PHILOSOPHY - Department of Philosophy at Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Graduate Students (updated June 1, 2009)

In an effort to keep this page from becoming ungainly, the webmaster has decided to confine it to active students. There are several other students presently working outside the department on their dissertations. Anyone who is interested in knowing more about them and their endeavors, feel free to contact the Office Support Specialist.

Juliana Acosta Lopez de Mesa
B.A. - Universidad de Antioquia - Medellin, Colombia
acostajulliana1@hotmail.comacostajulliana1@hotmail.com


Justin Bell
B.A. - Texas State University-San Marcos
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
*Kinesis* Editor
Office: Faner 3025
belldar@siu.edu
Interests: My areas of study are ethics, political and social philosophy, and American philosophy. This school year (2007-2008) I am serving the Graduate Philosophy Union (GPU) as Treasurer and Outside Funding Officer.

Michael Brady
B.A. - University of Massachusetts, Boston
M.A. - Boston College
Office Hours/Spring 2009: Tuesday 9-10:30, Friday 1-3
mbradyx@siu.edu
My main area of interest in the American philosophical tradition, especially the thought of Emerson, James, and Dewey. I am also deeply interested in the philosophy of science, especially the philosophy of biology and evolution as it interacts with and informs the American philosophical tradition.

Chesna Braniger
B.A. - Muskingum College - New Concord, Ohio
M.A. - Oklahoma State University - Stillwater
chesna@siu.edu


Tad Bratkowski
B.A. - Maryville University
M.A. - University of Missouri, Saint Louis
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
phgamer99@yahoo.com
Interests: Plotinus, Bonaventure, Spinoza, Leibniz, Hegel, Schopehhauer and, though I hate to admit it, Nietzsche is growing on me everyday. Areas of interest include metaphysics, aesthetics and the philosophy of video games. As an aside, I have recently finished a book of poetry that I hope to see published (before I die).

Jessica Brejc
B.A - Southern Illinois University
Office:
Office Hours:
brejc460@siu.edu
Interests: Philosophy of music and creative experience

Bruce Buchanan
B.A. - Eastern Kentucky University - Richmond
M.A. - University of Wyoming - Laramie
Office:
Office Hours:
bruceb4t@siu.edu
I am a degree candidate in the Ph.D program. This fall semester I am working on my dissertation, concerning Environmental Philosophy and John Dewey. I am also assisting Dr. Hahn with Logic 105. An area of continuing interest to me is the topic of temperament as it pertains to concepts of the self in the following thinkers: James, Dewey, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and Emerson.

Anthony Cashio
B.A. - Birmingham Southern - Alabama
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
alcashio@siu.edu

Marjorie Cavey
B.S. - Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
B.A. - Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
marjorie@siu.edu
Particular interests include: applied ethics - especially environmental, moral, and media ethics - philosophy of ethics, symbolic logic, philosophy of law, ancient Greek and classical American philosophy, Kant, Hegel, Dewey, (and perhaps going out on a limb), Quine. Publication: Hardrock Mining Reclamation and AMD: Implications for the Biotic Community and Sustainability, Helix, Fall 2007, Volume 8 (28-44).

Katrina Colombo
B.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office:
Office Hours:
katrinac@siu.edu
I am interested in American philosophy (James, Dewey) philosophy of religion, Plotinus, and Indian philosophy. My primary interest is a social philosophy that embraces cultural diversity. I also have a strong interest in ethics and morality.

Benjamin Craig
B.A. - Sonoma State University - California
M.A. - Texas A & M University - Texas
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
craigb@siu.edu
I am primarily interested in the collaboration between Classical American philosophy and 19th and 20th century Continental philosophy, specifically aesthetics. I am also interested in phenomenology and hermeneutics as well as their perspectives of religion.

Isaac Creek
B.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
icreek@siu.edu

Troy Deters
B.A. - University of Toledo - Ohio
M.A. - Texas A&M University - College Station
tdeters@siu.edu
I am interested in Classical American Philosophy, especially Peirce, Royce, and Dewey. Lately, I have been examining the relationship between Royce's metaphysics, philosophy of religion, and logic. Outside of Royce, I have interests in Dewey's theory of inquiry. My work in this area has centered around developing a consistent interpretation of his different logical writings. I also have interests in the History of Philosophy (Aristotle and Kant), the Philosophy of Religion, and the Philosophy of the Social Sciences.

