Showing posts with label NCWM. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NCWM. Show all posts

Monday, July 20, 2026

Workplace mobbing researchers convene in Niagara

The Third Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing opened today, and I was privileged to participate in the opening session.

I've been likewise privileged to be part of the leadership team of this conference, though all recognition for the heavy lifting must go to fearless chair Professor Qingli Meng and legendary sociologist Ken Westhues. As host-Niagara University President Father James Maher recounted in his opening remarks, the progress since our inaugural conference is astonishing, including the founding of the World Association for Research on Workplace Mobbing (WARWM) and the Journal on Workplace Mobbing.
 
Baron Nigel Biggar (2023)
Elekes Andor via Wikimedia Commons
(2023), CC BY-SA 4.0
This morning's opening featured greetings, besides Father Maher's, from Nigel Biggar, an academic and member of the U.K. House of Lords (read more at, e.g., the Hoover Institution); Constanza Ceruti, University of Salta, Argentina; and John Mueller, University of Calgary, Canada.
 
I paste below the Niagara University press release on the third annual conference. The impressive conference program includes these multi-national presenters and subjects:
  • Linda Shallcross & Summer Bland, Workplace Mobbing Australia and Summer Bland, Workplace Mobbing Australia, When Organisations Perpetuate Workplace Mobbing: Race, Gender, and Institutional Responsibility
  • Linda Shallcross & Summer Bland, Workplace Mobbing and Organizational Response: Why Escalation Persists
  • Qingli Meng, Niagara University, Institutionalized Mobbing and the Mobility of Power: Leadership Networks, Culture Transfer, and Accountability in Higher Education
  • Lindsey Brown, Rochester City School District, Open Secrets: Inaccessible Texts as Roadmaps to Mobbing
  • Catherine Koverola, licensed psychologist, When Workplace Mobbing and Moral Injury Co-occur: A Path Forward
  • AnnMarie Flynn, independent scholar, Academic Mobbing as It Unfolds for Targets: An Inflection-Point Model of Psychological Injury
  • Tamara Thermitus, McGill University and Toronto Metropolitan University Diversity Institute, When Silence Becomes Violence: Institutional Silencing of Black Women in Leadership
  • Heliana Ramirez, Workplace Trauma Recovery, LLC, M.O.M. (Mobbing on Maternity) Leave: Impacts of Mobbing on Pregnant Workers and Their Babies
  • Jocelynne Scutt, University of New South Wales, Mobbing "the Mob": When Workplace Dynamics Promote Mobbing Power
  • Roselle Aranha, Niagara University, Ethical Leadership and Systems Thinking as Safeguards Against Workplace Mobbing in Higher Education: Lessons from Faculty Development and Appointment Processes
  • Deitra Payne, Fabulous Coaching, Training, and Productions, LLC, From Silence to Safety: Human Resource Strategies for Preventing and Addressing Workplace Mobbing
  • Cevat Celep, Girne American University, Mobbing Directed at Teachers in Türkiye
  • Linda Crockett, Canadian Institute of Workplace Bullying Resources, Working With All Parties Without Excusing Harm: A Trauma-Informed Accountability Pathway for Mobbing
  • Steve Fellner, SUNY Brockport, Academic Mobbing and the Fragmented Memoir
  • Mariya E. Ivanova, Trakia University, From Experience to Analysis: Workplace Mobbing as a Systemic Phenomenon: Structural Amplification, Triggers, and Recovery
  • Gisèle Yasmeen, McGill University, Let No Good Deed Go Unpunished: Whistleblowing and Workplace Mobbing in Publicly Funded and Regulated Institutions
  • Maritza Reyes (at The Savory Tort), attorney and independent scholar, Qualifying Workplace Mobbing for Expert Testimony in U.S. Federal Courts
  • Sandra Kouritzin, University of Manitoba, Civility as Governance: Linguistic Regimes of Credibility and Exclusion in Higher Education
  • Paul Siskind, New York Healthy Workplace Advocates, Workplace Bullying and Mobbing: Legal Basics and Legislative Challenges
  • Peter Coughlin, EconPolicy Research Group (Maputo, Mozambique), Canadian Credit Unions’ Vulnerability to Capture by Administrators and Directors: Remedies for Mobbing and Other Takeover Tactics
  • Martin Sawma, Edwin Mellen University, Extending Conceptual Analysis of Reflective Motives to Causal Motivations
  • Peter Wylie, University of British Columbia, Okanagan, Workplace Mobbing Victims Beware: Why Your Union Will Side With the Mobbers and Not You
  • Paul Siskind and Mike Schlicht, New York Healthy Workplace Advocates; Qingli Meng, Niagara University; and Kenneth Westhues, University of Waterloo, Addressing Workplace Bullying and Mobbing Through Legislation
  • George Perry, independent writer; Dave Scott-Thomas, coach and independent writer; Jonah Arnold, Health Law Firm; Christine Marie, independent writer; Michael Capiraso, independent writer, Media Coverage Transforms Workplace Mobbing Into Full-blown Cancellations
  • Janet Glover-Kerkvliet, Kerkvliet Counseling Associates LLC; and Sonja Pitts, Reign Consulting Group LLC, From Crisis to Coordination: Toward a National Network for Workplace Mobbing Target Survivors
Auditorium at Niagara University this morning


Niagara University Press Release

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY HOSTS THE 3RD ANNUAL NIAGARA CONFERENCE ON WORKPLACE MOBBING

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. — Organized in partnership with the World Association for Research on Workplace Mobbing (WARWM), Niagara University is hosting the 3rd annual Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing (NCWM) on July 20–22, 2026 (in-person and virtual).

Workplace mobbing is a subtle social process in which an employee from multiple levels of positions in an organization becomes the target of a systematic, persistent, and collaborated campaign of collective aggressions in the workplace, with the goal of eliminating the person out of the organization meanwhile destroying their identity. Workplace mobbing differs from ordinary workplace conflict. It is a social process in which multiple actors participate directly or indirectly in ways of psychological attack against the targeting, with a predetermined goal of eradication.

By supporting the scholarly study of workplace mobbing as a distinct academic discipline, Niagara University is becoming a significantly recognized hub for research, scholarship, and global dialogue on workplace mobbing.

The workplace mobbing initiative aims to establish an academic framework for understanding, researching, and preventing workplace mobbing, distinct from general bullying. It also aims to publish research and influence policy, moving toward treating workplace mobbing as a recognized, serious form of systemic psychological violence.

The efforts have led to the creation of the Journal of Workplace Mobbing, the first ever refereed and peer-reviewed academic journal dedicated exclusively to the topic. Its inaugural issue (2025) includes multiple articles originating from the 2024 NCWM at Niagara University. This journal–conference pipeline further cements Niagara University’s role in shaping this field. The second issue is ready to publish.

The initiatives also bring together experts globally, notably Dr. Kenneth Westhues from the University of Waterloo, Canada, "the world's most renowned expert on mobbing in higher education" (The Swiss magazine Republik), "the world’s leading authority on academic mobbing" (Peter Wood, president of the National Association of Scholars).

Niagara University welcomes scholars, professional experts, practitioners, and students to join us as we work together to advance the science of workplace mobbing.

About Niagara University. Founded in 1856, Niagara University is a Catholic and Vincentian institution dedicated to educating the whole person through a values-based education rooted  in justice, service, and compassion. For media inquiries, please contact: Alaina Jonathan, Asst. Director of Communications, phone (716) 946-2110, email ajonathan@niagara.edu.

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Workplace mobbing researchers plan global conference

The third annual Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing (NCWM) is open for proposals and registration and will occur hybrid, online and in person, at Niagara University, New York, on July 20-22, 2026.

The NCWM is the conference of the World Association for Research on Workplace Mobbing (WARWM), which publishes the Journal of Workplace Mobbing. It has been my honor to serve as an inaugural organizer of the conference, organization, and journal. (Read about previous conference convenings at The Savory Tort.)

