Carolyn Cusick

Carolyn Cusick serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy within the College of Arts and Humanities at California State University, Fresno. Her academic profile includes teaching foundational courses in epistemology, feminist philosophy, and social/political philosophy, with specialized seminars addressing epistemic justice, decolonization, and identity politics.

Her educational background comprises:

• PhD in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University
• MA in Philosophy from Lewis University
• BA in Philosophy & Certificate in Women's Studies from Saint Louis University

Cusick's research centers on epistemology and social/political philosophy, with specific expertise in feminist philosophy and philosophy of race. She critically examines the overemphasis on speech in democratic discourse, advocating for recognition of listening as an epistemic and ethical responsibility essential for justice. Her work explores intersections of tolerance, hospitality, sexual communication, and decolonization, particularly through frameworks developed by thinkers like Frantz Fanon and Anna Julia Cooper.

Analysis of her publication history reveals sustained engagement with testimonial injustice, race consciousness, and communicative ethics. Her articles consistently bridge theoretical philosophy with practical applications in education and social justice, demonstrating interdisciplinary reach across epistemology, postcolonial studies, and feminist theory while maintaining focus on marginalized voices and epistemic agency.