Outreach

I am committed to the promotion of disadvantaged and historically marginalized groups in and through academia. Here I outline examples of outreach programs and access initiatives that I have led or in which I have participated.

Teaching in prisons

I have taught in prisons in the US and the UK. For people in prison, their minds and intellectual curiosity are often underused and underserved. Bringing philosophy into prisons is a boost to morale and ultimately to welfare inside. It also furthers rehabilitation. I have taught various philosophy subjects in prison. As an example, I teach feminist philosophy. This involves dealing with complex and delicate dynamics, since, in some cases, the students have committed crimes against women. To help students relate to the material, I relate feminist philosophy to their experience, focusing on intersectional feminism and structural oppression.

Philosophy cafe’ for young girls in NYC

I led a “Philosophy Cafe” at New York City’s Lower Eastside Girls Club. This was a space for preteen girls from low-income families to gain exposure to philosophy. Each session of the Café began with a new, accessible topic in ethics, epistemology, or metaphysics, such as “what do we know for sure?” and “what was there before the universe began?”. I aimed to show the Café’s young participants that they too already think philosophically, and that philosophy is neither owned by men nor the ivory tower.

Princeton University Program for Community Engaged Scholarship (ProCES)

I worked for Princeton University’s ProCES office. ProCES is dedicated to developing community-oriented curricula across the university. The office assists professors and students in designing their syllabi and research in ways that serve public issues at the local and global level. ProCES additionally promotes and funds collaborations between university researchers and community members.

Compass workshop for undergraduate minorities in philosophy

I co-organized Princeton’s Compass workshop. Compass is a two-day networking event designed to bolster the participation of people of color in academic philosophy. Undergraduates from around the country were invited to engage in two days of philosophical discussion with one another and our selected mentors. Our faculty and graduate student mentors ran advice sessions like, “How to apply to graduate school,” and “How to be a professional philosopher.” The workshop offered its participants an opportunity to increase their comfort with the field of professional philosophy.

Princeton University philosophy outreach program

I was a founding member of Princeton University’s after-school philosophy outreach program. The program’s purpose is to introduce philosophy to middle and high school students from the Trenton, New Jersey, area, who would not otherwise have access to philosophy instruction.