Congratulations to those faculty members who were honoured at the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Awards Gala, held on March 27, 2024, as part of Research Week. While recognizing the profound contributions of King's research, the event celebrated this year's recipients of the Hugh Mellon Excellence in Research Award, the Renée Soulodre-La France Excellence in Research Award (Early Career), and the King's Research Excellence Scholar Grants. In addition, recipients of the Distinguished University Professor Designation in 2023, the Early Career Excellence in Research Awards from 2021 and 2022, the King's Research Excellence Chair (Early Career) from 2023 and King's Research Excellence Chair (Established) from 2022 were honoured.
The Hugh Mellon Excellence in Research Award - Dr. Laura Béres, Professor in the School of Social Work
"I remember early in my career being given standard advice about the importance of developing a focused research agenda to become a successful academic. Nonetheless, the Catholic liberal arts environment of King's provided me an opportunity to take a chance as I allowed myself to pursue varied areas of interest. The King's context, committed to the teacher-scholar model and interdisciplinary inquiry, has been nurturing and supportive of my research projects, teaching, and direct social work practices, in three separate but overlapping areas: narrative therapy, critical reflection on practice, and spirituality," says Dr. Béres.
The following previous recipients of the award received their plaques:
- Dr. Robert Ventresca, Vice-President and Academic Dean and Professor of History (2021)
- Dr. Krista Lysack, Professor of English (2022)
- Dr. Thomas Tieku, Professor of Politics and International Relations (2023)
Renée Soulodre-La France Excellence in Research Award (Early Career) - Dr. Loretta Norton, Assistant Professor of Psychology
"As an academic scholar at King's, I value my role as a researcher and my obligation to advance and disseminate knowledge, foster innovation, and address societal challenges. I accept this award with deep gratitude and acknowledgment of the continuous support and encouragement of my colleagues. Dr. Soulodre-La France, a beloved colleague, was a champion for research excellence, and her legacy is an inspiration to early career researchers such as myself. Naming the award after her is a fitting tribute, and I am honoured to be receiving the award in its inaugural presentation," says Dr. Norton.
The following faculty members received their plaques for receiving the award when it was known as The Early Career Excellence in Research Award:
- Dr. Jordan Fairbairn, Associate Professor of Sociology (2021)
- Dr. Jinette Comeau, Associate Professor of Sociology (2022)
King's Research Excellence Scholar Grants, as part of the King's Research Excellence Fund:
Dr. Tara Bruno, Associate Professor of Sociology
Dr. Bruno, along with her project co-leads, Dr. Laura Rosen, Assistant Professor of Psychology, and Dr. Jennifer Silcox, Assistant Professor of Childhood and Youth Studies, was honoured to receive this research grant for "Alternative Measures: Substances, Self and Society."
"Having this support from King's is a testament to the importance of interdisciplinary, community-engaged research that has the potential for lasting and meaningful impacts on society," says Dr. Bruno.
In collaboration with two school boards, Drs. Bruno, Rosen and Silcox will pilot and evaluate a self-guided, harm-reduction online resource for high school students facing substance use-related suspension. The pilot project will assess the feasibility of the resource in school settings and identify potential areas for revision. The long-term goal of this work is to expand the use of the tool to high school students across the province.
Dr. Antonio Calcagno, Professor of Philosophy
Dr. Calcagno received the grant for "Revisiting the Concept of New Beginnings: The Work of Reiner Schürmann and Luigi Pareyson," which he sees as both scholarly and relevant for society as it explores the writings of the two understudied philosophers who developed interesting theories of beginnings following the devastation of World War II.
"The robust research opportunities and culture we have at King's helps faculty and students carry our research while making meaningful contributions to scholarship and society," says Dr. Calcagno.
Dr. Lisa McLean, Assistant Professor of Thanatology
Dr. McLean received the grant for "Ambiguous Loss, Grief, and Resiliency Among Yazidi Refugees in London, Ontario," which uses the arts-based research method of photovoice to examine the losses experienced by Yazidi refugees, as well as the strength and resiliency the community draws upon as they seek to rebuild their lives in Canada. The grant, combined with the support of her colleagues in the Grief and Loss Research Lab and research partners at the South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre, will enable her to continue building a community-based research program focused on the experiences of loss and resiliency among Yazidi refugees in London, Ontario.
Past recipients who were honoured at the Gala include:
2022 recipients of the King's Research Excellence Scholar Grants
- Dr. Andrea Lawlor, former Associate Professor of Politics and International Relations
- Dr. Corina Sandu, Associate Professor of French
- Dr. Thomas Malleson, Associate Professor of Social Justice and Peace Studies
2023 recipients of the King's Research Excellence Scholar Grants
- Dr. Jinette Comeau, Associate Professor of Sociology
- Dr. Russell Duvernoy, Associate Professor of Philosophy
- Dr. Jingjing Xu, Assistant Professor of Economics in the School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics
King's Research Excellence Chair (Early Career)
Dr. Daniella Bendo, Assistant Professor of Childhood and Youth Studies, was recognized as the recipient of the King's Research Excellence Chair (Early Career) in 2023. Dr. Joseph Michalski, Professor of Sociology, was recognized as the recipient of the King's Research Excellence Chair (Established) in 2022.
Distinguished University Professor Designation
Dr. Paul Werstine, Professor of English, and Dr. Rachel Birnbaum, Distinguished University Professor Emerita of the School of Social Work and Childhood and Youth Studies, received their plaques for receiving their Distinguished University Professor Designation for 2023.
