Faculty Research Profiles: James Leach

Developed by the Research Opportunities Office in BER.

Search All Faculty Research Profiles

Professor

Human Resource Education
356 Education Building
1310 S. 6th St. MC 708
217 333-0807
Edit My Data

Section Links


Research Biography

My research and development projects have focused on the relationship of career and technical education to training and development in the private sector, including the direction of research projects of local, state, and national scope within these areas. An important goal of this research has been to determine the knowledge base required for success as a technical educator in business and industry settings and to initiate discussion of the related important policy implications. A related objective is to identify and study the nature (in addition to professional knowledge) of exemplary technical educators working in the private sector. I have made presentations to local and state educational agencies, professional associations, and scholarly societies. I also have extensive consulting experience in the public and private sectors.

Degrees

  • Ph.D., Education, University of Illinois, 1978
  • M.Ed., Education, University of Illinois, 1974
  • B.A., Business Administration, Hanover College, 1969

Key Professional Appointments

  • Site Director, National Center for Research in Career and Technical Education and National Dissemination Center for Career and Technical Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2002--
  • Associate Dean, Academic Affairs, College of Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1995--
  • Professor, Human Resource Education, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1995--

Activities & Honors

  • Omicron Tau Theta Outstanding Journal Article Award, Journal of Vocational and Technical Education, 1999
  • Distinguished Teaching Career Award, College of Education, 1998
  • Fellow, Academy of Human Resource Development, 1993
  • Outstanding Graduate Teaching and Advising Nominee, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1993

Grants

  • Co-Principal Investigator, Executive Human Resource Development Seminar for SK Corporation, SK Corporation, 2005
  • Principal Investigator, CTE Transition Program Evaluation, 2004
  • Principal Investigator, Site Administration for the National Dissemination Center for Career & Technical Education at U of I at Urbana-Champaign, U.S. Department of Education, 2003

Selected Publications

  • Johnson, S. D., & Leach, J. A. (2001). Using experts to train on the job. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 3(4), 425-434.
  • Leach, J. A. (2000). Distinguishing characteristics among exemplary trainers in business and industry. Journal of Vocational and Technical Education, 12(2). Available online at http://borg.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JVTE/v12n2/leach.html
  • Dare, D. E., & Leach, J. A. (1999). Preparing tomorrow's HRD professionals: Perceived relevance of the 1989 competency model. Journal of Vocational and Technical Education, 15(2), 5-18.
  • Leach, J. A. (1996). Distinguishing characteristics among exemplary trainers in business and industry. Journal of Vocational and Technical Education, 12(2), 7-11.
  • Leach, J. A., & Sandall, D. (1995). Required business skills for training professionals. Journal of Industrial Teacher Education, 32(4), 74-86.