Our graduate students are actively engaged both within the academy and beyond. Keep up with news of their activities and achievements, and get to know their perspectives on various philosophical issues in this News & Blog feed. To request a news announcement or submit a blog post proposal, current students and alumni should contact the graduate adviser (philgpa@uw.edu).
Graduate Student News & Blog
Come curious. Leave inspired. Wherever you are, the University of Washington offers opportunities to learn and connect with the ideas, people, and research shaping our world. This summer, visit campus for the latest exhibitions at the Henry Art Gallery and Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, or join us from anywhere through recorded lectures, podcasts, virtual experiences, and more. As a public university, we’re proud to share the knowledge, creativity, and discoveries of the UW with…
We are proud to announce that second year graduate student Rose Sanchez won the Graduate Student Paper Prize in Queer Analytic Philosophy. (The prize is affiliated with the Queer Analytic Philosophy Conference, hosted by UC Santa Cruz.)Huge congratulations to Rose!
We are proud to announce that fifth year graduate student Kade Cicchella was awarded the 2026 Presidential Dissertation Fellowship in Social Sciences from the Graduate School. This fellowship covers a quarter of pay, benefits, and tuition.Huge congratulations to Kade!
Philosophy graduate students have been busy this year! They've published and co-written articles, won prizes and awards, been nominated to positions and invited to present at international seminars. Congrats, awesome grad students!Here are some highlights of their achievements:PublicationsNicolai Wohns had an article published in the AMA Journal of Ethics, along with editing the issue as an editorial fellow. The abstract for his article is as follows: "Advances in public health…
These days, most of us offer a qualified answer to even the simplest of questions: How are you? There’s so much to take into consideration given the chaotic state of the world, divisive national politics, and local budgetary issues. Even on a gloriously sunny summer day in the Emerald City, on the grounds of one of the most beautiful campuses in the US, it can sometimes be difficult to appreciate what we have. Still, the poets and philosophers teach us to pause and notice the beauty of the…
Congratulations to all our 2026 graduates!We held our ceremony June 8, 2025 at the wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House, continuing the wonderful tradition of a Philosophy Departmental Graduation. Over half of the class of 2026, both undergraduate and graduates, were able to attend, bringing over 350 of their family and friends to celebrate with them. Our alumni speaker was Jasmin Weaver, the Chief of Staff for the King County Executive, a 2002 UW…
The Department of Philosophy celebrated the achievements of our students and faculty at our annual awards ceremony. We had an in-person celebration in Savery Hall May 28th, 2026, and were thrilled to celebrate our award winners’ accomplishments together.
Earlier this month on February 13, 2026, Philosophy Graduate Student Daniel Galley successfully defended his dissertation titled: "The Ethics of Persuasion". He was overseen by a committee consisting of Philosophy faculty members Michael Blake, Colin Marshall, and José Mendoza. In this dissertation, I use ‘persuasion’ to refer to the provision of reasons offered with the intention of changing the target’s mind on some moral matter. A key premise that underlies much of this dissertation is…
Earlier this month on December 11, 2025, Philosophy Graduate Student Aaron Barker successfully defended his dissertation titled: "Schopenhauer on Character, Cognition, and Moral Responsibility". He was overseen by a committee consisting of Ellwood Wiggins, Chair of German Studies. Along with fellow Philosophy faculty members Colin Marshall, Paul Franco and Shawn Wang.His dissertation addresses some of the central features of Arthur Schopenhauer's theory of action. It does so through three…
Last month, on August 21st, 2025, Philosophy Graduate Student Sofia Huerter successfully defended their dissertation titled: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: Domestication, Disability, and Moral Repair". They were overseen by a committee consisting of Jamie Mayerfeld, Department Chair of Law, Societies, & Justice. Along with fellow Philosophy faculty members Michael Blake, Sara Goering, Department Chair and Colin Marshall. The abstract for their dissertation is as follows: …