Laura A. King

Laura A. King, PhD, is Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Psychology and Director of the Personality Dynamics Lab at the University of Missouri–Columbia. Her research focuses primarily on the experience of meaning in life, embedding that experience in everyday life. She has also examined the existential benefits of worldviews, such as right-wing authoritarianism, and the existential challenge of pluralism. Dr. King is a recipient of the Jack Block Award for Distinguished Research in Personality from the Society for Personality and Social Psychology, among other research and teaching awards. She has served in many editorial and leadership roles in personality and social psychology. A member of the LGBTQ+ community, Dr. King has advocated for diversity and inclusion in these various roles.