Professor of Philosophy & Religion

Maryville College’s founder, Isaac Anderson, believed education has power: power to awaken a desire for, and to achieve, human excellence. I believe that, too.

I joined the faculty at Maryville College in 2007. I teach philosophy and the study of religion, because examining what people take to be most important in life, and learning to think for yourself about what really matters, can set you free to be your best. Even if you don’t major in philosophy or religious studies, I urge you to take some courses – they will enrich your life.

We are a small department, which enables us to give you close attention, with a wide-open brief, which lets us help you to expand your horizons. For example, I teach courses ranging from the first centuries of Christianity to philosophies of freedom, from Buddhist thought to the basics of moral reflection. With every class, I try to create an educational environment where you are expected and enabled to bring your best self.

Teaching comes first at Maryville College, but I love to write when I can. I have published academic and poetic work in the Journal of the American Academy of Religion, Teaching Theology and Religion, Written River and elsewhere. Recent publications include a co-translation of a book about competing understandings of the purpose of philosophy, Juliusz Domański’s Philosophy, Theory or Way of Life? Controversies in Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. and a chapter on “Postcolonialism and the Question of a Global-Critical Philosophy of Religion” in an edited collection, Diversifying Philosophy of Religion.

I blog from time to time on religion, faith, education and other matters at https://aioz.wordpress.com/. Here is a short piece I wrote for the MC student newspaper a few years ago on the value of a liberal education. In 2022, I spoke with MC student (now alum) Eric Hartless on the academic study of religion for his podcast, “The Fight for Clarity.“

If you think you might be interested in studying philosophy and/or religion at MC, reach out to me via my email above. I’d love to hear from you!