Stephen D. Brookfield (PhD) has been a leader in the field of continuing education for 40 years. He has worked teaching and consulting in a variety of adult, community, organizational, and higher education settings in England, Canada, and the United States. His overall project is to help people learn to think critically about the dominant ideologies they have internalized and how these can be challenged. He is particularly interested in methodologies of critical thinking, discussion and dialog, critical reflection, leadership, and the exploration of power dynamics, particularly around racial identity and white supremacy.
Throughout his career, Stephen has written, co-written, or edited nineteen books, six of which have won the Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education (in 1986, 1989, 1996, 2005, 2011, and 2012). His academic appointments have included positions at the University of British Columbia, Teachers College Columbia University (New York), Harvard University, and the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis-St. Paul. He has consulted with numerous organizations and institutions across the world and delivered multiple workshops and conference keynotes. While Stephen is currently Antioch University’s Distinguished Scholar, he also holds the positions of Adjunct Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University (New York) and Emeritus Professor at the University of St. Thomas (Minneapolis-St. Paul).
His twentieth book – Becoming a White Antiracist – co-authored with Mary Hess, will be published by Stylus Publishers in Spring 2021.
Distinguished Scholar
EdD in Educational & Professional Practice
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Adult Education, University of Leicester, United Kingdom (1980). Thesis on Independent Adult Learning.
Postgraduate Diploma in Adult Education, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom (1977). Thesis on Discussion as a Teaching Technique.
Masters of Arts (M.A.) Theoretical Sociology, University of Reading, United Kingdom (1974). Thesis on Charles Booth and Sociology.
Postgraduate Diploma in Modern Social and Cultural Studies, University of London (Chelsea College), United Kingdom (1971). Mass Communications, Popular Culture and Social Theory
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) (Honours) Modern Studies, Coventry University, United Kingdom (1970) Interdisciplinary degree in History and Politics
(In Press) Creating an Anti-Racist White Identity
Co-authored with Mary Hess.
Sterling, VA: Stylus publishers, Forthcoming (2021)
Teaching Race: How to Help Students Unmask and Challenge Racism.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass/Wiley (2019).
Becoming a Critically Reflective Teacher.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, (2017, 2nd. ed.).
Winner of the 1996 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education.
Published in The People’s Republic of China by China Light Industry Press.
Powerful Techniques for Teaching Adults
San Francisco: Jossey Bass (2013)
Published Outside the Americas by McGraw Hill/Open University Press
Published in Korean by Hakjisa Publishing.
Teaching for Critical Thinking: Tools and Techniques to Help Students to Question Their Assumptions
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass (2012)
Winner of the 2012 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education. (Awarded by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education)
Radicalizing Adult Learning: Adult Education for a Just World.
Co-authored with John Holst
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass (2011).
Winner of the 2011 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education. (Awarded by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education)
Handbook of Race and Adult Education.
Co-edited with Vanessa Sheared, Scipio Colin III, Elizabeth Peterson & Juanita Johnson Bailey).
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass (2010).
Learning as a Way of Leading: Lessons from the Struggle for Social Justice.
Co-authored with Stephen Preskill
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2008
Discussion as a Way of Teaching: Tools and Techniques for Democratic Classrooms.
Co-authored with Stephen Preskill
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass (2005, 2nd. ed.)
Translated into Simplified Chinese and Published in The People’s Republic of China, by China Light Industry Press.
Published in Korea by Hakidang Pub Co, South Korea
1st edition a 1999 Critics’ Choice of the Educational Studies Association
The Power of Critical Theory: Liberating Adult Learning and Teaching.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass/Wiley, 2004.
Published in Korea by Hakjisa Publishers.
Winner of the 2005 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education.
Developing Critical Thinkers: Challenging Adults to Explore Alternative Ways of Thinking and Acting.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass (1987)
(Published in the U.K. by The Open University Press)
Winner of the 1989 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education.
Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning: A Comprehensive Analysis of Principles of Effective Practices.
San Francisco: Jossey-Bass (1986)
Published in the U.K. by The Open University Press.
Winner of the 1986 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education.
Winner – 1986 Imogene Okes Award for Outstanding Research in Adult Education
Translated into Japanese and published by Otori Shobi/Mori publishers
Adult Learners, Adult Education and the Community.
New York: Teachers College Press (1983)
Published in the United Kingdom by The Open University Press.
Translated into Chinese and published by Wu-Nan Book Co. Ltd. of Taiwan
2014 Philip E. Frandson Award for Literature. Awarded by the University Professional and Continuing Education Association for Powerful Techniques for Teaching Adults.
2012 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education. Awarded by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education for Teaching for Critical Thinking: Helping Students Question Their Assumptions.
2011 Cyril O. Houle World Award for Literature in Adult Education. Awarded by the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education for Radicalizing Learning: Adult Education for a Just World, co-authored with John D. Holst.
2009 Induction into the International Adult Education Hall of Fame
2008 Morris T. Keeton Award for Adult and Experiential Learning. Awarded by the Council on Adult and Experiential Learning for “outstanding contributions to adult and experiential learning”
2008 University of St. Thomas John Ireland Presidential Award for Outstanding Achievement as a Teacher/Scholar
2008 University of St. Thomas Diversity Leadership Teaching and Research Award.