Barrett Emerick

Barrett Emerick is Professor of Philosophy at St. Mary's College of Maryland, where he teaches and conducts research at the intersection of ethics, social philosophy, and feminist theory. He maintains affiliated faculty positions in both the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies program and the Environmental Studies program, demonstrating his commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship.

His educational background includes a B.A. in Philosophy & Journalism from the University of Richmond (2002), an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Houston (2005), and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Colorado-Boulder (2011). Emerick's research spans four interconnected streams: moral/political repair, the social nature of persons, speech and conflict, and connections between inner lives and oppressive ideologies.

Emerick's scholarly work demonstrates a consistent focus on practical ethics and social justice, with particular attention to how individuals and communities can engage in moral repair after wrongdoing. His publications reveal sophisticated analysis of concepts like apology, forgiveness, reconciliation, and the ways oppressive ideologies shape emotional responses like fear and anger. His writing often bridges theoretical philosophy with real-world applications, particularly in his co-authored 2024 monograph Not Giving Up on People: A Feminist Case for Prison Abolition, which has received significant attention from prominent philosophers.

As an academic leader, Emerick serves as coeditor of the American Philosophical Association's Studies on Feminism and Philosophy, editor of Feminist Philosophy Quarterly, and president of the North American Society for Social Philosophy. His work consistently emphasizes the social nature of moral agency and the importance of creating communities that support moral growth rather than abandonment.

Emerick approaches teaching as a practice requiring trust between instructors and students, viewing education as a collaborative process where both parties must be vulnerable and committed to growth. His scholarship reflects a deep commitment to making philosophy accessible and relevant to contemporary social issues while maintaining rigorous theoretical foundations.