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Dr. Louise Underdahl joined global event focused on cultivating community and leadership practices to discuss findings of career planning research for working adult learners

��������ʿ�����¼ College of Doctoral Studies’ Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR) Senior Fellow and Doctoral Instructor Louise Underdahl, Ph.D., MPA, MSLS, joined the proceedings of the International Leadership Association’s (ILA) 26^th Global Conference, November 7-10, 2024, in Chicago, IL, leading a roundtable discussion titled, “How Can Career Influencers Improve Student and Graduate Employability?”.

“Higher education institutions can promote a successful transition from college to career by connecting curriculum to careers, reinforcing messages about intentional career decision-making, and directing students to career service resources,” states Underdahl. “This conversation explored findings from a related study on enlisting faculty as career influencers as well as the opportunity to invite other researchers and practitioners to contribute their perspectives and experiences.”

The conference theme, “Architects of Change: Leaders, Followers & Communities,” highlights these vital roles as change-makers in the evolving landscapes around the globe, emphasizing the importance and contributions of leaders and followers and the communities in which they work. The event is intended to cultivate a community of belonging and invites attendees to make a commitment to be in community with a diverse group of learners and leaders from around the world as a leadership practice. The event offers hundreds of sessions, featured speakers, panels with presenters from around the world, and professional networking opportunities.

Underdahl’s roundtable was part of the conference series “Cafecito Roundtables,” designed to facilitate discussion with a host for the listed question, as an opportunity to “connect and converse with curiosity” over questions of leadership. Underdahl presented initial findings from a 2024 CEITR Research Lab project on career influencers being conducted with other College scholars.

Highlighting findings from the ��������ʿ�����¼ Career Institute® 2024 Career Optimism Index® study, Underdahl recently co-authored with Pamayla Darbyshire, DHA, CEITR Fellow, a new white paper on the role of uncertainty about planning career next steps and the need for clarity in career advancement for both employees and employers, “Clarity on Career Advancement: Transforming Optimism into Results.”

Underdahl has been teaching at the University since 2004 and is currently Doctoral Instructor for the College of Doctoral Studies ACCESS program and a reviewer with the College’s Dissertation to Publication Workshop. She has been co-leader of College of Doctoral Studies Alumni Special Interest Group since 2019 and is a recipient of multiple faculty recognition awards at ��������ʿ�����¼ including the Phoenix500, the Distinguished Service Award for Scholarly Leadership in 2019, and the Faculty Excellence Award in 2022 and 2018. Underdahl completed her doctorate in public administration, Master of Science in Library Science, and Master of Public Administration degrees at the University of Southern California. She recently co-authored a published article in the International Journal of Doctoral Studies on enhancing doctoral graduate employability.

Darbyshire is a CEITR research fellow and a peer reviewer for numerous international scientific journals, including The Qualitative Report and The AORN Journal. She has co-authored for The AORN Journal, Phoenix Scholar, and other peer-reviewed journals, and presented at numerous conferences. A mentor for students in the College of Doctoral Studies at ��������ʿ�����¼, Darbyshire’s research focus is case management and chronic diseases, with an interest in student retention and promoting graduate employability.

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About the College of Doctoral Studies

��������ʿ�����¼’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 ��������ʿ�����¼

��������ʿ�����¼ 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/blog.html.