Kimberly Underwood, Ph.D.

Dr. Kimberly Underwood is the Research Chair for the University of Phoenix Center for Workplace Diversity and Inclusion Research. With an extensive background in academia and government, including a combined 15 years of experience in diversity and inclusion education, research and management within academia and government, Dr. Underwood has served as Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Policy, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and Policy and Chairperson of Doctoral Studies. Dr. Underwood’s service record includes leadership and advisory positions within several professional and community organizations. Her publications and presentations address diversity onboarding, diversity management and supporting diversity within K-12 and higher education, and her research interests include critical multiculturalism and organizational diversity socialization in business settings. Her most recent research projects have focused on the infusion of diversity-related social events into curricula and the role of higher education in effectively developing social responsibility and citizenry. Dr. Underwood earned a doctorate in education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, a master's of business administration from the Illinois Institute of Technology and executive certification in strategic diversity and inclusion management from Georgetown University. She has more than ten years of higher education teaching experience and has earned the ranks of facilitator, adjunct professor, assistant professor and associate professor.