Our Team

Sarah Stroud joined the Department of Philosophy and the Parr Center in 2018. She was previously Professor of Philosophy at McGill University, where she taught from 1993 to 2018. She holds degrees from Harvard (A.B.) and Princeton (Ph.D.). She works across central areas of moral philosophy, with a particular focus on foundational issues in moral psychology and moral theory and on the intersection of such issues with metaethics and the philosophy of action. She has published papers on such topics as partiality, moral demandingness and overridingness, lying and testimony, practical irrationality, and the moral implications and significance of personal relationships. Her classroom book with colleague Daniel Muñoz, Ethical Theory: 50 Puzzles, Paradoxes, and Thought Experiments (Routledge), appeared in 2024. She also co-edited Weakness of Will and Practical Irrationality (OUP, 2003) and the International Encyclopedia of Ethics (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013).

Michael Vazquez received his PhD in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania in May 2020 and completed the post-baccalaureate program in Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania in 2015. He is an advocate for publicly engaged philosophy and interdisciplinary collaboration. He works with campus and community partners to promote philosophical and humanistic reflection in K-12 schools, community colleges, libraries, prisons, museums, professional organizations, retirement communities, and more. He is also involved in a number of research projects aimed at assessing the impact of philosophy on the cultivation of intellectual and moral virtues in learners across the lifespan. You can find a copy of his CV and learn more about his community engagement efforts on his personal website.

Vanessa Moore’s professional background is in education, and she has experience creating meaningful programming, teaching, and working with young people of all ages. Most recently, she provided immigration support and enjoyed exploring Chapel Hill with international students and scholars at UNC’s ISSS office. Vanessa received her B.A. in American Studies and French Studies from Colby College, and her M.Ed. in Higher Education from Harvard University. She is excited to work with undergraduates and help them engage with ethical concepts, ideas and concerns at the Parr Center.

Leo Kirby comes to NHSEB with prior experience as a philosopher, a video game developer, and an educator. A graduate of the University of North Carolina’s Department of Philosophy, Leo has been involved with the National High School Ethics Bowl for many years. Leo believes in using normative thinking as a teaching tool to promote understanding and inclusivity. He’s interested in the intersection between ethics and action and how our beliefs shape our day-to-day lives.

Michael Prinzing is a philosopher and scientist who studies human flourishing. That is, his research integrates empirical and philosophical methods, with the aim of better understanding what it means to be well and live a good life. Michael received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2022 and is currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at Baylor University. Along with others at the Parr Center, Michael is organizing a quasi-experimental study to investigate how philosophy outreach programs might promote intellectual and civic virtues.

Raye Ploeger, M.A.

Graduate Assistant, 2024-25

206C Caldwell Hall

rploeger@unc.edu

Raye is a third-year graduate student in the Philosophy department. Before coming to UNC, Raye received their B.A. in Philosophy and and B.S. Physics from the University of Alabama. They are interested primarily in moral philosophy, philosophy of language, emotions, philosophy of action, and practical reason.

Logan Mitchell

Intergenerational Outreach Fellow & Graduate Mentor, 2024-25

lmitchell@unc.edu

Logan is a Philosophy PhD Candidate specializing in ethics, social/political philosophy, and Buddhist philosophy. Their dissertation aims to explore the moral dimensions of mindfulness, arguing that mindfulness has a valuable role to play in our moral lives. They have secondary interests in feminist philosophy (particularly LGBTQ+ philosophy) and bioethics.

Ava Geenen

Graduate Mentor, 2024-25

ageenen@email.unc.edu

Ava is a third-year graduate student in the Philosophy Department. Her research interests include practical reason and the ethical significance of our interpersonal relationships. She is a Fellow in the Parr Center for Ethics, the Applied Epistemology project and the Maynard Adams Fellowship for the Public Humanities. When not reading or writing philosophy, Ava enjoys hiking and rock climbing.

Aditi Duttachowdhury

Undergraduate Assistant, Parr Heel Programs, 2024-25

Aditi is a junior studying Public Policy and Political Science with a minor in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. She has been the Undergraduate Assistant for Parr Heels Programs since 2022 and she helps plan and coordinate events as well as handle administrative tasks. Outside of the Parr Center, Aditi is on the Mock Trial team and also in the Policy Students’ Association.

Camryn Bartone

Media and Communications Intern, 2024-25

Camryn is a sophomore studying business administration at Kenan-Flagler Business School with a minor in conflict management. She is passionate about digital media marketing and is excited to assist with social media and communications projects! Outside of the Parr Center, Camryn is involved in Carolina Women in Business, UNC Marketing Club, Phi Mu National Fraternity, Pi Sigma Epsilon, Blank Canvas Dance Company, and UNC Letters of Love.

