Background and areas of interest: 

I grew up in Baltimore, MD. After spending a decade attending college, getting an MA, and working in New England, I moved to Eugene to attend graduate school at UO, where I earned my PhD in Philosophy. My research interests include environmental ethics, genocide studies, Native American philosophies, and ethics more broadly. After graduating, I taught philosophy at Old Dominion University and served as the Director of Assessment for the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. However, after four years, I missed the community and landscape of Oregon and decided to move back with my partner and two cats. Aside from doing philosophy, I enjoy cooking and baking, hiking, board games, and reading sci-fi and fantasy.

What brought you to the U of O? 

As a former graduate student at UO, I have a deep fondness for my experiences and time here. I’m also deeply committed to the importance and value of a liberal arts higher education and the benefits it brings to individuals and society at large. Returning to UO felt like a way to give back to a community that supported me while continuing to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students.

How did you get involved in academic advising? 

Since undergrad, I have deeply enjoyed being a peer advisor and mentor to my fellow students, helping them to navigate life in college. As a professor, mentoring and advising students on their career goals, academic aspirations, and philosophical awakening continued to be a great source of satisfaction for me. Advising, to me, is a way to engage in meaningful conversation with students that helps to address both the practical and existential aspects of emerging into adulthood.