Bradley C. Courtenay, whose leadership over the past 25 years transformed the University of Georgia into a national and international leader in adult education, is being recognized for his contributions to the field with his induction into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.

Courtenay, a professor of adult education, served as head of the department of adult education at UGA for 20 years (1981-2001), while leading two major W.K. Kellogg Foundation grants.

He served as director of the National Center for Leadership Development in Adult and Continuing Education, a $1-million Kellogg grant program, from 1984 to 1991.

He also serves as director of the Cyril O. Houle Scholars in Adult and Continuing Education project, a Kellogg-funded effort which began in 1997 and which will continue until 2005. The purpose of the project is to identify and support emerging adult education scholars in southern Africa, Latin America and the United States.

He is currently planning a meeting for 2004 in Salzburg, Austria that will bring together all 45 scholars, many senior scholars from the three regions who have participated in the program, and leaders of the Kellogg Foundation to envision and strategize about the roles and responsibilities of adult education in addressing global issues.

Courtenay is being recognized for the significant contributions he has made to continuing education in research and administration of adult education, aging and gerontology, and the religious and spiritual dimensions of adult learning and education. His creativity in program development in graduate education produced 15 years of consistent growth in the student census.

He provided the impetus and leadership for three new programs: the on-line masters program in adult education (the first on-line degree at UGA); the EdD program for leaders of Georgia’s technical colleges (in collaboration with two other departments); and the collaborative EdD program with Fort Valley State University.

Courtenay recently developed the “Spiritual Issues in Adult Education” seminar which explores a new area of research and practice in adult education. He is developing ways to incorporate on-line delivery methods into his teaching, as well as providing leadership for developing a doctoral degree program in a blended format.

His most lasting contribution to continuing education is his work in developing one of the most outstanding academic programs of adult education in the world. Hundreds of scholars who have completed continuing education degree programs at UGA and the 45 emerging scholars from the Houle program, will provide the scholarship and leadership needed for the growth and development of the field for many years to come.

Courtenay is the eighth UGA faculty member named to the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame since it opened eight years ago. Ron Cervero, Sharran Merriam and Karen Watkins were all inducted in 2003. Lorilee Sandman, the youngest member ever inducted, was so honored in 1999.

Curtis Ulmer, who founded UGA's department of adult education, and Ed Simpson, Jr. who holds his tenure in the department of adult education but is in the Institute of Higher Education, were among the initial inductees in 1996.

Courtenay will be inducted into the ninth Class of the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame on Wednesday, March 3 at the Austin Hyatt Regency Hotel in Austin, Texas.


The virtual International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame may be viewed at:
www.occe.ou.edu/halloffame.

Wednesday, February 25, 2004
WRITER: Michael Childs, 706/542-5889, mchilds@coe.uga.edu
CONTACT: Bradley Courtenay, 706/542-4012, bcourt@coe.uga.edu