human resources and talent development services, while fostering people-focused organizational cultures and operational excellence.
During her time at RIT, she was deeply involved across many student organizations, leadership roles, and campus initiatives. An active student, she had multiple leadership positions within Delta Phi Epsilon, Tiger Tales Toastmasters, and the RIT Hospitality Association. She was also an active member of Eta Sigma Delta Honorary Society, served as a Global Ambassador for the Office of Global Education, and contributed to Student Government through the Student Affairs and Academics & Co-Ops Committees. She also enjoyed her involvement with TEDxRIT, as well as leading fundraising and sponsorship efforts for the RITz Alumni Mixer and Gala Event namely during RIT Croatia’s 25th anniversary celebration.
Beyond organizational involvement, Katia took on several roles that supported both student and academic communities, serving as a Peer Advisor for YearOne and was also involved in programs with the RIT Leadership Institute (now the CLCE), later becoming a Leadership Scholar with the Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement (CLCE), and served as a Women’s Senator in Student Government.
If that wasn’t enough, she worked in RIT Catering and Academic Affairs, supported coursework as a lab assistant for Wine & Food classes, and served as a student notetaker for NTID Access Services.
After graduation—and prior to opening her consulting business—Katia worked in luxury hospitality leadership roles with Dorchester Collection, Maybourne and The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in the human resources and talent development space. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of Georgia and resides in the metro Atlanta area with her husband, fellow alum Ethan Christopher Brian Kersat (International Business, Minor in Management Information Systems '18).
On the topic of starting her own business, Katia says “I started thinking more seriously about what I wanted next after years in luxury hospitality and leadership roles; about what paths I could pursue outside of hospitality while staying within talent and organizational development. I believed my studies and experience in hospitality was such a transferable set of knowledge, skills and abilities.” Connecting with a previous co-worker led her to supporting a clinical laboratory business in Los Angeles in strategic and operational human resources management, as well as talent and organizational development, which led her to launch her consulting business, Hudspeth Consulting LLC in February 2025. Over the past year, she has also taken on select short-term projects, including book releases, guest lectures, leadership retreats, and special project rollouts that have taken her across the U.S., and even back to her home to Croatia.
Katia notes, “It’s been a fun ride and I feel very lucky I got to expand my career journey in this way!”
Staying connected to her alma mater has been valuable at every stage of her life. In nearly any major city in the United States, and often abroad, you are likely to find fellow RIT alumni, which creates organic opportunities for friendship, community, and professional connection. Katia also notes that “RIT has been a meaningful part of my life for as long as I can remember. I come from an RIT family, and since graduating, there has been at least one extended family member on either my side or my husband’s side who has been enrolled at or working for RIT each year.”
Because of her deep personal connection and natural advocacy for RIT, she joined the RIT Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2024.
Katia says, “AABOD felt like a natural fit. I value the opportunity to stay connected—whether to the main or international campuses—and to help strengthen RIT’s presence within the current and future alumni community.”
Katia is currently working on a special Alumni Persona project with the AABOD team.
Katia says “for those who are passionate about helping foster those relationships, getting involved in the RIT Alumni Association is a meaningful way to help create those opportunities for yourself and others, while also participating in and guiding conversations shaping the present and future of RIT.”
In addition to her board work, Katia has taken the initiative to connect fellow alumni in the Atlanta area, with the push and assistance from Greg Van Leaken, Managing Director of Investments at RIT, who connected a few alumni via a LinkedIn group. While she knew a few people beforehand, several were new connections. At the time, they did not yet have a dedicated alumni relations representative for the region, so she brought together a small group for a dinner gathering (with some great RIT AABOD swag), and it served as a strong starting point.
Shortly following the initial gathering, a formal RIT alumni representative in the Atlanta region (Katie Laley) was appointed, bringing together the organically grown group with many other alumni in the area via formal events, which have been well attended.
Katia notes, “Katie has been amazing and has done a lot to further activate us; we have some very cool, proud and successful alumni down here in various industries! We quickly realized there is a strong and growing alumni presence in the area. In addition to these structured events, the group has continued to connect through more informal, organic meet-ups across different settings. It has been a great way to build friendships and stay connected through our shared RIT experience.”
