Dr. Katherine (Kate) Spilde is a leading authority on the social and economic impacts of casino gaming on communities. With a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology and an MBA in entrepreneurial management, Dr. Spilde has presented her public policy and economic development research to industry, government and academic audiences in Japan, Macau, London, Hong Kong, Finland, Canada, France, Russia and Portugal. She has also testified before the US Congress four times on such diverse issues as tribal land claims, federal recognition of tribal governments and tribal economic development. In particular, Dr. Spilde’s work focuses on providing support for tribal governments to direct their casino gaming revenues toward nation (re)building efforts.
Kate is currently a Professor in the L. Robert Payne 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 is responsible for teaching and managing the nation’s first four-year degree program in tribal casino operations management.
The award was given to the Sycuan Institute on Tribal Gaming, where I am the Endowed Chair. The students in the photo are members and alumni of the Tribal Gaming Student Association including two Sycuan tribal members.
Presented with the Chairman’s Leadership Award for my research on tribal government gaming by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA).
Nihon University College of Economics – Tokyo, Japan