Faculty
DR. JAMI ANDERSON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Jami L. Anderson received her Ph.D. from the University of Southern California School of Philosophy in 1995, after successfully defending her dissertation, "Annulling Crimes: A Hegelian Theory of Retribution." Her advisors were Sharon Lloyd and John Dreher. Prior to graduate school, Dr. Anderson was an undergraduate in the Honors Program at Arizona State University and studied abroad from August 1986 to June 1987 at the University of Tübingen, West Germany. She received her B.A. in Philosophy with Honors in 1989 and her thesis, "Philosophical Anarchism Reconsidered," was supervised by Jeffrie G. Murphy and Richard Dagger.
Her publication and teaching interests are in philosophy of law and social theory, in particular gender theory, race theory and disability studies. Of particular note, a recent publication, The Philosophy of Autism, is now available from Rowman & Littlefield.
She is currently working on two articles. One will critically assess arguments surrounding neurodiversity debates, specifically concerning the question of whether or not autism ought to be cured or if, as some argue, such "cures" are, at best, misguided or, worse, immoral. The other will critically assess the claim that children's rights to open futures obligates parents to take part in actions that are eugencidal, such as embryonic selection choices.
She has been the co-director of the Center for Cognition and Neuroethics since August, 2011.
DR. SIMON CUSHING, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
After receiving a B.A. and M.A. in Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford University, Dr. Cushing earned a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California, where his dissertation was "Citizenship, Political Obligation, and the "Right-Based” Social Contract Tradition.” He specializes in Social Philosophy (including Race and Gender studies), Political Philosophy (especially Nationalism and Social Contract theories), and Moral Philosophy and Applied Ethics. In addition to co-editing an anthology on The Philosophy of Autism with Dr. Anderson, he is currently writing an article titled "Plantinga’s Freedom is Indefensible.” Dr. Cushing’s most recent publications include "Evil, Freedom and the Heaven Dilemma" in Challenging Evil: Time, Society and Changing Concepts of the Meaning of Evil, and "Don’t Fear the Reaper: An Epicurean Answer to Puzzles About Death and Injustice” in Layers of Dying and Death.
DR. ADEREMI ARTIS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
Aderemi Artis received his B.A. with Honors in Philosophy from Davidson College, after which he completed an M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Princeton University. His dissertation was entitled “Francis Bacon and the Scientific Reformation,” in which he explored the relationships between scientific methodology and reformed theology in the works of Francis Bacon. He specializes in Early Modern European History of Ideas and Analytic Metaphysics.
DR. BENEDICTE VEILLET, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Bénédicte wrote her dissertation—“Concepts, Consciousness and Content”—at the University of Maryland, College Park and received her Ph.D. in 2008. Her research interests are in the philosophy of mind and in the philosophical foundations of psychology and the cognitive sciences. She is currently working on papers concerning phenomenally conscious experiences (“what it’s like” to see red, feel pain, etc.), our ways of thinking about these experiences, and the nature of their representational content.
DR. STEVENS WANDMACHER, LECTURER, CHAIR
Dr. Wandmacher is the current Chair of the Department of Philosophy. After earning a B.G.S. from the University of Michigan and a MA in philosophy from Wayne State University, he earned his Ph.D. in philosophy at Michigan State University in 2003, where his dissertation was "The Social Contract Tradition: Patriarchy, Artifice, and Reason." His primary interests include reason and its role in political and ethical theories, feminist critiques of traditional ethics, and mental representation. He teaches a range of courses from the introductory level through upper division, including the Philosophy Capstone course. In addition, he is the Faculty Coordinator of the Student Veteran Resource Center.
DR. ANTHONY GIVHAN, LECTURER II
Tony Givhan received a B.S. in political science and a M.A. in philosophy at Western Michigan University, and a M.R.E. in religious education from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. Tony completed his Ph.D. at Michigan State University in the philosophy of science, writing a dissertation on the role of values in scientific theory choice, focusing on the debate over the biological status of race. His other interests include the philosophy of religion, especially the relationship between science, religion and philosophy, and he teaches courses in critical thinking, the philosophy of religion and ethics.
RONALD WARREN, LECTURER II
Mr. Warren received a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Michigan-Flint and a M.A. in Philosophy from Howard University. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Philosophy at Michigan State University, where he is specializing in topics of Race, Racism, and Recognition Theory. His dissertation title is "Recognition Theory: Grasping Persisting Racism."
Emeritus Faculty
DR. KENDALL B. COX,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
EMERITUS
DR. CHARLES E. M. DUNLOP,
DAVID M. FRENCH PROFESSOR EMERITUS
AND PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF PHILOSOPHY
WEBSITE
DR. RICHARD GULL,
PROFESSOR EMERITUS
DR. L. NATHAN OAKLANDER,
DAVID M. FRENCH PROFESSOR EMERITUS
AND PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF PHILOSOPHY
WEBSITE
DR. PAUL K. PETERSON,
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
EMERITUS
Staff
MARTHA HANLEY, Administrative Assistant Intermediate
Phone: (810) 762-3380
E-mail: hanleyml@umflint.edu