About Me

Philosophy is my passion, and sharing it with my students is a joy. Sometimes both teacher and student can feel as though they’re supposed to turn off their personality when in the classroom. But I try to bring my real self to the classroom because education is so much more meaningful if you connect it with your real life.

There is merit in loving wisdom for its own sake, but I want students to make use of the philosophical theories they study. In that spirit, the courses I teach take up topics that are relevant in the world today. For example, over a billion human beings live in extreme poverty, going without food, potable water, shelter, healthcare, or education. Many Americans aren’t even aware of this grave problem. People who have their own basic needs met must ask what moral obligation they have to those who don’t. The discipline of philosophy invites us to think critically about how to answer ethical questions like this one.

One of the other aspects of my work with students that I find very exciting is the GO Greece program. This two-week program focuses on Greek culture, both ancient and modern. As a Plato scholar, I find it thrilling to visit the Agora in Athens, for example, where Socrates engaged in philosophical discourse each day. Even though Greek philosophy flourished over 2,000 years ago, the questions and concerns of Greek philosophers remain just as relevant today.

I believe that students should study whatever subjects they find most fascinating. Take courses that stretch your capacities and expand your horizons. Students interested in philosophy can rest assured that the skills one develops in philosophy, such as rigorous analysis, critical thinking and communication skills, are valuable in any career.

I am the author of Plato and the Body: Reconsidering Socratic Asceticism (SUNY Press, 2018).

Professional Experience

EDUCATION
Ph.D., Philosophy, 2004, Emory University
M.A., Philosophy, 2002, Emory University
B.A., Philosophy and Greek Studies, 1998, Bucknell University

–cum laude
–Departmental Honors in Philosophy
–Honors College

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION

Ancient Greek Philosophy, Feminist Philosophy, Ethical Theory

AREAS OF COMPETENCE

Cross-Cultural Education, History of Philosophy, Critical Philosophy of Race

ACADEMIC EMPLOYMENT
2018- Professor of Philosophy, Susquehanna University
2012- Chair, Department of Philosophy, Susquehanna University
2016-2018 Coordinator, Africana Studies Program, Susquehanna University
2009-2018 Associate Professor of Philosophy, Susquehanna University
2003-2009 Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Susquehanna University

ACADEMIC AWARDS

Dorothy M. Anderson SGA Faculty Member of the Year Award, Susquehanna University, 2016
Joel L. Cunningham Service-Learning Faculty Member of the Year Award, Susquehanna University, 2016
Susquehanna University Award for Distinguished Teaching, 2008
Omicron Delta Kappa (leadership honor society) Faculty Member of the Year Award, Susquehanna University, 2007
Graduate Student Prize, American Philosophical Association (APA)-Pacific Division, 2001
W. Preston Warren Prize for Excellence in the Study of Philosophy, Bucknell University, 1998
Herbert Goodman Barrows Prize for Excellence in the Study of Greek Language and Literature, Bucknell University, 1998

PUBLICATIONS

BOOK

Plato and the Body: Reconsidering Socratic Asceticism, State University of New York (SUNY) Press, 2018

ARTICLES

“Plato on Food and Necessary and Unnecessary Appetites in the Republic,” Odysseys of Plates and Palates: Food, Society, and Sociality, eds. Simeon S. Magliveras and Catherine Gallin. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press (2015), 23-30.
“Plato on Philosophy and the Physical in the Phaedo and Symposium,” The European Mind: Narrative and Identity, vol. 1, ed. Henry Frendo, Malta: University of Malta Press (2010): 483-488.

“To ‘Graze Freely in the Pastures of Philosophy’: The Political Motives and Pedagogical Methods of Socrates and the Sophists,” Polis 27; 1 (2010): 80-110.

“Plato’s Science of Living Well,” Matter and Form: From Natural Science to Political Philosophy, ed. Ann Ward. Lanham, MD: Lexington Books/Rowman and Littlefield (2009), 35-44. Also available in Proceedings of the International Society for the Study of European Ideas (CD-ROM, 2008).

