Deborah S. Mower
Bio
I specialize in moral psychology, applied ethics and public policy, and moral education. I have special interests in how moral education (in particular) and a liberal arts general education (more broadly) contribute to the development of moral sensitivity and civility, which I think are each essential for citizens in their private lives and a well-functioning democracy. Because of these interests, I mine literature from psychology and philosophy (Eastern, Western, and cross-cultural) for insights on the teaching of ethics, the development of character, the nature of public discourse, moral conviction, and the navigation of disagreement.
Education
I received my B.A. in Philosophy from Pacific University in Forest Grove, OR and greatly value the experience of a classic liberal arts education. From Oregon, I went next to Wisconsin for my M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Wisconsin—Madison. Studying philosophy on the shores of Lake Mendota cannot be beat!
Employment
I was a member of the Department of Philosophy and Religion at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio from 2007 to 2016. In 2016, I moved to Oxford, Mississippi to the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of Mississippi. Although I miss snow during the holidays, I will never tire of seeing camellia blooms in December.
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I have the honor of founding the ethics center at the University of Mississippi, which officially launched January 1, 2022. The Center for Practical Ethics has three foci of fostering civil discourse (across all all groups, populations, and contexts), enhancing ethics education (across K-12, higher education, and executive settings), and improving public policy through convenings, publications, and consultations.
