Authors Dr. Julie Overbey and Dr. Pamela Ann Gordon explore value of optimism for mental health and productivity in workplace

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a new white paper, “Optimism: A Value-Added Requirement for 21st Century Organizations,” by College faculty Julie A. Overbey, Ph.D., and Pamela Ann Gordon, Ph.D., both members of the University’s Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Research (CLER).

“Optimism is an active rather than passive attitude. Optimistic workers consistently strive for positive outcomes,” Overbey states. “Organizational environments that encourage positive thinking, growth, and adaptability increase the chances that employees will thrive when faced with dynamic change.”

The authors explore the role of worker and organizational optimism in countering uncertainty, including findings of the University’s Career Institute^® 2024 Career Optimism Index^® study, and discuss how developing and maintaining an optimistic work culture becomes an important value-added component for innovative organizations.

Overbey is staff faculty at University of Phoenix, primarily working with doctoral students as a dissertation chair and teaching courses in leadership and management. Previously, she was Lead Faculty Area Chair for the Doctor of Management program, Campus Faculty Assessment Liaison, a subject matter expert for leadership and management course revisions and was named with Faculty of the Year in 2016. Overbey earned her doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University. She has over 20 years of experience in the commercial contract management field and currently works on a legal team at a large Information Technology company where her responsibilities include negotiation and review of corporate contracts and agreements, and leading legal operational efforts. Overbey served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, ending her career as a reserve Command Functional Manager, Air Mobility Command.

Gordon is a staff doctoral instructor at University of Phoenix with almost 22 years of online teaching experience. Her research interests are in the areas of management, organizational behavior, marketing, and human resource management. She has over two decades of experience in the pharmaceutical industry at GlaxoSmithKline, serving in corporate management and leadership positions. Gordon earned her doctorate in Business Administration with a specialization in Management from Northcentral University. Her three master's degrees are in Human Resource Management from Nova Southeastern University; Organization and Leadership from Capella University; and an MBA with a specialization in Marketing from Nova Southeastern University. She has numerous academic journal article publications and served as co-editor for several scholarly book publications. Gordon has been with University of Phoenix since 2004.

The full whitepaper is available at the College Research Hub or as a direct link here.

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 its online doctoral programs at 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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