Robert C. Mizzi is a Canadian professor of education at the University of Manitoba, where he serves as Canada Research Chair in Critical and Creative Continuous Learning.[1][2] His scholarship focuses on adult and continuing education, educational administration, workplace learning, and the inclusion of 2SLGBTQ people in educational and organizational settings.[3][4] He is also known for developing the concept of heteroprofessionalism.[5]
Robert Mizzi | |
|---|---|
| Education | University of Windsor (BA, BEd) University of Alberta (MEd) York University (PhD) |
| Occupation | Professor of education |
| Employer | University of Manitoba |
| Known for | Research on adult education, educational administration, workplace learning, and 2SLGBTQ inclusion |
| Website | robertmizzi |
Early life and education
editMizzi grew up in rural and northern Canada. He earned an honours Bachelor of Arts in drama-in-education in 1996 and a Bachelor of Education in 1997 from the University of Windsor. He later received a Master of Education in international/global education from the University of Alberta in 2002, a Doctor of Philosophy in education from York University in 2011, and a graduate certificate in higher education online pedagogy from the University of Illinois Springfield in 2020.[3]
Career
editEarlier in his career, Mizzi worked on the Kosovo Educator Development Project during the post-conflict reconstruction of Kosovo from 2002 to 2004.[6] He later founded and directed Queer Peace International, a Canada-based organization active from 2005 to 2010 that supported LGBTQ community groups in non-Western countries.[6]
From 2011 to 2012, Mizzi held a SSHRC postdoctoral fellowship at Florida International University and then worked as an SSHRC research facilitator at Lakehead University from 2012 to 2013. He joined the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Education in 2013 as an assistant professor and later became an associate professor. He now serves as a professor in the Department of Educational Administration, Foundations and Psychology.[3]
In 2020, Mizzi was appointed a Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Queer, Community and Diversity Education.[4] The chair was renewed in 2025 under the title Canada Research Chair in Critical and Creative Continuous Learning.[2]
Mizzi has also held editorial and professional leadership roles in adult education. He served as president of the Canadian Association for the Study of Adult Education in 2018–2019 and as editor-in-chief of the Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education from 2019 to 2021.[6]
In 2025, Mizzi created a 2SLGBTQIA+ teaching-resource for educators and with developing a related 2SLGBTQIA+ history mural in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba.[7]
Research
editMizzi's research has spanned adult and continuing education, educational administration, workplace learning, and social inclusion.[3][4] His work has examined how inclusion and creativity affect employee development, productivity, belonging, and satisfaction.[2][3] His other research interests include 2SLGBTQ-inclusive policies and programs, teaching and leading for diversity, post-peace accord Northern Ireland from disability and LGBTQ perspectives, and intersectionality on university campuses.[3] In 2024, Mizzi led a national study on rural 2SLGBTQ+ Pride events in Canada.
Selected works
edit- Mizzi, Robert C.; Rocco, Tonette S.; Shore, Sue (2016). Disrupting Adult and Community Education: Teaching, Learning, and Working in the Periphery. SUNY Press.
- Rocco, Tonette S.; Smith, M. Cecil; Mizzi, Robert C.; Merriweather, Lisa; Hawley, Joshua (2020). Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education. Routledge.
- Rodriguez, Nelson; Mizzi, Robert C.; Allen, Louisa; Cover, Rob (2023). Queer Studies and Education: An International Reader. Oxford University Press.
- Mizzi, R.C. (2025). Adventures in teaching: Your guide to becoming a successful international educator. Globespire Press.
Awards and recognition
editMizzi received the University of Manitoba's Falconer Emerging Researcher Rh Award in the social sciences in 2018.[6] In 2022, he was elected to the Royal Society of Canada's College of New Scholars, Artists and Scientists.[4][8] The same year, he was inducted into the International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.[6][9]
References
edit- ↑ Doran, Sarah (January 12, 2021). "Associate professor educates the educators".
- 1 2 3 "Canada Research Chair - Robert Mizzi". Canada Research Chairs.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Robert Mizzi". University of Manitoba, Faculty of Education.
- 1 2 3 4 "Prof. Robert Mizzi". Royal Society of Canada.
- ↑ "Sexualities, Genders, Bodies and the Realities of Being Queer".
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Robert Mizzi". International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.
- ↑ Stigander, Krystal (June 27, 2025). "New webpage champions 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion in education". UM Today.
- ↑ "Two new RSC scholars named at UM". UM Today. September 8, 2022.
- ↑ "HOF 2022 - Hall of Fame". International Adult and Continuing Education Hall of Fame.