Ruona Receives Early Career Scholar Award in Human Resource Development

College of Education professor Wendy Ruona, considered one of the rising young stars in her field, has received the 2005 Early Career Scholar Award from the Academy of Human Resource Development (HRD).

Ruona, an assistant professor in the department of lifelong education, administration and policy, has led the introduction of critical reflection on the philosophical foundations of human resource development, as theorized by scholars and practitioners.

“In a field where there is a drive to enhance technique, and establish disciplinary boundaries, she has provided evidence that not only are values of equal importance, but that ‘doing philosophy' is at the core of the relationship between theory and practice,” said Ron Cervero, professor and head of the department.

This is the third major research award recognizing Ruona's scholarship. In 2002, she received the Outstanding Assistant Professor award from the University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Development, an annual recognition of emerging scholars in workplace education. In 2000, she received the Richard A. Swanson Research Excellence award , which is given to one article a year in the field's top journal, Human Resource Development Quarterly .

“Her work has addressed the philosophical foundation of the field, issues facing the field, and the merging of human resource management with HRD. This line of scholarship has gained high visibility in HRD because it is helping shape the future directions of the field,” said Cervero.

Ruona currently serves as associate editor-in-chief of Advances in Developing Human Resources and serves on the board of directors for the Academy of Human Resource Development .

One of her most important contributions to UGA has been the leadership she has provided for the M.Ed. in Human Resource and Organizational Development (HROD) that the department has offered at the Gwinnett University Center and in Athens since 1996. She as developed two new courses for the HROD degree program, “The Art and Practice of Consulting” (EOCS 7130) and “Strategic Human Resource Development” (EOCS 7110). She has also taught in the Human Resource Development Certificate program and the Instructional Design and Technology Certificate program, important outreach activities offered at the Gwinnett Center .

Ruona received her doctorate in HRD from the University of Minnesota in 1999 where she also served as an instructor and researcher. She earned her master's of education in HRD and bachelor of liberal arts in political science, psychology and industrial relations also from the University of Minnesota.

Tuesday, March 22, 2005
Writer: Nicole Richardson, 706/542-5889, nrichard@uga.edu
Contact: Ronald Cervero, 706/542-2221, rcervero@coe.uga.edu