Meet the Faculty

Dr. Robert Awkward

Program Coordinator and Advisor, Visiting Professor

BA, MS Northeastern University; MEd Boston University; PhD, University of Massachusetts, Boston

Email: rawkward@framingham.edu

Dr. Robert J. Awkward is the Program Coordinator and Academic Advisor for the Master of Human Resources (M.H.R.) program. In addition to teaching part-time at Framingham State University, he is a tenured professor of business and economics at Middlesex Community College (MCC). There he teaches a variety of courses including Introduction to Business, Principles of Management, Principles of Marketing, Human Resources Management, Interpersonal Communications in Business, Principles of Macroeconomics, and Principles of Microeconomics. He currently serves as the MCC Assessment Fellow, on the MCC Assessment Steering Committee, and is the MCC representative to the state-wide and regional Advancing in Massachusetts a Culture of Assessment (AMCOA). In addition to providing advice and counsel to Business Administration majors, Bob has served or is serving on several committees and task forces including the Student Learning Outcomes Task Force, the University of Mass. Lowell/MCC Lumina Quality Collaborative Project, and was Tri-Advisor to the Business & Economics Club which won both the Federal Reserve regional and national economic challenge awards in 2008 and 2009.

Prior to this, Bob enjoyed progressive, diverse and successful human resources experiences in varied industries including retail, manufacturing, high technology, professional services, healthcare and academia. Those experiences include twelve years as a senior manager—serving the last three as Vice President of Human Resources. Although Bob possesses broad human resources knowledge, his areas of expertise include staffing, employee/labor relations, managing diversity, learning and development and organizational effectiveness. Bob graduated from Boston University with a M.Ed. in Human Resources Development. He also received both a graduate degree (M.S. in Economic Policy & Planning) and his undergraduate degree (B.A., Political Science) from Northeastern University. Finally, he has a Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Massachusetts Boston.

Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller

Visiting Instructor

B.A., Cornell University; M.A., Florida International University

Email: kbenjaminfuller@framingham.edu

Kameelah Benjamin-Fuller (she/her) drives transformational change as an activist, champion of equity, diversity, and inclusion (ED+I), musician, and mom. As Chief Diversity Officer and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Leader at PTC, she is responsible for supporting the company’s full activation of opportunity in this space.

She brings over 20 years of experience in ED+I and CSR initiatives across industries including entertainment, financial services, technology, and travel. Kameelah is passionate about empowering individuals, communities, and organizations to recognize their ability to create impactful change through strong brands, healthy environments, and clear purpose.

She’s worked with organizations including Gillette/P&G, Korn Ferry, youth programs, social justice organizations, and correctional facilities. Most recently, she co-founded and led ED+I at Tripadvisor, where she ignited a small program into its current global remit, extending efforts into the workplace and product experience.

As the founder of G-Rock Music, Kameelah has dedicated the past several years to elevating the voices of womxn in rock and womxn of color in music. The collective focuses on showcasing emerging, renowned, and legendary womxn in music by creating forums and platforms for artists to share their story and their craft.

Kameelah received her Bachelor of Arts in Government from Cornell University, and her Master’s in African-New World Studies from Florida International University.

She has a penchant for karaoke, RVing, and classic rock.

James Duffy

Senior Instructor

AB, Mt. Wachusett Community College; BS, Northeastern University; MA, Suffolk University

Email: jduffy3@framingham.edu

I have been an adjunct faculty member for approximately 30 years. I have taught business and economic classes at the secondary level for 25 years, I have worked in the high-tech industry for 15 years, have been involved in real estate investment and development, and currently run a financial brokerage company. I am married and have five grandchildren with whom I enjoy spending time. I enjoy playing golf and, like many of you enjoy following local sports.

Andrew Guigno, CCP

Visiting Instructor

BS, Suffolk University; MA, Framingham State University;

Email: aguigno@framingham.edu

Andrew teaches the Compensation & Performance Management course. He is a Senior Survey Account Manager for Pearl Meyer in Wellesley, MA.  At Pearl Meyer he manages a portfolio of compensation surveys across multiple industries. 

Prior to his time at Pearl Meyer, Andrew worked for Shaw’s Supermarkets performing several roles including, Customer Service Manager, Systems Trainer, and Human Resources Administrator.

Andrew has an undergraduate degree in Communications and Journalism from Suffolk University and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management from Framingham State University. He is an active member of WorldatWork and holds a Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) designation.  He has presented at WorldatWork’s Total Rewards Conference and his work has been published in WorkSpan Magazine.

Ellen Gilmore, SPHR

Visiting Instructor

BA, Regis College; MA, Lesley University

Email: egilmore1@framingham.edu

Ellen Gilmore is an experienced human resources leader with comprehensive experience in the areas of change management, talent management, executive leadership, organizational development, and strategic partnerships.

Ellen has assisted executive leadership in attracting and retaining high quality talent, ensuring that staff are engaged, and guiding their performance in organizations across the manufacturing, academia, high-tech and healthcare sectors. She is responsible for building world-class talent in order to support academic and healthcare strategic objectives.

