Richard Hurd is a professor of labor relations emeritus and former director of Labor Studies at the Cornell University School of Industrial and Labor Relations. Hurd has a Ph.D. in economics from Vanderbilt University. Prior to his appointment at Cornell, Hurd was an economic policy fellow at the Brookings Institution. Hurd's research focus is on the modern labor movement, organizing strategies, and organizational change in unions. He also has an interest in the organization of professional and technical workers. Hurd is frequently quoted in mainstream newspapers and magazines.