Alumni

B.A. Philosophy, University of Winnipeg, 2000
B.Sc. Biology, University of Winnipeg, 2006
B.Ed. University of Winnipeg, 2008

Teacher, Garden City Collegiate, Winnipeg MB, 2010-

• Grade 12 Philosophy
• Grade 12 Current Topics in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Studies
• Grade 10 Neechisan (Indigenous Studies)

Honours and Awards

• Executive Board, Committee for Aboriginal Education in Canada
• Manitoba Philosophy in the Schools (PITS) Committee

“I am a believer in Placed-Based Education as an authentic and engaging method of teaching. Placed-Based Education depends on an exploration of place to make education more meaningful and engaging for students.

What I enjoyed most about Philosophy was logic and political philosophy. Professors Walton and Keenan both inspired me to pursue my Philosophy degree. I feel that my Philosophy degree helped lay a foundation of knowledge that I have applied to many topics and aspects of teaching. I found the faculty at the University of Winnipeg very approachable and available to answer questions and help guide me towards my degree.

Teaching Philosophy to high school students has always been a dream of mine. Now that philosophy is beginning to appear in the high school curriculum, a philosophy degree will be that much more applicable in a competitive education field.”

B.A. Philosophy, University of Winnipeg, 2008
M.A. Philosophy, Concordia University, 2010
Ph.D. Philosophy, York University, 2016

Honours, Awards, and Distinctions

• Ernst Mach Worldwide Postdoctoral Grant, OeAD, 2020 (postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19)
• Glenn Joy Essay Award, Third Prize, New Mexico-Texas Philosophical Association
• Student Travel Stipend, American Philosophical Association, 2015
• Graduate Fellowship for Distinction in Philosophy, York University, 2014
• Susan Mann Dissertation Award, York University, 2014 (awarded, personally declined)
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Award, 2014 (awarded, personally declined)
• SSHRC Doctoral Award, 2013
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Award, 2012
• York Entrance Scholarship (York University), 2010
• Joseph Armand Bombardier Master’s Scholarship (SSHRC), 2009
• Concordia Graduate Fellowship (Concordia University), 2008
• Board of Regents Scholarship (University of Winnipeg), 2008

"I teach in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Winnipeg. I received my BA in Philosophy in 2008 from the University of Winnipeg, my MA in Philosophy from Concordia University in 2010, and my PhD in Philosophy from York University in 2016. I have taught philosophy at York University, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and for the Honors College at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. As a doctoral candidate, I was a visiting student in the School of Social Sciences in the Department of Gender Studies and Interdisciplinary Approaches to Violence at the University of Aberdeen under the direction of Marysia Zalewski, in the Departments of Philosophy at San Francisco State University under the direction of Ásta, Washington University in St. Louis under the direction of Ron Mallon, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) under the direction of Sally Haslanger, and at UC Berkeley under the direction of John R. Searle. My dissertation is titled Social Constructionism and the Possibility of Emancipation (2016). My committee members were Muhammad Ali Khalidi (Supervisor), Lorraine Code, David Jopling, and Ian Hacking (University of Toronto and Collège de France)."

Publications

Peer Reviewed Articles:

• Klassen A. (forthcoming, 2021) “Saving Churchland’s Eliminative Materialism by Invoking Non-Reductive, Causal Mental Events.” Appraisal: The Journal of the British Personalist Forum.
• Klassen A. (2018) “Why We (Sometimes) Can’t Really Share Intentions and Why it (Sometimes) Doesn’t Matter.” Appraisal: The Journal of the British Personalist Forum. 11(4). pp. 33-8.
• Klassen, A. (2017) “Revisiting ‘Non-Inevitability’ in Social Construction.” Southwest Philosophical Studies. 39.
• Klassen, A. (2017) “Social Construction and Relativism: An Aporia?” Dialogue: Canadian Philosophical Review/Association canadienne de philosophie. doi:10.1017/S0012217317000476.
• Klassen, A. (2015) “Critiquing Strawsonian Selves.” Appraisal: The Journal of the British Personalist Forum.
• Klassen, A. (2013) “Beauvoir, the Scandal of Science, and Skepticism as Method.” Hypatia: A Journal of Feminist Philosophy. 28(4).

