• My research investigates the moral reasons that we have to conform with or to violate informal social norms. I focus particularly on a category of norms that I call political etiquette, conformity with which expresses respect for an entire social group rather than for particular individuals. I am also interested in developmental approaches to ethics, which consider the way that individuals’ moral and political sensibilities develop over time. I teach courses in social and political philosophy, philosophy of law, and applied ethics.

    Because I have two little kids, my main hobby is facilitating whatever they’re most excited about at any given moment. But I also love camping and hiking and various fiber arts.

    • Ph.D. from Harvard University
    • J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School
    • B.A. with highest honors from Swarthmore College

    • Moral Philosophy
    • Social Philosophy
    • Political Philosophy

    • Social and Political Philosophy
    • Environmental Ethics
    • Philosophy of Race
    • Philosophy of Law
    • FYE: Childhood (course coordinator)

    • Collaborative on Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellowship, 2025–2026
    • Tom & Mary Turner Early Career Faculty Fellowship, 2022–2024
    • Trinity’s QEP Course Revision Grant for Environmental Ethics, 2021
    • Fulbright Fellowship, 2008–2009
    • Foreign Law Clerk for the Israeli Supreme Court, 2013
    • Articles Editor for the Harvard Law Review, 2012–2014
       

    At Trinity, I currently serve as a Faculty Senator, a member of the Task Force on Civil Discourse and Academic Freedom, a faculty advisor to the Academic Honor Council, and the chair of the Senate’s Academic Honor Council Reform Committee.

    Outside of Trinity, I seek out opportunities to bring philosophy to the wider community. Recently, I co-facilitated a ten-week philosophy discussion group for Jewish undergraduates across five San Antonio campuses as well as a six-week Philosophy Club for elementary school students at SAISD’s Advanced Learning Academy.