About

I’m a Lecturer in the Philosophy Department at Howard University, where I work in normative epistemology, with an emphasis on feminist philosophy and philosophy of race. I received my Phd in Philosophy at Indiana University – Bloomington. Most of my research centers on our interpersonal obligations to one another, especially under unjust social conditions. In my dissertation, I argued that non-group members have both an epistemic and moral duty to defer to marginalized testifiers when they testify about the identity-based harms that they have experienced. I also hold secondary interests in applied ethics and political philosophy. In addition to my philosophical interests, I have also published work on college teaching, with a focus on curricular design and inclusive pedagogy.

Download Savannah’s CV

News

I have recently joined the Editorial team at Mind and Method, a peer-reviewed journal on the scholarship of teaching and learning. Check out the CFP for our inaugural issue!

I’m thrilled to be co-directing the Eastern APA-AAPT Teaching Hub for 2025 and 2026! See you in Baltimore!

“Effective Altruism and it’s Critics” on Hi-Phi Nation

I was recently interviewed — along with Richard Yetter-Chappell (Miami), Shakeel Hashim (Center for Effective Altruism), and Seth Lazar (Australia National University) — for an episode of Slate’s Hi-Phi Nation Podcast on Effective Altruism and its Critics.

Give it a listen:

APA Panel, “Strategies for Student Engagement”

It was a pleasure to facilitate the “Strategies for Student Engagement” panel as part of the APA Live programming committee.

The recording (below) provides practical tips on engaging students in the classroom and with our communities:

Curriculum Vitae

SAVANNAH PEARLMAN

Savannah.Pearlman@gmail.com

Employment

Lecturer, Howard University, Washington, D.C. — July 2023 – Present

Education

Indiana University, Bloomington, IN  — August 2023, PhD Philosophy

  • Graduate minor in Higher Education and Student Affairs
  • Certificate in College Pedagogy

University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland — Spring 2022, Visiting Academic

Tufts University, Medford, MA — May 2016, M.A. Philosophy       

  • Epistemology Area of Strength Exam Passed Fall 2014

Brandeis University, Waltham, MA — May 2012, B.A. Philosophy, French & Politics Minors

  • Dean’s List, all semesters
  • Graduated Magna Cum Laude with High Honors in Philosophy

Published works

Journals:

“Combatting Hostility Through University Organizing: Indiana Graduate Workers Unionization and Strike” in the American Association of Philosophy Teachers Studies in Pedagogy, co-authored with Joshua Paschal (2025)

“An Epistemic Injustice Critique of Austin’s Ordinary Language Epistemology” in Hypatia, Vol. 39 No. 2 (2024), pp. 322-342

“Solidarity Over Charity: Mutual Aid as a Moral Alternative to Effective Altruism” in the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, Vol. 33 No 2 (2023), pp. 167-199

“Mutual Aid and a Pluralistic Account of Solidarity” in The Philosopher, Vol. 110 No. 2 (2022)

“Why You Ought to Defer: Moral Deference and Marginalized Experience” co-authored with Elizabeth Williams in Feminist Philosophy Quarterly, Vol. 8 No. 2 (2022)

“Flipping the Logic Classroom: Arguments for and Challenges Addressed” in Teaching Philosophy, Vol. 42 No. 4 (2019), pp. 355-373

Edited Volumes:

“No Good Time: Structural Injustice Against Pregnant Persons in Academic Philosophy” forthcoming in the Minorities And Philosophy / Bloomsbury Edited Volume on Structural Injustice in Philosophy

Public Philosophy:

“Why Should Your Students Do the Work?” co-authored with Ricky Mouser (Johns Hopkins) on the APA Blog, May 2025

“Where Yoga and Philosophy Meet” on the Yoga District Blog, December 2023

Consulted by the Iowa State Economics Department for their “Ask an Economist” blog, entitled: “Is it possible to make money in an ethical way all round?,” posted November 2, 2023

Interview with Slate’s Hi-Phi Nation Podcast: “Effective Altruism and its Critics,” May 2023

“In Tension: Effective Altruism and Mutual Aid” on the APA Blog, June 2022

“A Puzzle for Racial Constructivism: ‘Race Faking’ as an Appeal to Moral Authority and Community Inclusion” on the UT Austin Ethics Project Blog, April 2021

