University of South Carolina Professor Patrick Wright Wins SHRM HR Research Award

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwired - Nov 21, 2014) - Patrick Wright of the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business is the recipient of the 2014 Michael R. Losey Human Resource Research Award for his extensive and forward-thinking contributions to human resources research.

The award, which comes with a $50,000 prize, recognizes HR academics or experts whose research significantly advances the field of HR management. It also helps fund future contributions to the field. The award was presented today at the Society for Human Resource Management's (SHRM's) Volunteer Leaders' Summit in the District of Columbia.

"Patrick Wright's career-long dedication to high-quality human resource research and education has made significant contributions to the HR community," said Henry G. (Hank) Jackson, president and CEO of SHRM. "Along the way, he has earned admiration and respect from colleagues, who have called his research thought-provoking, relevant and timely."

Wright holds the Thomas C. Vandiver bicentennial chair in the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

Over the course of his almost 30-year career, Wright has conducted research on a wide breadth of strategic human resource issues tallying over 60 research articles, 20 book chapters and four co-authored books.

He most recently founded the Center for Executive Succession, the first research center aimed at exploring and addressing C-suite succession planning. Additionally, Wright writes a bi-monthly blog for the HR Policy Association on issues faced by chief human resource officers and has been named one of the 20 "Most Influential International Thought Leaders in HR" by HRM Magazine for the past three years.

"We look for a candidate whose significant research contributions have directly impacted HR practitioners," said Mark Schmit, executive director of the SHRM Foundation. "That said, we also look for a candidate who will continue to impact the profession for the remainder of his or her career. Dr. Wright is the perfect fit for these criteria."

Formerly professor of strategic human resource studies at Cornell University, Wright also served as a professor at Texas A&M and the University of Notre Dame in their respective Departments of Management.

He holds a Master of Business Administration from Michigan State University and a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Wheaton College.

"Winning this award is a great honor," Wright said. "It is truly humbling to be mentioned along with past winners such as Ed Lawler, Lee Dyer, Gary Latham, Herb Heneman, Wayne Cascio, and John Boudreau, who are truly thought leaders and icons in the field."

For more information about the award, visit www.shrm.org/about/awards/pages/loseyaward.aspx.

Media: For a photo of Wright or to request an interview, contact Vanessa Gray of SHRM Media Relations at 703-535-6072 and Vanessa.Gray@shrm.org or Kate Kennedy at 703-535-6260 and Kate.Kennedy@shrm.org.

About the Society for Human Resource Management
Founded in 1948, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is the world's largest HR membership organization devoted to human resource management. Representing more than 275,000 members in over 160 countries, the Society is the leading provider of resources to serve the needs of HR professionals and advance the professional practice of human resource management. SHRM has more than 575 affiliated chapters within the United States and subsidiary offices in China, India and United Arab Emirates. Visit us at shrm.org and follow us on Twitter @SHRMPress.