Dr. Amy Hurd, Ph.D., CPRE is the Director of the Graduate School at Illinois State University where she also holds the appointment as Professor in Recreation and Park Administration. While at Illinois State Amy has taught classes at the undergraduate and graduate level in management with an emphasis in marketing, human resources, and finance. Her research focuses on competency development and succession planning in public parks and recreation agencies. Prior to coming to Illinois State University, Amy was a Visiting Lecturer at Indiana University where she earned her Ph.D. As a practitioner Amy worked for the Champaign Park District as a special events coordinator and later as the Marketing Director.
Dr. Hurd was a visiting scholar in Sustainable Tourism at Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok, Thailand, traveled to Opole University of Technology in Opole, Poland and the University of Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina for a student/faculty cultural emersion experience.
Amy has co-authored the Official Study Guide for the Certified Park and Recreation Professional Exam (2 editions), Kraus’ Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society (4 editions), Parks and Recreation Professionals Handbook, and Leisure Services Management. She has also been an invited speaker at the National Executive Development School, the Indiana University Executive Development Program, and the Illinois Professional Development School.
In 2009 Amy was elected to the American Leisure Academy. Professional service includes such things as being appointed to the CPRP and CPRE Exam Item Writing Committees for NRPA; serving on the American Park and Recreation Society Board of Directors; section editor for Programs that Work for the Journal of Park and Recreation Administration; and is on the editorial board for the Journal of Community Engagement and Higher Education.
As the Director of the Graduate School Amy leads the administrative body responsible for approximately 2,500 master’s and doctoral students, 85 master’s degree programs and sequences, 11 doctoral degree programs, and 28 certificate programs. [current as of 10/2014]