“Is Effective Altruism Inherently Utilitarian?” on the APA Blog, March 2021

“Duties to Graduate Workers: Labor Protections in the COVID-19 Era” on the APA Blog, June 2020

“White Philosophers: It’s Time to Stop Using Digital Blackface” on the APA Blog, December 2019

Invited Contributions:

Introduction to a special issue of the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal (KIEJ) on Mutual Aid, in the Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal, Vol. 33 No 2 (2023)

Instructor of Record

Howard University: Intro to Ethics, Fall 2025

  • Design and implement curriculum for 4 sections of 25 students
  • Teach three times weekly, offer weekly office hours and grade all written assignments

Howard University: Intro to Philosophy, Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and 2025

  • Design and implement curriculum for 3 sections of 25 students
  • Teach three times weekly, offer weekly office hours and grade all written assignments

Howard University: Feminist Philosophy, Spring 2024 and 2025            

  • Design and implement curriculum for a class of 26 students
  • Teach twice weekly, provide weekly office hours and grade all written assignments       

Howard University: Classical Ethics, Fall 2023

  • Design and implement curriculum for a class of 37 students
  • Teach twice weekly, provide weekly office hours and grade all written assignments   

Indiana University: Applied Ethics, Spring 2023

  • Design and implement curriculum for this class of 43 students
  • Teach twice a week, offer weekly office hours, and grade all written works and assignments

Indiana University: Race, Gender and Sexuality in Philosophical Perspectives, Spring 2020

  • Design and implement curriculum for this class of 40 students
  • Teach twice a week, as well as offer weekly office hours, and grade all written works and assignments
  • This class was re-designed for online implementation due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Associate Instructorships

Indiana University: Intro to Ethics with John Robison, Fall 2019 and Fall 2022

  • Teach weekly discussion sections for 40 students; grade all written work and assignments

Indiana University: Philosophical Writing & Methods with Adam Leite, Spring 2019

  • Serve as tutor for 6 philosophy majors and minors as they develop their philosophical writing, meeting with them twice weekly

Indiana University: Elementary Logic with Krasimira Filcheva, Fall 2018

  • Teach weekly discussion sections for 40 students; grade all problem sets and assignments

Indiana University: Intro to Philosophy with Adam Leite, Spring 2018

  • Teach weekly discussion sections for 43 students; grade all papers and assignments

Indiana University: Intro to Philosophy with Kirk Ludwig, Fall 2017

  • Teach weekly discussion sections for 43 students; grade all papers and assignments
  • Lead lecture during the professor’s occasional absence

Teaching Assistantships

Tufts University: Mind & Language with Daniel Dennett, Spring 2016

  • Grade all exams, problem sets and papers for 47 students; lead discussion sections during the professor’s occasional absence

Tufts University: Feminist Philosophy with Nancy Bauer, Fall 2015

  • Hold weekly office hours for 62 students; Grade all written assignments and moderate the online forum

Tufts University: Logic with Susan Russinoff, Spring 2015

  • Hold weekly office hours for 72 students; Grade exams and problem sets

Courses I am Prepared to Teach

Introductory Courses: Intro to Philosophy, Intro to Ethics, Critical Thinking, Intro to Symbolic Logic

Intermediate or Advanced Courses: Applied Ethics, Feminist Philosophy, Philosophy of Race, (alternatively, one course on Philosophy of Race, Gender, and Sexuality), Moral Theories and their Critics, Digital Ethics, Liberty & Justice, Topics in Epistemology: Social Epistemology, Philosophy of Mind, and History of Analytic Philosophy

Courses I am Interested in Developing: Normative Epistemology: Seminar on Epistemic Injustice and the Ethics of Belief, Philosophy and Protest: Contemporary Social Movements, and Solidarity or Charity: Philosophy of Philanthropy

Refereed Conference Presentations

2024 Central American Philosophical Association Divisional Meeting, February 2024

  • Presenting a paper, “Signaling Vice, Status, and Nonmoral Virtues,” co-authored with Ricky Mouser (main program)

2022 Pacific American Philosophical Association Divisional Meeting, April 2022

  • Presented a paper, “Solidarity Over Charity: Mutual Aid as a Moral Alternative to Effective Altruism” (main program)

2022 Eastern American Philosophical Association Divisional Meeting, January 2022

  • Presented a paper, “Is Moral Deference Permissible?” (main program)

Stanford Ethics Center Junior Scholars Workshop, September 2020

  • Scheduled to present a paper, “Why You Ought to Defer: Epistemic Deference, Actional Deference, and Marginalized Identity,” co-authored with Elizabeth Williams, at a workshop for early career scholars in political philosophy, political theory, and moral philosophy. (Canceled due to COVID-19).

