Mesut Akdere, Ph.D.

Professor of HRD, Director, Purdue HRD Virtual Lab & Director of Purdue Human Resources Analytics Interactive Learning Lab

Contact Info

765-494-1213

makdere@purdue.edu

Young 355

West Lafayette

Dr. Mesut Akdere is a Professor of Human Resource Development at Purdue University, West Lafayette, and the founding faculty member and program lead of Purdue’s Human Resource Development program.

He directs the Purdue HRD Virtual Lab and the Purdue HR Analytics Interactive Learning Lab, where his research explores leadership development through AI-enhanced immersive AR/VR simulations, workforce development at the human–technology frontier, and human resource analytics using data science and advanced analytical methods.

Dr. Akdere has secured over 60 funded grant projects totaling more than $20 million from federal and state agencies, including the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Departments of State, Labor, Homeland Security, and Agriculture. He has published over 200 refereed journal articles, conference proceedings, and book chapters in leading outlets across business, management, human resources, technology, and education. He teaches courses in human resource development, leadership, and organizational strategy, and has also served as Co-Editor of Human Resource Development Quarterly.

Research Interests

Technology and HRD
STEM Workforce Development
Intercultural Competence Development
Human Resource Development
Human Resource Analytics
Leadership Development
Soft Skills Development

Education History

Ph.D., University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MN

Honors and Awards

CURRENT GRANTS

(2020-2023). Cyber Resilience Adaptive Virtual Reality Experiences (CRAVRE). The U.S. Department of Homeland Security. PI. $1,500,000.
(2019-2023). Purdue Cyber Apprenticeship Program. U.S. Department of Labor. Co-PI. $12,000,000.
(2020-2023). Collaborative Research: Developing Business Communication Skills in Manufacturing Technician Education. The National Science Foundation. PI. $580,511.
(2021-2023). Developing Virtual Reality Training Simulations to Advance Agricultural Safety Curricula for Safer and Immersive Learning Experiences. The U.S. Department of Agriculture. Co-PI. $500,000.
(2018-2022). Archives Leadership Institute @ Purdue. The National Archives and Records Administration. PI. $250,000.

RECENT HONORS & AWARDS

2021, Richard A. Swanson Research Excellence Award, Human Resource Development Quarterly.
2021, Outstanding Faculty in Engagement Award, Purdue Polytechnic Institute.
2021, Outstanding Leadership in Globalization Award for Faculty, Purdue Office of Global Partnerships.
2020, The Seed for Success Award, Purdue University.
2020, Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Outstanding Faculty in Discovery Award.

Publications and Presentations

SELECT REFEREED JOURNAL ARTICLES

Akdere, M., Jiang, Y., & Lobo, F. (Accepted). Evaluation and assessment of virtual reality-based simulated training: Exploring the human-technology frontier. European Journal of Training and Development.
Xie, B., Liu, H., Alghofaili, R., Zhang, Y., Lobo, F., Jiang, Y., Li, C., Huang, H., Akdere, M., Mousas, C., & Yu, L. (Accepted). A review on virtual reality skill training applications. Frontiers in Virtual Reality.
Akdere, M., Top, M., & Tarcan, M. (Accepted). The impact of transformational leadership on employee attitudes: Implications for human resources. Middle East Journal of Management.
Akdere, M., Acheson, K., & Jiang, Y. (2021) Examining the effectiveness of virtual reality technology for intercultural competence development. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 82(3), 109-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2021.03.009.
Akdere, M., & Egan, T. M. (2020). Transformational leadership and human resource development: Linking employee learning, job satisfaction and organizational performance. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 31(4), 393-421.

SELECT REFEREED BOOK CHAPTERS

Akdere, M. (Accepted). HRD in the age of digitalization, automation, big data, and artificial intelligence. Foundations of Human Resource Development. (3rd Ed.). San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
Akdere, M., & Acheson, K. (Accepted). Effective leadership across cultures: Achieving intercultural excellence. In , (I. Stolz & S. Scherrer, eds.). Wiesbaden, Germany: Springer Gabler.
Coskun, A. & Akdere, M. (2017). Exploring leadership development in Turkey: Implications for technology & innovation. In Alexandre Ardichvili & Khalil Dirani (eds.). Leadership Development in Emerging Market Economies, pp. 261-280. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.
Coskun, A. & Akdere, M. (Accepted). Turkey. Ethical business culture in Turkey: Implications for leadership in a Global Economy. In Douglas J Jondle & Alexandre Ardichvili (eds). Ethical Business Cultures in Emerging Markets, pp. xx-xx. Cambridge University Press.
Garavan, T. N., & Akdere, M. (2016). Human resource development in CIVETS. In Thomas N. Garavan, Alma Mc Carthy, & Michael Morley (eds.). Global Human Resource Development: Regional and Country Perspectives, pp. 393-415. New York: Routledge.

SELECT REFEREED CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Akdere, M., Jiang, Y., Lobo, F. (2021). Evaluation and assessment in virtual reality-based simulated training. Refereed Proceedings of the AHRD International Research Conference in the Americas. Virtual.
Akdere, M., Egan, T., & Lobo, F. (2021, February). The Career and Aptitude Assessment for Cybersecurity: Exploring linkages to employee KSAs. Refereed Proceedings of the AHRD International Research Conference in the Americas. Virtual.
Akdere, M., & Egan, T. M. (2020). Examining the impact of transformational leadership practices on organizational outcomes: The case of healthcare. Refereed Proceedings of the 2020 AHRD International Research Conference in the Americas. Atlanta, Georgia.
Jiang, Y. & Akdere, M. (2020). A literature review of human resource analytics: Implications for human resources. Refereed Proceedings of the 2020 AHRD International Research Conference in the Americas. Atlanta, Georgia.
Akdere, M. & Hickman, L. (2018). My kingdom for time to reflect: Developing global leaders through critical self-reflection. Refereed Annual Proceedings of the Academy of Management.

SELECT INVITED KEYNOTE SPEECHES & PRESENTATIONS

Akdere, M. (2020, October). Using virtual reality technology for developing intercultural leadership competence: A pedagologic approach. Southern Management Association Annual Meeting. Virtual.
Akdere, M., Egan, T., & Lobo, F. (2021, February). The Career and Aptitude Assessment for Cybersecurity. Purdue Technology Showcase. Virtual.
Akdere, M. (2020, June). (Re)Skilling employees for future work: How G20 countries can utilize artificial intelligence-based learning technologies to scale up workplace training. Think20 of Saudi Arabia of G20 Conference for Policy Recommendations for a Post-COVID-19 World. Virtual.
Akdere, M. (2019, October). Technological Innovations Shaping the Workplace: Developing Intercultural Competency through Adaptive Virtual Reality Simulations. Future Work Live HR Conference, New York City, NY.
Akdere, M. (2019, May). Exploring the Workplace of the Future: Implications of Technology on Human Resources. Human Resources Leadership Forum, Chicago, IL.