From Norman, OK, to the World: The International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame

 

By Jost Reischmann (HOF 1999), Germany

In 1996, Thurman White of the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, launched a new initiative: the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame (IACEHOF). The central idea was to honor leaders in continuing education and adult learning and to serve as a record that inspires the next generation of continuing education leaders.

In its inaugural induction class, the Hall of Fame recognized 72 individuals as “outstanding leaders. A look at the 1996 induction list of the “International” Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame reveals a perhaps unsurprising fact: all of the inductees were American. In 1997, two non-Americans were recognized as “outstanding”: Roby Kidd from Canada and Peter Jarvis from the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, in the following years, the Hall remained firmly an American institution.

A major step toward establishing the Hall as a truly international institution was the decision to hold an induction ceremony outside the United States. At the AAACE conference in Pittsburgh in 2005, Jost Reischmann of Germany (Class of 1999) and John Henschke of the USA (Class of 1998), inspired by a bottle of “Yellow Tail” wine, began brainstorming about the possibility of bringing an induction ceremony to Europe. The Hall’s Board of Directors was initially quite ambivalent about the idea. As a result, Jost Reischmann traveled from Germany to a board meeting in Dallas to present and advocate for the initiative. Jim Pappas, then Executive Director of the IACEHOF, was a strong supporter of the idea. His argument was both simple and compelling: “We do call this Hall international …” And so, in 2006, the first induction ceremony outside the United States took place in Bamberg, Germany http://halloffame-europe.andragogy.net/2006-Bamberg/06-HOF-Bamberg.html). Fourteen European leaders were inducted into the Hall, marking an important milestone in its development as an international institution.

Since then, the international character of IACEHOF has become an established feature of the organization. Induction ceremonies outside the United States have since been held in Budapest, Hungary (2008); Iași, Romania (2014); Suwon City, South Korea (2017); Belgrade, Serbia (2019); Cork, Ireland (2022); and Florence, Italy (2024). Today, an increasing number of outstanding leaders from many countries contribute to the richness and diversity of the IACEHOF.

What began in 1996 as a predominantly American institution has evolved into a truly international community dedicated to recognizing excellence and leadership in adult and continuing education worldwide.

Jost Reischmann’s reflection traces the Hall of Fame’s journey from its beginnings as a predominantly U.S.-based institution to an increasingly international community, highlighting the individuals, relationships, and pivotal decisions that helped expand its global reach.

Continue the Conversation

The Hall of Fame’s evolution reminds us that becoming truly international requires more than a name—it requires people willing to build relationships, cross boundaries, and create opportunities for diverse voices to be recognized.

We invite you to share your perspective:

• What does it mean for the Hall of Fame to be a truly international community?
• How has connecting with adult educators from other countries influenced your own thinking, practice, or leadership?
• What can the Hall do to strengthen participation and representation from regions that remain underrepresented?
• What relationships, partnerships, or initiatives could help expand the Hall’s global reach?
• As we look toward the next 30 years, what would you like the Hall’s international legacy to become?

Join the conversation. Share your experiences and ideas for how we can continue building a Hall of Fame that reflects, connects, and celebrates the global adult and continuing education community.