American Association of Philosophy Teachers Workshop, July 2020

  • Presented a pedagogical method on developing anti-racist learning activities and assignments. Our group (which included Valerie Williams, Sharon Mason, Barbara Fultner, and Yvette Pearson) developed an assignment for centering non-western philosophers, philosophies, and lived experiences

Athena In Action Workshop, June 2020

  • Presented a paper, “Why You Ought to Defer: Epistemic Deference, Actional Deference, and Marginalized Identity,” co-authored with Elizabeth Williams, at a networking and mentoring workshop for graduate women in philosophy

2019 Pacific American Philosophical Association Divisional Meeting, April 2019

  • Presented a paper, “Moral Deference and Identity-Based Moral Harms” co-authored with Elizabeth Williams, on a panel for Deference on Moral Testimony hosted by the APA Committee of LGBTQ People in the Profession
  • Presented a paper, “Creating Inclusive Spaces: Flipping the Logic Classroom” in a session directed by Minorities and Philosophy (MAP)

2019 Central American Philosophical Association Divisional Meeting, February 2019                         

  • Presented a paper, “An Epistemic Injustice Critique of Austin’s Ordinary Language Epistemology” (main program)

Invited Research Presentations

Howard University, 2024

  • Presented a paper, “Signaling Vice, Status, and Nonmoral Virtues,”

Widener University, February 2023

  • Presented a paper, “Solidarity Over Charity: Mutual Aid as a Moral Alternative to Effective Altruism”

Nelson Fellowship Symposium, Indiana University, April 2021

  • Presented on my dissertation work to the Indiana University Philosophy Department

Indiana University Philosophy Department Graduate Colloquia, February 2021

  • Presented a paper, “Solidarity Over Charity: Mutual Aid as an Alternative to Effective Altruism”

Indiana University Philosophy Department Graduate Colloquia, April 2019

  • Presented a paper, “Moral Deference and Identity-Based Harms”

Indiana University Philosophy Department Graduate Colloquia, February 2019

  • Presented a paper, “An Epistemic Injustice Critique of Austin’s Ordinary Language Epistemology”

Invited Course Lectures

Howard University

  • Taught a guest course titled “Personhood,” February 2024

CUNY Queens College

  • Taught a guest course titled “Miranda Fricker on Testimonial Injustice,” April 2023

Widener University

  • Taught a guest course titled “Ethical Frameworks: Case Study on the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment,” February 2023

Funding

Scholarship Awards

  • Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Research Fellowship, awarded Fall 2021
  • Indiana University Nelson Dissertation Fellowship, awarded Fall 2020
  • Indiana University College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Fellowship, awarded Fall 2016
  • Indiana University Nelson Fellowship, awarded Fall 2016
  • Tufts University Philosophy Tuition Scholarship, awarded Fall 2014

Prizes

  • Winner of the Bo and Lynn Clark Outstanding Associate Instructor Award, which is based on faculty nominations, student evaluations and classroom observations, awarded by Indiana University Spring 2018
  • Winner of the Cariana Prize for best undergraduate philosophical essay, awarded by Brandeis University in Spring 2012

Travel Awards

  • APA Pacific Division Graduate Travel Stipend, Awarded in April 2022 to offset the cost of participating in the 2022 Pacific APA
  • IU College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Travel Award, Awarded in November 2021 to offset the cost of participating in the 2022 Eastern APA
  • IU Graduate and Professional Student Government Travel Award, Awarded in March 2020 to offset the cost of participating in the 2020 Pacific APA
  • APA Central Division Graduate Travel Stipend, Awarded in December 2018 to offset the cost of participating in the 2019 Central APA
  • IU College of Arts and Humanities Institute Graduate Conferenced Travel Award, Awarded in October 2019 to offset the cost of participating in the 2019 Central APA
  • IU College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Travel Award, Awarded in November 2019 to offset the cost of participating in the 2019 Central APA

