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Bierema

University of Georgia College of Education professor Laura Bierema has received the 2013 Outstanding Scholar Award from the Academy of Human Resources Development (AHRD) for her pioneering feminist research in the field.

Bierema, a professor in the department of lifelong education, administration, and policy, is lauded as one of the first scholars to do feminist research in the field of Human Resources Development (HRD) and exploring women’s development in organizations from that perspective. She has also led the development of critical HRD—a perspective that challenges dominant management practice and urges organizations to be sustainable and socially responsible.

Bierema has made substantial contributions to the profession of HRD through both research-related service and building research-related infrastructures. Her work is widely cited in both HRD and adult education—with 27 scholarly journal articles, 29 book chapters, an authored book, a co-authored book, an edited book,  a co-edited book and another book in press.

As the vice president of research for AHRD, she conducted a comprehensive study of research and publications within the field through the AHRD Journal Task Force. She runs a research preconference before the annual AHRD conference, serves as a symposia discussant and mentors both students and faculty. Further, she is heavily involved in editorial service, providing support to journal editors through her AHRD role and as an editorial board member and reviewer.

Bierema joined the UGA faculty from Michigan State University as an assistant professor of adult education in 2000. During her career at UGA, she has been recognized for her work with several awards, including the COE’s Russell H. Yeany, Jr. Research Award (2012), Highly Commended Award at the Literati Network Awards (2009), and the AHRD’s Cutting Edge Award for Outstanding Conference Papers in 2007, 2004, 2002 and 1997.  Bierema (Ed.D. ’94) earned her doctorate in adult education from UGA.

Bierema follows a long line of UGA leadership in the field. Andrea Mary Ellinger (Ph.D. ’97), now a professor at the University of Texas at Tyler, received the 2012 HRD Outstanding Scholar Award.  Baiyin Yang (Ph.D. ’96), the COSCO Chair Professor and chair of department of leadership and organization management, Tsinghua University, China, received the 2007 HRD Outstanding Scholar Award. Karen Watkins, a professor in the COE’s department of lifelong education, administration, and policy, received the 1998 HRD Outstanding Scholar Award.