Katie White ’24 Reflects On Her Nolan School Experience

Katie White ’24

Major/Program: Hotel Administration with minor in Real Estate

What will you always remember about your time at Cornell? Why is it so memorable?

At Cornell, one of the most memorable aspects was being fortunate enough to participate in many clubs and organizations. My favorite memories include helping upperclassmen guide the new underclassmen through mentorship within the Hotel Student Mentorship Program and with the Cornell Hotel Society Collegiate Chapter, providing an ice cream truck for Hotelies’ last day of classes. With Hotel Ezra Cornell, I thoroughly enjoyed working with an extremely motivated team to create an independent philanthropy department, successfully raising over $19,000. Lastly, it has been delightful to share my passion for the Nolan Hotel School as a Nolan Ambassador and staying connected with my love for gymnastics through the Cornell Club Gymnastics Team. Each organization introduced me to some of my best friends and allowed me to develop strong leadership skills. These experiences have certainly provided me with knowledge and creativity that I will utilize throughout my life.

Doing the greatest good is a big part of being a Cornellian. How will you carry this into your career and life after Cornell?

I hope to do the greatest good as a Cornellian by creating memorable experiences and contributing to the greater community. The wonderful experiences I had growing up traveling with my family inspired me to enter the hospitality industry. I hope that no matter what sector of the hospitality industry I am working in throughout my life post-graduation, I can create experiences for people that truly make them happy and that they will remember forever. Additionally, participating in philanthropy was a significant part of my time at Cornell, specifically as the HEC 98 Philanthropy Director. I hope to continue bringing Cornellians together to support the greater community during my life after Cornell, as we are extremely fortunate to have the resources that can allow us to make a difference.

What is the most valuable thing you learned in your time at Cornell? How will you use this lesson or knowledge in the future?

The most valuable thing I learned at Cornell is the importance of connections. From connecting with my classmates, professors, and other students at Cornell, every person I have met has shaped a part of my goals and who I am today. When I first stepped foot onto Cornell’s campus, I was warmly greeted by upperclassmen who exposed me to numerous clubs, guided me through selecting classes, and connected me with professors. My connections with numerous professors has opened my eyes to all the career opportunities within the hospitality industry and shaped my goals for the future. Lastly, my fellow students and classmates have always been there for me, whether debriefing the week at Cafe Jennie or spending late nights studying in Statler. I have certainly not taken these connections for granted, and I have learned the importance of continuously fostering and maintaining these connections no matter how busy I may seem. In the future, I will continue to always reach out and catch up with those in my network, as you never know how these connections may change your life.

What are you most looking forward to after graduation?

After graduation, I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge in the hotel real estate sector while staying connected with the robust alumni network. Upon graduation, I will be starting as a Financial Analyst at Pebblebrook Hotel Trust in Washington D.C. Through pursuing the real estate minor and my summer internships, I developed a strong passion for hotel asset management. I cannot wait to apply what I have learned from my previous experiences and coursework to this role and continue to grow my knowledge alongside many alumni who also work at the company. Additionally, I hope to stay connected to other alumni through participating in the Cornell Hotel Society Washington D.C. chapter. I hope to be an active member of this chapter to allow myself to continue forming connections with other Hotelies through their numerous events.