Professor: Kessler, Danny (Ph.D., Wellness Tourism)
About this Research Lab
The Workplace Wellness Research Lab, founded in 2022 by Danny Kessler Ph.D., is a South Korean-based research organization that focuses on developing innovative solutions and inspiring leaders and communities to create healthy, high-performance sustainable environments. As part of our mission, we offer research-backed, actionable solutions to the challenges facing today's communities.
Wellness is essential for ensuring that communities, workplaces and people are healthy, motivated, engaged, and productive in life. Our research and solutions aim to help communities create positive and supportive work and sustainable environments that enhance the well-being and performance of their people.
Our Ambition
We aspire to delve into Global Wellness Research with a dual focus on Workplace Wellness and Community Wellness.
Workplace Wellness: Human resource management plays a crucial role in ensuring that employees are healthy, secure, motivated, engaged, and productive in the workplace. Every day, more than 3 billion people around the world go to work, and over the course of their lives, the average person will spend approximately 90,000 hours on the job. As employees are a company's most valuable resource, it is important for organizations to prioritize their well-being and development. The global workplace wellness market is estimated by the Global Wellness Institute to be worth $48.5 billion in 2020, as more and more employers adopt a holistic approach to improving the work environment.
Community Wellness: Wellness is intricately linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), serving as a fundamental cornerstone for thriving communities. The SDGs outline a comprehensive framework to address global challenges and improve the well-being of individuals and societies. Within this framework, Goal 3 specifically targets good health and well-being, emphasizing the need for universal healthcare access, disease prevention, and mental health support. Achieving wellness at the community level aligns with several other SDGs, including Goal 1 (No Poverty), Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), and Goal 4 (Quality Education), recognizing that a healthy population is essential for economic development, food security, and educational attainment. By prioritizing wellness, communities contribute to the overarching vision of sustainable development, fostering resilience, inclusivity, and prosperity for present and future generations.
Wellness Research Opportunities
At the Workplace Wellness Research Lab, we are dedicated to researching, developing, and evaluating new and existing innovations that are designed to enhance the health and well-being of people as they go about their daily lives within built environments, including community, learning, and leisure.
Our focus is on finding ways to improve the way individuals experience their surroundings and the impact those surroundings have on their overall health and well-being. Through our research and development efforts, we aim to identify and promote solutions that can help individuals lead healthier, more fulfilling lives within the spaces where they live, work, learn, and play.
Undergraduate Research Opportunities
Participating in an active research group provides students with the opportunity to apply their academic knowledge in a more practical, real-world research setting. By working with others, building on existing research, gathering and analyzing data, and presenting findings for peer review and feedback, students are able to gain valuable hands-on experience and develop important skills that are applicable to a variety of fields.
Collaborating with others on a research project allows students to learn from and contribute to the work of others, while also developing their own critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Overall, working with a research group offers a unique and meaningful learning experience that can help students grow and succeed both academically and professionally.
Graduate Research Opportunities
At the Workplace Wellness Research Lab, we conduct research in the field of positive psychology, exploring theories such as Ryan and Deci's Self Determination Theory (2012), Luthans' Psychological Capital (2007), and Fredrickson's Broaden-and-Build Theory of Positive Emotions (2001). As a member of the research group, you will have the opportunity to publish research articles under the guidance of Professor Kessler. Our research efforts in the field of positive psychology aim to identify and understand the factors that contribute to positive mental health and well-being in the community, with the goal of developing strategies and interventions that can promote sustainable well-being and flourishing communities.
By engaging in this research, you will have the chance to develop a deeper understanding of the role that positive psychology plays in community wellness and to contribute to the field through your own research and writing.
Contact
Email: dannykess@gmail.com, Website: www.dannykessler.com