Ravi Doshi									+
B.A. - Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, Indiana
Office:
Office Hours:
raviddoshi@gmail.com

Carl Dull
B.A. - University of the South - Sewanee, Tennessee
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
cdull@siu.edu

Rebecca Farinas
B.A. - Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana
M.A. - University of Manchester, London, England
rebeccafar38@aol.com
My main philosophical interests are still developing as I come from a background of fine art and art history. Yet I am particularly fascinated by the writings of Dewey, Heidegger and the work of Rorty, Schrag and Marion. Generally existentialism, contemporary interdisciplinary philosophies as well as identity, poesis, intersubjectivity, transmigration of the soul and the communicative praxis of art and production are headings that gather countless questions and harbour my enthusiasm.

Joshua Farrington
B.A. - Indiana University, Indianapolis
Office: Neely 105/220 - Phone: 618-536-6946
jbfarrin@siu.edu
Graduate Research Assistant: SIUC Integrated Neuroscience Lab (N62EEG: The Neurological Effects of Nicotine on Emotion & Attention Study) Certification: Human Participants Protection Education for Research Teams through the National Institutes of Health Interests: Pragmatism, Neurophilosophy, Neuroscience, Bioethics & Neuroethics, Philosophy of War & Defense (Weapons of Mass Protection), and “The President’s Council on Bioethics.” Current Research: A Broader Understanding of Neurophilosophy in Solving Concrete Problems and Clarifying Results: The Role of Neuroethics in Defense Policy: Pragmatic Considerations of Researching, Developing and Deploying ‘Neurosomatic Weapons of Mass Protection' and Neurological Indications in Qualified Instances of Terrorism, Hostage Crises and Hi-Jacking Scenarios.
Jorge Alejandro Florez
B.A. and M.A. - Universidade Pontificia Bolivariana - Medellin, Colombia
jaflorez@siu.edu

Anthony Giambusso
M.H., B.A. - University of Colorado - Denver
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
giambusso@gmail.com
Interests: Social and Political philosophy, critical theory, American philosophy, continental philosophy, G. H. mead, Foucault. Thesis: "Is Propaganda Pragmatic: A Study of the Relationship Between Classical Pragmatism and American Propaganda"

Andrew Gillespie
B.A. - McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois
agilles@siu.edu
Interests: I am interested in ethics, social and political philosophy. I am especially drawn to the contributions that the American pragmatists and classical Chinese philosophers have made in these areas.

Christina Gould
B.A. - Loyola University/Tulane University - New Orleans
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office: Faner 3031 Phone: 618-453-7444
cgould@siu.edu

Daniel Guentchev
B.A. - Green Mountain College - Vermont
M.A. - University of Toledo
dguentc@siu.edu
Interests: First and foremost Aesthetics; The traditions of Nietzsche and Heidegger. Lately Foucault is growing on me and so is Husserl. Trying to expand more in pragmatism.

Jay Hamman
B.A. - Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana
Office: Faner 3006 - Phone: 618-453-7427
Office Hours: Fall 2008
hammanj@siu.edu

Timothy Henke
B.A. - Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, Illinois
thenke@siu.edu

Jason Hills
B.S. - Rochester Institute of Technology - Rochester, N.Y.
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
khadimir@siu.edu

Joseph John
B.A. - Birmingham-Southern College
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office: Faner 3023 - Phone: 618-453-7448
Office Hours: Spring 2009 M W 1:30-3:30
jdjohn@siu.edu
Interests: Process Philosophy (Whitehead, Hartshorne), Asian Philosophy (Buddhism and Japanese Philosophy), American Pragmatism (Mead, Dewey), Logic, Philosophy of Logic, Social/Political Theory, Ethics, Philosophy of Religion.

