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Curriculum Vitae

Updated: February 2017

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EDUCATION

2011: Ph.D., Philosophy, The Catholic University of America

Dissertation: “Empty and Filled Intentions in Husserl’s Early Work”

2004: M.A., Philosophy, West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Thesis: “Whence Value?: Seeking Value’s Source”

2002: B.A., Computer Science, Messiah College

Magna cum laude; Minor: Music


PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

2017–present: Instructor

  • Stanford Online High School, Core Division

2015: Visiting Assistant Professor

  • George Washington University, University Honors Program

PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Journal Articles

2016: “How Philosophers Appeal to Priority to Effect Revolution,” Metaphilosophy 47, no. 2 (April 2016): 304–22.

2014: “Genesis 1’s Solution to the Euthyphro Problem,” Philosophy & Theology 26, no. 1 (2014): 207–19.

2013: “Husserl’s Mereological Semiotics: Indication, Expression, Surrogation,” The New Yearbook for Phenomenology and Phenomenological Philosophy 12 (2012): 69–108. (Actual publication date: 2013.)

2012: “Husserl’s Genetic Philosophy of Arithmetic,” American Dialectic 2, no. 2 (May 2012): 141–90. http://www.americandialectic.org/volume-ii-2012/no-2-may/husserls-genetic-philosophy-of-arithmetic/ 

Book Chapters

Forthcoming: “Dallas Willard’s Husserlian Phenomenology,” in Carlo Ierna and Michaela Ferri, eds., The Reception of Edmund Husserl’s Thought in North America, Contributions to Phenomenology (Dordrecht: Springer, forthcoming).

2016: “Acts as Changes: A ‘Metabolic’ Approach to the Philosophy of Action,” in Michael Sigrist and Roman Altshuler, eds., Time and the Philosophy of Action (New York: Routledge, 2016), 257–71. 

Other Publications

2015: Philosophy in Four Questions: A Thematic Introduction to Philosophy for High School and Beyond (Newark, DE: 7 Sisters IHH, LLC). 

2015: Chambergon Battle Logic. (Logic Software.)


TEACHING

Positions

2017: Instructor
2015: Visiting Assistant Professor
  • George Washington University, University Honors Program
2011–2015: Adjunct Lecturer
  • 2013–2015: McDaniel College, Department of Philosophy
  • 2011, 14–15 (Falls): University of MD, College Park, Dept. of Philosophy
  • 2012–2014: Mount St. Mary’s University, Dept. of Philosophy
  • 2011–2012: Catholic University of America, School of Philosophy
2006–2011: Graduate Teaching Fellow
  • The Catholic University of America, School of Philosophy

Student Evaluations

9.2 / 10 average

Courses Developed

PHI 2265, “Special Topics in Philosophy: Philosophy of Music,” McDaniel College, 2014.

Courses Taught

Aesthetics
  • “Philosophy of Music” (PHI 2265, McDaniel College): Spring 2014; 2.7 / 3 (students’ evaluation)
Analytic Philosophy

Philosophy of Mind

  • “Minds and Machines” (PHI 2221, McDaniel College): Fall 2013; 2.8 / 3 (students’ evaluation)

Philosophy of Science

  • “Philosophy of Science” (PHI 3318, McDaniel College): Fall 2015; 3.7 / 4 (students’ evaluation)
Analytic and Continental

20th Century Survey

  • “Contemporary Philosophy” (PHIL 454, Catholic University): Spring 2011; 2.2 / 3 (students’ evaluation)

Philosophy of Language and Semiotics

  • “Minds and Language” (PHI 3321, McDaniel College): Fall 2014; 2.8 / 3 (students’ evaluation)
Continental Philosophy
  • “Existentialism” (PHIL 324, University of Maryland): Fall 2011; 3.8 / 4 (students’ evaluation)
Ethics
  • “Contemporary Moral Issues” (PHIL 140, University of Maryland): Falls 2014–15; 3.7 / 4 (students’ evaluation)
History of Philosophy

World Philosophy (Ancient)

  • “Origins and Evolution of Modern Thought” (HONR 1015, GWU): Fall 2015; 4.4 / 5 (students’ evaluation)

Western Philosophy (Classical)

  • “From Cosmos to Citizen” (PHIL 211, Mount St. Mary’s University): Fall 2012; 4.8 / 5 (students’ evaluation)
  • “Classical Philosophy” (VTPH 103, Mount St. Mary’s University): Springs 2013–14; 5.0 / 5 (students’ evaluation)
  • “The Classical Mind” (PHIL 201, Catholic University): Falls 2006–11, Summers 2008, 2011; 9.5 / 10 (students’ evaluation)

Western Philosophy (Modern)

  • “From Self to Society” (PHIL 212, Mount St. Mary’s University): Summer 2013; 5.0 / 5 (students’ evaluation)
  • “Modern and Contemporary Philosophy” (PHIL 203, Mount St. Mary’s): Fall 2013; 4.9 / 5 (students’ evaluation)
  • “The Modern Mind” (PHIL 202, Catholic University): Springs 2007–12, Fall 2007, Summer 2012; 9.3 / 10 (students’ evaluation)
Introduction to Philosophy
  • “Introduction to Philosophy” (PHI 1101, McDaniel College): Spring 2013, Fall 2015; 2.3 / 3 (students’ evaluation)
Logic and Critical Thinking
  • “Critical Thinking” (PHI 1102, McDaniel College): Spring 2015; 2.6 / 3 (students’ evaluation)
  • “Elementary Logic” (PHI 2233, McDaniel College): Springs 2013–15; 2.6 / 3 (students’ evaluation)
  • “Introduction to Symbolic Logic” (PHIL 351, Catholic University): Spring 2012; 8.4 / 10 (students’ evaluation)
Philosophy of Religion
  • “Philosophy of God” (PHIL 308, The Catholic University of America): Summer 2011; 8.9 / 10 (students’ evaluation)

CONFERENCE ACTIVITY

Papers Presented

2015: “How a Flaw in Augustine’s Proof of God’s Existence Forced Descartes to Write the Meditations.” “The Existence of God,” Eastern Regional Meeting of the Society of Christian Philosophers, Messiah College; Mechanicsburg, PA, September 24–26.

