How to Bring Traditionally Underrepresented Areas of Philosophy into Your Courses

A new initiative taking place this summer aims to “equip philosophy professors with the competency to integrate modules on traditionally underrepresented areas of philosophy into their undergraduate philosophy courses.”

Twenty participants will be selected to attend the “Northeast Workshop to Learn About Multicultural Philosophy” (NEWLAMP). The workshop is free, and financial aid will be available to help cover travel and lodging costs for those without available professional funds to cover attendance.

[photo of “Prayer Room,” an installation by Victor Ehihkamenor]

Each edition of NEWLAMP will have a distinct subject focus. The first, which will take place at Northeastern University in Boston this July 11th through 15th, will focus on African and Africana social and political philosophy. It will be led by Chike Jeffers, Associate Professor of Philosophy and Canadian Studies at Dalhousie University, Denise James, Associate Professor of Philosophy and director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at University of Dayton, and Lucius Outlaw, Jr., W. Alton Jones Professor of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.

NEWLAMP is sponsored by Northeastern University’s Department of Philosophy and Religion, Ethics Institute, and Humanities Center; the American Philosophical Association (via its Diversity and Inclusiveness Grants program); and the New England Humanities Consortium. Its organizers are Candice Delmas (Northeastern), Alex Guerrero (Rutgers), Gina Schouten (Harvard), Helena de Bres (Wellesley), and Erin Kelly (Tufts).

The workshop does not yet have a website, so application instructions are below.

Apply to NEWLAMP by emailing the following to [email protected], by February 10, 2022:

1. A short statement of interest in NEWLAMP (1-page max); please include in your statement the number of social and political philosophy courses you usually teach every year, the levels of those courses, and standard class size of each;
2. For those requesting financial aid, a short explanation of your available travel funds (or lack thereof) and expected costs for attending;
3. A curriculum vitae; and
4. Your Teaching Portfolio including: a statement of teaching philosophy, at least one sample syllabus (preferably in social and political philosophy), at least one sample student assignment, and course evaluations summaries (not to exceed 30 pages total)

Compile all the elements in a single PDF with your First Name_Last Name in the document title (e.g., Aime_Cesaire.pdf) and submit it with the email title “2022 Workshop Submission.” Notifications will be sent out in March 2022.

Email any questions about the workshop to [email protected].