Distinguished Professor and Leading Expert on the Higher Education Workplace and Organizational Change
Dr. Kevin McClure is a professor, researcher, and speaker dedicated to reimagining the higher education workplace. A distinguished scholar of higher education, McClure holds the joint title of Professor of Higher Education and Department Chair at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He is the author of The Caring University: Reimaging the Higher Education Workplace after the Great Resignation (Johns Hopkins University Press). His research on college leadership, workplace culture, and organizational care has been featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education and national conferences. Through McClure’s writing, keynotes, and workshops, he helps leaders create people-first campuses where faculty and staff can thrive.
Higher education is in a crisis of burnout and disengagement. Many institutions are struggling with high turnover, low morale, and outdated policies that leave employees feeling undervalued. But it doesn’t have to be this way. McClure didn’t set out to become a national voice on higher education workplaces—but his own experience with burnout led him to take a closer look.
During the pandemic, while juggling research, teaching, and family life, McClure saw firsthand how many faculty and staff were struggling. As he wrote about these issues, his work struck a nerve. Leaders, institutions, and media outlets sought his insights on how to address burnout, boost morale, and prevent higher ed’s great resignation.
What McClure Brings to the conversation:
- Deep expertise: McClure combines rigorous research with real-world insights from over a decade in higher education.
- Practical solutions: His keynotes and writing don’t just diagnose the problem—they provide actionable strategies.
- A relatable voice: McClure speaks with clarity, accessibility, and a deep understanding of the higher ed experience.
McClure is passionate about helping colleges and universities build a culture where faculty and staff can thrive—because when employees feel supported, students and institutions succeed.
When Kevin McClure isn’t writing, researching, or speaking, he’s likely spending time with his family, exploring North Carolina, or reading about organizational leadership.
Praise for Kevin’s Talks
“Kevin McClure led a curated session on change management with senior marketing leaders at the American Marketing Association’s Symposium. The group had very high expectations for what would be presented and the session’s learning takeaways, and he exceeded them. Our attendees were entertained, felt heard, and left the session upbeat despite a topic that could have led to negativity. I only heard rave reviews from attendees, and our survey results showed similar feedback.”
—Teresa Valerio Parrot, Principal, TVP Communications
Co-host, Trusted Voices Podcast
Co-editor, Call to Action, Inside Higher Ed“It was a pleasure to have Kevin McClure as the keynote speaker for our Student Success Conference at Rutgers. The presentation was engaging, insightful, and highly relevant, leaving attendees energized with practical ideas to support student success. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and the keynote was a highlight of the conference.”
—Phillip R. Smith, Ed.D, Associate Dean of Students / Director for Student Basic Needs, Rutgers University, New Brunswick
“Kevin’s talk as part of our kickoff for our division’s work in the coming semester hit an excellent tone of connecting with attendees, motivating us towards even more caring support of each other, and challenging everyone to contribute to an enhanced work environment. I would highly recommend Kevin to speak to any group seeking to learn from and instill the principles from the Caring University in their professional settings.”
—David M. Eberhardt, Jr., Ed.D., Assistant Vice President for Administration
Student Affairs, University of Texas at Arlington“We hosted Dr. McClure at our virtual Post-Conference for our annual systemwide PASSHE Summit. Our theme this was ‘Together We Thrive’ and the session was open to students, staff, faculty, and administrators. From our post-survey and conversations with attendees after the event, we received a lot of positive feedback around the idea of institutional care and how we can reorient our work across the university to be more collaborative and less competitive. Multiple people said Dr. McClure’s case studies of different people’s experiences resonated. One attendee said what stuck with them most was ‘The reminder to engage with others, even on a personal level, as we are all facing similar challenges and struggles and not just focus on accomplishing the to do’s. We need to be caring humans.’ We are excited to use Dr. McClure’s keynote and book as a springboard for reimagining existing processes and identifying opportunities for more employee supports that improve working and learning conditions for employees and students alike.”
—Emily Howe, Ph.D., Manager of Special Projects and Research
Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education“Dr. McClure delivered an authentic, thought-provoking message to the Central Michigan University community, asking us all to reflect on the ways we tend to the wellbeing of our colleagues and ourselves.”
—Erica Peters, Chief of Staff to the President, Central Michigan University
“Kevin was phenomenal! He spoke with poise, professionalism, candor, and vulnerability. The audience enjoyed the stories he shared regarding his research and career. He was easily one of the highlights of our conference this year.”
—Christopher E. Lavan, Ph.D., Associate Vice Provost for the Advancement of Teaching & Learning, University of Rhode Island
“We invited Kevin to speak at our annual State of the Profession Symposium, a by-invitation engagement for our most senior leaders whose work is rewarding yet increasingly demanding. Kevin’s deep understanding of the challenges facing the higher education sector and the nuances of this delegation’s work was undeniable and critically important for his session’s success. With a warm and engaging presentation style, he challenged assumptions and provided important a-ha moments, while encouraging the leaders in the audience to go beyond traditional data points to truly understand how to support employees and help them thrive in the workplace. Thought leaders like Kevin are unique and add a high-impact voice to any professional development agenda.”
—Holly Stapleton, Chief Operations Officer, ACUHO-I
“Dr. McClure visited our campus to speak with the Student Affairs staff and University senior leaders. His sessions helped us align our strategic priorities with day-to-day actions as we work toward becoming a best place to work for our team members. His research and public scholarship on a Caring University were accessible to many different members of our university community, allowing all of us to see our role in this work.”
—Dr. Will Simpkins, Vice President for Student Affairs, Metropolitan State University of Denver
Praise for The Caring University: Reimaging the Higher Education Workplace after the Great Resignation
“Professor McClure provides a much-needed call to action and practical guide to create true caring universities for the faculty and staff who lead, manage, and support efforts to prepare students for lives of leadership and service. The employee experience must be a strategic priority for the entire organization.”
—Andy Brantley, College and University
Professional Association for Human Resources
“Higher education used to be an employer of choice, but the environment has changed dramatically in the last decade. The Caring University is a timely and important book to address this crisis. Leaders must take to heart that students will not succeed, and higher education will not meet its learning mission if faculty and staff are not part of a caring community and treated with fairness, dignity, and respect.”
—Adrianna Kezar, Pullias Center for Higher Education,
University of Southern California
“In their never-ending quest for status, universities have placed competition and individual achievement over collective welfare. Kevin McClure has laid out a plan for moving from cold bureaucracies that prioritize external stakeholders to a generative culture that puts its own people first. It’s past time to start the process.”
—Holden Thorp, Editor-in-Chief, Science
“The Caring University offers a compelling and timely road map for transforming the higher ed workplace. McClure illustrates through engaging case studies not only that supporting employee well-being is the right thing to do but also that it is a strategic necessity for institutional success. This book is essential reading for any college leader who wants to build a more humane and effective organization where talented people want to work, grow, and stay.”
—Jeffrey Selingo, author of Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admission
“McClure thoughtfully details the concerns that generations of higher education employees have faced and outlines a better way forward to improve the quality of life for employees and the quality of education for students. This is a must-read for administrators, faculty, and staff alike.”
—Robert Kelchen, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
