Katherine Spilde, Ph.D. MBA, is a cultural anthropologist and Professor in the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at San Diego State University (SDSU), where she serves as Endowed Chair of the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming. In her role as Sycuan Chair, Dr. Spilde teaches the nation’s only four-year degree in tribal casino operations management. Prior to her appointment at SDSU, Katherine held leadership positions at UC-Riverside, the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development, the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) and the National Gambling Impact Study Commission, a Congressional commission that produced a comprehensive study of U.S. gambling policy for President Clinton in 1999.

An award-winning author of over 50 academic articles, she has written numerous national and state-level impact studies and has worked extensively with over 100 tribal governments on nation-building activities.