Villanova’s Graduate Program in Human Resource Development Announces Heather Cluley Bar-Or, Ph.D., as New Director
- Jun 22
- 3 min read
Villanova University has named Associate Teaching Professor Heather Cluley Bar-Or, Ph.D., as the new director of its Graduate Program in Human Resource Development, following ten years of leadership from Gerard Brandon, Ph.D. Her appointment marks a pivotal moment for the program as it continues to expand its focus on evidence-based HR leadership, the future of work and the essential professional skills of strategic, inclusive and influential HR.
Through her work at Villanova, Dr. Heather Cluley Bar-Or aims to show HR and business leaders how to use evidence to support meaningful and positive work experiences, as well as organizational effectiveness and profitability.
Dr. Cluley Bar-Or’s leadership builds on years of work refining the program’s systems, curriculum and use of technology, strengthening the student experience and positioning it for strategic impact. After joining Villanova in 2018 as a visiting assistant professor, teaching courses in organizational behavior and strategic human resource management, she took a leadership position in the program to refine academics and leverage new teaching technology.
“I started my career in public health and worksite wellness,” she shared, “and I returned to school for my Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior because I became really passionate about employees’ work experiences, and the workplace environments that empower great work, but also maintain work-life balance and well-being.”
That focus continues to shape her teaching and leadership. Dr. Cluley Bar-Or understands the pressures facing today’s workforce, including competing demands, burnout and the need for flexibility; her perspective is grounded in both research and lived experience.
“Stress and burnout are hot topics right now, but then they always have been. Research has been clear in understanding the root causes of stress, but businesses often use trends or band aid solutions instead of trying to understand the root causes of these problems,” Dr. Cluley Bar-Or said.
As organizations respond to rapid change, including the growing role of AI, Dr. Cluley Bar-Or sees a clear opportunity for HR professionals to lead with evidence-based solutions.
“As HR professionals these are the issues we’re most prepared to deal with, and our students are learning to become HR business partners who solve these problems for leadership and create healthier, more sustainable workplaces for everyone.”
Her appointment also marks a historic milestone. Dr. Cluley Bar-Or is the first woman to lead the program since its founding by Dr. David Bush in 1980. In the early days of the program, Dr. Bush felt that HR professionals didn’t have enough support to spur organizational change. HR was pivoting from a purely administrative role to a strategic partnership with business leadership, and they were dealing with serious issues that may seem familiar to us now, like mass layoffs and new workforce technology.
“Villanova’s Augustinian ideals of community and service resonated with the program’s purpose to develop HR professionals who could improve both workplaces and lives,” says Teaching Professor Dr. Gerard Brandon, HRD’s previous program director. “The HRD program quickly built a reputation for integrating theory with practice, offering courses in training, analytics, strategic planning…It was, in many ways, an early and practical embodiment of evidence-based HR before that term had entered the lexicon.”
Dr. Cluley Bar-Or’s leadership reflects both continuity and forward momentum, building on a strong foundation while advancing an even more human-centered approach to HR education.
As the program enters this next chapter, it also recognizes the lasting contributions of Dr. Brandon. Over the past decade, his leadership strengthened the program’s reputation, expanded its academic offerings and deepened its connection to the HR community. His work has left a lasting impact on students, faculty and alumni. Dr. Brandon will continue contributing to the program in a research-focused role, supporting ongoing innovation and scholarship for the HR community.
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