About the Authors

Kay Peterson

Kay Peterson is the founder of the Institute for Experiential Learning, an organization dedicated to promoting the understanding and practice of Experiential Learning, and a founder and the Co-CEO of Harlan Peterson Partners, an organization development and executive coaching firm. Kay applies Experiential Learning to develop leaders, drive team effectiveness, and promote learning organizations. Through an executive coaching program that builds learning flexibility, Kay inspires professionals across industries and at all stages in their careers to achieve their highest potential. She has consulted with professionals and organizations in health care, law, service, finance, manufacturing, management, engineering, IT, education, and nonprofit settings. Together with David Kolb, Kay is developing a Learning Skills Profile 360° Assessment that promotes personal and professional development by measuring skills associated with the Learning Styles of the Kolb Learning Style Inventory 4.0.

Kay earned a BS from Vanderbilt University, an MS-POD and a MBA from Case Western Reserve University. In addition, she holds an MN from Emory University and has pursued postgraduate training at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland in gestalt coaching (Gestalt Professional Certified Coach), gestalt training, and somatic studies. Her work in experiential learning has been published in HBR Guides, OD Practitioner, and the Journal of Experiential Learning. For more information, go to www.experientiallearninginstitute.org and www.harlanpeterson.com.

David A. Kolb

David Kolb is the chairman of Experience Based Learning Systems (EBLS), an organization that he founded in 1980 to advance research and practice on experiential learning. EBLS has developed many experiential exercises and self-assessment instruments, including the latest Kolb Learning Style Inventory 4.0 and the Kolb Educator Role Profile, an inventory designed to help educators apply experiential learning principles in their work.

David Kolb received his BA in psychology, philosophy, and religion at Knox College and his PhD in social psychology from Harvard University. He was a professor of organizational behavior and management at the MIT Sloan School of Management and at the Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, where he is currently Emeritus Professor of Organizational Behavior.

He is best known for his research on experiential learning and learning styles described in the new second edition of Experiential Learning: Experience as the Source of Learning and Development. Other books include Conversational Learning: An Experiential Approach to Knowledge Creation, Innovation in Professional Education: Steps on a Journey from Teaching to Learning, and Organizational Behavior: An Experiential Approach. In addition he has authored many journal articles and book chapters on experiential learning. David has received several research awards and four honorary degrees recognizing his contributions to experiential learning in higher education. For more information about his work, go to www.learningfromexperience.com