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ABOUT
I am an academic philosopher residing in Minot, North Dakota, where I am employed as an assistant professor at Minot State University.
My teaching and research interests are broad and diverse. I have published papers in academic journals and online popular presses on subjects ranging from Descartes’ views on skepticism to Socrates’ historic trial and its connection to American politics.
I have taught traditional courses, for instance, ethics and the philosophy of religion; I have also designed and led specialized seminars, including one on music advertising and collaborative songwriting and another on the relation between mental illness and moral responsibility.
The aims of my academic work are to come to a better understanding of the world and my place in it, to learn from others in the field who have similar interests, and to share my developing knowledge with my colleagues and students.
In order to attain these goals, 1.) I study normative claims about what constitutes the good life as expressed by representatives of various schools of thought; 2.) I research the views of prominent thinkers who have made significant philosophical contributions by way of their critiques of theism; and 3.) I develop innovative classroom exercises so as to encourage my students to think critically about the issues at hand.
RESEARCH
My current research program follows two distinct trajectories. The first deals with David Hume’s philosophy of religion. By relying on Hume’s major works on the subject—the Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion and the Natural History of Religion—along with his relevant essays, e.g., “Of Suicide” and “Of the Immortality of the Soul,” I aim to show how his criticisms of theism can serve to bolster human autonomy in general and a meaningful sense of well-being for people with mental illness.
The second project studies practical philosophies from ancient Greece and South Asia, including Pyrrhonism, Stoicism, and Buddhism. Despite the significant differences among these traditions, I argue that they share certain core tenets, e.g., the desiderata of wisdom and tranquility of the mind. These commonly held beliefs are sufficiently impactful to warrant further research into this kind of comparative philosophy.
TEACHING
I teach a range of philosophy courses, including Introduction to Philosophy, Existentialism, Critical Thinking, and Modern Philosophy. I have also designed interdisciplinary seminars on topics that intersect with my research program, e.g., Studies in Buddhism and Stoicism, and Mental Illness, Suicide, and Moral Responsibility.
I was recognized for my service to the profession during the COVID-19 pandemic, when I piloted the sole flexible hybrid modality course at my institution. Moreover, I have managed first-year seminars for undergraduates and have designed highly rated online courses for the institutions in which I have been employed.
Through it all, I consistently receive among the best student evaluations in comparison to my peers. I attribute these high marks to my organizational skills, my adeptness in the classroom, my knowledge of the subject, and my ability to effectively translate academic philosophy to students of all stripes.
CV
You can access my CV here.
CONTACT
Philosophy Program
Minot State University
Old Main 202D
500 University Avenue West
Minot, ND 58707