Laura K.M. Donorfio (She | Her)

Associate Professor

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Educational Background

Ph.D., Human Development and Family Studies, University of Connecticut, 1996
     Concentration: Adulthood & Aging
M.A., Human Development and Family Relations, University of Connecticut, 1991
     Concentration: Intergenerational Relationships

Selected Awards & Achievements

• Vice Chair-Elect, AGHE Member Group, Gerontological Society of America (2024-present))
• Fellow, GSA (2025)
• UConn Age-Friendly University Global Network Member, GSA/AGHE, Age Friendly Program Application | Office of Outreach & Engagement (2025)
• UConn Lavendar Award, Recognition of Leadership for Diverse Communities of Gender Identities, Gender Expression, & Sexualities (2024)
• Excellence Award for Teaching Career, American Association of University Professors, UConn (2023)
• Clark Tibbitts Award, GSA and AGHE, given to an individual that has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of gerontology and Geriatric Education (2022) 
• Convener, Teaching Institute, GSA and AGHE (2008-present)
• Convener, Intergenerational Learning, Research, and Community Engagement Interest Group, GSA and AGHE (2013-2020)

Current Research

• Aging Drag Queens: Drag Expression and how it Interfaces with Performance, Dragism, Coping, Resilience, and Generativity
• Behavioral and Social Processes that Impact the Development, Health, and Well-being of Sexual Gender Minority Populations and Their Families Across the Lifespan
• Using the Arts to Develop Meaningful Interventions to Enhance the Development, Health, and Well-being of SGM Populations and Their Families Across the Lifespan

Ongoing Research

• Scholarship of Teaching and Learning
  • Innovative Andragogy and Geragogy Platforms
  • Innovative Intergenerational and Lifelong Learning Approaches
• Later Life Dependencies
  • Family Caregiving and Filial Responsibility
  • Older Drivers and Transportation

Selected Publications

• Donorfio, L. (2025, Spring). Educational News: AGHE Vice Chair Recaps 2024 Teaching Institute and Vision for Term. GSA Gerontology News, 56(2), February_2025.pdf.
• Donorfio, L. (2024, Spring). GSA Campus Voices: A Conversation About Careers in Aging with Laura Donorfio. GSA Age Inclusivity in Higher Education, 18, GSAenrich: Age Inclusivity In Higher Education (geron.org)
• Karasik, R., Donorfio, L.K.M., & Greenberg, P. (2023). The Gerontology Field Placement: Internships and Practicums in the Field of Aging. Springer.
• Donahue, E., Halgunseth, L.C., Mauldin, L., Donorfio, L.K.M., & Bellizzi, K.M. (2023). Parent-Child Grief Interactions: A Qualitative Analysis and Conceptual Framework of the Lived Experiences of Young Widowed Parents. OMEGA—Journal of Death and Dying, 0(0), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228231169139
• Dibble, K.E., Donorfio L.K.M., Britner P.A., & Bellizzi K.M. (2022). Stress, anxiety, and health-related quality of life in BRCA1/2-positive women with and without cancer. Gynecologic Oncology Reports, 42:101033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2022.101033
• Dibble, K.E., Donorfio, L.K.M., Britner, P., & Bellizzi, K.M. (2022). Perceptions and care recommendations from previvors: Qualitative analysis of female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers’ experience with genetic testing and counseling. Gynecologic Oncology Reports, 41: 100989. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gore.2022.100989
• Karasik, R., & Donorfio, L.K.M. (2021). Continuing education certificate programs in Gerontology. In M. Gugliucci & T. Shovall (Eds.), Standards and Guidelines for Gerontology and Geriatrics in Higher Education, (7^th ed., chapter 6). AGHE.
• Donorfio, L. (2020, December). Teaching Brief: AGHE’s Teaching Institute—Celebrating a Decade. The AGHE Exchange, 43(5), https://www.aghe.org/publications/aghexchange.

Media

• UConn Today (May 21, 2025). UConn Joins Age-Friendly University Global Network – UConn Today
• Generations United (2024). Generations United Report – Intergenerational Teaching & Learning in Higher Ed – A Michigan Initiative GU-24-MichiganReport-WEB.pdf
• UConn Today (March 29, 2023). Pride Party Puts UConn Waterbury on the Map – UConn Today
• UConn Today (June 29, 2022). HDFS Professor Couples Drag Culture, Gerontology in Her Work – UConn Today
• Donorfio, L.K.M., & Adam Zagroba. (2020, May). Dragnificent! The Learning Channel (TLC). Season 2, Pretty in Pink, Episode 6. (Previous season called Drag Me Down the Aisle). Nationally chosen to work with four award winning Drag Queens who have appeared on RuPaul’s Drag Race– Alexis Michelle, BeBe Zahara Benet, Jujubee, and Thorgy Thor.