Prior to founding Strategic Talent Management, Ellen served as Executive Director of Human Resources and Strategic Talent Management at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she was responsible for setting and implementing a strategic plan for all talent. She previously led HR at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and served as Director of Talent Management Strategy at Harvard University, enabling her to bring superior skills in coaching, culture, and diversity, equity and inclusion. Ellen holds a Master’s Degree in Training and Development from Lesley University and Bachelors of Arts degree in Mathematics from Regis College.

Dr. Michele Gibbons-Carr

Visiting Professor

BA, Pennsylvania State University, MA and Ph.D. Boston University

Email: mgibbonscarr@framingham.edu

Michele teaches the Organization Development and Change course. For more than 25 years, she has been engaged in helping organizations and their leaders manage change and implement solutions to complex organizational challenges.  As a trusted advisor, coach and consultant to leaders, she has been dedicated to their effectiveness.  As a Clinical Psychologist (#3217) and Board Certified Coach (BCC#3155), she has used the insights and skills of the behavioral sciences to support the development and cultivation of talented managers and leaders.  As a consultant, she has focused on driving transformational change through large scale systems change, strategic and scenario planning, experiential learning and large group whole system approaches

Michele has an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and a Master’s and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Boston University. She is an alumna member of the National Training Laboratories Institute (NTL) and OD Network. She has presented at the Association for Talent Development (formerly ASTD), the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), the American Association of Dental Schools (AADS) and OD Network Annual conferences. Her pioneering work using Large Group methods to do scenario planning has been published in the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science and in Bunker,B and Alban B. (Ed) The Handbook of Large Group Methods.

Pat Haraden, CEBS, CLU and ChFC

Visiting Instructor

BS Northeastern University; MBA Bentley College

Email: pharaden@framingham.edu

Pat teaches the employee benefits course at Framingham State University.  He is currently the New England Area President with Gallagher Benefit Services.  In addition to his management responsibilities for the New England offices, he advises large employers, associations, and municipalities on employee benefit issues. Pat is the author of several articles on employee benefits and health insurance.  He has presented at local and national conferences on the impacts of healthcare reform and health care cost control strategies. He is also a regular co-host on the "McNamara on Money" financial radio talk show.  Pat has earned the industry designations of Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), Registered Employee Benefits Consultant (REBC), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU), Associate in Risk Management (ARM).  He is a licensed employee benefits producer consultant and is a member of several local and national employee benefits associations.

 

Prior to joining Gallagher  Pat worked as an employee benefits consultant for national consulting firms Fidelity Investments, Hewitt Associates and Watson Wyatt Worldwide. Pat earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) with an Accounting/Management concentration from Northeastern University, and has a Master of Business Administration (MBA)with a concentration in Taxation from Bentley College.

Andrea Kramer

Visiting Lecturer

BA, Wellesley College; JD, Harvard Law School

Email: akramer4@framingham.edu

Andrea is a successful employment and business litigator who brings to her teaching a variety of experiences over her 30+ year career as a lawyer. 

Currently a solo practitioner who represents individuals, businesses, academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies in addressing and resolving business, employment, and other types of disputes, including civil rights claims, noncompetition cases, property disputes, professional malpractice cases, and closely held corporate shareholder and earn-out cases.  

Andrea started her career as an educator teaching Legal Studies at what is now Quinnipiac School of Law.  For ten years, she was an adjunct professor at Brandeis University, where she taught courses on sex discrimination law and the intersection of science and technology. Most recently, she taught a mandatory first-year class at Harvard Law School on legal problem solving.

Massachusetts and federal appellate courts for clients and pro bono on behalf Andrea also served as Chief of the Civil Rights Division of the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office and has an active appellate practice, having authored or participated in nearly twenty appellate briefs in of the Women’s Bar Association (WBA).

She has served on the board of the YWCA Boston and the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts, of which she was president in 2012-2013, the National Conference of Women’s Bar Associations, the National Conference on Time and Learning, and the Massachusetts Women’s Political Caucus. 

Finally, in recognition of her accomplishments, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly named Andrea a 2013 Top Woman of Law Honoree and a 2019 inductee into its Circle of Excellence. In 2014 she was recognized as one of the Top 10 Super Lawyers in Massachusetts and as a Super Lawyer for over a decade.

Andrew Letendre, MBA

Visiting Instructor

BS, University of New Hampshire; MBA, Boston University

Email: aletendre@framingham.edu

Andrew Letendre is Director, Talent & Enterprise Services Technology at Liberty Mutual Insurance, located in Boston, MA.  In his current role, Andrew’s team designs and implements information systems that support several business functions including Talent Analytics, Internal Communications, Web Analytics, and global core HRIS.  Andrew has been at Liberty Mutual for 10 years and prior to current role, held varying roles across several IT and corporate business systems functions.  


Andrew has an undergraduate degree from the University of New Hampshire in Business Administration and an MBA from Boston University.  Andrew lives in South Boston and enjoys staying active outdoors.