Conference examines the sustainable self

Arizona State University hosted a pre-conference on the subject of sustainability and the balance of work and life Feb. 14. Presented by the Project for Wellness and Work Life, in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the event explored sustainability at the individual, organizational and societal levels.

The pre-conference, “The Sustainable Self: Exploration of Work-Life Wellness through Individual, Organizational, and Social Action,” was held prior to the Western States Communication Association’s annual convention, where ASU faculty members presented. The event offers an opportunity for established and emerging scholars to interact with Arizona practitioners facing wellness and work-life issues and merge theory with practice, stimulating practical theory conversations.

ASU presenters at the conference include Heather Canary, assistant professor in the School of Applied Arts and Sciences at the ASU Polytechnic campus, and five scholars in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication: Jess Alberts, ASU President’s Professor of human communication; Sarah Riforgiate, doctoral student; Danielle Jackson, graduate student; Angela Trethewey, associate professor; and Yvonne Montoya, doctoral student. Arizona work-life and wellness practitioners include Theresa Conte, college alumna from Balance Integration and Kathie Lingle from Alliance for Work-Life Progress.

The Project for Wellness and Work Life is a consortium of scholars who are pursuing research on the intersections of private, domestic life topics, the public, and the workplace. The group examines organizational topics related to work-life and well being including workplace bullying, emotion labor, burnout, negotiation of gender and family issues, and identities at work.