Public Philosophy

I believe philosophy can—and should—matter to people outside the academy, including those without formal education. My own background has given me a special interest in reaching communities like the one I grew up in, where few people go to college and fewer still have exposure to philosophy.

My approach to public philosophy centers on doing philosophy with people rather than for or to them. This requires meeting people where they are to philosophize together in person at venues like community centers, churches, libraries, schools, and senior living facilities. It also means treating public engagement not as a one-way transfer of academic insights to the public but as genuine philosophical collaboration that can enrich others’ lives while also informing my own scholarship.

Experience

  • K–12 Educator Outreach (January 2025): I organized and led a workshop introducing applied epistemology to educators from across the NC Triangle. The session focused on helping educators better understand responsible belief formations in today’s fraught and fractured media environment, as well as providing them with resources and activities to take back to their classrooms and share with students. The enthusiastic response from participants highlighted both the practical value of epistemology and a hunger among educators for training in this area.

  • Community Lectures: Through Carolina Public Humanities, I gave a public talk at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill on how we should responsibly manage our trust in others. This talk will soon be delivered at a senior living community as well.

Vision & Future Directions

I am actively seeking opportunities to bring philosophy to communities farther from universities and urban centers—places where philosophical conversations might be less common but no less valuable. This includes:

  • Developing public-facing workshops tailored to different contexts.

  • Delivering short talks with interactive Q&A sessions in diverse venues.

  • Creating accessible resources to help folks navigate our information environments more thoughtfully.

  • Building partnerships with educators, librarians, and community leaders.

If you are interested in collaborating on a public philosophy event, please contact me.