KENNESAW, Ga. | Mar 19, 2025

Out of more than 5,000 applicants from around the world, Kennesaw State University alumna Kyndall Hudson was one of 25 selected for the International Olympic Committee Young Leaders program.

The four-year program empowers recruits to build out a grassroots sports project of choice by providing $10,000 in seed funding and a network of mentors. Young Leaders are also invited to attend the biannual IOC Youth Summit in Switzerland and other global gatherings.

“I am really excited and grateful,” said Hudson, who graduated in December with a Master of Arts in Integrated Global Communication (MAIGC). “I know a lot of college students struggle with what’s next in their life, asking themselves what they’re supposed to do after graduating. I just really want to encourage them by telling them to keep following their hearts and keep chasing their dreams because anything is possible.”

Hudson is the only U.S. representative, and she’s sticking close to home, working with her alma mater to support mental health among student athletes at KSU. Her plan for the IOC Young Leaders program is an iteration of the capstone project she produced in her final semester, with an added focus on sustainability and social impact.

Like other IOC Young Leaders, Hudson’s work will unfold over phases. She plans to give space for athletes on campus, to reset and relax, but also to reach out to the next generation of athletes through a variety of sporting events, including ones centered around track and basketball. Soon, she plans to host a field day for Cobb County students on spring break. Hudson, a former member of the KSU track and field team, said the events will engage not only a K-5 crowd but also older student volunteers.

A major component to Hudson’s IOC Young Leaders project is producing an annual event at KSU, one where students can learn about mental health resources on a massive scale. Those resources, she said, include campus and community-based partnerships.

“The event will show students, every single year, that they are valued,” Hudson said.

As the faculty lead of the MAIGC’s Capstone course, KSU communication professor Amber Hutchins provided guidance and connected Hudson to other faculty mentors, like Pauline Howes, an associate professor of communication who teaches a class on public relations and the Olympics.

“Inspired by the Olympic values, Kyndall really had a vision for what she wanted to accomplish and set the bar very high for herself and did everything she could to meet that,” said Hutchins, who teaches in the Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences. “That is the kind of student that we’re so fortunate to be able to work with.”

May Gao, professor of communication and Asian studies, was an inspiration to Hudson and a source of encouragement. Gao founded and continues to chair the Symposium on ASIA-USA Partnership Opportunities (SAUPO), the largest Asia business conference in the United States.

“I’m very proud of her,” Gao said. “I know she will go and do great things. She’s very energetic and confident. I have no doubt she will be a global leader in this area.”

– Story by Amber Perry

Photos provided

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.