Education

Ph.D., Hospitality Administration, University of Houston; M.S., Hospitality Management, University of Houston; B.S., Hotel and Restaurant Management, University of Houston
Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE)

Areas of Expertise 
• Retail and institutional food safety
• Regulatory compliance and health inspections
• Food safety training and curriculum design for novice learners
• Food safety knowledge, attitudes, and behavior assessment
• Public health and food safety disparities
• Hospitality operations and administration
• Revenue management and managerial decision-making

Career Highlights
With more than 11 years of experience in regulatory compliance, hospitality operations, and food safety education, Dr. Karla Acosta currently serves as a Health Inspector for the University of Houston. In this role, she leads campus-wide food safety initiatives for dining halls, concessions, special events, and retail operations, collaborating with campus partners and corporate vendors to strengthen compliance and protect public health.
Dr. Acosta’s research, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), has examined microbial cross-contamination risks at farmers’ markets and evaluated food safety training practices in hospitality settings. She has also served as a food safety manager and primary consultant for corporate clients-including Chipotle, Whataburger, CAVA, MOD Pizza, and Wawa-supporting large-scale implementation of food safety systems across restaurant and manufacturing operations.
Dr. Acosta holds multiple industry credentials, including Certified Professional – Food Safety (CP-FS), FSPCA Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), International HACCP Alliance certification, FSPCA Food Defense/Intentional Adulteration certifications, and Produce Safety Alliance Grower and Trainer certifications in both English and Spanish. Passionate about “farm-to-fork” food safety, she is committed to advancing food safety education and reducing public health disparities through education, research, and community-focused training.

Current Roles
• Health Inspector, University of Houston
• Adjunct Faculty Member, Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership