Three Faculty Members Begin Full-time Roles at King's
As the fall semester begins, three faculty members are stepping into full-time roles at King’s.
Laurel Donison, Amy Barron and Dr. Cara Grosset bring experience in childhood and youth studies, organizational justice, psychology, social work, grief and bereavement, disability studies and thanatology. Each has an existing connection to King’s and is continuing their work with students and colleagues in a new or continuing full-time appointment.
Laurel Donison – Lecturer, Childhood and Youth Studies
Laurel Donison began at King’s in July 2024 in a two-year limited-term appointment in Childhood and Youth Studies. In July 2026, her position was converted to tenure track. She is currently a Lecturer and is due to become an Assistant Professor after defending her thesis in the winter.
Donison’s background is in Early Childhood Education and Primary/Junior Education. She has worked with children in childcare centres, elementary schools and outdoor learning environments. Her research centres on understanding young children’s perspectives and experiences, particularly around outdoor play and learning.
Using arts-based and participatory methods including photography, drawing and walking interviews, Donison explores children’s relationships with the more-than-human world and hopes to increase the integration and adoption of outdoor learning in early childhood and beyond.
“What brought me to King's is the Childhood and Youth Studies program and its focus on children’s rights and advocacy. My values, beliefs, and views of children closely align with the program's focus and courses. I also appreciate the potential for community-based engagement and experiential learning that the program offers,” says Donison.
Amy Barron – Lecturer, Psychology
Amy Barron is a Lecturer in the Department of Psychology and a Ph.D. candidate who expects to complete her doctorate later this fall. Her background is in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, with a focus on fairness and decision-making in the workplace.
Barron’s main area of expertise is organizational justice, which considers how employees perceive fairness and how those in positions of power enact fairness through decisions, procedures and interpersonal treatment. Her research examines the biases that can undermine managers’ ability to treat employees fairly, including how managers respond to allegations of coworker mistreatment.
She is also interested in how organizational structures, such as reporting policies and procedures, may set managers up to be biased. Her work is motivated by the idea that reducing bias requires looking beyond individuals to the systems in which they operate.
“What drew me to King’s is the students, who consistently praise the sense of community and the personalized instruction that comes with small class sizes. Being an undergrad isn’t easy, and King’s focus on personalized, experiential education gives me the opportunity to actually get to know my students and tailor my teaching in ways that help each of them take away something meaningful from the course,” says Barron.
Dr. Cara Grosset – Assistant Professor (LTA), Thanatology
Dr. Cara Grosset has joined King’s as an Assistant Professor in a two-year limited-term appointment after teaching as a contract lecturer at King’s since 2022 in Thanatology and Disability Studies.
A social worker, Dr. Grosset has worked in grief and bereavement for more than 30 years with children, teens and adults. Her research interests include the grief experiences of people living with intellectual disabilities.
At King’s, Dr. Grosset developed and teaches DS/THAN 2283, a cross-listed course focused on this area. She also teaches professional development courses in Grief Counselling and Disability and Grief at Laurier University, where she has also taught in the Faculty of Social Work.
Her previous experience at King’s has given Dr. Grosset the opportunity to work with engaged students and supportive colleagues, and she is looking forward to developing those connections further in her new role.
“I have really enjoyed teaching at King's - the students have been very engaged in their learning and colleagues have been supportive and collaborative. I am looking forward to getting to know more people at King's, working together, and providing the best learning environment for students,” says Dr. Grosset.
Together, the three appointments add to the breadth of teaching and research expertise across King’s academic community.
“I am delighted to welcome Laurel, Amy, and Cara. Their expertise and commitment to teaching and research will strengthen our academic community and support King’s mission to provide an inclusive, engaging education where students are known, supported, and challenged to grow,” says Dr. Mark Yenson, Vice-President and Academic Dean (Interim).