Believing students need all the cultural diversity they can receive, Leigh Viner, lecturer of philosophy, brings cultural diversity home to IU Southeast.
“One of the main benefits of going to college is having your mind and your world expanded,” Viner said. “Cultural diversity courses like Asian Philosophy, are potent catalysts for that beneficial experience.”
As a Seneca High School student, Viner knew she wanted to study philosophy. When she was young, she would read the many philosophy books her parents had around the house.
“I’m just a philosophical person,” Viner said.
After graduating from high school, Viner attended Davidson University in Charlotte, N.C.
Davidson’s Department of Philosophy recently won a prize for excellence from the American Philosophical Association and the Philosophy Documentation Center.
Viner studied at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland before finishing her doctorate at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh.
Viner said philosophy is a difficult subject to teach, but she was able to land a job teaching philosophy at the University of Louisville.
During her seven years at the University of Louisville, Viner founded the Steven Humphrey Student Philosophy Colloquium.
The Colloquium is an event where regional philosophy students get together for a keynote address followed by a dinner reception.
The 2009 conference will begin on Nov. 13, with Syracuse University professor Linda Alcoff who is scheduled to be the keynote speaker.
Ultimately, Viner arrived in the philosophy department here at IU Southeast.
“There is a strong emphasis on teaching the material here at IUS. It’s a good fit,” Viner said.
Viner has the admiration of her fellow philosophy professors.
Bryan Hall, associate professor of philosophy, said he recently enjoyed participating in a class with her where students studied philosopher David Hume.
“She’s very accessible to her students, clear in classes and generates good student input,” Hall said.
“She has the ability to get students discussing their own views in class, which is really helpful in philosophy classes,” Hall said. “She can minimize the students’ anxiety about philosophy.”
Hall said Viner puts a great deal of hard work into promoting gender studies and diversity requirements here on campus.
Kathryn Lindley, a general studies senior who is enrolled in a philosophy logic class Viner teaches, said she was pleased with her.
“She makes class fun and enjoyable. She teaches the material in a way that is easy for students to understand,” Lindley said.
Chris Rothbauer, philosophy senior, said Viner takes care of students who may be struggling in her classes.
“Viner is very sympathetic when students aren’t understanding the material,” he said.
Viner teachers a number of philosophy courses butshe said her favorite is introduction to philosophy.
By MATTHEW CHINN
Staff Writer
mchinn@ius.edu