Mike Jostedt
B.A. - Webster University - Saint Louis
M.A. - University of Missouri - Saint Louis
Office:
Office Hours:
mike jost@siu.edu

Charles Klayman
B.A. - Penn State University
M.A. - West Chester University
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
cklayman@siu.edu
I'm particularly interested in art as a method of inquiry. Other research interests include aesthetics, pragmatism, existentialism, race/gender/culture studies, general continental thought, a dash of philosophy of science and radical thought.

Kenneth Knight
B.A. - University of Southern Maine, Portland
Office: Faner 3021 - Phone: 618-453-7449
Office Hours: Spring 2009 T, TH 8:30-9:30
kknight@siu.edu

Jeffrey Linz
B.A. - Oregon State University - Corvallis
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office:
Office Hours:
saac_lcc@yahoo.com
Primary Interests: Modern Philosophy, Continental Philosophy, Aesthetics, Social and Political Philosophy, and Ethics. Secondary Interests:Classical Greek Philosophy and Pragmatism.

Sean Lipham
A.S. - College of Lake County - Grayslake, IL
B.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
seanlipham@yahoo.com

Dwayne Maxey
B.A. - University of Tennessee at Martin
dwahmaxe@siu.edu
Main interest: Continental philosophy, particularly Heidegger. Also interested in ancient philosophy

Tim McCune
A.A. - Shasta College - Redding, California
B.A. - Humboldt State University - Arcata, California
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office: Faner
Office hours:
timtime72@yahoo.com

James McKain
B.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office:
Office Hours:
jmckain@gmail.com
My current and longstanding philosophical interests have been the history of philosophy, phenomenology (particularly Husserl and Merleau-Ponty), phenomenological approaches to subjectivity and intersubjectivity, and German Idealism (particularly Kant, Fichte, and Schelling).

Steven Miller
B.A. - Ripon College - Ripon, Wisconsin
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
mllrstvn@siu.edu

Laura Mueller
B.A. - McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
mueller.laura.j@gmail.com
My main interests include ethics, philosophy of religion, metaphysics, feminist theory (including feminist theology), existentialism, and Nietzsche.

Fabricio Pontin
B.A. and M.A. - Ciencias Juridicas e Sociais at Pontificia Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul; MA in Philosophy (AOS: Ethics and Political Philosophy) at Pontificia niversidade Catolica do Rio Grande do Sul
Current interests: Phenomenology (Husserl and Heidegger) Critical Theory (Benjamin, Habermas, Agamben and Honneth) Moral Epistemology and Political Philosophy (Rawls, Hare and Michael Smith) Philosophical Anthropology (Derrida and Foucault) Current research on Moral Minimalism and the possibility of moral "obligations". Long term research on the possibility of a phenomenological reading of political philosophy.
fpontin@gmail.com

Nathan Poole-McCullough
B.A. - Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland
M.A. - Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
nated816@aol.com
Main interests: Dewey and Heidegger

Aisha Raees
B.A. - Hanover College - Indiana
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office: Faner
aisharaees@gmail.com

Jason Rickman
B.A. - Oklahoma City University
M.A. - University of Texas, Austin
M.T.S. - Notre Dame
Office: Faner
jrickman@siu.edu

Kandace Riddle
B.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
kriddle@siu.edu
Office: Faner 3006 Phone: 453-7427 AND Faner 2036 Phone: 453-2512
Interests: Philosophy of technology (especially as it relates to video games and virtual reality), computer ethics, feminist theory, feminist pragmatism

Aaron Rogier
B.A. - McKendree College, Lebanon, Illinois
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
rogier.aaron@gmail.com Website: www.aaronrogier.net
Interests include history of philosophy, epistemology, philosophy of science and mathematics, and relationships between discrete and continuous knowledge structures.

David Schrappe
B.A. - Centre College - Danville, Kentucky
M.A. - Kent State University - Ohio
drschrappe@hotmail.com
Interests include the nature of the self and the role of the "self" in a community. As such, I am also interested in contemporary Continental, American and Eastern philosophy and the commonalities among them. My Master's thesis focused on the notion of "sunyata" in the work of Keiji Nishitani and comparing it to the notion of nothingness in Nietzsche and Heidegger.

