Elena Wong

Bio

Dr. Elena M. Wong is an academic researcher specializing in employee wellbeing. Her research at Penn focuses on employee understandings of wellbeing and organizational practices aimed at improving wellness both in and outside of the workplace. Her research examines the intersection of work and nonwork dynamics, highlighting the impacts of indirect workplace experiences of sexual harassment and the positive implications of balancing eldercare and workplace demands.

Dr. Wong’s commitment to understanding employee wellbeing led her to investigate the spillover effects of non-work familial responsibilities into the workplace, particularly eldercare. Using a mixed-methods approach, she explored how eldercare activities affect employees’ emotions and behaviors at work. Her dissertation further examined workplace wellbeing in outdoor education organizations through ethnographic observations and interviews.

Dr. Wong’s multicultural background has laid the groundwork for her research and commitment to diversity in academia. Actively involved with The PhD Project, she works to recruit and retain underrepresented scholars in business school faculty. Since joining the MDSA division in 2018, she has mentored doctoral students, launched a new website, and facilitated professional development workshops. Her life experiences and dedication to diversity shape her teaching and service, exemplified by her efforts to broaden perspectives and bridge multi-cultural identities.