“Seducing Socrates and Resolving Plato’s Separate Soul Paradox,” Socrates: Reason or Unreason as the Foundation of European Identity, ed. Ann Ward. Newcastle: Cambridge Scholars Press (2007), 30-44.

“Plato on Hypothesis, Proportion, and the Education of Philosophers,” Auslegung 29; 1 (2007): 45-69. “The Pre-Critical Roots of Kant’s Compatibilism,” Philosophy and Theology 19; 1 (2007): 197-213.

“The Pre-Critical Roots of KAnt’s Compatibilism,” Philosophy and Theology 19; 1 (2007): 197-213.

“Determined but Free: Aquinas’s Compatibilist Theory of Freedom,” Philosophy and Theology 16; 1 (2004): 25-44.

“Care of the Soul: Protagoras’ Antilogic, Virtue, and Rhetoric,” Eidos 11 (1998): 68-84.

BOOK REVIEWS

Chad Jorgenson, The Embodied Soul in Plato’s Later Thought (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018). Ancient Philosophy, forthcoming.

Roslyn Weiss, Philosophers in the Republic: Plato’s Two Paradigms (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2012). Philosophy in Review 35; 1 (2015): 50-52.

J. Angelo Corlett, Interpreting Plato’s Dialogues (Las Vegas: Parmenides Publishing, 2005). Journal of the History of Philosophy 45; 3 (2007): 486-7.

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Pedagogy Innovation Grant, Center for Teaching and Learning, Susquehanna University, 2016, 2017

Grant for Student Summer Research Assistantship, Susquehanna University, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018

Fellow, The Aspen Institute Faculty Seminar on “Citizenship and the American Polity” at Wye River, 2007

University Research Grant, Faculty Research and Development Committee, Susquehanna University, 2006-2007

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)/Arthur Blank Foundation Research Grant, 2003

American Philosophical Association (APA) Fellowship for the American Association of Philosophy Teachers (AAPT) Teaching Seminar for Advanced Graduate Students, 2002

Research Fellowship from the Program for Undergraduate Research, Bucknell University, 1997

American Association of University Women (AAUW) Scholarship, 1994-1995

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS

“Plato’s Philosophy of Peace”

–Northeastern Political Science Association, Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy Panel, Montreal, Canada, November 2018

“Imitating Athena: Plato and Equality for Women across Social Class”

–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 35^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP), Fordham University, New York, NY, October 2017

“Rejecting the Logic of Domination: Plato on Justice, Leadership, and Peace”

–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 34^th Annual Meeting of the Soceity for Ancient Greek Philosophy SAGP), Fordham University, New York, NY, October 2016

“The Peculiar Nature of Philosophers in Plato’s Republic”

–Atelier International de la Société D’Etudes Platoniciennes, Université Paris Ouest Nanterre-La Défense, France, June 2015
–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 33^rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP), October 2015

“Real Philosophers Do Not Disdain Human Affairs”

–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 32^nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP), October 2014

“Plato on Food and Necessary and Unnecessary Appetites in the Republic”

–“Making Sense of Food II” Conference organized by Interdisciplinary.Net in Athens, Greece, November 2013

“Exercising One’s Whole Soul in the First City of Plato’s Republic”

–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 30^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP), October 2012

“Nectar and Ambrosia for Plato’s Philosophers”

–West Coast Plato Workshop, University of California, San Diego, May 2010
–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 28^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP), October 2010

“Honest Cakes: Plato on Health, Justice, and Peace”

–Northeastern Political Science Association, Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy Panel, November 2008
–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 26^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP), October 2008

“Plato’s Science of Living Well”

–International Society for the Study of European Ideas (ISSEI), Workshop on “Matter and Form: From Natural Science to Political Philosophy,” University of Helsinki, July 2008

“Plato’s Use of Soul-Body Analogies: Differing Prescriptions for Psychic Health”

–Northeastern Political Science Association, Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy Panel, November 2007
–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 25^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP), October 2007

“Philosophy as Training for Death in Plato’s Phaedo”

–Northeastern Political Science Association, Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy Panel, November 2006
–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 24^th Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP), October 2006

