معرفی
Kate Finley is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Hope College, specializing in the intersection of philosophy of mind, cognitive science, and philosophy of religion. Her work focuses on perception, embodiment, mental disorder, religious experience, disability, and the problem of evil. She teaches courses including Philosophy of Mind, Philosophy of Disorders and Disabilities, Applied Ethics, and Hope's First Year Seminar and Cultural Heritage courses.
Dr. Finley earned her Ph.D. and B.A. in philosophy and theology from the University of Notre Dame. Her educational background has shaped her interdisciplinary approach to philosophical inquiry, particularly in bridging philosophical analysis with psychological and religious perspectives on mental health.
Her research interests span multiple domains including philosophy of mind and cognitive science (particularly perception and embodiment), philosophy of religion (focusing on religious experience and the problem of evil), epistemology, social philosophy, and bioethics & technology ethics. She is especially known for her work connecting mental disorder with religious experience and meaning-making.
Dr. Finley's publication record reveals a strong interdisciplinary trend, with articles spanning philosophy of mind, philosophy of religion, bioethics, and the philosophy of psychopathology. Her recent work increasingly focuses on the intersection of mental disorder and religious experience, examining how individuals make meaning of psychological distress within religious frameworks. She also explores technology ethics, particularly regarding digital phenotyping in mental health contexts.
- Selected participant in SET Foundations seminar, 'Scientific and Theological Explanations of Mental Disorder,' Loyola University / John Templeton Foundation, 2021
- 'Transformative Religious Narratives & Mental Disorder,' Blueprint 1543 research grant ($14,644) and Hope College Nyenhuis research grant ($7,488), 2021 (principal investigator)
- 'Interactions between Mental Disorder & Components of Faith' Hope College Nyenhuis research grant ($7,088), 2020 (principal investigator)
- Selected participant in TheoPsych seminar, 'Self-Narrative and the Problem of Evil,' Fuller Theological Seminary / John Templeton Foundation, 2020
- Certificate in Community Engagement and Public Scholarship from Notre Dame's Center for Social Concerns
Dr. Finley has mentored 12 research students over recent years, many funded through external grants. Her collaborative approach extends to interdisciplinary work with colleagues in psychology, engineering, communication, and religious studies. She has secured multiple research grants totaling over $200,000 from institutions including Baylor University, Duke University, Hope College, and Calvin University. Outside traditional academic settings, she actively engages with community organizations including the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) and serves as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care.
She leads research initiatives including the 'Hope-Western Prison Education Program' and has taught philosophy courses in correctional facilities and homeless shelters, demonstrating her commitment to community engagement and expanding philosophical discourse beyond university walls.