Selected Presentations

• Fruhauf, C.,  Sin, M., Acquaviva, K., Cheng, H., Donorfio, L.K.M. (2025, April 8). AI in the College Classroom and Practice. GSA Webinar. https://gsaenrich.geron.org/webinar /1070150
• Perone, A., Donorfio, L.K.M., Newsham, T., Borrero, L., Fassi, J., & Stephan, A. (2024, November). Thirteenth Annual AGHE Teaching Institute – Utilizing Advocacy & Impacting Policy in Aging-Related Classes. Co-organizer and co-presenter of preconference at the annual Meeting of GSA/AGHE, Seattle, WA.
• Donorfio, L., Chapman, B., Brenick, A., Chamberlin, E., Highberg, N., Holley, L., Kenneth Hites, Hafner, C., & Ortiz, J. (2024, November). Drag as Performance, Therapy, Activism, and Personal Expression: What Older Drag Artists Teach Us. Symposium presentation at the annual meeting of GSA/AGHE, Seattle, WA.
• Weaver, R., Decker, A., Newsham, T., Bolkan, C., & Donorfio, L. (2024). Building Fortitude: Strategies for Teaching Tender Topics in Gerontology Curricula. Symposium discussant at the annual meeting of GSA/AGHE, Seattle, WA.
• Chapman, B. & Donorfio, L.K.M. (2024, November). Students Helping OLLI Build a More Diverse Membership with an Assessment of Available Transportation Options. Paper in ESPO and AGHE Section Symposium: Intergenerational Engagement in Higher Education: Success, Setback, and Best Practices, GSA/AGHE, Seattle, WA.
• Chamberlin, E., Chapman, B., Donorfio, L.K.M., & Highberg, N. (2024, June). The Joy, Activism, and Healing of Drag Performers Over Fifty. Symposium presentation at the annual meeting of the LGBTQ Research Symposium, Virtual Conference.
• Chamberlin, E., Chapman, B., Donorfio, L.K.M., & Highberg, N. (2024, March). Voices of Older Drag Queens (Age 50+). Symposium presentation at the annual meeting of The International Center for Life Story Innovations and Practice, Virtual Conference.
• Donorfio, L.K.M. (2023, November). Twelfth Annual AGHE Teaching Institute – Higher Education Curriculum Design Challenge: Intentional, Intergenerational, Interprofessional. Co-organizer and co-presenter of preconference at the annual Meeting of GSA/AGHE, Tampa, FL.
• Donorfio, L.K.M. (2023, November). Age-Inclusive Learning Equals Lifelong Living. In L. Hollis-Sawyer (Chair) Empowering All Ages Through Intergenerational Connection and Lifelong Learning. Symposium discussant at the annual meeting of GSA/AGHE, Tampa, FL.
• Donorfio, L.K.M (2023, November). The Value of Internships in Creating an Age-Savvy Workforce. In R. Karasik & L. Donorfio (Co-Chairs), Creating an Age-Savvy Workforce through Gerontological Internships.  Symposium presentation at the annual meeting of GSA/AGHE, Tampa, FL.
• Donorfio, L.K.M. (2023, November). How Can We Advance the Field of Gerontology by Leveraging Our Lived Experiences as Gerontologists and Geriatricians? In L. Donorfio & L. Holley (Co-Chairs), The Aging Professor of Gerontology: Mining the Platinum. Symposium presentation at the annual meeting of GSA/AGHE, Tampa, FL.
• Donorfio, L.K.M. (2023, November). Aging Education in the United States: Where We Are and How Did We Get Here?  In T. Newsham (Chair), Empowering People of All Ages by Promoting Positive Views of Aging Among PK-12 Students. Symposium presentation at the annual meeting of GSA, Tampa, FL.
• Chapman, B., Henneberry, K., & Donorfio, L.K.M. (2023, November). Nobody Can Drag Me Down: Aging as a Drag Performer. Paper presented at the annual meeting of GSA/AGHE, Tampa, FL.
• Donorfio, L.K.M., (2022, November). Pedagogy of Aging: A Journey toward Authenticity and Wholeness. Clark Tibbitts Award Lecture presented at the annual Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), Indianapolis, IN.
• Henneberry, K., Donorfio, L.K.M., and Chapman, B. (2022, November). Aging Drag Queens: Risks, Rewards, Expressions and Performance.  Poster presented at the annual Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), Indianapolis, IN.
• Donorfio, L.K.M., (2022, November). AGHE’s Eleventh Annual Teaching Institute: Teaching About Aging Through the Lens of the Arts and Humanities. Co-organizer and presenter of preconference at the annual Gerontological Society of America (GSA) and Academy for Gerontology in Higher Education (AGHE), Indianapolis, IN.