Ralph G. Brockett has made many significant
contributions to the field of adult education
through his guidance of the University of Tennessee’s
adult education graduate program, where he is
a professor and program coordinator. He is known
as a skilled professor, research advisor, and
mentor to many students.
Dr. Brockett received his bachelor of arts
degree in psychology and master's in education
in guidance and counseling from the University
of Toledo, and a doctorate degree in adult education
from Syracuse University. Previously, he held
faculty positions at Montana State University
(1984-88) and Syracuse University (1982-84) and
worked in continuing education program development
for health and human services professionals.
Dr. Brockett has served the adult and continuing
education field in several professional leadership
roles. He is a former chair of the Commission
of Professors of Adult Education and has served
on the board of the American Association for
Adult and Continuing Education.
Dr. Brockett has held positions on the editorial
boards of three adult education journals, and
was co-editor of Adult Learning (2001-2004).
From 1988 to 1997, he served as editor-in-chief
of the influential Jossey-Bass quarterly resource, New
Directions for Adult and Continuing Education.
Through these editorial activities, he has contributed
significantly to the field’s knowledge
base.
Dr. Brockett is the co-author or editor of
nine books, including Toward Ethical Practice (2004), The
Profession and Practice of Adult Education (1997,
winner of the Cyril O. Houle Award for Literature
in Adult Education), The Power and Potential
of Collaborative Partnerships (1998), Overcoming
Resistance to Self-Direction in Adult Learning (1994), Self-Direction
in Adult Learning: Perspectives on Theory, Research,
and Practice (1991), Professional Development
for Educators of Adults (1991), Ethical
Issues in Adult Education (1988), Adult
and Continuing Education (1988) and Continuing
Education in the Year 2000 (1987). His major
scholarly interests are in the areas of professional
ethics in adult education, self-direction in
adult learning, and the study of the adult education
field.
Dr. Brockett has authored or co-authored more
than twenty-five publications in the area of
self-directed learning. In 1998, he established
a self-directed learning research group, whose
members have contributed a number of conference
papers, presentations, and doctoral dissertations.
In 2004, he was awarded the Malcolm Knowles Memorial
Self-Directed Learning Award at the annual meeting
of the International Self-Directed Learning Symposium.
Dr. Brockett is an exemplary lifelong learner
and leader whose contributions in the area of
ethics and self-directed learning in adult and
continuing education are leaving a lasting influence
on his students and colleagues in the various
institutions and professional organizations he
has served.