Quyen Pham

Quyen Pham is a Lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at Harvard University. She holds a PhD in Philosophy from the University of Southern California (2024) and a BA in Philosophy from Trinity University (San Antonio, Texas). Her research bridges metaphysics and social philosophy, focusing on foundational questions about social groups (clubs, committees, families), social categories (gender/race), and artifacts in the social world. She examines how their ontological structures interact with agency, responsibility, and structural injustice.

Education:

• PhD in Philosophy, University of Southern California, 2024
• BA in Philosophy, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas

Research emphasizes the metaphysical underpinnings of social entities' identity/persistence, location, and explanatory roles. Recent work addresses questions like 'How does the Supreme Court persist through membership/structural changes?' and 'What defines the spatial existence of social groups?'

Teaching includes courses on social metaphysics, gender/race philosophy, and ancient Western philosophy. She has developed innovative curricula emphasizing accessibility and inclusivity.

Service includes leadership roles in USC's Pegasus graduate student organization, organizing conferences (USC/UCLA joint graduate conference), and volunteer work with UNV and Play for Peace Vietnam. She co-directs Corrupt the Youth (Los Angeles) and founded USC's Minorities and Philosophy chapter.