Professor Morris Kleiner is the recipient of the 2024 Economics Career Achievement Alumni Award from the University of Illinois Economics Department.  Kleiner earned his master's degree and PhD from the school. He was honored during homecoming festivities at the University of Illinois in September. 

Kleiner is professor and AFL-CIO Chair in Labor Policy at the Humphrey School, and also teaches at the University's Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies. Kleiner’s research interests include the analysis of institutions in the labor market, the influence of labor-management policies on organizations, and the role of labor unions in democratic societies. His most notable work is in the area of occupational licensing, which has influenced policies on the federal and state levels.