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 Many institutions are struggling with high turnover, low morale, and outdated policies that leave employees feeling undervalued.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“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