Following is the call for proposals, recently dispatched by my friend and colleague at Niagara University, the president of the WARWM, Dr. Qingli Meng. Dr. Meng spoke to Tegan Osmond, a workplace abuse recovery coach, about workplace mobbing in 2025. More information is at the conference website.


We are pleased to invite you to the third annual hybrid Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing (NCWM), to be held July 20–22, 2026, at Niagara University, Niagara Falls, New York.

Hosted by the World Association for Research on Workplace Mobbing (WARWM) and Niagara University, this year's theme, "From Awareness to Action: Creating Healthy, Respectful, and Dignified Workplaces," continues our commitment to advancing research, dialogue, and practical strategies for addressing workplace mobbing. All conference participants are automatically become member of WARWM.

We warmly invite proposals for:

  • Individual paper presentations
  • Panel discussions
  • Roundtable discussions
  • Poster presentations

The purpose of the conference is to advance the understanding of workplace mobbing as a distinct phenomenon. Proposals will focus specifically on workplace mobbing. We welcome submissions that examine different aspects of mobbing, including leadership and power dynamics, cross-cultural and comparative perspectives, legal and ethical frameworks, psychological impact, trauma and recovery, organizational change, and preventive practices.

Both in-person and virtual participation options are available. The registration fee is $225 for in-person participants and $100 for virtual participants.

Please submit proposals through the online portal (linked on the conference website). For questions, you may contact us.

Conference presenters and participants are invited to submit their papers for publication in the Journal of Workplace Mobbing.

Follow us on Facebook.

We look forward to welcoming you to Niagara Falls in July 2026 for an inspiring and collaborative international gathering.

Friday, April 18, 2025

Anti-mobbing scholars prepare for 2nd N.Y. conference; proposals due May 1; register for in-person by June 1

Colleagues, higher ed students, researchers, and practitioners across disciplines: The 2025 Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing, July 21-23, 2025, is open for proposals, due May 1, and registration, due June 1 for in person, or later for virtual.

Here is an invitation letter, circulated since March, by my dear friend and colleague, Dr. Qingli Meng, who superintends the conference on the ground at Niagara Falls.

Read more about mobbing at The Savory Tort.


Dear Colleague,

We warmly invite you to join us, either in person or virtually, for the hybrid 2025 Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing (NCWM), taking place Monday to Wednesday, July 21–23, 2025, at Niagara University, Niagara Falls, New York, USA.

Workplace mobbing is a serious issue in the work environment that was first identified in the 1980s. However, its existence and impact were not widely acknowledged by the public. Instead, it is often referred to as workplace bullying, leading to semantic confusion.

Mobbing is a form of psychological terror in which individuals gang up on a target. As Leymann (1990) described, "It occurs as schisms, where the victim is systematically stigmatized through various injustices, including violations of their rights. Over time, this can result in the individual being unable to secure employment in their field. Those responsible for this tragic outcome can be either colleagues or management."

The 2024 NCWM marked a significant milestone in establishing workplace mobbing as a comprehensive scholarly discipline. See the following YouTube link for the 2024 NCWM presentation videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ7OwOYUlXM&list=PLZGaVSbKSiyNcB5AwAA8Xhp9srGIrKGAe 

We are thrilled to announce that Niagara University has received generous gift donations to support workplace mobbing initiatives. This funding has made it possible to:

  • Make the Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing (NCWM) an annual event
  • Launch a workplace mobbing journal 
  • Establish the World Association for Research on Workplace Mobbing (WARWM)
  • Deliberate on creating the Niagara Institute for Research on Workplace Mobbing (NIRWM)

While we encourage in-person attendance to facilitate networking and knowledge exchange amidst the scenic beauty of Niagara Falls, we understand that time and financial constraints may prevent some from traveling. Therefore, we are continuing with a hybrid format, offering both in-person and virtual participation.