Reviews:

• Klassen A. (2020) “Review of Anna M Hennessey, ‘Imagery, Ritual, and Birth: Ontology Between the Sacred and the Secular’.” Sophia: Internal Journal of Philosophy and Traditions. 59(3). pp. 617-20.  
• Klassen A. (2018) “Review of Tim Lilburn’s The Larger Conversation: Contemplation and Place.” The Canadian Journal of Native Studies/La revue canadienne des etudes autochtones. 38(1). pp. 223-25.
• Klassen A. (2018) “Review of Eric T. Freyfogle’s A Good That Transcends: How US Culture Undermines Environmental Reform.” Environmental Philosophy. 15(1). pp. 117-20.
• Klassen, A. (2017) “Review of Beyond Settler Time.” The Canadian Journal of Native Studies/La Revue Canadienne des Etudes Autochtones. 37(1). pp. 257-60.
• Klassen, A. (2015) “Review of Classify and Label: The Unintended Marginalization of Social Groups.” Hypatia Reviews Online.

Peer-Reviewed Blog Entries:

• Klassen, A. (July 1, 2018) “Hell yeah, bell hooks, ‘This Ain’t No Pussy Shit’: What It’s Like to Be a Feminist Philosopher” as found at http://britishpersonalistforum.blogspot.com/.

Other:

• Albo et al. (2008) The Artists of the Manitoba Legislative Building. Manitoba Historical Society.

B.A. Philosophy (Hons.), University of Winnipeg, 2006
M.A. Philosophy, University of Guelph, 2009
Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy, University of Guelph

Honours and Awards

• Victor Shimizu Kant Prize, University of Winnipeg
• Doctoral Fellowship Tri-Council Scholarship, University of Guelph
• Dean’s Graduate Scholarship, University of Guelph
• Dr. F. Michael Walsh Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
• Joseph-Armand Bombardier Doctoral Scholarship (SSHRC)

“Two years into a Politics degree at Brandon University I transferred to the University of Winnipeg to complete my BA in Philosophy. My decision to study at the University of Winnipeg was based on the variety of courses they offered in the history of philosophy. I benefited a great deal from many of these courses but it was Professor Forsey’s course in Postmodern Philosophy, and also her courses in Kant and the Philosophy of Art, that ignited my passion for philosophy and eventually informed my decision to continue my studies at a graduate school. Her enthusiasm for the material and her concern for her students came through in her lectures and in the conversations I had with her following class, conversations that drove me to take similar care in my own work, enabling me to experience the power ideas can hold. In hindsight, I realize that these courses didn’t just teach me about philosophical theories and concepts, but also introduced me to new ways of interpreting the world and understanding my own presuppositions and the beliefs based on them.

"I later discovered that this experience was perhaps something of an anomaly, as far as undergraduate institutions are concerned. Indeed, while at grad school, I realized that many of my peers had had much larger class sizes and had not received the same personal feedback and support in their undergraduate programs as I had in mine. The University of Winnipeg’s emphasis on 6.0 credit hour courses afforded me the time to understand with greater depth the subtleties of the texts I was reading and allowed me to develop fruitful working relationships with my professors. Furthermore, the University of Winnipeg’s focus on the history of philosophy ensured that I was able to understand the larger context surrounding the arguments we were discussing.”

B.A., Philosophy (Hons.), University of Winnipeg, 2011
JD candidate, Robson Hall Law School, University of Manitoba, Class of 2015
Coordinator of the UWPhSA (2009-2011)

Honours and Awards

• E. J. McMurray Entrance Award, Robson Hall Law School, University of Manitoba (2012) 
• William Burns Wittgenstein Prize, University of Winnipeg (2010) 
• Dr. David Owen Memorial Scholarship in Philosophy, University of Winnipeg (2010)

“Studying philosophy at the University of Winnipeg is a unique opportunity for undergraduates. Smaller class sizes offer more individual attention from the professors, but more importantly, students are encouraged to engage with each other and the ideas presented in class.

"I am thankful for the time I spent in the UW Philosophy program. I was able to build my public speaking skills through the UW Philosophy Student Association lecture and discussion series, in which students have the opportunity to present their own work. Also, the department’s focus on the history and context of philosophical thought helped not only to hone my academic and analytical skills, but also to define my worldview and develop my character.

