University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies Leadership Releases Whitepaper Addressing Belonging in Diversity Management Strategy

Dr. Kimberly Underwood draws on resources including 2022 Career Optimism Index study.

Kimberly Underwood, Ph.D., MBA, chair, Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research (CWDIR) with the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies, has authored a new whitepaper, “Belonging: A New Era in Strategic Diversity Management.”

Drawing upon resources including data from the 2022 University of Phoenix Career Institute Career Optimism Index study, Underwood first describes the gap between academic literature and practitioner knowledge of the effectiveness of diversity and inclusion initiatives within companies. While diversity of human capital in companies has proven value, Underwood stresses the role of successful diversity management in creating a sense of belonging for workers in the workplace, especially for employees of color. Underwood then provides recommendations for leaders in the workplace to encourage employees’ sense of belonging by creating inclusive norms, highlighting collaborative teamwork, and encouraging safe space for open conversation.

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“The role of the conductor within an orchestra is to ensure all musicians are playing in harmony. The same goes for organizational leaders,” states Underwood. “As organizations continue to rely on diversity as a critical factor in fostering organizational growth and competitiveness in a global economy, diversity management remains a critical area for overall success and longevity. In addition to modeling inclusive behaviors in the workplace, leaders should set clear expectations around desired behaviors and hold all members accountable to these expectations.”

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Underwood credits her prior position in municipal government as the catalyst for a career focus in diversity and inclusion. Within municipal government, her duties included functioning as a senior executive responsible for providing workplace diversity and inclusion consulting, planning, and educational programming to a workforce of over 23,000 employees, sister agencies, universities and community colleges, and community organizations. She has more than ten years of higher education teaching experience and has served in the roles of Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Policy, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Policy, and Chairperson of Doctoral Studies.

Underwood earned her Ph.D. in Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA from the Illinois Institute of Technology. She also holds certifications in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management from Georgetown University and Diversity and Inclusion in Human Resources from Cornell University.

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