Laura Lee Bierema, Ed.D.

LAURA L. BIEREMA is a Professor at the University of Georgia, Mary Frances Early College of Education, the Adult Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development program. Dr. Bierema’s research interests include workplace learning, career development, women’s development, organization development, executive and team coaching, leadership, and critical human resource development. Dr. Bierema holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Michigan State University and a doctorate in adult education from the University of Georgia. She has over 160 publications, including 10 books and the award-winning text Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice with Dr. Sharan B. Merriam and the co-edited book Connecting Adult Learning and Knowledge Management: Strategies for Learning and Change In Organizations with Dr. Monica Fedeli. Her forthcoming book is Human Resource Development: Critical Perspectives and Practice with Drs. Jamie Callahan, Carole Elliott, Tomika Greer, and Joshua Collins. Dr. Bierema served as Associate Dean for Academic Programs in the UGA College of Education from 2013-2017.

Dr. Bierema’s books include: • Women’s Career Development Across the Lifespan • Philosophy and Practice of Organizational Learning, Performance, and Change • Critical Issues in Human Resource Development • Implementing a Critical Approach to Organization Development • Adult Learning: Linking Theory and Practice • An Introduction to Organization Development: An Action Research Approach • Connecting Adult Learning and Knowledge Management: Strategies for Learning and Change In Organizations. • An Introduction to Organization Development: An Action Research Approach, 2nd Edition • Human Resource Development: Critical Perspectives and Practice (In Press) • Rethinking Career Development (Forthcoming) • The Inquiry Action Coaching Process (Forthcoming)

Dr. Bierema is a Cyril O. Houle Scholar in Adult and Continuing Education and Lilly Fellow. She received the Richard A. Swanson Excellence in Research Award and four Academy of Human Resource Development’s (AHRD) “Cutting Edge” Awards for one of the best conference papers. She is the 2009 recipient of the Highly Commended Award by the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence; 2012 winner of the University of Georgia College of Education Russell H. Yeany, Jr. Research Award; 2012 recipient of the Sherpa Trailblazer of the Year Award in recognition of innovation application of the Sherpa Coaching Process; 2013 winner of AHRD’s Outstanding Scholar Award; 2014 winner of AHRDs Book of the Year; 2015 winner of the University, Professional, and Continuing Education Association Phillip E. Frandson Award for Literature; 2017 recognition as a Master Executive Coach by Sherpa Coaching; 2018 U.S. Fulbright Research Scholar; 2018-2019 UGA Senior Teaching Fellow; 2019 recipient of the UGA Ira Aaron Teaching Excellence and Collegiality Award; 2022 Inductee into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame; 2022 Textbook and Academic Authors Association Textbook Excellence “Texty” Award; 2022 UGA Mary Frances Early College of Education Aderhold Distinguished Professor; 2023 Academy of Human Resource Development’s Human Resource Development Scholar Hall of Fame; and 2023 AHRD Forward Award for her leadership of the organization as President from 2020-2022.

Lest Dr. Bierema takes herself too seriously, she balances her left brain by learning to speak Italian, talking to her dogs, riding her bicycle around the world with her spouse Mark, tasting fine wines, collecting original art, cooking gourmet vegetarian meals, reading great literature and trashy novels, traveling to interesting places near and far, indulging in gastronomic adventures with friends, and hitting the beach whenever possible, preferably in Onekama, MI.