Grants

  • Presidential Microgrant for Faculty Travel, awarded in April 2025 to offset the cost of the January 2025 Eastern APA
  • APA Diversity and Inclusiveness Grant, awarded in May 2017 to facilitate a workshop on inclusive pedagogy in philosophy

Service

2026 Eastern American Philosophical Association Divisional Meeting, January 2026

Session Chair

  • Scheduled to chair two sessions at the 2026 Eastern APA Teaching Hub: “Creative and Playful Pedagogy,” and “Where to Start: Research in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning”

Mind and Method

Editor, August 2025 – Present

Tasked with managing the full review process (assigning reviewers, coordinating revisions) for a peer-reviewed journal on the scholarship of teaching and learning

2025 Eastern American Philosophical Association Divisional Meeting, January 2025

Session Chair

  • Chaired session on Teaching While Contingent Faculty at the 2025 Eastern Teaching Hub

American Association of Philosophy Teachers, May 1, 2024 – Present

Eastern Divisional Teaching Hub Chair

  • Charged with organizing and developing the programming for a two-day teaching workshop at the Eastern APA in New York, New York, January 2025

Howard University Conference on Philosophy of the Black Experience, March 30, 2024                            

Session Chair     

  • Facilitated a conference session on Moral Authority, Resistance, and the Black Body

Oxford University Press Teaching with Technology Prize, January – February 2024  

Prize Allocation Committee Member

  • Reviewed applications and determined the winner and runner up for the OUP Teaching with Technology Prize, which included a monetary award                

APA Committee on Virtual Programing, October 2021 – June 2024

Committee Member

  • Facilitated two Spring 2023 panels, one on Philosophy and Activism and one on Student Engagement

APA Committee on the Teaching of Philosophy, July 2021 – Present

Committee Member

  • The committee is charged with assessing trends and needs in the teaching of philosophy and making recommendations to the APA board, as well as sponsoring sessions at APA division meetings.

2020 Pacific American Philosophical Association Divisional Meeting, April 2020

Facilitator

  • Organized a panel for a session titled “Bullying, Microaggressions, and Harassment.” (The panel did not occur because the 2020 Pacific APA was canceled due to COVID).

National High School Ethics Bowl, February 2020

Guest Case Writer

  • Provided a case based off of my APA blog article on Digital Blackface, for debate in the national competition of High School Ethics Bowl, which will take place at UNC in Spring 2020

2020 Central American Philosophical Association Divisional Meeting, February 2020      

Facilitator

  • Reviewed and selected submissions for a session titled “Productive Conversations on Problematic Issues: Graduate Student Edition.”                          

Indiana University Philosophy Department, August 2017 – August 2018  

Undergraduate Activities Coordinator

  • Schedule, advertise and implement a full range of department events and activities to enhance undergraduate education. Serve as the staff advisor for the Philosophy Club as well as Minorities and Philosophy (MAP).

APA Graduate Student Council, July 2017 – June 2020              

Vice Chair, Councilmember

  • Serve as a liaison between the graduate students in the discipline of philosophy and the APA, with the aim of reporting to the board of officers on issues of interest, concern, and relevance to graduate students.

Indiana University Grad Association of Students in Philosophy, August 2016 – 2017    

Climate Liaison

  • Responsible for bringing concerns regarding department climate to the attention of the climate committee, promoting diversity initiatives, and facilitating the annual climate survey.

Brandeis University Philosophy Department, April 2010 – May 2012    

Undergraduate Department Representative  

  • Appointed as a resource to fellow majors and minors; execute department programs and events.
  • Developed an honors track that was implemented by the department in Fall 2011.

