CO-WEB Ongoing Research and Special Projects
At the heart of every thriving organization lies a deep sense of connection—between people, values, and shared purpose. The Center for Organizational Wellness, Engagement, and Belonging (CO-WEB) is committed to advancing understanding of how engagement and belonging shape individual and collective experiences within a wide range of organizational settings. Through interdisciplinary inquiry and collaboration, we investigate the conditions that foster all-encompassing, adaptive, and high-performing workplaces.
This page highlights our ongoing and upcoming research projects focused on the evolving nature of work, identity, leadership, and organizational culture. Our current and upcoming research looks at how people experience their workplaces—how they engage with their work, their teams, and the culture around them. We invite you to explore, stay curious, and join the conversation about the future of work, the nature of organizations, and how people engage within these spaces.
For additional information about existing projects or to propose a new project, please reach out to us at OrganizationalWellness@phoenix.edu.
UOPX Institutional Projects
Team: Kimberly Underwood (lead), Marlene Blake
Description: Following the fifth year of the Career Optimism Index (COI) initiative, CO-WEB is leading a project aimed at creating and implementing a mini COI for organizations.
Team: Marlene Blake (lead), Adrian Allen, Patricia Battson, Jessica Flores, Sandra Sessoms-Penny, Joy Taylor, Kimberly Underwood
Description: This mixed-methods study investigates the impact of social capital on student outcomes in higher education, focusing on how relationships, networks, and social structures influence academic success, access to resources, and post-graduate opportunities. By identifying how social capital contributes to or hinders academic engagement and mobility, the study aims to inform policies and practices that foster inclusive and supportive learning environments in higher education.
Team: Sandra Sessoms-Penny (lead), Patricia Battson, Marlene Blake, Jessica Flores, Sun Jones, Joy Taylor, Samira Ali, Kimberly Underwood
Description: This mixed methods study examines the role of social capital in shaping workforce outcomes, with a focus on how professional networks, interpersonal trust, and social connections influence job access, career mobility, and workplace performance. By revealing how social capital functions as a resource for employment and advancement, the study seeks to inform strategies for building more connected work environments.
Team: Christine Marquis (lead), Marlene Blake, Scott McCalla
Description: Special project for the Career Institute.
CO-WEB Research and Special Projects
Team: Sandra Sessoms-Penny (lead), Angela Larson, Ruben Rodriguez, Karin Polifko
Description: This qualitative narrative inquiry research study will aim to understand the factors associated with nurses' commitment to their profession. The study's primary focus will be to explore nurse's intent to leave/ or stay in their profession through the concept of quiet quitting. The study aims to understand these nurses' experiences, stories, and personal narratives as nurses working in acute care environments.
Team: Jessica Flores (lead), Joy Taylor, Patricia Battson, Alisa Fleming, and Carla Harris
Description: Existing training materials regarding bystander intervention strategies fail to clearly identify methods for recognizing harmful situations and providing effective intervention options in virtual spaces. The lack of clear guidance leads to missed opportunities to help those in need. Recognizing issues, such as domestic violence, is challenging given the limitations of technical communication, and the uncertainty on how to navigate an identified issue as an active bystander only compounds the problem. This study will examine guidance from experts in areas of awareness and prevention training on essential practices for online bystander intervention.
Team: Christa Banton (lead), Jose Garza, Tiefa Jones, Patricia Battson
Description: There is an interconnection between work and the ability for individuals to feel safe and stable in their workplace and in their job roles. This qualitative study examines the meanings behind the fact that many workers feel they need to fake it, code switch, or mask their true selves to fit into the workspace as opposed to feeling safe to be their authentic self in that same environment.
Team: Kimberly Underwood (lead)
Description: The purpose of this study is to identify and reach expert consensus on the key elements, challenges, and best practices in promoting organizational wellness. Using the Delphi method, the study will gather opinions from a panel of experts across diverse industries to develop a framework for the concept of organizational wellness.
Team: Ruben Rodriguez (lead)
Description: This qualitative narrative inquiry research study will aim to understand the factors associated with nurses' commitment to their profession. The study's primary focus will be to explore nurse's intent to leave/ or stay in their profession through the concept of quiet quitting. The study aims to understand these nurses' experiences, stories, and personal narratives as nurses working in acute care environments.
Note: This is a duplicate study that will focus on the Canadian nursing population. Possible future comparative case study (U.S. and Canada).