Dr. Marlene Blake and Dr. Adrian Allen join industry leaders to discuss research on building social capital in higher education

University of Phoenix is pleased to share that leaders and scholars within the College of Doctoral Studies’ Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research (CWDIR) presented at the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference, held virtually November 13-14. Marlene Blake, Ph.D., doctoral instructor and CWDIR fellow, and Adrian Allen, DBA, CWDIR fellow, joined the proceedings to share insights from a mixed-methods study examining social capital and student belongingness in higher education, from research conducted with Kimberly Underwood, Ph.D., CWDIR chair, Sandra Sessoms-Penny, Ed.D., CWDIR senior research fellow, Joy Taylor, Ed.D., CWDIR senior research fellow, Jessica Flores, Ed.D., CWDIR fellow and Clery Compliance Officer at the University, and Patricia Battson, DM, CWDIR fellow and Academic Research Analyst, Resolution Services at the University.

“It’s exciting to see this research presented at EDUCAUSE as it highlights practical solutions to increase levels of belongingness for students of color in higher education,” shared Underwood. “Our team is honored to share their findings and strategies with a community focused on innovation and service to adult learners in online education.”

The three-day event focuses on bringing together technology leaders from around the world to share best practices for higher education and technology, focusing on innovative solutions in the field. Allen and Blake’s panel session, titled “Online Higher Education Strategies to LEAD and Build Belonging for Students of Color,” highlights challenges to building belonging in higher education, and using the four domains of belonging—academic, social, personal, and surroundings—focuses on specific strategies and recommendations for faculty, administrators, and practitioners in student services.

Allen, Blake, Underwood et al were recently recognized for this research on building belonging by the University of Phoenix President’s Award for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in Research.

The study was launched by CWDIR to introduce the research focus on professional social capital and students of color through the partnership between University of Phoenix and Jobs for the Future’s Center for Racial Economic Equity. Following the findings of the inaugural Career Optimism Index® study by University of Phoenix Career Institute®, the partnership was formed to cultivate more effective approaches to improving professional social capital for Black learners and workers. A media tour with Underwood earlier this year highlighted some of the study findings.

Blake has more than 20 years in online higher education focused on faculty training, development, mentoring, and holistic support which she brings to her Fellow position in CWDIR. ACCESS (Advancing Community, Critical thought, Engagement, Scholarship Success) is an introductory course sequence for the Colleges’ doctoral students. As an ACCESS Doctoral Area Chair in the College, Blake’s activities and research as a Fellow contribute to CWDIR studies as well as enhancing planned student support sessions and white papers. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s in psychology from Arizona State University, a master’s in education focusing on Adult Distance Education as well as Curriculum and Instruction and a doctorate in Higher Education Administration, both earned from University of Phoenix.

Allen currently serves as an assistant professor and manager at her undergraduate alma mater, Shaw University, an HBCU experience and opportunity for her to mentor, nurture, and facilitate strategic alliances with future leaders. She has over twenty years of experience in higher education. Allen earned her DBA in Management at Argosy University at Sarasota, MBA from Pfeiffer University, and MSHA at Strayer University. She also holds certifications in Six Sigma and is a Scrum Master.

EDUCAUSE is a nonprofit association that helps higher education optimize the impact of IT, with membership comprised of more than 2,300 colleges, universities, and educational organizations, including over 300 corporations, as well as more than 68,000 individual participants around the world, including chief information officers, IT managers and directors, academic deans, university librarians, teaching and learning professionals, and faculty members.

Learn more here about EDUCAUSE.

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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