Elizabeth Oljar

Elizabeth Oljar is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Detroit Mercy's College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences. She holds a PhD from the University of Washington (1996), with prior degrees from Portland State University (BA) and the University of Washington (MA, 1991). Her research focuses on ethical implications of the Holocaust, moral reasoning frameworks, and abortion ethics. She served as department chair from 2000-2002 and 2016-2018, and previously held an associate dean role (1999-2000).

• Teaching specialties: Ethics, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Law, Symbolic Logic
• Administrative roles: Department Chair (2000–present), Associate Dean of Liberal Arts (1999–2000)

Her work bridges historical analysis (early modern philosophy) with contemporary ethical dilemmas. Notable awards include the 1995 Teaching Excellence Award and 2010 Mission Leadership Award for institutional contributions.

• Lab/Team Affiliations: None explicitly stated
• Current Projects: Holocaust ethics research, justification-motivation link in moral theory