About the Authors

The Human Resource Certification Preparation Program is designed by David J. Cherrington (DBA, SPHR) and Laura Z. Middleton (SPHR, SPHRi). Dr. Cherrington, a retired university professor, served on the HR Certification Institute Board of Directors from 1989 to 1995. During his time on the board, he was the National Director of Codification and Research and the National Director of Exam Development.

As the Director of Codification and Research, Dr. Cherrington conducted an extensive study to define and expand the HR Body of Knowledge on which the PHR and SPHR exams are based. Laura Middleton assisted with the codification study; the two thoroughly researched human resource management laws, practices, policies, trends, and literature. They also conducted an extensive survey of certified human resource professionals to determine the relative importance of the various human resource topics.

In his role as the National Director of Exam Development, Dr. Cherrington reviewed and improved items in the HR Certification Institute’s test bank. He also conducted item-writing and review workshops with certified human resource professionals who had volunteered to assist in writing and/or reviewing items for the PHR and SPHR exams.

In addition to being the principle author of the HRCP Program, Dr. Cherrington is the author of four textbooks.

Laura Middleton serves as the president of HRCP, L.C. She has a master’s degree in organizational behavior and has worked as a researcher and consultant. In addition to assisting Dr. Cherrington with the HR Certification Institute codification study, she served as research assistant in updating two of Dr. Cherrington’s textbooks.

Laura Middleton has passed the HR certification exams on nine separate occasions. She is an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, where she teaches human resource management and leadership courses.