Foundations of Adult, Workforce, and Higher Education

Foundations of Adult, Workforce, and Higher Education: Untold and Overlooked Histories presents the diverse and often overlooked narratives that have shaped adult and continuing education in the United States.This collection foregrounds Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian American, LGBTQ+, workers, and Disability histories, reflecting the demographic richness of the field. Contributors explore how adults have gathered to learn across community centers, churches, workplaces, and social movements—often in response to oppression and exclusion—through richly contextualized chapters that position adult education as a powerful tool for social justice, cultural preservation, and democratic participation. Essential reading for courses in Foundations and History of Adult Education, Higher Education, and Human Resource Development, this collection demonstrates how understanding the field's complex past can inspire more inclusive and transformative educational futures.