Robert J. Awkward

Robert J. Awkward, Ph.D., serves as Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor for Framingham State University's Master of Human Resources (MHR) program while also working as a Visiting Professor of human resource management. He concurrently holds the position of Assistant Commissioner for Academic Effectiveness at the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, where he leads statewide initiatives on educational assessment and open educational resources across 29 public institutions.

• Ph.D. in Higher Education from University of Massachusetts Boston
• M.Ed. in Human Resources Development from Boston University
• M.S. in Economic Policy & Planning and B.A. in Political Science from Northeastern University

Research Interests: Dr. Awkward specializes in human resources systems with particular focus on staffing strategies, employee relations, diversity management, organizational effectiveness, and learning & development frameworks. His work bridges academic theory with practical applications in both higher education and industry settings.

Professional Background: Prior to his academic roles, Dr. Awkward accumulated extensive HR leadership experience across multiple industries, including a 12-year tenure as Senior Manager and final three years as Vice President of Human Resources. He remains a tenured professor at Middlesex Community College, currently on professional leave.