Shaun Respess

Saun Respess is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at North Carolina State University, affiliated with the NeuroComputational Ethics Research Group. He holds a Ph.D. in Ethical and Social Thought from Virginia Tech (2021), an M.A. in Humanities (Philosophy) from Old Dominion University (2017), and a B.A. in Philosophy from the same institution (2015). His research focuses on intersections between moral discourse, care ethics, and mental health, emphasizing bioethics, applied ethics, and moral psychology.

Key research interests include psychiatric ethics, telehealth, epistemic resources in collective care, and ethical frameworks for mental health advocacy. His work critically examines concepts like moral injury, ethical loneliness, and the constraints of professionalism in clinical settings. He explores how care ethics can address systemic issues in mental healthcare, particularly for neurodiverse and marginalized populations.

Publications span topics such as telemental health ethics, the ADC model of moral judgment, and revolutionary care methodologies. His recent work (2023–2025) emphasizes care-centered politics, relational epistemologies, and the integration of feminist techniques into mental health practice. He critiques digital authoritarianism and advocates for equitable care frameworks extending from individual households to global environmental systems.

Respess’s contributions bridge philosophy and practice, addressing gaps between clinical ethics and real-world mental health challenges. His interdisciplinary approach combines normative ethics with empirical studies in healthcare, technology, and social justice.