Personal Summary

I am a Professor of Philosophy, Co-director of our Master's Program in Environmental Philosophy, and Director of the Pre-Law Program at the University of Montana. I am an Agrégée in Philosophy and a former student of the Ecole Normale Supérieure.

Education

• Ph.D. Philosophy: University of Nancy and Bielefeld University
• Ecole Normale Supérieure Alumna
• B.S. Fundamental Physics: University of Paris VI, Jussieu.
• DEA, Philosophy, Université Sorbonne -- Paris IV
• Maîtrise, Philosophy, Université Nanterre -- Paris X 
• B.A. Philosophy, Université Sorbonne -- Paris I 

Courses Taught

Teaching: Philosophy of Science, Modern Philosophy, Philosophy of Law, Animals

I have taught classes in Modern philosophy, philosophy of science, the foundations of ecology, philosophy of law, and philosophy of animals. I employ active learning strategies in my teaching. I also focus on engaged philosophy in my courses. I am the 2024 recipient of the Outstanding Teaching Award and the William Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching Across the Curriculum. I have also won a Promoting Intellectual Excellence Award from the DHC 5 years in a row.

PHL 110E Introduction to Engaged Ethics (online, service component) 

PHL 262Y Modern Philosophy

PHL 317E Law and Morality

PHL 319E Law and Discrimination

PHL 448/548 Philosophy and Animals

PHL 508 Philosophy of Law

PHL510 Philosophy Colloquium 

HONR 391 Pre-Law Seminar 

Field of Study

• Philosophy of science
• Philosophy of physics
• Philosophy of ecology
• Philosophy of law

Selected Publications

I have been conducting research in the philosophy of science for more than 15 years. I have published articles on the interpretation of quantum mechanics, scientific modeling, dissent in science, science and values, and edited a public-facing volume providing a survey of issues in philosophy of physics (in French). I am currently working on a book with Armond Duwell on scientific understanding, in which we explain how the great diversity of scientific practices provides understanding as they contribute possible solutions to relevant problems.

• (work in progress) Scientific Understanding: The Problems and Possibilities View
• (work in progress)  A Fiduciary Model of Public Trust in Value-Laden Science
• (2023) How to Not Secure Public Trust in Science; Representative Values v. Polarization and Marginalization, Philosophy of Science. 
• (2019) Partial truth versus felicitous falsehoods. Synthese. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-019-02413-4
• (2017) Epistemically Detrimental Dissent: Contingent Enabling Factors vs Stable Different Makers. Philosophy of Science (with Iheanyi Amadi).
• (2017) Enlightening Falsehood: A modal view of scientific understanding. In Explaining Understanding: Perspectives From Epistemology and Philosophy of Science, ed. by Grimm, Stephen R., Christoph Baumberger, and Sabine Ammon, Routledge. 
• (2014), How Understanding Matters – Or not. in Probing the Meaning of Quantum Mechanics: Physical, Philosophical, Mathematical, and Logical Perspectives, ed. by C. de Ronde, S. Aerts, D. Aerts, World Scientific. pp. 127-42
• (2013) Précis de Philosophie de la Physique, Vuibert.
• (2011) "Defending the Semantic View: What it Takes," European Journal for Philosophy of Science, 2(3) (2011): 249-274.
• (2009) "Fine's Ways to Fail to Secure Local Realism," Studies in the History and Philosophy of Modern Physics, 40(2) (2009): 142-150.

Publications

Honors / Awards

• 2024. William Reynolds Award for Excellence in Teaching Across the Curriculum
• 2024. Distinguished Teaching Award.
• 2024. Undergraduate Research Mentoring Award, finalist. 
• 2024. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
• 2023. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
• 2022. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
• 2021. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
• 2021. Sustainability Award 
• 2020. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
• 2019. Davidson Honors College Promoting Intellectual Engagement (PIE) Award.
• 2017. Outstanding Faculty Advising Award.
• 2016. Merit Increase. University of Montana.
• 2016. Invited Professor, LabeX TransferS, Equippe république des savoirs, Ecole normale supérieure, Paris.
• 2014. Merit Increase. University of Montana.
• 2013. International Activity Grant. University of Montana.
• 2012. Student Affairs Faculty Award. University of Montana.
• 2011. Visiting Fellow: Center for Philosophy of Science, University of Pittsburgh
• 2011. Faculty Professional Enhancement Grant. University of Montana.
• 2011. Merit Increase. University of Montana.
• 2006-2008. Sawyier Predoctoral Fellowship. Illinois Institute of Technology.
• 2005. DAAD Fellowship.
• 2005. Fellowship Université Franco-Allemande.
• 2004-2005. Graduate Fellowship. Bielefeld University.
• 2004. Huguette Delavault Fellowship. Association des Femmes Françaises Diplomées de l’Université.
• 2004. Conference Expenses Graduate Fellowship. 13th UK Meeting on the Foundations of Physics, York.
• 2003. Travel Grant. Comité National de Philosophie et d’Histoire des Sciences, LMPS, Congress, Oviedo.
• 2002-2005. Mobility Graduate Fellowship “co-tutelle de thèse”. European Union.
• 2001-2002. Jane Eliza Procter Visiting Fellowship. Princeton University.

Hobbies

Public Philosophy

I believe public philosophy is critical even if challenging. Check out my public outreach page if you are interested.

University of Montana Pre-Law Program

I am also the Director of the Pre-Law Program at the University of Montana, which I founded and build. I get to help and mentor some of the most wonderful human beings I have known doing so. Please go to the UM Pre-Law Program website for more information.

Diversity and Inclusion

I believe it is my responsibility as a person with tremendous privilege and in a position of relative power to be an ally and amplify the voices of historically marginalized populations. I have been a member of the Philosophy of Science Association's Women Caucus, now D.E.I. Caucus since 2008. I have working on the Underrepresented Scholars in Philosophy of Science initiative since its inception.

Environmental Advocacy

I am committed to do my part to mitigate some of the effects of the climate crisis. I have served on the Philosophy of Science Association's Sustainability Committee since its inception. I also serve as the co-director of our Master's Program in Environmental Philosophy at the University of Montana. I was the recipient of the University of Montana Sustainability Award at the University of Montana in 2021. In 2025, I will be organizing the ISEE conference in Missoula. I am also a member of Philosophers for Sustainability and I serve on the Program Committee for the 2025 Central APA conference which will take place fully online to mitigate some of the philosophy community's carbon footprint. Finally, I volunteer and serve as vice-chair of the Board of Directors for Animal Wonders. 

Finally, if you would like a little bit of background, feel free to check out my personal story.