30TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE DOCTORAL PROGRAM IN PHILOSOPHY
Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3, 2026 | The Inn at Villanova University
Villanova University's Doctoral Program in Philosophy is celebrating 30 years of academic excellence. This two-day celebratory conference will feature presentations from Villanova Philosophy alumni and opportunities to meet, converse and celebrate the remarkable achievements of our program.
ACCOMODATIONS
If you are traveling to attend the conference, the Inn at Villanova is reserving rooms for conference attendees. Please contact The Inn and reference the Philosophy Attendee Room Block.
The best number to call is 610-519-8000. The rooms will be held until April 20.
CONTACT
Surti Singh, PhD, director of graduate program: surti.singh@villanova.edu
John Carvalho, PhD, iterim chair: john.carvalho@villanova.edu
Terry DiMartino, senior administrative assistant: theresa.dimartino@villanova.edu
Join us for the entire conference, or choose the day that works for your schedule!
Schedule
Saturday, May 2
9 a.m.: Opening Remarks
Adele Lindenmeyr, PhD, William and Julia Moulden Dean, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Emory Woodard, PhD, Dean of Graduate Studies, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
John Carvalho, PhD, iterim chair, Department of Philosophy
Surti Singh, PhD, Director of Graduate Programs, Department of Philosophy
9:30 a.m.: Democratic Experience and Desire
Jessica Elkayam ’16 PhD, Sam Houston State University, “Nietzsche's Heidegger: Political Palimpsest and the Writing of Desire”
Laura McMahon ’15 PhD, Eastern Michigan University, "Queer (Trans)formations: Merleau-Ponty, Dewey, and the Aesthetic Nature of Democratic Experience"
Moderator: Sterling Hall, PhD candidate, Villanova University
10:30 a.m.: Coffee Break
11 a.m.: Thomas and Hegel on Religion
Lee Cole ’15 PhD, Hillsdale College, “Deepening the Mystery: Thomistic Negativity and Intelligible Presence”
James K. A. Smith ’99 PhD, Calvin University, “How (not) to Read Hegel on Religion: A Critical Engagement with Martin Hägglund”
Moderator: Jennifer Wang '25 PhD, Villanova University
12 p.m.: Lunch
1:30 p.m.: From Aristotle to the Enlightenment
Adriel Trott ’08 PhD, Wabash College, “Against Autochthony: Self-Grounding Interdependence in Aristotle’s Political Theory”
Michael Olson ’13 PhD, Marquette University, “Threads and Meaning in the History of Philosophy: Reflections on Enlightenment Natural Philosophy”
Moderator: Patrick Corry, PhD candidate, Villanova University
2:30 p.m.: Coffee Break
3 p.m.: Pre-human, Post-human and Womyn
Christopher Drain ’20 PhD, Dartmouth College, “Preliminary Remarks on Animal and Pre-human Religious Sentiment”
Shannon Mussett ’02 PhD, Utah Valley University, "They're Going to Mars and You Are Not Invited"
Moderator: pending
4 p.m.: Reception
Sunday, May 3
9:30 a.m.: Pedagogy, Politics and Time
Mark Westmoreland ’21 PhD, ’10 MA, Ocean County College, “James Baldwin as Pedagogue”
Edward Kazarian ’09 PhD, Rowan University, “Phantasmatic Politics: Fear and Desire"
Joshua Ramey ’02 PhD, independent scholar, “Finance Out of Time: Elemental Interference”
Moderator: Bryan Knittle, PhD candidate, Villanova University
12 p.m.: Reception