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“I came to Connecticut after studying at King's College in London for a year between undergraduate and graduate school. By the time I was done with my graduate studies, my wife and I had really come to enjoy Connecticut, so when the opportunity to teach at Eastern came up, we were happy for the excuse to stay!”
“This term I'm teaching three classes: Logical Inquiry, Consciousness, Minds, and Machines, and Feminist Philosophies. They are all so different, and certainly keeping me on my toes! In Logical Inquiry we practice techniques and learn content that is designed to make the students excellent critical thinkers — I believe it's the only class in the catalog that teaches pure critical analysis, as opposed to other classes which may teach critical thinking through the lens of the specific subject matter. In Consciousness, Minds and Machines we are examining questions about what constitutes a mind, how does our mind interact with the world and shape our understanding of it, and the conditions under which we would determine that an individual is conscious.
In Feminist Philosophies, we’re tackling issues of sex and gender discrimination, media influence, the sources of oppression, and productive ways to address these challenges. What is common to all Philosophy classes at Eastern is that they are opportunities to learn how to approach questions that lack clear objective answers with confidence, arrive at conclusions in which students can have conviction, and be able to express those conclusions clearly and persuasively. I think students are surprised when they are asked to consider it, just how much of ordinary life is full of these kinds of questions!”
“My interests are broad, and there are few topics in philosophy that don't engage me to some degree. Most recently I’ve been working on how we can make better decisions in a complex and sometimes misleading informational environment, and the many challenges to doing so.
I’ve also recently given a series of lectures on the influence of Enlightenment thinking on America’s founding fathers, particularly as it relates to the Declaration of Independence. My current passion project, however, is on practicing philosophy with children, and its benefits. I’ve developed a new course at Eastern focused on the techniques involved in this practice, and have won approval for a pilot program in Philosophy at a local elementary school which started in fall 2025.”
For whatever you do, find your 'why.' [...] there will come a time when you need to understand your 'why,' so try to be clear-minded and honest about what exactly that might be.
“Over my 20 years here I can say that my Eastern students tend to be practical and appreciate when a professor puts in the effort to engage them in their studies. The faculty, almost universally, are deeply invested in their students’ success and are willing to do what it takes to help students achieve their educational goals. I continue to be impressed by the level of dedication the faculty show — they are the hardest working people I’ve known.”
“Philosophy struggles against a public perception that questions its usefulness. I approach my classes with the goal to demonstrate what a misperception that is. Philosophy is unique that it is both a field of study and a way of thinking, and those elements come together to make something powerful. Through the study and practice of Philosophy, not only do you have the opportunity to learn timeless truths from some of the greatest minds of our history, but you also learn to be more proficient in the search for answers in your own life. Everyone can benefit from studying Philosophy.”
“Philosophy is particularly useful for people who are going into careers which value clarity of thought and expression, the ability to see issues from a different point of view, and the skill to reach sound conclusions on questions which lack clear answers. These traits are particularly useful to success in law school, with Philosophy majors consistently outperforming all others on the LSAT and in law school retention rates, so many of our graduates take that route. Beyond law, however, the skills I mentioned can contribute to success in a number of different fields, with our recent graduates pursuing diverse careers in education, business, social work, creative writing, public policy and theology.”
“For whatever you do, find your 'why.' Maybe it’s a personal story, maybe it’s an inspiring professor, maybe it’s the money, maybe it’s a family tradition, maybe it’s your sense of value, or maybe it’s something completely different. But there will come a time when you need to understand your 'why,' so try to be clear-minded and honest about what exactly that might be.”