Ph.D., University of Oklahoma

M.Litt, University of Glasgow

B.A., Wartburg College

While my focus is more frequently on my teaching and issues related to pedagogy, my research interests are primarily in ethics and political philosophy, with special attention to issues of a global dimension. The focus of my previous research was on central concerns of ethical and political theory applied to climate change, working from a framework that understands climate change as a violation of human rights and its application to the moral obligations borne by both individuals and collective groups. My interest in human rights and obligations is not solely limited to environmental matters, but also poverty and economic concerns, all of which relate to broader questions about consumption, sustainability, and the ethics of intervention. From this, I’m interested in the implications global problems like climate change have for international relations, state sovereignty, democratic legitimacy. Here, I am particularly interested in pursuing the idea of what I call “environmental legitimacy” and the role such concept might play in justifying both domestic regulations and international interventions.

I have also previously worked on issues in Asian philosophy, with particular attention to in how some of the accounts of political theory offered in classical works have relevance or insight for issues of contemporary political philosophy.

“Governing Through the Dao: A Non-Anarchistic Interpretation of the Laozi,” Dao: A Journal of Comparative Philosophy 9, no. 3 (2010): 323-337.

Pedagogy Related

“Encouraging Meaningful Student-Centered Philosophical Discussions — Philosophy Department Pedagogy Workshop Series, University of Tennessee 17 October 2023

“Exploring Student Engagement in Asynchronous Courses: Navigating Challenges and Embracing Opportunities” (Panel Discussion) — Vols Online Brown Bag, Online Learning & Academic Programs, University of Tennessee 25 August 2023

“Video Feedback as a Tool in the Online Classroom” — Online Learning Showcase, Online Learning & Academic Programs, University of Tennessee, 27 October 2022

“Effective & Efficient Feedback” — Vols Online Brown Bag, Online Learning & Academic Programs, University of Tennessee, 22 April 2022

“The History and Value of the Tennessee High School Ethics Bowl” — Weekly Meeting of the Optimist Club of Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, 25 October 2019

“The Value of Philosophy and the Ethics Bowl” (Keynote Address) — Labor of Thought Ethics Bowl, Oakland High School, Murfreesboro, TN, 2 December 2017

Research Related

“Thinking About Vulnerability: Climate Change, Human Rights, and Moral Thresholds” — Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 29 September 2015

“Limiting Sovereignty: Climate Change, Individual Rights, and State Legitimacy” — Western Political Science Association (WPSA) Annual Meeting, Las Vegas, NV, 2 April 2015

“Climate Norms, the Problem of Non-Compliant States, and Limiting Sovereignty” — International Social Theory Consortium (ISTC) Annual Conference, University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 16 May 2014

“The Role of Moral Reasoning in Seeking Action on Climate Change” — Society for Environmental Journalists Annual Conference, Chattanooga, TN, 5 October 2013

“Addressing Climate Change as a Matter of Humanitarian Intervention?” — Western Political Science Association (WPSA) Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, 29 March 2013

“Collective and Individual Responsibility in the Case of Climate Change” — Western Political Science Association (WPSA) Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, 22 March 2012

“Climate Change, Human Rights, and Capabilities” — Western Political Science Association (WPSA) Annual Meeting, San Antonio, TX, 23 April 2011

“Obligations of the Affluent: A Two-Threshold Framework” — North Texas Philosophical Association Annual Meeting, University of North Texas, 7 April 2011