"My time at the U of Winnipeg helped prepare me for the demands of law school. The department’s focus on history and context means that students must wrestle with complete texts and not just arguments – and thereby to gain an appreciation of an author’s philosophical perspective. I acquired the conceptual tools to think through complex legal jurisprudence, as well as the opportunity to consider foundational ideas about truth, justice, morality, politics, and beauty.”

B.A. Philosophy (Hons.), University of Winnipeg, 2008
M.A. Philosophy, Queen’s University, 2009
Ph.D. Philosophy, University of St Andrews/Stirling University, UK, 2012

Honours and Awards

• UW Gold Medal – Honours Philosophy
• UW Gold Medal – Rhetoric, Writing and Communications
• Sir William Stephenson Scholarship, University of Winnipeg
• Edith Lindsay Memorial Scholarship, University of Winnipeg
• Houston Family Bursary, Winnipeg
• SSHRC Canadian Graduate Masters Scholarship
• Tri-Council Recipient Recognition Award
• SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship
• SASP Doctoral Studentship Award

“The best thing about Philosophy at U of W: I met my future husband in logic class!”

BA, Philosophy, University of Winnipeg, 2003
MA, Philosophy, University of Ottawa, 2006
PhD, Philosophy, University of Ottawa, 2011

Philosophy and Social Sciences Professor, 2009-

Assistant Professor of Public Ethics and Philosophy, Saint Paul University (2014 - )
Contract Instructor for the Department of Philosophy, Carleton University (2012 - 2014)
Part-time Professor for the Departments of Philosophy, Women's Studies, Political Science, Public Administration, and Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Ottawa (2009 - 2014)

Honours and Awards

• University of Ottawa Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Dean’s Scholarship
• University of Ottawa Excellence Scholarship (PhD)
• SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship
• University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship (PhD)
• SSHRC Canada Graduate Master’s Scholarship
• University of Ottawa Excellence Scholarship (M.A.)
• University of Ottawa Entrance Scholarship (M.A.)
• University of Winnipeg David Owen Memorial Scholarship in Philosophy
• University of Winnipeg Doba and Maier Calof Memorial Scholarship in Philosophy

"I count my years studying philosophy at the University of Winnipeg among the best of my life. I found my calling under the expert guidance of UW professors, and was equipped for an exciting and rewarding career in the field. Not only did I have the opportunity to discover a broad range of topics within the discipline, I was also able to approach philosophy at an uncommon level of historical depth. While the mental flexibility and taste for diverse ideas which were instilled in me by my instructors have proven a definite professional advantage, they've also proven to be precious gifts in and of themselves. I will always take great pride in being an alumnus of UW Philosophy!"

B.A. Philosophy (Hons.), University of Winnipeg, 2006
M.A. Philosophy, Queen’s University, 2009
Ph.D. Philosophy, Queen’s University, 2014

Honours and Awards

• Dr. David Owen Memorial Scholarship in Philosophy, University of Winnipeg
• Manitoba Legislative Internship Program Alumnus
• R. Samuel L. McLaughlin Fellowship
• Ontario Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Award

“I have always appreciated the fact that the professors at the University of Winnipeg’s Philosophy department frequently made time to meet with students on an individual basis. This individualized attention along with small class sizes and excellent teaching allowed me to successfully pursue graduate studies in Philosophy.”

B.A. Philosophy, University of Winnipeg, 2003
B.A. Philosophy and Politics, Oxford University, 2005
Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy, University of Toronto

Honours and Awards

• Rhodes Scholar
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholar

“One of the most formative experiences in my life was studying philosophy at the University of Winnipeg. Not only was it here that I discovered my passion for philosophy, but this passion was carefully cultivated by the program’s unique environment. Its small class sizes and easy accessibility to faculty were ideally suited to the practice of philosophy: chasing new (or very old!) and exciting ideas, critically examining your own beliefs and developing arguments for different views in conversation with others. This also meant that I never felt like a number. I was even able to TA and lead weekly discussion seminars, an opportunity exceedingly rare in larger institutions with graduate programs. Furthermore, the department’s emphasis on the history of philosophy encouraged developing an independent and critical mind from early on. Even first-year students engage with great philosophical texts from the past instead of relying on second-hand summaries.

"The education I received through the Philosophy Program was outstanding and prepared me exceptionally well for my future studies at Oxford and currently at Toronto. The independence of mind fostered by the program served me well outside of academia, when I worked in the human rights field in the Peruvian Andes.

"I am proud to be a University of Winnipeg alumnus.”