“Seducing Socrates: Plato on Philosophy and the Physical”

–International Society for the Study of European Ideas (ISSEI), Workshop on “Socrates: Reason or Unreason as the Foundation of European Identity?” University of Malta, July 2006

“Reconsidering Socratic Intellectualism”

–International Conference on Ancient and Medieval Philosophy, 23^rd Annual Meeting of the Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP), October 2005

“A Decade of Mathematics?: A Look at Mathematical Method and the Hierarchy of Platonic Forms”

–Society for the Contemporary Assessment of Platonism, APA-Pacific Division, March 2004
–Eastern Pennsylvania Philosophical Association, November 2003

“Aquinas and the Stoics on Freedom of the Divine Will”

–American Philosophical Association (APA)-Pacific Division, March 2001
–University of Tennessee–Knoxville Graduate Student Conference, March 2000

COLLOQUIA

“Poverty and Peace in Plato’s Polis: The Interrelations of Personal Harmony and Political Harmony”

–Faculty Colloquium sponsored by the Faculty Scholarship Committee and the Blough-Weis Library, Susquehanna University, November 17, 2015

“Philosophy as Erotic Ascent in Plato’s Symposium and Phaedrus”

–Faculty Colloquium, Department of Philosophy and Religion, Skidmore College, February 2012

“Plato on Philosophy and the Physical”

–Faculty Colloquium, Susquehanna University, March 2007

“What Socrates Learned from Loving a Boy: The Educational Function of Erotic Love in Plato”

–Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Annual Colloquium, Susquehanna University, April 2006

“Holistic Medicine and Soul-Body Dualism in Plato”

–Medical Humanities Initiative Series, Susquehanna University, September 2005

“Plato on Philosophy and the Physical in the Phaedo and Symposium”

–Faculty Colloquium, Department of Philosophy, Lehigh University, February 2005

“Aquinas and the Stoics on Freedom of the Divine Will”

–Philosophy Forum, Emory University, March 2001

“Philosophy as the Educational Technê in Plato’s Gorgias”

–Philosophy Forum, Emory University, February 1999

“The Status of Morality in Kant’s Three Critiques”

–Undergraduate Research Program Colloquium, Bucknell University, September 1997

CONFERENCE COMMENTARY PRESENTATION

Comments on Jeff Turner’s “Socrates’ Political Technê and Socratic Irony”
–Northeastern Political Science Association, Ancient and Medieval Political Philosophy Panel, November 2006

COURSES REGULARLY TAUGHT

GO GREECE: Greek Culture, Ancient and Modern (cross-cultural experience in Crete and Athens, combined with pre-departure preparation and post-return reflection courses)
PHIL105: Philosophy of Love and Desire (Ethics)
PHIL150: Race, Class and Ethics (Ethics, Diversity Intensive)
PHIL212: Feminist Philosophy (Diversity)
PHIL241: Ancient Philosophy (Ethics Intensive)
PHIL255: Philosophy and the City: Plato’s Republic & HBO’s The Wire (first philosophy course in the US on The Wire; one of the first courses taught nationally in any discipline on The Wire) (Diversity, Ethics Intensive)
PHIL301: Plato Seminar
HONS100: Thought (A first-year writing course for Honors Program)
Supervision of Independent Work

SELECTED PANELS AND PRESENTATIONS AT SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY

Panelist, President’s Forum on Free Discourse in an Inclusive Community, August 28, 2017

Panelist, Panhellenic Council/Intrafraternity Council Forum on Sexual Assault on Campus, September 25, 2017 “

#Black Lives Matter: The New Civil Rights Movement,” Let’s Talk Dinner Series, March 23, 2016 “

Yak-tivism: How to be an Anti-Racist Ally on YikYak,” Martin Luther King Advocacy Awareness Day, January 30, 2016

Keynote Speaker on Poverty and Homelessness, SPLASH program for first-year students, Summer 2013-2015, 2017

“Philosophy of Friendship,” SU Development Office Meeting, February 16, 2012

“Food and Social Justice,” Martin Luther King Advocacy Awareness Day, January 21, 2012

Panelist, Diversity Council’s Forum on Gender and Sexuality, April 10, 2008

Panelist, “Interracial Dating,” The Brotherhood’s Annual Race Relations Forum, November 26, 2007

Introduction to Eric Schlosser’s lecture on Reefer Madness, September 7, 2006

Panelist, Women’s Studies Roundtable: “Can You Have It All?” April 2005

Speaker, Take Back the Night: “Reclaiming SU,” April 17, 2005

DEPARTMENTAL/UNIVERSITY SERVICE

Selected Committees and Programs

Member, Susquehanna University Board of Trustees, 2015-present

Trained Advocate, Sexual Assault Student Support Advocate Program, 2005-present

Member, Women’s Studies Program Steering Committee, 2003-present

Faculty Personnel Committee, 2009-2012 (Acting Chair, Fall 2011)

Chair, Philosophy Search Committee, Fall 2012

President’s Strategic Planning Advisory Group, 2008-2010

Chair, Philosophy Search Committee, Fall 2010

Campus Coordinator of Woodrow Wilson Visiting Fellows Program, 2006-2009

Keynote Speaker, Family Weekend Scholars Dinner, October 31, 2008

Faculty Affairs Committee, 2004-2007

Curriculum Committee Summer Working Group (created Susquehanna’s Central Curriculum), 2006

Selected Extracurricular University Service

Faculty Advisor, Black Student Union (BSU), 2014-present

Cluster Facilitator, Leadershape Institute, January 4-10, 2015

Keynote Speaker on Poverty and Homelessness:

–Cardboard City fundraising event for SPLASH, September 12, 2014
–SPLASH program for first-year students, 2013-present

Presenter, “Food and Social Justice,” Martin Luther King Advocacy Awareness Day, January 21, 2012

SU CASA (Susquehanna University Central America Service Adventure) service-learning trip to Costa Rica and Nicaragua, December 29, 2007-January 12, 2008 & December 30, 2006-January 13, 2007

Panelist, The Brotherhood’s Annual Race Relations Forum, November 26, 2007

Performer, “The Vagina Monologues,” February 24-26, 2005

Co-Director, SPLASH (a pre-orientation program for first-year students focused on poverty and homelessness), July 11-18, 2005

SUSQUEHANNA UNIVERSITY SERVICE

Selected Committees

Trustee, Susquehanna University Board of Trustees, 2015-present
Member, Women’s Studies Program Steering Committee, 2003-present
Member, Africana Studies Program Steering Committee, 2017-present
Member, First-Year Learning Collective Advisory Board, 2017-present
Chair, Philosophy Search Committee (ethics/logic position), Spring 2017
Chair, Philosophy Search Committee (aesthetics position), Fall 2012
Member, President’s Strategic Planning Advisory Group, 2008-2010
Member, Philosophy Search Committee (continental philosophy position), 2008-2009
Member, Faculty Affairs Committee, 2004-2007

Selected Additional Service

Faculty Advisor, Black Student Union (BSU), 2014-2018
Development Leader, Africana Studies minor program, 2014-2016
Cluster Facilitator, Leadershape Institute, January 4-10, 2015

SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY

Member, Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania (FHCCP) Board of Directors 2017-present
Member, Susquehanna Valley Women in Transition (SVWIT) Board of Directors 2004-2007

LANGUAGES

Reading knowledge of Ancient Greek, Latin, German
Some proficiency in Modern Greek, Spanish

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

American Philosophical Association (APA)
Society for Ancient Greek Philosophy (SAGP)
American Association of University Professors (AAUP)

REFERENCES

Richard Patterson, Professor of Philosophy, Emory University, 404.727.0106 (rpatt01@emory.edu)

Jeff Turner, Associate Professor of Philosophy, Bucknell University, 570.577.3509 (turner@bucknell.edu)

Roslyn Weiss, Clara H. Stewardson Professor of Philosophy, Lehigh University, 610.758.5325 (rw03@lehigh.edu)

Warren Funk, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Susquehanna University, 570.768.0466 (wfunk@ptd.net)

Courses Taught