Katherine Dudley

Dr. Katie Dudley is a Community and Economic Development Specialist who leads regional and statewide initiatives focused on rural tourism, outdoor recreation economies, and community resilience. Her work helps rural communities design strategies that strengthen local ownership, workforce pathways, and long-term economic and civic capacity.

Dudley holds a PhD in Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management from Clemson University and brings academic, professional, and lived experience in tourism, community engagement, workforce development, and outdoor recreation. Her work focuses on developing and managing thriving communities, ecosystems, and tourism systems that support both residents and visitors. Prior to joining Extension, she was a professor at California State University, Long Beach, where her teaching and research centered on sustainable tourism and outdoor recreation.

Originally from Carrollton, Illinois, Dudley’s work is grounded in a commitment to rural communities and the belief that tourism and outdoor recreation can support stronger local economies, healthier communities, and long-term resilience.