The discipline of philosophy is more than 2,500 years old, but it still has plenty to say about how we live, how to grapple with our darkest impulses, and how to relate to others. Associate Professor Sara Protasi teaches courses in ethics and ancient Greek philosophy, and is the author of The Philosophy of Envy. We sat down with Protasi to discuss her professional journey from Rome to Tacoma, her love of Aristotle, and the value of a liberal arts education.
In 2019, as the federal government began preparations for the 2020 U.S. Census, Associate Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science Courtney Thatcher was doing a lot of thinking about the problem of redistricting. Every 10 years, population data from the census is used by states to redraw election maps. In theory, this redistricting process ensures that there are the same number of people in each district, giving them equal representation in Congress. In practice, this process is often mired in partisan attempts to gerrymander districts to benefit one political party.
Envy is a powerful emotion, condemned across cultures and religions, and accused of rooting the most horrific crimes, from Cain’s fratricide against Abel to the Jewish genocide. Malicious envy motivates people to plot and scheme, to steal and sabotage. Despite envy’s dark and dangerous side, however, it can be an emotion whose power can be harnessed for self-improvement.
In a cozy room on the main floor of Collins Memorial Library stocked with snacks and books on professional development, and furnished with indoor plants and comfortable couches, a group of professors is gathered to learn and share strategies for navigating the emotional impact of supporting students in crisis. This isn’t just a run-of-the-mill professional development course.
The Office of the Provost has announced appointments of four endowed professorships starting in fall 2022. The multiyear positions represent some of University of Puget Sound’s 10 endowed professorships, which support outstanding teaching and scholarship with the goal of enriching the campus’s academic life. Candidates were selected by committee before being recommended to President Isiaah Crawford for confirmation.
TACOMA, Wash. – University of Puget Sound was awarded an ACLS (American Council of Learned Societies) Sustaining Public Engagement Grant, part of a $3.5 million responsive funding program made possible by the Sustaining the Humanities Through the American Rescue Plan (SHARP) initiative of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Nick Kontogeorgopoulos likes to stay busy. When he isn’t researching the complexities of ethical international tourism, teaching courses in international political economy, or serving as the director of the Asian Studies and Global Development Studies programs, he’s traveling to Thailand to study sustainable tourism practices. This summer, the distinguished professor of international political economy is taking on a new role as associate dean of experiential learning.
Professor Peter Wimberger is fascinated by the complexity of the natural world, whether he’s studying the impact of birdfeeders on the evolution of hummingbird size or investigating how beaver dams can help wetland restoration efforts.
