Faculty News

Russell Marcus, the Christian A. Johnson Professor of Teaching Excellence, recently presented his new research project, Why Teach Philosophy, at a conference at New Mexico State University organized by professor Mark Walker. The project examines philosophy teachers’ goals through interviews and workshops. In a session titled “Learning Moments,” Marcus invited participants to connect abstract learning goals to specific classroom activities, illustrating eight core philosophical tasks with examples from his own courses.

Pavitra Sundar, associate professor of literature and creative writing, was named in the British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound Poll for the Best Video Essays of 2025.

“‘Couldn’t we call it something else?’: the Indian Army’s sahayak system and categorizing military labour,” by Assistant Professor of Women's and Gender Studies Taveeshi Singh, was published recently in the journal Critical Military Studies.

Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures Zhuoyi Wang presented an invited talk at Syracuse University, hosted by the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs, on Feb. 6. Wang framed the 2024 Chinese blockbuster Her Story (Hao dongxi) as a “stand-up film” and explored how it borrows stand-up comedy’s rapid verbal wit while navigating the political risks of “punching up.”

A. Todd Franklin, the Eugene M. Tobin Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Africana Studies, was one of a select group of global scholars invited to participate in a recent workshop focusing on the ideas and implications of Philosophy Born of Struggle.

Assistant Professor of Anthropology Chenyu Wang delivered a keynote address titled “Learning to Be Vulnerable in American Universities: How Frameworks of Recognition Shape Politics and Belonging among Chinese Students” at the 2026 Ethnography in Education Research Forum.

An article by Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Nan Kathy Lin appears in the 2025 volume of the journal Buddhist-Christian Studies.

National and regional news organizations regularly interview Hamilton faculty, staff, alumni, and students for their expertise and perspectives on current events, and to feature programs and activities on campus. January’s news topics included coverage of Venezuela, paramilitaries, the job market, and friendship, among others.

Professor of Religious Studies S.B. Rodriguez-Plate discussed the Erie Canal’s influence on American religion in a recent episode of “Religion in the American Experience,” a PodBean podcast.

During the winter break, Professor of East Asian Languages and Literatures Zhuoyi Wang delivered three invited lectures and served as the featured speaker for two post-screening discussions while traveling in Asia. These engagements took place at National Taitung University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the Communication University of Zhejiang, Duke Kunshan University, and the Movie Movie Cinema in Shanghai.