Joel Michael Reynolds

Joel Michael Reynolds is an Associate Professor of Philosophy and Disability Studies at Georgetown University, where they also serve as Senior Research Scholar in the Kennedy Institute of Ethics and Director of the Disability Studies Program. They hold joint appointments in the Department of Family Medicine and the Pellegrino Center for Clinical Bioethics at Georgetown University School of Medicine, and sit on the MedStar Washington Hospital Center Ethics Consult Subcommittee.

• PhD in Philosophy, Emory University (2017)

Reynolds' research critically examines how ableism operates within medical systems, philosophy, and society. Their work challenges the "disability paradox" and advocates for a mere-difference view of disability, emphasizing that disabled people can experience high quality of life. They explore phenomenological accounts of disability, particularly through conditions like multiple sclerosis, and examine how disability intersects with race, gender, and Indigenous sovereignty.

Analysis of Reynolds' recent publications reveals increasing attention to disability justice as a framework for addressing systemic inequities across multiple domains. Their work examines connections between disability justice, reproductive justice, and climate justice, with particular focus on how settler colonialism shapes concepts of accessibility. There is also growing emphasis on the ethical implications of emerging technologies like AI and genetic testing for disabled people.

• Greenwall Foundation Faculty Scholar (Class of 2025)
• Hastings Center Fellow (2025-26 Faculty Fellow)

Reynolds has developed influential frameworks for incorporating disability justice into public health emergency planning, as evidenced by their edited volume "Disability Justice in Public Health Emergencies." Their research has been supported by prestigious foundations including the Greenwall Foundation, and they actively engage with clinical ethics through their role on the MedStar Washington Hospital Center Ethics Consult Subcommittee. Reynolds' collaborative work spans multiple disciplines, reflecting their commitment to interdisciplinary approaches that center disabled people's lived experiences in ethical analysis.