M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D. Fordham University
B.A. Salisbury State University
View my Curriculum Vitae
Areas of Expertise:
Ethics (including the philosophical ethics tradition, metaethics, applied ethics); Emmanuel Levinas (French postmodern ethicist); Continental Philosophy; Global Studies
Courses I Teach:
- Ethics
- Ethics of the Heroic
- First-Year Seminar: Global Studies
- Foundations of Global Studies
- Introduction to Philosophy
- Otherness and Marginalization: Levinas and the Alienated
- Truth and Propaganda: Ethics and the Media
My Saint Michael's:
I've become a huge proponent of service-learning courses, wherein there is practical engagement with the community that breathes a certain life into the texts we read and discuss. I find that service-learning opportunities set the stage for a close philosophical (phenomenological) exploration of our lived experiences, especially in courses that challenge students to think about ethical or moral responsibility and engagement.
Research Interests:
Ethics (including the philosophical ethics tradition, metaethics, applied ethics, and global ethical issues); Emmanuel Levinas (French postmodern ethicist); Continental philosophy
My research interests coincide very closely with my teaching. I have been able to develop courses that tackle the very questions with which I grapple in my work, which ensures that my course material continues to be fresh and innovative. I am a huge proponent of service-learning courses, especially in courses that challenge students to think about ethical or moral responsibility and engagement, where I find that service-learning opportunities set the stage for a close philosophical (phenomenological) exploration of lived experiences.
I have two recent journal publications, including: "The Hero and Asymmetrical Obligation: Levinas and Ricoeur in Dialogue," which appeared in the June 2010 issue of International Philosophical Quarterly and "Encountering and Understanding Suffering: The Need for Service-Learning in Ethical Education," which appeared in the June 2009 issue of Teaching Philosophy. The latter publication was chosen to be the topic of a plenary session at the 2009 North American Levinas Society conference in Toronto, and a shorter version of this paper was presented at a session of the 2007 meeting of the Association of Moral Education. Another article entitled "War and Peace, Power and Faith" was released in the book, X-Men and Philosophy, in 2009.
Life Off Campus:
Outside Saint Michael's I enjoy hikes, playing with my dog Abigail, movies, cooking, selected television shows, and spending time with friends and family.