Journal Referee

  • Synthese
  • Teaching Philosophy
  • The European Journal of Women’s Studies 
  • Erkenntnis

WorkshopS

  • Teaching Hub at the Eastern APA in New York, January 2025
  • Teaching Hub at the Central APA in New Orleans, February 2024
  • Teaching Hub at the Pacific APA in San Francisco, April 2023
  • Teaching Hub at the Pacific APA in Vancouver, April 2022
  • AAPT 2020: Anti-Racist and Pandemic Pedagogies, July 2020
  • Athena in Action (online due to COVID), June 2020
  • Transforming Your Research Into Teaching at IU, Summer 2019
  • Teaching Hub at the Pacific APA in Vancouver, April 2019
  • Teaching Hub at the Central APA in Denver, February 2019
  • Teaching Hub at the Pacific APA in San Diego, April 2018
  • Inclusive Pedagogy in Philosophy facilitated by the AAPT at IU, Sept. 2017

Graduate Coursework

Epistemology and Metaphysics

  • Graduate Seminar in Epistemology with Mark Kaplan, Indiana University
  • External World Skepticism with Adam Leite, Indiana University
  • Epistemology with Patrick Forber, Tufts University
  • Metaphysics with Brian Epstein, Tufts University
  • Independent Study in Epistemology with Jody Azzouni, Tufts University
  • Graduate Writing Seminar with David Denby and Avner Baz, Tufts University
  • Graduate Seminar in Epistemology with Berislav Marušić, Brandeis University

 Logic

  • Mathematical Logic with Larry Moss, Indiana University
  • Formal Logic with Gary Ebbs, Indiana University
  • Logic with George Smith, Tufts University

Ethics

  • Interpersonal Thought with Berislav Marušić, University of Edinburgh**
  • Dissertation Research with Marcia Baron, Indiana University
  • Contemporary Ethical Theories with Kate Abramson, Indiana University
  • Slavery: Its Moral History with George Smith and Lionel McPherson, Tufts University

Social and Political Philosophy

  • Feminist Philosophy with Kate Abramson, Indiana University*
  • Justice with Matthew Adams, Indiana University*
  • Philosophy of Law with Erin Kelly, Tufts University
  • Philosophy of Gender, Sexuality and Race with Katy Meadows, Indiana University**

 History of Philosophy

  • Medieval Philosophy with Rega Wood, Indiana University
  • Kant Seminar with Allen Wood, Indiana University
  • History of Analytic Philosophy with David Denby, Tufts University
  • History of Modern Philosophy with Christiana Olfert, Tufts University

 Philosophy of Mind

  • Seminar in Mind and Action: Collective Action with Kirk Ludwig, Indiana University
  • Proseminar with Kirk Ludwig, Indiana University
  • Evolving Minds: Bacteria to Bach with Dan Dennett, Tufts University

 Philosophy of Language

  • Qualifying Research with Kirk Ludwig, Indiana University
  • Philosophy of Language with Dilip Ninan, Tufts University

 Higher Education and Student Affairs

  • Supervised College Teaching with Tom Laird, Indiana University
  • Independent Study on College Pedagogy with Tom Laird, Indiana  University
  • Higher Ed Organization & Administration with Sam Museum, Indiana University
  • College Teaching and Learning with Joan Middendorf, Indiana University
  • Curriculum in Higher Education with Tom Laird, Indiana University

* Denotes Audit

** Denotes Audit of an Undergraduate Course

Memberships

  • Member of the American Philosophical Association (APA)
  • Member of the American Association for Philosophy Teachers (AAPT)

Work Experience

 VIPKid, May 2018 – May 2021

English as a Second Language Teacher

  • Taught more than 850 online classes on English language, grammar, reading and oral communication to children ages three to sixteen
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Language (TESOL) certified

Tufts University Dean of Students Affairs Office, August 2014 – May 2016

Graduate Assistant

  • Coordinate schedules, appointments, and special assignments for four university deans
  • Facilitate office operations, maintain confidential information, and field inquiries by phone and email

Harvard University Division of Continuing Education, August 2013 – August 2014

Enrollment Services Representative

  • Provide professional front-line customer service for all prospective and continuing student
  • Assist Harvard Extension and Summer School students with academic advising and course selection

Emerson College Graduate Admissions, June 2012 – August 2013

Application Coordinator

  • Process thousands of applications, credentials, and recommendations for ten graduate programs
  • Supervise the graduate Visitor’s Center Coordinator and oversee all graduate tour guides