Alexandria K. Poole

Hello and Welcome!

I joined the Department of Philosophy at the University of Twente as Assistant Professor in 2020. My primary research is in comparative environmental philosophy, post-colonial philosophy, environmental ethics, and urban sustainability, specifically, exploring ways in which development and technology policies can engage and empower sustainable living.

Within this context, I explore societal drivers of change by engaging avenues for social and environmental justice within education, policy and our engagement with major technologies within our everyday life. I also provide local workshops, lectures and editorial services for the community.  I enjoy photography, ethnography and creative writing, all of which keep me company in my travels.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in liberal arts at St. John’s College, known for its “Great Books Program,” with a double major in the history of mathematics and science. At the University of North Texas (UNT) in Denton, Texas, the first program to hold a PhD in Environmental Philosophy in the United States, I completed a Masters in Environmental Science and a Masters in Environmental Philosophy with a minor in Environmental Anthropology. At UNT, I completed my doctoral work through my dissertation “Urban Sustainability and The Extinction of Experience: Acknowledging Biocultural Loss for Socio-Ecological Well-Being” in 2015. I have co-authored a number of scholarly articles exploring issues of ethical & ecological literacies and biocultural conservation.

I am excited to be part of the University of Twente community in the Netherlands, where my classes explore applied aspects of the ethics of technology and the way this impacts our socio-ecological well-being. Design and innovation have serious implications for the world we live in, and I am invested in working with students to apply moral reasoning and philosophy to their careers. I encourage students to contact me about possible research projects or ways in which they can explore philosophy in conjunction with their professional and personal development. I work with interdisciplinary teams and serve as an interdisciplinary advisor frequently, teaming up with educators and colleagues in and outside of philosophy.

Previously at Elizabethtown College, a small liberal arts college, I taught introductory courses in ethics, logic and philosophy, as well as a series of “Perspectives” research seminars, including, "Comparative Environmental Philosophy: Perspectives from the America," "Philosophy of the City and Everyday Life," and "Perspectives in Sustainability." I was a recipient of the 2016 Community Based Learning Award from the Civic and Community Engagement Center at Elizabethtown College.

My CV is available HERE.