Chang-kyu Kwon

Chang-kyu Kwon serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership within the College of Education at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. His academic journey includes a Ph.D. in Learning, Leadership & Organization Development from the University of Georgia (2019), an M.A. in Organizational Behavior & Evaluation from Claremont Graduate University (2015), and a B.A. in Education from Korea University (2013).

Professor Kwon's research is fundamentally informed by critical systems thinking with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and the role of learning in promoting whole-person inclusion. He investigates leadership and organizing principles that cultivate 'safe to be vulnerable' learning spaces where individuals across power divides can collaborate and develop as teams, organizations, and communities. His work critically examines ableism and disability inclusion in educational and workplace settings, with international recognition for his scholarship and advocacy in countries including South Korea, Japan, Peru, and Taiwan. Currently, he leads a U.S.-based project focused on promoting disability employment in small- and medium-sized manufacturing contexts.

His scholarly output demonstrates a clear trajectory toward increasingly impactful work at the intersection of critical human resource development, disability studies, and transformative learning. The publications reveal a progression from foundational theoretical work to applied research with practical implications for organizational change, particularly in creating inclusive environments for people with disabilities. His recent work shows growing emphasis on generative pedagogy, dialogic organization development, and the practical application of critical HRD principles in real-world settings.

• Early Career Scholar Award, Academy of Human Resource Development (2025)
• Richard A. Swanson Research Excellence Award, Academy of Human Resource Development (2022)
• Cutting Edge Award, Academy of Human Resource Development (2019)

Professor Kwon teaches courses in diversity, adult learning, leadership, and organization development, with a focus on helping students develop an adaptive learning mindset to strengthen relationships and lead inclusively. His EPOL 470 course covers principles of human resource education, while EPOL 474 examines diversity in workplace environments and strategies for harnessing the power of diversity and inclusion. His teaching philosophy emphasizes genuine humility and curiosity as essential components of effective leadership in global workforce contexts. His research is characterized by a strong commitment to bridging theory and practice, with particular attention to the practical implementation of critical ideas in organizational settings.