Amy R. Hurd

Dr. Amy Hurd is the Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education and a professor in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation. For 13 years, she taught undergraduate and graduate courses in recreation administration, with an emphasis on business and management, and continues to teach Honors courses in leadership and Title IX.

Dr. Hurd transitioned into higher education administration in 2013, serving as Director of Graduate Studies for five years before assuming the role of Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Education in 2019. In this position, she provides leadership for more than 19,000 undergraduate students and oversees the Honors Program, University College, General Education, and the undergraduate curriculum.

Before joining Illinois State University, Dr. Hurd completed her Ph.D. in Leisure Behavior at Indiana University, where she also served as a Visiting Lecturer. Prior to entering academia, she worked in the Champaign Park District in Illinois as Special Events Coordinator and later as Marketing Director.

Her professional and research interests include competency development, succession planning, and management issues within public parks and recreation. Dr. Hurd has co‑authored the CPRP Study Guide (2nd–6th editions), book chapters on succession planning and human resources, and four textbooks: Leisure Services Management (1st–3rd editions), Kraus’ Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society (3rd–12th editions), Leisure Program Planning and Delivery, and the Park and Recreation Professionals’ Handbook.

Dr. Hurd is a Fellow of the American Academy of Park and Recreation Administrators, has chaired the item‑writing committee for the Certified Park and Recreation Executive exam, and serves on the Indiana University Executive Development Program Board of Directors.