Alumni Association Board
Katia Hudspeth
'19
International Hospitality & Service Management with a Minor in Business Administration
Katia Hudspeth is a people and organizational development consultant, and founder of Hudspeth Consulting LLC. Hudspeth Consulting supports organizations across the U.S. by providing human resources and talent development services, while fostering people-focused organizational cultures and operational excellence.
During her time at RIT, she was deeply involved across many student organizations, leadership roles, and campus initiatives. An active student, she had multiple leadership positions within Delta Phi Epsilon, Tiger Tales Toastmasters, and the RIT Hospitality Association. She was also an active member of Eta Sigma Delta Honorary Society, served as a Global Ambassador for the Office of Global Education, and contributed to Student Government through the Student Affairs and Academics & Co-Ops Committees. She also enjoyed her involvement with TEDxRIT, as well as leading fundraising and sponsorship efforts for the RITz Alumni Mixer and Gala Event namely during RIT Croatia’s 25th anniversary celebration.
Beyond organizational involvement, Katia took on several roles that supported both student and academic communities, serving as a Peer Advisor for YearOne and was also involved in programs with the RIT Leadership Institute (now the CLCE), later becoming a Leadership Scholar with the Center for Leadership & Civic Engagement (CLCE), and served as a Women’s Senator in Student Government.
If that wasn’t enough, she worked in RIT Catering and Academic Affairs, supported coursework as a lab assistant for Wine & Food classes, and served as a student notetaker for NTID Access Services.
After graduation—and prior to opening her consulting business—Katia worked in luxury hospitality leadership roles with Dorchester Collection, Maybourne and The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company in the human resources and talent development space. She is currently pursuing her Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at the University of Georgia and resides in the metro Atlanta area with her husband, fellow alum Ethan Christopher Brian Kersat (International Business, Minor in Management Information Systems '18).
On the topic of starting her own business, Katia says “I started thinking more seriously about what I wanted next after years in luxury hospitality and leadership roles; about what paths I could pursue outside of hospitality while staying within talent and organizational development. I believed my studies and experience in hospitality was such a transferable set of knowledge, skills and abilities.” Connecting with a previous co-worker led her to supporting a clinical laboratory business in Los Angeles in strategic and operational human resources management, as well as talent and organizational development, which led her to launch her consulting business, Hudspeth Consulting LLC in February 2025. Over the past year, she has also taken on select short-term projects, including book releases, guest lectures, leadership retreats, and special project rollouts that have taken her across the U.S., and even back to her home to Croatia.
Katia notes, “It’s been a fun ride and I feel very lucky I got to expand my career journey in this way!”
Staying connected to her alma mater has been valuable at every stage of her life. In nearly any major city in the United States, and often abroad, you are likely to find fellow RIT alumni, which creates organic opportunities for friendship, community, and professional connection. Katia also notes that “RIT has been a meaningful part of my life for as long as I can remember. I come from an RIT family, and since graduating, there has been at least one extended family member on either my side or my husband’s side who has been enrolled at or working for RIT each year.”
Because of her deep personal connection and natural advocacy for RIT, she joined the RIT Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2024.
Katia says, “AABOD felt like a natural fit. I value the opportunity to stay connected—whether to the main or international campuses—and to help strengthen RIT’s presence within the current and future alumni community.”
Katia is currently working on a special Alumni Persona project with the AABOD team.
Katia says “for those who are passionate about helping foster those relationships, getting involved in the RIT Alumni Association is a meaningful way to help create those opportunities for yourself and others, while also participating in and guiding conversations shaping the present and future of RIT.”
In addition to her board work, Katia has taken the initiative to connect fellow alumni in the Atlanta area, with the push and assistance from Greg Van Leaken, Managing Director of Investments at RIT, who connected a few alumni via a LinkedIn group. While she knew a few people beforehand, several were new connections. At the time, they did not yet have a dedicated alumni relations representative for the region, so she brought together a small group for a dinner gathering (with some great RIT AABOD swag), and it served as a strong starting point.
Shortly following the initial gathering, a formal RIT alumni representative in the Atlanta region (Katie Laley) was appointed, bringing together the organically grown group with many other alumni in the area via formal events, which have been well attended.
Katia notes, “Katie has been amazing and has done a lot to further activate us; we have some very cool, proud and successful alumni down here in various industries! We quickly realized there is a strong and growing alumni presence in the area. In addition to these structured events, the group has continued to connect through more informal, organic meet-ups across different settings. It has been a great way to build friendships and stay connected through our shared RIT experience.”