Ronald L. Jacobs, Ph.D. is Professor of Human Resource Development, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and is principal of RL Jacobs & Associates.  Ron has written many articles and book chapters, and has authored or edited six books.  Ron is emeritus professor at The Ohio State University.  In his academic role, Ron has prepared over 300 practitioners and 40 professors and researchers globally.

Among Ron’s areas of research are learning and performance, workforce development, and knowledge work.  His writings on workforce development have helped defined the term and the questions it seeks to address.  Ron is known for coining the term structured on-the-job training (S-OJT), and is the author of Structured On-the-Job Training: Unleashing Employee Expertise in the Workplace, the most comprehensive guide about this training approach. 

Ron has served as editor of Human Resource Development Quarterly, the major journal of the field, and has received numerous recognitions and awards for his research contributions, including awards from ASTD and the Academy of Human Resource Development.  He was inducted in the International Adult and Continuing Education (IACE) Hall of Fame for his contributions to learning and performance.  The International Federation of Training and Development Organizations has honored Ron for his research related to knowledge work.

Ron has extensive consulting experience in global organizations and government agencies. In addition, Ron works with small and medium-sized companies in his home state of Illinois, through the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center.  Ron’s work on S-OJT and work analysis has influenced policy makers across many different nations.