Registration Information

  • In-person participants: $150
    • Includes lunches, coffee, fruit, and snacks on July 21–22, 2025
    • Sit-down dinner at the DoubleTree Hotel ballroom on Tuesday, July 22, 2025
    • Complimentary tour of Niagara Falls attractions on Wednesday, July 23, 2025
  • Virtual participants: $75
    • Access to all presentations, including opportunities to ask questions, provide feedback, and join discussions
    • Receive a 2025 NCWM Attendance Certificate.

Important Deadlines

  • May 1, 2025 – Deadline for abstract submissions (for those wishing to present)
  • July 1, 2025 – Deadline for in-person conference registration ($150)
  • No deadline for virtual conference registration ($75)

Conference presenters are invited to submit their papers for publication in the Journal of Workplace Mobbing (currently in development).

For more details and registration, please visit the conference website: https://www.niagara.edu/workplace-mobbing-conference/.
 

Accommodation: Niagara Falls offers a variety of hotels, motels, and inns. As July is peak tourist season, we strongly encourage in-person participants to book accommodations early. For the conference hotel (DoubleTree), please use the following link for reservations ($152 per night plus tax): https://group.doubletree.com/igabhd.

For questions and inquiries, please contact the conference Registrar, Dr. Qingli Meng, at qmeng@niagara.edu.

With collegial regards,
Qingli Meng

Qingli Meng, Ph.D.
Niagara University
Registrar, Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing (NCWM)

Monday, January 13, 2025

Mother of slain scholar publishes his account of academic workplace mobbing at UMass (Amherst)

At the inaugural Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing at Niagara University last summer, easily the most moving and haunting presentation was that of Kimberly Lewis, whose son lost his life after being victimized by workplace mobbing.

A scholar, Joel Inbody authored a book manuscript about his experience as a victim of academic workplace mobbing at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst). After his death, his mother, Lewis, edited and completed the book in partnership with the pugnacious publisher Herb Richardson, founding editor of Mellen Press

Inbody wrote: "I wrote this book to critically explore an academic mobbing that sociologists subjected me to as a graduate student in 2018-2019. After thoroughly reviewing available literature on mobbing to highlight their history, severity, and progression, I analyze content from numerous records (emails, police reports, notes, letters, blog posts, pictures) and rely on autoethnography to describe the mobbing that I lived through."

A Student's Account of the Mobbing That Led to His Murder (How U. Mass Faculty Bullied Him to Death (2024) became available for sale at Mellen Press late last year.

Lewis's presentation, along with most of the presentations at the 2024 Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing, is available on YouTube.  The 2025 Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing (via The Savory Tort) is open for registration.

Q&A: 

Tuesday, December 17, 2024

Niagara Conference opens registration, call for proposals on workplace mobbing for summer '25

Following on the success of last year's inaugural Conference on Workplace Mobbing at Niagara University (YouTube playlist), the 2025 conference has posted a call for proposals and opened for registration.

The founding of the World Association for Research on Workplace Mobbing was a key accomplishment of last year's event.

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Niagara conference on workplace mobbing examines failure of academic freedom to prevent abuse

NCWM participants at Niagara University in July
© used with permission

With colleagues from around the world, I participated, as chair of the scientific committee, in the inaugural Niagara Conference on Workplace Mobbing (NCWM) on July 22-24, 2024, at Niagara University in New York (Savory Tort, Feb. 27, 2024).

Videos from the conference are now posted on a new NCWM YouTube channel and NCWM 2024 playlist.

Here is my introduction to the program, moderating the opening session.

For reasons investigated in the literature, academic workplaces are especially prone to mobbing. Here is my own presentation on academic freedom relative to workplace mobbing.

Here is another contribution to the academic freedom panel from my friend and colleague, Prof. Robert Ashford, Syracuse Law (pictured).

And here is the panel Q&A with Prof. Frances Widdowson (Woke Academy), Prof. Ashford, and me.

I will feature more programs from the conference in subsequent posts.