2014: “How to Reconcile Our Contradictory Experiences of Meaning: The Mereology of Significance and Importance” [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible” padding_right=”7%” padding_left=”7%” ][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][accepted but unable to attend conference]. Fifth Organization of Phenomenological Organizations Conference. “Phenomenology and the Problem of Meaning in Human Life and History,” Murdoch University; Perth, Australia, December 8–12.

2014: “The Embarrassment of Punching Puppets: An Argument from Conversation for Freedom.” “Free Will,” Center for Cognition and Neuroethics; Flint, MI, October 10–11.

2011: “Acts as Changes: A ‘Metabolic’ Approach to the Philosophy of Action. “Time and Agency,” George Washington University; Washington, DC, November 18–19.

2011: “Do Numerals Mean Anything?: Husserl’s Theory of Signs in ‘Mechanical’ Calculation.” “The Early Phenomenology of Munich and Göttingen,” Franciscan University of Steubenville; Steubenville, OH, April 29–30.

2010: “Do Numerals Mean Anything?: The Practice of ‘Mechanical’ Calculation in Husserl’s Philosophy of Arithmetic.” First International Meeting of the Association for the Philosophy of Mathematical Practice, University Foundation, VU Brussel; Brussels, Belgium, December 9–11.

2010: “Locke’s Ontology of Power and the Roots of the Progressive/Conservative Rift.” Eleventh Boston College Graduate Philosophy Conference: “Power,” Boston College; Boston, MA, March 19–20.

2007: “Flight from an Ontology of Hope to a Phenomenology of Political Unity: Husserl as Good Samaritan.” First Annual Duquesne University Graduate Philosophy Conference: “Symbioses: Political Ontology and a New Metaphysics,” Duquesne University; Pittsburgh, PA, March 24.

2004: “Finding James Ready-to-Hand: Introducing Heidegger and Levinas through James.” Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Interdisciplinary Association for Philosophy and Religious Studies, “Perspectives in Contemporary Continental Philosophy: Phenomenology, Pragmatism, Personalism” Panel, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania; Cheyney, PA, April 2–3. 

Discussant

2012: Response to Evan Ponton’s “Edith Stein on the Constitution of the Person in Emotional Experiences.” CUA Graduate Philosophy Conference: “Emotion,” The Catholic University of America; Washington, DC, March 30. 

Sessions Chaired

2015: Concurrent Session II.C. “The Existence of God,” Eastern Regional Meeting of the Society of Christian Philosophers, Messiah College; Mechanicsburg, PA, September 24–26.

2015: Concurrent Session X.D. “The Existence of God,” Eastern Regional Meeting of the Society of Christian Philosophers, Messiah College; Mechanicsburg, PA, September 24–26.

2014: Session 7b. “Free Will,” Center for Cognition and Neuroethics; Flint, MI, October 11.


DEPARTMENTAL & UNIVERSITY SERVICE 

Theses Directed

Patrick Keefe, Senior Thesis, McDaniel College; Westminster, MD, Spring 2013

Faculty Advisor

Filmmakers’ Club, Mount St. Mary’s University; Emmitsburg, MD, AY 2012–2013


OUTREACH & COMMUNITY SERVICE

Creator and host, Top 40 Philosophy podcast (explores philosophy through popular music and popular music through philosophy; 16,000+ downloads), February, 2016–present.

Volunteer, La Casa de Amistad, citizenship classes; South Bend, IN, February–July, 2017.

Computer skills instructor, Forever Learning Institute, Spring Semester, 2017

Code Legion volunteer, South Bend Code School, March–July, 2017.

Commencement address, Mount Sophia Academy, High School Graduation Ceremonies; Newark, DE, June 7, 2014.

Semi-weekly Skype sessions, Mount Sophia Academy, “Intro to Philosophy” class; Newark, DE, Spring Semester 2014.

Guest Lecture: “Aristotle and the Hellenistic Philosophers,” “World History and Philosophy” class, Mount Sophia Academy; Newark, DE; October 15, 2012.


TEACHING AREAS

AOS

  • Phenomenology (from the early school through the existentialists)
  • History of Philosophy

AOC

  • Philosophy of Science
  • Critical Thinking and Logic
  • Philosophy of Language
  • Philosophy of Mind

RESEARCH PROJECTS

  • The nature of dependent identity in images, mereology, and meaning.
  • The mereological structure of meaning (existential, artistic, linguistic, and mental).
  • The nature, types, and uses of priority in philosophical discussion and debate.

LANGUAGES

  • French (reading knowledge)
  • German (reading knowledge)

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS 

American Philosophical Association


RELATED NON-ACADEMIC POSITIONS

2016–2017: Content Developer

  • Pedago, LLC (for the Smartly active learning platform)

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