Research excellence by winners Dr. Marlene Blake, Dr. Sandra Sessoms-Penny, Dr. Joy Taylor, Dr. Jessica Flores, Dr. Adrian Allen, Dr. Patricia Battson, Dr. Kimberly Underwood, Dr. Jacquelyn Kelly, and Dr. Suzanne Gonzales in topics including belonging in higher ed, destigmatizing accommodations for students, and early childhood education were honored at the College of Doctoral Studies’ Knowledge Without Boundaries Research Summit

University of Phoenix announced the winners of the 2024 President’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in Research, Scholarship and Dissertation at the annual Knowledge Without Boundaries (KWB) Research Summit held by the College of Doctoral Studies on October 18, 2024. All winners and nominees were recognized in a presentation of the awards by University of Phoenix President Chris Lynne.

“At University of Phoenix, we value the diversity of thought, experiences and culture found in our students, faculty and staff,” states Lynne. “These awards celebrate the meaningful contributions of practitioner-based research and scholarship about inclusion and belonging generated by individuals and teams across the university.”

The President’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Research, Scholarship and Dissertation recognizes excellence in practitioner-based DEIB research and scholarship happening throughout University of Phoenix. Eligibility for the Research and Scholarship awards was open across the University, and the category of Dissertation was open to doctoral students who successfully defended their dissertation within the past year. This year saw more than 40 nominations submitted.

The winners are:

• Marlene Blake, Ph.D., Sandra Sessoms-Penny, Ed.D., Joy Taylor, Ed.D., Jessica Flores, Ed.D., Adrian Allen, DBA, Patricia Battson, DM, and Kimberly Underwood, Ph.D., chair, Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion research (CWDIR), received the President’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging – Research, for a mixed-methods study examining social capital and student belongingness in higher education.

• Jacquelyn Kelly, Ph.D., associate dean, College of General Studies, received the President’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging – Scholarship, for a project exploring decreasing student stigmas for receiving accommodations and improving student familiarity with how to receive an accommodation.​

• Suzanne Gonzales, Ed.D., received the President’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging – Dissertation, for her work titled, “Early Childhood Educator Perspectives of LGBTQ+ Imaged Picture Book Use: An Exploratory Case Study.”

Gonzales has been working for 38 years in the education field and completed her master’s degree at University of Phoenix before returning to pursue her doctorate. “I have seen firsthand the profound impact representation can have on young children. Picture books are a powerful tool teachers can use to help young children learn about their world,” she shares. “Working on this dissertation, which involved exploring teachers' perceptions of using picture books in early childhood classrooms, has been a transformative journey. I focused on ensuring children in rainbow families are represented in a way that honors their diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging—simply for being who they are.”

Gonzales continued, “Receiving recognition for this work is incredibly humbling and highlights the importance of advocating for these values in education. It is a tremendous honor to be presented with this award. Moving forward, I plan to expand this research and collaborate with educators to create more inclusive spaces where all children feel seen, valued, and supported.”

The President’s Advisory Council on DEIB Research, Scholarship and Thought Leadership working group championed establishing the award, accepted and reviewed nominations, and selected the winners. The working group is assembled of leaders from across diverse areas of the university, including academics, marketing, and operations.

Following the awards ceremony, the winners engaged in presentations detailing their research, findings, and opportunities. Learn more here about the KWB Summit.

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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