Robert P. Watson, Ph.D.

https://www.lynn.edu/campus-directory/people/robert-watson

• American presidency
• American political history
• First ladies
• Military history
• National security
• Public administration

Lynn University (Currently held)

Faculty Positions

• Avron Fogelman Research Professor (2021-Present)
• Distinguished Professor of American History (2018-Present)

Administrative Leadership Positions

• Assistant Director, Center for Citizenship & Civility (2022-Present)
• Founder & Director, Project Civitas (2016-Present)
• Founder & Coordinator, Race & Community Initiative (2020-Present)
• Founder & Host, “The Dialogues Lecture Series” (2007-Present)

Lynn University (Previously held)

Faculty Positions

• Professor of American Studies (2010-2018)
• Associate Professor of American Studies (2007-2010)
• Adjunct Professor of International Relations (2006-2007)

Administrative Leadership Positions

• Chair, Master of Public Administration (2017)
• Advisory Board, Women’s Center (2009-2012; 2015-2016)
• Chair, Political Science Program (2012-2013)
• Chair, American Studies Program (2007-2013)

Florida Atlantic University

• Associate Professor of Political Science (2003-2007)
• Affiliated Faculty, Women’s Studies Program (2002-2006)
• Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science (2002-2003)
• Adjunct Professor of Political Science (2001-2002) 

University of Hawaii

• Associate Professor of Political Science (1999-2001)
• Assistant Professor of Political Science (1996-1999) 

Northern Arizona University

• Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science (1994-1996)

Troy University

• Assistant Professor of Political Science (1992-1994) 

Scholar-in-Residence & Visiting Scholar

*Partial List/Select Organizations 

• Broward Center for the Performing Arts
• Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
• U.S. Military Academy
• Temple Beth El
• Temple Shaarei Shalom
• Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage
• James Madison's Montpelier
• Truman Presidential Museum & Library
• Jewish Federation of Ottawa
• Case Western Reserve
• Illinois Holocaust Museum
• Watson Institute
• University of Missouri
• Temple Anshei Shalom
• Katz Jewish Community Center
• Metropolitan Detroit Jewish Community Center
• University of Southern Mississippi
• Calvin Coolidge Foundation
• South Dakota Humanities Council
• Eastern Illinois University
• James Madison University
• New England College
• Saginaw Valley State University
• Southern University

Distinguished Lecturer

*Partial List/Select Organizations 

• 92nd Street Y & Roundtable
• Smithsonian Museum & Smithsonian Associates
• Fraunces Tavern Museum
• Daniel Pearl Education Center
• Museum Arts Culture Series
• Levis Jewish Community Center
• Pentagon
• One Day University & Curiosity Stream
• Andersonville National Historic Site
• College of Central Florida
• WPO (World Presidents Organization)
• Carnegie Mellon University
• National Institutes of Health
• Rodeph Shalom Snyagogue
• Levy Lecture Series
• Washington Metro Oasis Lifelong Learning
• National Archives
• Holocaust Education Resource Council
• Universit of California, San Diego
• Jewish Community Center of Washington
• Oakland Town Hall
• Chenequa Club Lecture Series
• Foggle Great Issues Series
• Miami Holocaust Education Week
• George Washington's Mount Vernon
• Temple Sharey Tefilo Israel
• Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
• Ruth Pauley Lecture Series
• Jewish Community Center of Greater Harrisburg
• Prof Talks (Toronto)
• Boca Raton Museum of Art
• Mark Center for Jewish Excellence
• Ford Presidential Museum
• Mount Rushmore National Memorial

For his work, Watson has won numerous awards including the “International Abraham Lincoln Award” for his contributions to the study of the presidency, the “Children’s Hero Award” for the many civics programs he offers schools, the League of Women Voters’ “Good Government Award” for his election commentary, several awards from the Democratic Party for his efforts to promote voter registration and education, and many others. He has been named “Professor of the Year” numerous times and won multiple “Faculty Service” awards at various universities, including Lynn University.

Several of Watson’s books have been featured at prominent literary festivals, appeared on C-SPAN’s Book TV program, and won awards such as the John Lyman Book Award, John Barry Book Award, the Independent Publishers’ Gold Medal in History, and so on. Watson has also been selected as a Visiting Fellow or Scholar with dozens of historic sites, museums, and universities including the National Archives, Gettysburg National Battlefield, American Civil War Museum, Virginia Museum of History and Culture, National Civil War Museum, Andersonville National Historic Site, National POW Museum, Society of the Cincinnati, American Revolution Institute, Fraunces Tavern Museum, The Pentagon, Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Truman Presidential Library, Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, James Madison’s Montpelier, Illinois Holocaust Museum, Museum of the American Revolution, National Museum of the U.S. Navy and South Dakota Humanities Council.

Other awards include:

(partial list)

• Multiple book awards, including America's First Crisis (Gold Medal in History), The Nazi Titanic (National Jewish Book Council), George Washington's Final Battle (IPPY - Independent Publisher's Award), The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn (Commodore John Barry Book Award & John Lyman Book Award), Escape (Global Book Award Gold Medal), When Washington Burned (Gold Medal in History), etc.
• Multiple national book award nominations for several of my books
• Scholarship and Creative Activities Award, Lynn University, 2020-2021
• Thomas Ehrlich Engaged Faculty Nomination, Campus Compact
• Knights of the Roundtable Faculty & Staff Shield Award, Lynn University, 2017
• Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year Award, Lynn University, 2013 & 2017
• Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, Lynn University, 2010
• Distinguished Teacher of the Year, Florida Atlantic University, 2006
• Faculty Service Award, Florida Atlantic University, 2005 & 2006
• Service Award, International Abraham Lincoln Center
• Finalist, Teacher of the Year, University of Hawaii, Hilo
• Finalist, Teacher of the Year, Troy University
• "Outstanding Professor of the Year," Northern Arizona University
• "Good Citizenship Medal," Sons of the American Revolution
• "Finalist, Civys," American Civic Collaboration Award
• "Civility Award," Project Nuremberg Lawyers
• "Honoree," Palm Beach County Democratic Club
• "Honoree," Chabbad Student Center
• "Civil Discourse Winner," WGBH Public Radio Forum
• "Good Government Award," Florida League of Women Voters 
• "Merit Award," American Associaition of State & Local History
• "Children's Hero Award," Children's Advocacy Council
• "Heavy Hitter in Education," South Florida Business Journal
• Inductee, Phi Alpha Theta, Internatinal History Honor Society
• Inductee, Pi Alpha Alpha, National Public Affairs Honor Society
• Inductee, Pi Sigma Alpha, National Political Science Honor Society
• Inductee, Golden Key International Honor Society
• Inductee, Hershey High School Sports Hall of Fame
• Inductee, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame
• Trees planted in Israel on my behalf