Scholarly Interests:

My research centers on the social and biological relationships between infants, parents, and caregivers, as well as how these relationships influence outcomes related to the achievement (and timing) of developmental milestones in infants and levels of glucocorticoids ("stress hormone") in parents. This research blends behavioral, endocrinological, and demographic data collected from a wild population of colobus monkeys residing in Ghana at a community conservation site (Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary) to examine potential evolutionary underpinnings of development, attachment, and life history in primates. Broadly, I am interested in teaching issues related to wildlife health and management, including conservation and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict. In my teaching, I am interested in exploring the ‘people side’ of ecologically rooted conflicts by integrating perspectives from psychology and anthropology as groundwork for these issues.

Teaching Statement:

My teaching philosophy centers on creating a responsive, collaborative, and inclusive learning environment. Drawing on my own experiences as a liberal arts student, I work to establish a classroom where students feel comfortable engaging, questioning, and taking intellectual risks. I believe learning thrives when instructors adapt to students’ needs and encourage active, community-based learning. I prioritize accessible resources, like open-access readings and scaffolded assignments, to help students connect with course material and build transferable skills that they can apply to future coursework and professional goals. As an example of this, in courses with major writing or research projects, I guide students through in-class workshops focused on challenging skills, giving them time and ample support to grow. By setting clear, honest expectations through accessible, detailed rubrics and objectives, I aim to build a supportive space that allows students to develop confidence, critical thinking, and a deeper commitment to their learning journey.

Relevant Publications and/or Presentations:

King AG et al. 2024. All together now: Assessing individual variation in maternal and nonmaternal handling of wild Colobus vellerosus infants. American Journal of Primatology: e23629.

King AG et al. 2023. Assessing stress in wild black-and-white colobus monkeys non-invasively. General and Comparative Endocrinology: 114212.

King AG et al. 2023. More flex, more stress: Female stress responses to male social instability in wild Colobus vellerosus. 92nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Biological Anthropology. Podium Presentation.