Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership

"Cream rises to the top." 🥛✨ Iconic Houston chef and Hilton College alum Kaiser Lashkari recently took his kitchen wisdom to a global audience!

Chef Kaiser was interviewed by Fatima Aslam for Pakistan Times USA and Hum News International’s "Community Connect," broadcasting across both the U.S. and Pakistan.

He touched on how his Hilton College education laid the groundwork for his culinary career, and shared the secret ingredients behind his legendary restaurant, Himalaya (which fittingly means "highest peak of taste"):

❤️ Love & Quality: How his family puts immense care into every dish, refusing to compromise on quality or quantity, all for a fair price.

🌱 Healthy Choices: A look into eating for better health, balancing blood sugar and making better lifestyle shifts.

💼 Career Wisdom: His must-hear advice for anyone climbing the ladder — stay away from negative workplace politics, work with absolute honesty and never take shortcuts.

Chef Kaiser credits a Hilton College professor for teaching him that hard work never goes unrecognized. Today, he’s proving that standard every day by giving people an experience so good, they can't help but keep coming back.

Congratulations, Chef Kaiser, on a fantastic international feature! 🏨❤️

Kaiser Lashkari with Fatima Aslam Hum News International Program Community Connect with Fatima Aslam

Innovation, collaboration and a $1,000 research win! 🏆🐾

Dr. Tiffany Legendre, Dr. Dustin Maneethai and a talented group of Hilton College students just wrapped up 4 days at Texas A&M for the first-ever CCHTE symposium!

Our hospitality coogs joined forces with peer programs from TAMU, FIU, Penn State, Cal Poly Pomona, FSU and USF. Trip highlights include:

✨ Fast Funding: Dr. Legendre and Dr. Maneethai developed a research idea in 90 minutes and took home $1,000 in seed money!

✨ Shining on Stage: Our student researchers crushed their showcases, including an amazing presentation by Lane Adkins (’26).

Huge thanks to for hosting an inspiring inaugural event. We can’t wait for future events!

Ready to level up your career in hospitality? 🌍✨

Join our Virtual Info Session to learn about Hilton College’s online graduate programs:
🎓 Executive Master of Hospitality Management

🎓 Doctorate in Global Hospitality Leadership

📅 Monday, June 15
⏰ 11 a.m. to Noon CST
💻 Online

Get the details on admissions, curriculum and how these programs fit into your busy schedule.

🔗 Register here: https://www.uh.edu/hilton-college/forms/machform/view.php?id=554058

Words of wisdom from a hospitality legend. 💡✨

We were incredibly honored to welcome Dianna Vaughan, retired global senior vice president at Hilton Worldwide, as our Spring 2026 commencement speaker!

Drawing from her legendary 30-year career — which started as a night auditor and led all the way to executive leadership — she shared four powerful lessons she learned from her own journey and Conrad Hilton himself:

Embrace diversity in every form: Listen to others and invite every single voice to the table.

Be a humble and kind leader: Balance intuition with data, humanity with technology and progress with culture.

Be a torch passer: Always mentor others along your own journey.

Assume positive intent: If a digital message feels harsh, pause. Instead of reacting, connect in person to find clarity.

Thank you, Dianna, for empowering our new alumni to lead with purpose and carry the true spirit of hospitality forward! 🐾

The moment they’ve been working for! 🎓✨

Congratulations to the Hilton College Spring 2026 graduating class! From late-night study sessions to hands-on experiential learning, you have shown incredible dedication, resilience and passion.

You are no longer just students — you are officially part of our global alumni network. We cannot wait to see how you spread the light and warmth of hospitality across the globe.

Go Coogs! 🐾 Leave a comment below to congratulate your favorite graduate! 👇

Future hospitality leaders in the house! 🏨✨

We loved hosting Brazoswood Culinary Arts for an immersive look at what makes Hilton College world-class. The students got an exclusive back-of-the-house operations tour of Cougar Grounds led by General Manager Sean Lawless. From the production line to the roasting process, the new roasting lab and coffee samples, it was a full sensory experience! ☕️🧪

The day wrapped up with a campus tour from student ambassador Juliana Hodges and a presentation in our Spec’s Beverage & Food Appreciation Lab.

Special thanks to our recruiting department led by Director Raymond Arevelo, with presentations by Fred Guichard and assistance by Kennedi Southall.

Thinking about your future in hospitality? There’s no better place to start than right here.

Calling all Hilton College alumni in Japan 🇯🇵✨

Join us in Osaka for an evening of networking, reconnecting and celebrating the Hilton College community abroad!

📍 Hilton Osaka, Room Nara 2 & 3
📅 Friday, May 29, 2026
⏰ 7:30–9 p.m.

We look forward to bringing together alumni, friends and hospitality professionals for a special night in Osaka.

RSVP to Lauren Smith at [email protected]

🗞️✨ CHC Times - May Edition is out now!

Catch up on the latest around Hilton College in this month’s student-led newsletter, featuring campus happenings, student organizations, a message from the USAC chair and more.

Read the full issue here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t5DpvejIQb5KL_7wB3JA2grAQRUO8uMI/view

A celebration of excellence, dedication and the people who make Hilton College so special ❤️✨

This week, we recognized outstanding faculty and staff members at the 2026 Hilton College Faculty & Staff Awards Ceremony. From teaching and mentorship to research, service and hospitality excellence, we are proud to celebrate the incredible individuals shaping our college community every day.

Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients and years of service honorees! 👏

🏆 Award Recipients:
• Teaching Excellence Award: Dustin Maneethai
• Service Excellence Award: Dr. Agnes DeFranco
• Stephen Rushmore/HVS Research Award: Dr. Yoon Koh
• Donald Greenaway Teaching Award: Dr. Agnes DeFranco
• College Staff Excellence Award: Benjamin Scaggs
• Hotel Staff Excellence Award: Brooke Saner
• Rising Star Award: Tracy Guran
• Mentorship Award: Dr. Agnes DeFranco

🎉 Years of Service Honorees:
• 10 Years: Dr. Jaewook Kim, Dawn Deurell, Dean Dennis Reynolds
• 15 Years: Akash Grover, Dr. Jason Draper, Sylivia Molina
• 20 Years: Dr. Maria Corsi
• 30 Years: Yolanda Castro
• 35 Years: Dr. Je’Anna Abbott, Stephen Barth

Thank you for your passion, leadership and commitment to our students, college and hospitality community. ❤️🤍