Kyle Hight

Kyle Hight is an Assistant Professor at the Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston, specializing in Restaurant Operations, Substance Use in the Restaurant Industry, and Restaurant Entrepreneurship. With over 14 years of hospitality industry experience, including roles in restaurant operations and consulting at Horwath HTL, Dr. Hight bridges academic research with practical insights in the food and beverage sector.

• Education: Ph.D. in Hospitality Management (University of Central Florida), M.P.Acct and MS in Global Hospitality Management (Georgia State University), BBA in Hospitality Administration (Georgia State University), AOS in Culinary Arts (The Culinary Institute of America).

His research investigates workplace stressors, emotional outcomes, and employee retention in the hospitality sector, with recent work examining the moderating role of pay satisfaction in sexual harassment impacts (2025) and pandemic-related mental health challenges (2021). Dr. Hight has published in leading journals such as International Journal of Hospitality Management and Cornell Hospitality Quarterly. His methodological focus spans qualitative analysis, behavioral studies, and quantitative modeling of hospitality performance metrics.

Publications include explorations of e-commerce's influence on hospitality loyalty programs (2019) and the psychological effects of organizational stressors on restaurant employees (2018-2025). Dr. Hight's work consistently addresses workplace culture, managerial effectiveness, and the interplay between occupational stress and substance use.

Dr. Hight holds certifications as a Certified Hospitality Educator (AHLEI), Certified Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers), and Certified Specialist of Wine (Society of Wine Educators). He combines academic rigor with industry expertise in advising and consulting roles.