Eileen M. Hunt

Eileen M. Hunt is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame whose scholarly work centers on modern political thought, feminist theory, the family, rights, ethics of technology, and the intersection of philosophy and literature. She holds concurrent faculty appointments in the Gender Studies Program and is a Faculty Fellow at the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, Kroc Institute for Peace Studies, and Nanovic Institute for European Studies.

Hunt's research focuses on the works of Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley, particularly their enduring relevance for contemporary issues in feminism, AI and technology ethics, and political thought. Her scholarship bridges historical political theory with urgent contemporary questions, examining how classic texts can inform modern debates about rights, technology, and social justice. She has developed a distinctive approach to political science fiction, analyzing how works like Frankenstein and The Last Man anticipate modern concerns about artificial intelligence, pandemics, and post-apocalyptic scenarios.

Hunt's fifteen most recent publications reveal a consistent scholarly trajectory exploring Wollstonecraft's feminist philosophy, Shelley's political science fiction, and the historical development of women's human rights discourse. Her work demonstrates increasing engagement with contemporary issues like pandemic literature, AI ethics, and intersectional feminist theory, while maintaining deep roots in Enlightenment political thought. Her publications span prestigious university presses, major political science journals, and influential media outlets including The New York Times and The Washington Post.

• David Easton Award (2022) for Artificial Life After Frankenstein
• Okin-Young Award (2014) for best article in feminist political theory
• Carr-Thomas-Ovenden Fellowship in English Literature (2022)
• Distinguished Fellow of the Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study (2019)
• NEH Scholarly Editions grant recipient (2024-27)

Hunt currently directs a major NEH-funded project creating the first standard integrated scholarly edition of Wollstonecraft's Vindications for Oxford University Press. She has also secured funding from the ACLS, Sloan Foundation, and Bodleian Libraries to support her research on Wollstonecraft, Shelley, and their legacies. Hunt is actively mentoring students through the Glynn Family Honors Program and has previously served as Faculty Director of the Notre Dame Scholars' Program, demonstrating her commitment to undergraduate education and mentorship.