About

I am associate professor of philosophy at Utica College. I have a Ph.D. in philosophy and an M.S. in biology, both from Duke University. My most recent publications include “Two Dogmas of Biology” (Open Access in Philosophy & Theory in Biology), “Drift sometimes dominates selection, and vice versa: A reply to Clatterbuck, Sober and Lewontin” (with Robert Brandon in Biology and Philosophy) and “Why Flying Dogs are Rare: A General Theory of Luck in Evolutionary Transitions” (with Robert Brandon in Studies in History and Philosophy of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, February 2015).

My research interests include philosophy of biology, philosophy of science, history of science (particularly Darwin), evolutionary theory, and biomedical ethics. I also have interests in the evolution and ethics of technology, philosophy and literature, and Wittgenstein.

The courses I typically teach are Critical Thinking, Ethics, Professional Ethics (usually online), Ethical Issues in Contemporary Science and Technology, History and Philosophy of Science and Technology (co-taught with Dr. Lawrence Day of the Utica College Physics Department), and Evolution and its Discontents. 

I am the coordinator of Nexus, a seminar series presented by the faculty at Utica College in which they discuss their research interests and scholarly pursuits, the coordinator of GeoTalk, a seminar series in which the Utica College faculty discuss their recent travels, and I am on the governing board of the American Association of University Professors–Utica College Chapter.

If you want more information, feel free to check out my ResearchGate profile, or my professor profile in the Utica College student newspaper from my first year at Utica College.

In my free time I enjoy classical music, opera, crocheting, old movies from the 1940s and 50s, visiting my best friend in NYC and spoiling my dog.