Curriculum Vitae

Updated November 2021

rabell@syr.edu
Department of Philosophy
Syracuse University
541 Hall of Languages, Syracuse, NY, 13244
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Areas of Expertise

Areas of Specialization: feminist philosophy, trans philosophy, metaethics

Areas of Competence: social epistemology, social ontology, applied ethics, philosophy of race

Education

Selected Awards and Honors

financial awards in parenthesis

Summer Dissertation Fellowship ($4000)
The Graduate School, Syracuse University: Summer 2021

Graduate Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Work ($500)
The Graduate School, Syracuse University: Spring 2021

SWIP-Analytic Annual Graduate Student Essay Prize ($300)
Paper: “Hermeneutical Injustice and Normative Social Roles”
Society for Women in Philosophy (SWIP) and the CUNY Graduate Center: Spring 2020

Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award
The Graduate School, Syracuse University: Spring 2020 (standing title)

Research

Dissertation: Predominant views in feminist metaphysics hold that gender norms apply to individuals on the basis of their gender categories. Drawing from the experiences of transgender and gender-nonconforming people, I argue instead that gender norms apply to individuals on the basis of individual traits. I construct a theory of gender norms as a normative domain with attention to their colonialist history, their role in gender oppression, their contextual variance, and their normative authority over individual behavior.

Revise & Resubmit: Paper, “Authenticity, Morality, and Gender Norms.”

Under Review: Paper, “Inside and Out: Ascriptivism About Gendered Traits.”

Under Review: Paper, “‘It’s Just Science’: Thick Concepts and Hermeneutical Injustice.”

Draft: Paper, “Distorted Identities: Hermeneutical Injustice and Normative Social Roles.”

Draft: Paper, “The Role of a Lifetime: Trans Experience and Gender Norms.”

In press: Chapter, “(Un)Radical Feminism: Gender and the Limits of Imagination.” Forthcoming, in To Boldly Stay: Essays on the Series that "Went" Where No Trek Had Gone Before. Sherry Ginn and Michael Cornelius, eds. McFarland Books.

Teaching Experience

Teaching Mentor, University-Wide TA Orientation, Syracuse University Graduate School, 2019-present. Competitive position.

Instructor of Record, Department of Philosophy, Syracuse University

Teaching Assistant, Department of Philosophy, Syracuse University

Research Presentations

in reverse chronological order
* denotes competitive selection
† denotes invited talk

* “The Role of a Lifetime: Trans Experience and Gender Norms.” Accepted for presentation at the APA Pacific Meeting, April 2022

* “The Trans Authenticity Paradox.” Presented at the LGBTQ+ Advocacy Committee Session, Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP), September 2021

“It’s Just Science: Thick Concepts and Hermeneutical Injustice.” Accepted for presentation at:

• * APA Central Meeting, February 2021. (Held virtually)
• * The Association for Feminist Epistemologies, Methodologies, Metaphysics, and Science Studies 8. (Postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19)

“Distorted Identities: Hermeneutical Injustice and Normative Social Roles.” Accepted for presentation at:

• * APA Eastern Meeting, January 2021. (Held virtually)
• * Pitt-CMU Annual Graduate Conference, Pittsburgh, PA, March 2020. (Postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19)
• * Boston University Graduate Conference, Boston, MA, April 2020. (Held virtually)
• * UT Austin Graduate Conference, Austin, TX, May 2020. (Cancelled due to COVID-19)

* “Authenticity and Gender Norms.” Presented at MAP Flash Talks, May 2020. (virtual event)

† “Transgressing Normativity: The Metaphysics of Gender-Nonconformity.” Presented at Trans Philosophy Spring Workshop Series, Queens University, Kingston, ON, February 2020.

“Inside and Out: Ascriptivism about Gendered Traits.” Presented at:

• † EQS: Early Queer Scholarship Series, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, October 2019.
• * MAPWorks (Minorities And Philosophy Spring Workshop Series), Columbia University, Manhattan, NY, April 2019.
• * Liberating the Future: Concordia GSPA Spring 2019 Conference, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, March 2019.
• * SWIPShop (Society for Women in Philosophy Workshop), Baruch College, Manhattan, NY, February 2019.

* “Gender and Traits.” Presented at Social Ontology 2018, Tufts University, Boston, MA, August 2018.

Bell, R.A., Taylor, D.A., White, C.D., Shi, D., Martin, B.A., & Dula, C.S. “Relationship between Grades, Academic Self-Efficacy, Family Conflict and Church Attendance.” Presented at Appalachian Student Research Forum, Johnson City, TN, April 2010. First Place Winner

Taylor, D.A., Bell, R.A., Martin, B.A., & Dula, C.S. “We Wouldn't Call It ‘Fighting’: The differences in how parents and students view conflict and the effects on grades.” Presented at Tennessee Psychological Association, Nashville, TN, November 2009. Third Place Winner

Taylor, D.A., Martin, B.A., Gibson, B.W., Bell, R.A., & Dula, C.S. “Effects of Home Environment Type on Family Conflict and Extracurricular Activities.” Presented at Mid-South Psychology Conference, Memphis, TN, February 2010. First Place Winner

Empirical Research Experience

Research Associate for the Applied Psychology Laboratory (APL) of ETSU. 2009-2010.
Director: Dr. Christopher S. Dula
Projects:

Commentaries

Comments on “No Desires are Relevant to Well-Being,” by Nikki Fortier. Syracuse University ABD Workshop Series, Syracuse, NY, November 2021.

Comments on “Two Conceptions of Essences,” by Laura Nicoera. Syracuse University Philosophy Graduate Conference, Syracuse, NY, April 2021. (Conference held virtually.)

Comments on “A Sensibility of Humour,” by Zoe Walker. Syracuse University Philosophy Graduate Conference, Syracuse, NY, August 2020. (Conference held virtually.)

Comments on “The Wrongful Inclusion Problem and Jenkins’s Analysis of Gender Concepts,” by Evan Woods. Syracuse University Philosophy Graduate Conference, Syracuse, NY, March 2017.

Professional Responsibilities and Organizations

* denotes paid position

*President (elected), SU Philosophy Graduate Student Organization, 2020-2021

Reviewer, Feminist Philosophy Quarterly Journal

*Founder and Organizer, MAP Anti-Racist Reading Group, Summer-Fall 2020

Founder and Co-Organizer, Syracuse-Queens Social Metaphysics Group, 2020-present

Peer Evaluator, Teaching Mentor Selection Committee, Spring 2020 & 2021

*Organizer, SU Philosophy Women & Gender Minorities Group, 2018-2020

Co-Organizer, MANCept Workshop, “What Is Gender? Vol. II”, Fall 2021

*Co-Organizer, SU Philosophy Graduate Conference, 2017-2018
Activities Coordinator, SU Philosophy Graduate Student Organization, 2017-2020

Member, International Social Ontology Society, 2018-present

Member, American Philosophical Association, 2019-present

Member, Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy

References

Dr. Hille Paakkunainen
Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Syracuse University
hpaakkun@syr.edu

Dr. Katharine Jenkins
Lecturer, Department of Philosophy, University of Glasgow
Katharine.Jenkins@glasgow.ac.uk

Dr. Kara Richardson
Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Syracuse University
kricha03@syr.edu

Dr. Verena Erlenbusch-Anderson
Assistant Professor, Department of Philosophy, Syracuse University
verlenbu@syr.edu