Dr. Kimberly Underwood, chair of Center for Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Research leads session on action steps and opportunity for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging in the workforce

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies announces that Center for Workforce Diversity and Inclusion Research (CWDIR) Chair Kimberly Underwood, Ph.D., MBA, joins the proceedings of the sold out SHRM Inclusion 2023 conference on October 31, 2023, to present a Spotlight Stage session titled, “Six Opportunities to Transform the Workplace Through Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.”

“The pool of workplace talent is more diverse than ever before, and fostering belonging has become an imperative for creating an authentically connected and engaged workforce,” states Underwood. “This session challenges organizational leaders to move beyond words like diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, to six deliberate action steps which build strong solidarity beyond the insecurity of differences.”

The event, intended to be a catalyst for creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive world of work, features in-person and virtual attendance options with sessions dedicated to committing to, fostering, and elevating inclusion, equity and diversity to cultivate better workplace culture.

Underwood’s session highlights how businesses have a unique opportunity to address and make progress on pressing social issues to foster a genuine sense of belonging, and allow all team members to reach their potential. The session learning objectives include providing companies looking to get started on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) efforts a clearer sense of the major opportunities emerging post-pandemic, providing an overview of the steps needed to progress in DEIB in an intentional manner, and identifying resources companies may access for further information and support.

As the CWDIR Chair, Underwood guides many faculty, students, and alumni in research and scholarship focused on various aspects of DEIB in higher education and the workforce. She also serves as the Executive Sponsor of the Research, Scholarship, and Thought Leadership working group within the University of Phoenix President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. She is a highly sought after subject matter expert and consultant for various internal Colleges and departments and several external organizations to advance their DEIB strategies and initiatives. Underwood is the recipient of the UPCEA Research and Scholarship Award for 2023.

A complete schedule of the conference is available here.

About the College of Doctoral Studies

University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s research program is built around the Scholar, Practitioner, Leader Model which puts students in the center of the Doctoral Education Ecosystem® with experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through this program, students and researchers work with organizations to conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real time.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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