Celebrating a rising star

Faculty of Arts and Science Assistant Professor Michele Morningstar has earned a Kingston Young Professionals 40 Under 40 honour, which celebrates the exceptional achievements and contributions of individuals under the age of 40 who are making a significant impact in their profession and in the greater Kingston community.

“My first reaction was a combination of shock (at being selected) and gratitude (to the people who nominated me). It is such a huge honour to be selected as part of this list of truly inspiring people, so it was both humbling and gratifying to be recognized for the efforts I put into furthering my field and giving back to my community.”

Dr. Morningstar (Psychology) and her research team are trying to understand how we grow the ability to communicate our emotions and understand others’ (what we call emotion communication skills). These are abilities that are very important to our social interactions: we need to be able to interpret what others might be feeling, based on subtle signs like their nonverbal expressions (e.g., a frown, talking in a curt tone of voice) in order to adjust our own behaviours (e.g., clarify our intentions, apologize for what we said, etc.).

“We aren’t born with these abilities, but rather learn them throughout childhood and adolescence,” she explains. Dr. Morningstar is the director of the Development of Social and Emotional Communication Lab. “My group is trying to figure out how that growth happens - what factors or experiences promote these skills, and which hinder them - to better understand how we can help people who struggle to connect socially to develop those skills.”

According to the website, the Kingston Young Professionals 40 Under 40 highlights the exceptional achievements of these young leaders who have demonstrated outstanding dedication, passion and vision in their respective fields. They have not only excelled in their careers but have also made contributions to the betterment of our community through philanthropy and volunteerism.

Upon learning the news, Dr. Morningstar said she was humbled to be listed as part of such a wonderful group of people that she admires in the Kingston community.

"This award shines a light on the amazing work that many people are doing to better their local community and professional fields. I hope this allows my group to further grow the impact we hope to have on Kingston youth and their families.”

Learn more about the award on the Kingston Young Professionals webpage.