Kyle Luthans

Kyle Luthans is the John Becker Endowed Professor of Business and Chair of the Department of Management at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK), where he has been a faculty member since 1999. He holds a Ph.D. in Management from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and teaches primarily in the area of human resource management.

Education:

• Ph.D., Management, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• M.A., Management, University of Nebraska–Lincoln
• B.S., Business Administration, University of Nebraska–Lincoln

Dr. Luthans is a leading scholar in Positive Psychological Capital (PsyCap), focusing on how positive psychological strengths such as hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism influence performance in both workplace and educational settings. His interdisciplinary research bridges organizational behavior, human resource development, and management education.

His work has appeared in top-tier journals including The Journal of Management Education, Human Resource Management, Business Horizons, and Journal of Nursing Administration, and has been cited over 6,000 times, reflecting significant scholarly impact.

Scientific Awards and Recognition:

• Leland Holt / Security Mutual Life Distinguished Faculty Award (2021)
• Pratt-Heins Faculty Award for Scholarship and Research (2022)
• Research Fellow, Positive Organizational Behavior Institute (POBI)

Dr. Luthans has collaborated with organizations across manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, retail, and nonprofit sectors to implement practical strategies for developing employee psychological strengths. He is deeply committed to teaching and mentoring, emphasizing the strategic value of human capital in creating sustainable competitive advantage. He has expressed admiration for SAS Institute CEO Jim Goodnight’s philosophy on human assets.