Knowledge Exchange and Impact Celebration Honours Outstanding Contributions
March 26, 2025
On March 26, 2025, as part of Research Week, King’s honoured its remarkable research community during the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Celebration. This prestigious event highlighted the achievements of those driving innovation and change at King’s, with a special focus on this year's award winners: the Renée Soulodre-La France Excellence in Research Award (Early Career), King’s Research Excellence Chair – Established, King’s Research Excellence Scholar Grants, and King’s SIG Explore and Exchange Grants.
Mark Garron ’84 (Administrative Studies) and Director of the Garron Foundation delivered the keynote address at the event. He shared his unique insights on the concept of time and the value of research, offering a thought-provoking perspective that inspired and engaged the audience.
The following members of King’s faculty were honoured at the Knowledge Exchange and Impact Celebration:
Renée Soulodre-La France Excellence in Research Award (Early Career) - Dr. Lucy Hinton, Assistant Professor of Politics and International Relations
Dr. Hinton’s exceptional submission set a new benchmark for research excellence. This award celebrates her dedication to impactful research and her commitment to advancing the field of politics and international relations. Dr. Hinton's achievement is a testament to her hard work, passion, and the transformative potential of her scholarly contributions.
King’s Research Excellence Chair – Established: Dr. Graham Broad, Associate Professor of History
Project Title: “Cataclysm: Canadians and the First World War”
Dr. Broad's project is a major one-volume history that re-examines Canada’s experience of the First World War through new research and critical perspectives.
"I'm honoured to receive the King’s Research Excellence Chair to support my project, Cataclysm: Canadians and the First World War. This award will allow me to involve King’s students directly in archival work, digital curation, and experiential learning opportunities, both in Canada and overseas. It means a great deal to me to have this recognition from my colleagues and to have this support for a project that will get our students involved in primary historical research, says Dr. Broad.
King’s Research Excellence Scholar Grants, as part of the King’s Research Excellence Fund – Awarded to:
Dr. Tom Malleson, Associate Professor of Social Justice and Peace Studies
Project Title: “Should There be a Legal Right to Workplace Democracy? Investigating the Right to Collectively Buy-In”
Dr. Malleson’s project addresses a critical issue in modern workplaces: the undemocratic nature of firm governance. This groundbreaking research explores the potential for a new legal right for workers to collectively buy into their firms, transforming workplaces into co-operatives that empower employees as equal partners with employers.
Dr. Natalia Bezmaternykh, Assistant Professor of Economics, the School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics(MEM)
Project Title: “Environmental Provisions in Trade Agreements and Globalization: A Theoretical and Empirical Investigation”
Dr. Bezmaternykh, in collaboration with Dr. Paul Missios (Toronto Metropolitan University) and Dr. Renfang Tian (Assistant Professor of King’s School of Management, Economics, and Mathematics), investigates how trade agreements impact both globalization and environmental sustainability. This research explores the contrasting implications of shallow vs. deep trade agreements, offering new insights into the relationship between global trade, environmental norms, and world welfare.
Dr. Dustin Ciufo, Assistant Professor of Childhood and Youth Studies
Project Title: Collaborating for a Cause: How Civil Society Organizations and Schools Can Foster Sustainable Child Activism”
Dr. Ciufo says receiving the grant is “both a tremendous honour and sincere privilege for which I feel truly blessed. Receiving this recognition is a genuine reflection of the supportive scholarly environment at King’s. It is a testament to the dedicated members of the Research Office, the kindness of my remarkable colleagues in the Childhood and Youth Studies (CYS) department, and the encouragement of the passionate CYS students.”
Dr. Ciufo's research empowers the next generation of child activists. His collaboration with OneChild, a civil society organization (CSO), explores how schools and CSOs can work together to foster sustainable activism in children, with a focus on children’s rights and participation. The project involves in-depth focus groups and the development of effective policies and programs to support youth activism.
King’s SIG Explore and Exchange Grants – Awarded to:
Dr. Jacquetta Newman, Professor of Politics and International Relations and Shawna Lewkowitz, Lecturer and Community Based Learning Coordinator in Social Justice and Peace Studies
Project Title: ChangeMaker 10ᵗʰ Anniversary Conference
“The Gender and Women in Civic Leadership class is very honoured and thankful to be awarded this grant for the ChangeMaker 10th Anniversary Conference,” says Dr. Newman.
The ChangeMaker project celebrates its tenth anniversary of promoting gender equity and civic leadership among women and non-binary individuals in the London community. This grant will enable the initiative to elevate its community-based learning model, empowering the next generation of leaders by furthering the conversation on intersectional barriers in political leadership.
Dr. Rosemary Vito, Associate Professor of the School of Social Work
Project Title: Reflective Supervision & Critical Reflection on Practice Training
Dr. Vito says she is honoured to receive the grant, which will enable two graduate Master of Social Work (MSW) students to be hired and mentored to assist with all project aspects.
Dr. Vito’s project aims to enhance social work education and professional practice across Canada. Up to 60 practicum instructors will be trained to support King's MSW and BSW (Bachelor of Social Work) students during their placements. Dr. Vito will join Dr. Laura Béres, Professor of Social Work, and M.K. Arundel BSW '07, MSW '08, Manager, Professional Practicum Education in the School of Social Work, to develop and facilitate a series of online workshops. This project will strengthen the reflective supervision skills of social work students and professionals, impacting social work practices nationwide.
These King’s research awards not only celebrate individual achievements but also underscore the importance of research in driving social change, fostering sustainability, and enriching our understanding of the world. Congratulations to all the recipients, whose innovative work continues to inspire and shape the future of research at King’s!