Elijah Parish

Educating for Character Initiative Fellow, 2024-25

Elijah is a senior studying philosophy and math with a minor in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE). He co-leads UNC’s undergraduate philosophy journal, Aperto Animo, and is president of UNC’s undergraduate philosophy club. After graduation, he is hoping to attend a PhD program in philosophy with a particular focus on ethics and political philosophy. One intellectual virtue he especially values is open-mindedness, and one he wishes to further cultivate within himself is courage.

Heidi Segars

Educating for Character Initiative Fellow, 2024-25

Heidi is a junior from Raleigh, NC studying Neuroscience and Psychology with a minor in Education. As an Ethics Fellow in the EthicsEd pod, she is passionate about incorporating ethical conversations into various educational spaces. She is excited to combine her interests in psychology research and ethics outreach to assess the efficacy of Parr Center programming, both on and off campus.

Mary Elizabeth Policastro

Educating for Character Initiative Fellow, 2024-25

Mary is a senior double majoring in public policy and interdisciplinary studies in neuroethics with a medicine, literature, and culture minor. She is primarily interested in the intersection of health policy and the ethics of neurological development. She is the co-president of the Bioethics Society of UNC, where she helps to bring bioethical issues to the UNC community. In her spare time, she loves to read, knit, and hang out with friends.

Zuhaa Asrar

Educating for Character Initiative Fellow, 2024-25

Zuhaa (she/her/ella) is a current senior at UNC-Chapel Hill pursuing a BSPH in Nutrition, Health and Society with minors in Spanish and Chemistry. She joined the Parr Center as an Ethics Ambassador in her sophomore year and now serves as both an Ethics Scholar and co-executive of the Bioethics pod. She is interested in using service-based engagement to navigate food ethics, particularly as they pertain to existing nutrition policy and food sustainability efforts. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and trying different types of kombucha.

Natasha Ray

Educating for Character Initiative Fellow, 2024-25

Natasha is a final-year undergraduate at UNC, majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Philosophy. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, she serves on the executive board of the Bioethics Society and conducts research at the UNC School of Medicine on pain perception and opioid analgesia. As a Parr Ethics Scholar and fellow for the Educating Character Initiative, Natasha is dedicated to integrating ethics into scientific research. This summer, she interned at a pharmaceutical company and plans to pursue a PhD in Neuroscience to deepen her knowledge and contribute to the field of bioethics.

Alexandra Robinson

Graduate Mentor

arob423@email.unc.edu

Alexandra is a Ph.D. student in Public Policy with research interests in bioethics and health policy. Previously, Alexandra worked on youth empowerment and intergenerational justice policies for the OECD. She also spent six years working for AIESEC, one of the world’s largest youth-led organizations, working in the United States, Egypt, and Canada. Alexandra earned a B.A. in Global Studies and Public Policy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Kate Bailey

Ethics and Computing Fellow (SDSS) and Ethics Ed Community Outreach Lead 

Kate is a junior studying computer science and philosophy. She’s passionate about using technology as a tool to do good; she looks forward to using computational methods to develop ethics education resources this year. Kate joined the Parr Center as an Ethics Scholar in 2023. Now, as a pod leader in that program, she will also help plan student outreach visits to local schools and retirement homes.

Ethan Delves

Educating for Character Initiative Fellow

Ethan is a senior studying Economics and Philosophy. His interests include rational choice theory, antitrust litigation, and the intersection of data science and analytical philosophy. As a third-year mentor for the UNC Parr Center for Ethics, he works on cases, materials, and logistics for the National High School Ethics Bowl held on campus each year. Outside of the Parr Center, you can find Ethan tutoring undergraduates at the ECON Aid Center, or cheering on the Tar Heels at Boshamer Stadium during baseball season.

Susanna King

Educating for Character Initiative Fellow

Susanna is a fourth-year undergraduate studying philosophy. She is a Parr Center undergraduate fellow, serves as the co-executive for the National High School Ethics Bowl pod, and previously served as the undergraduate program assistant for the National High School Ethics Bowl. She is excited to join the Educating for Character Initiative and continue to make spaces for rigorous public philosophy. In her free time, Susanna enjoys making comics, doing the New York Times crossword, and coaching middle school debate.

Anjali Chandrasekhar

Ethics Ed Community Outreach Lead

Anjali is a senior studying Neuroscience and English & Comparative Literature. She joined the Parr Center in 2023 and is an executive of the Ethics Education Pod, where she coordinates outreach visits to local retirement communities and schools. She enjoys engaging with individuals from different perspectives and fostering discourse between individuals of diverse backgrounds. Outside of the Parr Cennter, she conducts computational neuroscience research at Dr. Aysenil Belger’s lab at the UNC School of Medicine. She also works as a certified nursing assistant in a local hospital’s neuroscience step-down unit, where she is a member of the Unit Practice Council.