Tim Scroggins
B.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
tl_scroggins@msn.com


Nicholas Smaligo
B.A. - Fairfield University, Fairfield, Connecticut
nsmaligo@siu.edu
Office:
Office Hours:
I am currently interested in the history of American and Continental philosophy, as well as psychoanalysis and its application to social and political theory.

Jessica Soester
B.A. - Texas A & M University
M.A. - Southern Illinois University
jsoester@siu.edu
Areas of interest: political philosophy, existentialism, phenomenology, American pragmatism, philosophy of economics: [Marx, Merleau-Ponty, Dewey, Nietzsche, Husserl]. My master’s thesis (Spring 2008) is concerned with Marx’s concept of freedom. Future research: phenomenology, philosophy of economics, international relations, and the pragmatic implications of phenomenological analyses of self, community, and freedom.

Tibor Solymosi
B.A. - Allegheny College - Meadville, Pennsylvania
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office: Faner 3023 - Phone: 618-453-7448
Office Hours: Spring 2009 M,W 10-12
tibor@siu.edu
AOS: Philosophy of Mind, Pragmatism, Ethics; AOC: Philosophy of Science (Biology and Neuroscience), History of Philosophy. Current Project: Naturalism and Evolutionary Neurobiological Approaches to Moral Personhood; Naturalism Research Fellow, Summer 2008, Center for Inquiry - Transnational, Amherst, NY; Assistant Editor, Contemporary Pragmatism

Alejandro Strong
B.A. - Boston University
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Office: Faner 3126 - Phone: 618-453-3178
Office Hours: Spring 2009 M 3-4; T 3-5, and by appointment
acstrong@gmail.com
Interests: Classical American, Latin American, European, and African philosophy, especially in the areas of Aesthetics, Ethics, and Identity. I am also interested in interdisciplanary approaches to philosophy, especially connections between philosophy, anthropology, art, and experiential education.


Chia-Lin Tu
B.A. - Soochow University - Taipai, Taiwan
M.A. - SUNY, Albany
ct7369@siu.edu
Primary Interests:Philosophy of mind, especially the issue of mental causation, which will probably by my main research in the future. I am also interested in metaphysics, philosophy of language and rationalism/empiricism, especially Hume's philosophy.

Seth Vannatta
B.A. - Colorado College; Colorado Springs
M.A. - Oklahoma City University
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
corwin@siu.edu
AOS: Philosophy of Law, Political Philosophy, Ethics; AOC: American Pragmatism, Continental Philosophy, History of Philosophy; Dissertation: “The Role of Philosophy in Legal Pragmatism: An Application of Pragmatic Normativity” (Randall Auxier, director); Instructor: PHIL 309i: Politics, Law, and Justice

Heather Wilburn
B.A. - Oklahoma State University - Stillwater
M.A. - Oklahoma State University - Stillwater
Office: Faner
Office Hours:
heather-wilburn@excite.com
Interests: Current interests include social/political and ethical aspects of Continental Philosophy, which predominantly include Adorno and Levinas. Other interests include; Plato, Emerson, Whitman, Hegel, Foucault, Hume, Marx and really any philosophy which deals with human/social tragedy (holocaust, repression of various groups and the downfall of our own current culture). AOS: Continental Ethical Thought. Dissertation topic: Adornoian Ethics & Ecological Damage.

Matthew Wolever
A.A. - Black Hawk College, Moline, Illinois
B.A. - St. Ambrose University, Davenport, Iowa
mlwolever1@yahoo.com

Sarah Woolwine
B.A. - Oklahoma City University
M.A. - Southern Illinois University Carbondale
professional_widow52@yahoo.com
Office: Faner 3033- Phone: 618-453-7443
Office Hours: Spring 2009 TH 3-5
Primary Interests: Recent continental, psychoanalysis, process, existentialism, phenomenology, feminist theory, especially: Lacan, Bergson, Freud, Jung, Merleau-Ponty, Judith Butler, Simone de Beauvoir.

Graduate Students (updated June 1, 2009)