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Renée Soulodre-La France Excellence in Research Award (Early Career)
The Early Career Excellence in Research Award, established in 2019, has been renamed in honour of History Professor Emerita Dr. Renée Soulodre-La France. Now known as the Renée Soulodre-La France Excellence in Research Award (Early Career), this award recognizes a faculty member in the early stages of their professional life who has earned distinction for themselves and King’s as a result of the outstanding characteristics and significance of their research.
Dr. Soulodre-La France says she is very moved by the honour, especially as she believes it “signals that the critical importance of recognizing the extraordinary research capacity at King’s continues to be advanced.”
“My goal as a faculty member and administrator at King’s was to facilitate our colleagues’ pursuit of their far-reaching knowledge production. Their excellence in research, even from very early in their careers, has and continues to enrich their fields of study, and many of them are acknowledged nationally and internationally. I hope this award encourages and stimulates King’s faculty to continue this pursuit of excellence throughout their careers,” she says.
Dr. Erin Hannah, Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Politics and International Relations, brought the motion from the Research Activity Committee forward to Faculty Council for approval on February 7. Dr. Hannah said Dr. Soulodre-La France’s career “epitomized an unwavering commitment to fostering research excellence.”
Dr. Hannah noted that Dr. Renée Soulodre-La France was widely regarded as a visionary Associate Dean who exhibited an impassioned dedication to advancing and supporting research throughout her tenure.
“Her pivotal advocacy and relentless support for scholarly pursuits left an indelible mark on the institution and the broader academic landscape. Renaming the award in her honour is a fitting tribute, symbolizing recognition for the profound and enduring impact she wielded in championing research at King’s,” said Dr. Hannah.
Dr. Loretta Norton, Assistant Professor of Psychology, was announced the inaugural recipient of the award at the King’s Research Week Knowledge Exchange and Impact Awards Gala in March. Dr. Norton is one of the first researchers in the world to measure brain activity in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. Through her research, she aims to create a better prediction tool for patient recovery and have a meaningful impact on families and healthcare professionals tasked with making difficult life and death decisions.
“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,” says Dr. Norton. “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 receive it at its inaugural presentation.”
