College of Doctoral Studies
Center forÌýOrganizational Wellness, Engagement, and Belonging
Advancing thriving workplaces through research, innovation, and collaboration
Research Chair: Dr. Kimberly M. Underwood
Senior Research Fellow: Dr. Sandra Sessoms-Penny
Senior Research Fellow: Dr. Joy Taylor
About the Center
Welcome to theÌýCenter for Organizational Wellness, Engagement, and BelongingÌý(CO-WEB), where we explore and advance the science behind creating healthier and more engaging working environments. At CO-WEB, we recognize that a thriving workplace is more than just a collection of tasks and responsibilities — it is a dynamic ecosystem. In a world where many employees are seeking more than just a paycheck, a workplace that prioritizes wellness, engagement and belonging is not just a benefit — it is a competitive advantage.
CO-WEB serves as the research home for faculty, students and alumni who have an expressed interest or have an existing research agenda related to organizational functioning in workplaces and communities of practice. At our center, we generate interdisciplinary research and scholarship that examines factors that contribute to organizational and workplace wellness, and stakeholder engagement and belonging. We conduct rigorous studies, synthesize the latest findings for scholarship, and collaborate with thought leaders to provide actionable recommendations and guidance for organizations in all communities of practice. Our work not only explores the individual and organizational benefits of wellness, engagement, and belonging but also provides a roadmap for organizations to unlock the full potential of their workforce.
CO-WEB seeks to create a progressive community of scholarship by providing collegiality, support and resources to faculty, students and alumni. Opportunities for research are cultivated and supported in a variety of ways within the center, including establishing direct affiliation with the center and its articulated research and scholarship agenda, serving as an advisor or contributor or serving as a Fellow-in-Residence.
For more information on research and scholarship opportunities or CO-WEB membership, please email us directly atÌýOrganizationalWellness@phoenix.edu.
You can also complete theÌýÌýfor membership consideration.
Research Chair
Dr. Kimberly Underwood
Dr. Kimberly Underwood has over two decades of experience in the areas of higher education leadership, strategic planning and project management, professional development and training, teaching, consulting, research, and university accreditation leadership.Ìý
Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Sandra Sessoms-Penny
Senior Research Fellow
Dr. Joy Taylor
TheÌýCenter for Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging (COWEB)Ìýhas a dual mission to:
- Support the growth of existing and developing research and scholarship agendas aimed at addressing vital topics, issues and challenges within organizational cultures
- Close the gap between academia and industry through intersections of problem finding and problem solving, academic scholarship and practitioner engagement plus theoretic analytics and practical implementation
The vision of theÌýCenter for Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging (COWEB)Ìýis to be the leading generator of impactful research-based publications and presentations that lead to practical and innovative solutions for healthy organizational cultures.
TheÌýCenter for Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging (COWEB) serves as a conduit for the dissemination of groundbreaking and innovative research findings from UOPX faculty and student scholars to stakeholders interested in gaining theoretical and applied knowledge for the purpose of supporting dynamic organizational cultures and creating engaging working environments.
Goals for theÌýCenter for Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging (CO-WEB)Ìýinclude:
- Creating a center of choice for a community of scholars interested in research and scholarship
- Supporting members in the dissemination of their research and scholarship through academic presentations and publications
- Providing resources to enhance the skills of faculty and students to conduct research and generate scholarship related to the latest essential topics in the areas ofÌýorganizational and workplace wellness, and stakeholder engagement and belonging
- Building a broad and shared collection of scholarship through close partnerships with business leaders and other stakeholders
Our research and scholarship span innovative, interdisciplinary efforts designed to address today’s most pressing challenges. From long-term investigations to time-sensitive special initiatives, our teams are pushing boundaries and shaping the future across various industries and communities of practice.
Our work has been featured in numerous top-tiered conferences, including the American Educational Research AssociationÌý(AERA), theÌýSociety for Human Resource Management (SHRM), and the International Leadership AssociationÌý(ILA). Further, our publications can be found in various academic journals spanning a variety of topics.
Explore ourÌýongoing research projectsÌýthat are advancing knowledge and driving real-world impact, as well asÌýspecial projectsÌýtackling urgent, high-priority topics.
Fellows-in-Residence
The Fellows-in-Residence (FIR) role was designed to usher in the potentials of like-minded researchers who desire to become part of the Research and Scholarship Enterprise (RSE). CO-WEB implemented these voluntary, at-will roles in 2020, and have since grown the cadre of fellows who work within the center. An elite group of researchers, the fellows are important constituents of the center, often taking part in various endeavors, including researching, publishing, presenting and helping with our KWB Summit. We continue to invite those who are interested in becoming fellows to reach out to us for additional information.
