Phoenix – September 16, 2026 -- University of Phoenix's College of Doctoral Studies will convene its 13th annual Knowledge Without Boundaries Summit on October 22-23, 2026, a fully online research conference featuring more than 90 research and scholarship presentations across disciplines.
Summit centers on research amid uncertainty and disruption
Co-sponsored by the Research and Scholarship Enterprise (RSE) and the College of Doctoral Studies, the event is themed "Research as Sense-Making in Times of Uncertainty" and titled "Exploring Scholarship, Society and Change." The interdisciplinary program addresses research practices during crisis and transition, methodological innovation amid data ambiguity, research ethics in high-stakes environments, and digital methods including artificial intelligence and algorithmic sense-making.
Corporate-turned-academic leader delivers keynote address
Scott McCalla, DM, MA, a dissertation chair in the College of Doctoral Studies and Research Fellow in Residence with the Center for Organizational Wellness, Engagement and Belonging (CO-WEB), will keynote the event. McCalla spent more than two decades in corporate leadership, including C-suite roles, before moving into academia full-time, and is a two-time recipient of the John Sperling Distinguished Faculty Award.
Awards recognize dissertation and organizational research excellence
The Summit will announce the 2026 Dissertation of the Year winners and the winners of the 2026 President's Award for Organizational Excellence and Empowerment across research, scholarship and dissertation categories, with winning scholars presenting their work. Attendees also gain access to research networking sessions, scholarly conference credentialing for presenters and digital attendance badges.
University research center chairs direct Summit proceedings
Proceedings are directed by Kimberly Underwood, Ph.D., chair of CO-WEB and Summit project manager; Mansureh Kebritchi, Ph.D., chair of the Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR), who leads the Dissertation of the Year Award committee; and Rodney Luster, Ph.D., chair of the Center for Leadership and Entrepreneurial Research (CLER), who serves as Summit communications liaison.
The Summit is open to external guests and free to attend.