Curriculum Vitæ

Dr. Elizabeth Beirne, Ph.D

EDUCATION

~ Ph.D., M.A., Philosophy, Fordham University

~B.A., Psychology/Sociology, Mercy College

ACADEMIC/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Southern Connecticut State University, Adjunct Professor.                                          (2012-Present)

I taught a range of philosophy and critical thinking courses at Southern, beginning with Introduction to Philosophy/Critical Thinking (PHI 100) – a personal favorite for its role in introducing students to foundational philosophical ideas.  I expanded my teaching portfolio to include Ethics (PHI120) and Ethics: Know Thyself (PHI 220), and designed an interactive debate-based format that fostered deep engagement and critical analysis.  Additionally, I led Critical Thinking and Science (PSY 123) for STEM freshmen, guiding one cohort from moon landing skeptics to well-informed presenters on the historical and technical complexities of lunar exploration.  

College of Mount Saint Vincent,  Associate Professor       (1993-2012)

The Mount provided a forum for my dedication to applied philosophy.  This is best exemplified by the classroom experience during which philosophy can be applied for its ultimate goal, the good life.  To this end I designed a core syllabus aimed to guide students towards a sense of wonder, a quest for the truth, and critical thinking.  With the same goal in mind I redesigned all of the college’s philosophy curriculum and created new courses, such as Thought and Culture, to directly address contemporary issues.  In addition I developed and lead junior integrated courses to provide an ethical experience focused on specific areas: Business Ethics, Ethics in Health Care, Alternative Futures, The Human Condition, andThe Hudson River, an integrated course designed to capitalize on the college’s site while introducing students to environmental ethics.  As the only full time philosophy faculty I was the chair of philosophy department, performing duties including curriculum development, scheduling of courses, hiring and mentoring of adjunct faculty, program assessment, providing annual reports, etc.

Institute for Applied Philosophy, Founder and Director (1995-2012)

During my tenure at the Mount  I directed and raised the funds to establish the Institute with the objective of providing a forum for creative insight into contemporary problems and to explore core values.  To this end the Institute sponsored  conferences, lectures, tours, videos, exhibitions and publications, and generally served as a resource to the college and the community. A special focus was environmental ethics centered on the Hudson River and its environs including Long Island Sound. Major conferences yielded comprehensive and elegant art illustrated books : New York City at the Turn of the Century, The Hudson River:  Inspiration and Challenge, and  The Greater New York Centennial.    

Part Time College Teaching                                                                  1977-1995)

My introduction to college teaching began at Fordham University under a Loyola Teaching Fellowship.  Over two academic years, I taught introductory courses in Fordham College and Fordham’s School of General Studies. In subsequent years I taught part time at the College of Mount Saint Vincent, Dominican College, Iona College, Mercy College,and Sacred Heart University.  Courses taught included the history of philosophy, ethics, medical ethics, epistemology, social philosophy, environmental ethics, and logic.

AWARDS/HONORS/PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS (SELECTED SAMPLES)

~Loyola Teaching Fellowship, Fordham University Philosophy Department,1976-79

~Literary Excellence; Edgar Allan Poe Award, Bronx County Historical Society, 1984

~The Good Life, Honors Convocation, addressee, College of Mount Saint Vincent, 2001

~Pythagorean Meditations, presenter, Life Enhancement Forum for Women, 

Soka Gakka International, October, 2005

~Greening the Campus: Exploring Practices, panelist, Environmental Consortium

of Hudson Valley Colleges & Universities at Mount Saint Vincent,  2006

~Everyday God: Everywhere God:  A Green Spirituality, panelist, Founders Day Forum, 

Sisters of Charity at Mount Saint Vincent. April, 2006

~Climate Control Environmental Workshop, coordinator & presenter, 

Institute of Applied Philosophy at Mount Saint Vincent, October, 2007

~ Exploring Biodiversity, conference/annual meeting, The Explorers Club, March, 2009

~ The Erie Canal, program developer, The History of New York City Project, Inc., Fall, 2009

~ Environmental Issues in the Gulf of Mexico, attendee, 

The Hart Research Institute at Texas A&M University, January, 2010 

~ Celebrating the Hudson River, coordinator, New York State Department

of Environmental Conservation & The Institute for Applied Philosophy, May, 2011

WORKS PUBLISHED (SELECTED SAMPLES)

~Author: The Logic of Disclosures: The Works of Ian Thomas Ramsey, Institute for Applied Philosophy/College of Mount Saint Vincent,1996

~Author/Editor: The Search for Wisdom, McGraw Hill Primis, 1997

~Author/Editor: The Life of Reason, McGraw-Hill Primis, 2003

~Author/Editor: Ethics in Health Care, McGraw-Hill Primis, 2002-2007

~Author/Editor: Introduction to Philosophy, Southern Connecticut State University, McGraw Hill Primis, 2012 

~Editor and Contributing Author: New York City at the Turn of the Century, History of New York City Project, Inc. 1996

~Editor and Contributing Author: Hudson River: Inspiration and Challenge,

History of New York City Project, Inc., 1997

~Editor and Contributing Author: The Greater New York Centennial,

History of New York City Project, Inc., 1998

~Editor: Poems and Tales of Edgar Allan Poe at Fordham

The Bronx County Historical Society Press, 1999. Reprint 2007

~Editor: The Bronx County Historical Society Journal, published semi-annually

~Contributor: Encyclopedia of New York City, Yale University Press, 1995, 2009