May 10, 2019
For Immediate Release

Waterloo – Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12. The following Laurier experts are available to comment on parenting and motherhood:

Lea Caragata, a professor in Laurier’s Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, is an expert on single mothers. She is available to comment on low-income single mothers, single mother-led households and the public discourse about single mothers. Contact information: 519.884.0710 x5219 or lcaragata@wlu.ca.

Cynthia Comacchio, a professor in Laurier’s Department of History, is available to comment on the origins of Mother’s Day and its evolution through the 20th century to present. Contact information: ccomacchio@wlu.ca. 

Ivona Hideg, an associate professor of organizational behaviour and human resource management at Laurier’s Lazaridis School of Business and Economics, is an expert on gender equality and diversity in the workplace and how prejudiced attitudes can undermine equality. She recently published a study about the effects of maternity leaves on women’s careers. Contact information: 519.884.0710 x4414 or ihideg@wlu.ca. 

Linda Quirke, an associate professor in Laurier’s Department of Sociology, is an expert on “intensive” mothering and helicopter parenting. She is available to comment on parenting magazine advice to mothers and how expert advice to mothers has changed over time. Contact information: lquirke@wlu.ca.

Bree Akesson, assistant professor in the Faculty of Social Work, is an expert on international child protection. Her research has explored topics of children and families affected by war, mothering in the context of war and violence and the parenting practices of refugee families living in northern Lebanon. Contact information: 519.761.8022 or bakesson@wlu.ca.