Josh Mackey, Ed.D., SPHR
Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Northern Arizona University
Josh is Northern Arizona University’s Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. He oversees the university’s comprehensive HR functions including: Benefits, Hiring & Recruitment, Employee Relations, Employee Learning and Development, Payroll, Employee Assistance and Wellness, and the Equity and Access Office. In addition to serving as NAU’s VP for Human Resources since 2018, Josh was appointed and served as the university’s Interim Executive Vice President and Chief of Staff from March 2020–July 2021.
Josh has over 20 years of higher education human resources experience. Prior to joining NAU in 2018, he was the CHRO at Metropolitan State University Denver, where he transformed their HR function and became a key member of the President’s Cabinet. His public higher education HR career began with the Maricopa Community College District, where he held progressively responsible HR roles for over 18 years.
His Ed.D. and M.Ed. are in Educational Leadership from Northern Arizona University, where he also earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Human Resources.
Josh has served on numerous state and national higher education HR boards and committees. His higher education HR service includes board positions at the state, regional, and national levels. He currently serves on the board of Society of Higher Education Human Resource Executives (SHEHRE) and on the National Board of Directors of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR).