An environmental philosopher working on issues in emerging technology in space exploration and de-extinction.
I am a tenure-track Assistant Professor at Northland College, a “private, liberal arts college with a progressive focus on the environment and sustainability” (northland.edu/). Northland College is also one of six institutions that make up the EcoLeague (ecoleague.org).
I completed my Bachelor’s in 2013 at State University of New York (SUNY) College at Oneonta where I double-majored in Philosophy and Psychology. I earned my Master’s in Philosophy at Western Michigan University in 2015 with a concentration in Theoretical and Practical Ethics. In 2022 I earned my PhD in philosophy from the University of Georgia after defending my dissertation, “An Exploration of Environmental Values in Outer Space.”
My teaching focuses on critical self-reflection to foster a philosophical environment in which students are challenged to question and grow with one another. Philosophy challenges our beliefs and makes us think about what matters to us and why, allowing for the process of philosophy to be personally transformative. Visit my Teaching page to learn more about my approach to teaching and my classes.
My primary research interests are in environmental philosophy, with my dissertation exploring the applicability of environmental values to outer space contexts in terms of ethical theory, wilderness aesthetics, and eco-politics. Besides working on issues in environmental philosophy and future technology like de-extinction, I also have interests in the philosophy of smell, especially as smell relates to the aesthetic experience of natural environments. Visit my Research page to learn more about my publications and works in progress.
My teaching focuses on critical self-reflection to foster a philosophical environment in which students are challenged to question and grow with one another. In attempting to foster and model philosophical discourse, I have been experimenting with written, guided reflection journals for my courses, small group discussion, and allowing student questions to guide lecture.
My research is primarily in environmental philosophy. In addition to focusing on more classic literature in the field, I specialize in emerging technologies, such as de-extinction (think Jurassic Park) and space exploration. I also work on the small but growing area of philosophy of smell.
Last updated 3/12/24.