K. Peter Kuchinke
Hall of Fame Class of 2018
Over the course of his career, K. Peter Kuchinke has established an international reputation as a researcher committed to deepening the understanding of work-related education across disciplinary and national boundaries. His impact on how we think about Human Resource Development (HRD) as a field of study and practice, and as a form of education for work, is immense.
Kuchinke has served as a longtime professor of HRD at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, developing a strong scholarly record in leader and leadership development, graduate education in HRD, and the meaning of work. His work fosters a broader vision of the field, in part, through a strong reliance on and belief in interdisciplinary studies and the importance of inclusion. He has published a large number of articles and made many national and international presentations on what HRD is, what it should be, how it varies in different cultures, and how it should be taught in higher education. His work has taken him to numerous international contexts, including Indonesia, Brazil, Poland, Germany, Japan, China, and the Erasmus Mundus project in Europe.
Kuchinke is recognized for his leadership in the University Council for Workforce and Human Resource Education (UCWHRE), a consortium of 19 universities convened to conduct research and explore best practices to advance the fields of career and technical education and HRD. As President of the University Council from 2012 to 2016, he helped reconnect HRD to its roots within vocational education. His cross-cultural and international investigations also stimulated connections with the philosophy of education scholarship.
Through his many local, national, and international presentations and projects, Kuchinke contributed to both the visibility and stature of the field. His concern for and work with the education of refugees, economic and political asylum seekers, and migrants within the U.S. and Western Europe has fostered a more inclusive and, as a result, more visible field internationally. His membership on the field’s blue-ribbon panel on standards reflects both his interests and the field’s recognition of his expertise. Through his role as editor-in-chief of Human Resource Development International, Kuchinke supported a multiplicity of perspectives and challenged researchers and practitioners to think more deeply about their work.
Kuchinke has served in national leadership capacities for the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD), including vice president for research and as a member of the Executive Board. He has also served on numerous review panels for government and educational agencies.
Kuchinke’s outstanding scholarship has been recognized by his peers and professional associations with more than 18 awards, most notably as a Faculty Fellow at the Illinois Leadership Center, as the University of Illinois College of Education Distinguished Senior Scholar, and the Outstanding Scholar Award for 2015 from AHRD. He has also received numerous honors for his teaching and service to his college and institution.