Laura Hengehold

Laura Hengehold is a Professor of Philosophy at Case Western Reserve University, holding the endowed Beamer-Schneider Professorship in Ethics. Her research focuses on intersections of language, embodiment, and political conflict, drawing on 20th-century French philosophy (Foucault, Deleuze), feminist theory, and African-European political dialogue. She explores how knowledge systems shape women’s bodily experiences, emphasizing ethical and political implications.

Key works include Simone de Beauvoir’s Philosophy of Individuation and The Body Problematic. She co-edited African Philosophy for the 21st Century and translated works by Seloua Luste Boulbina. Her scholarship bridges existentialism, post-structuralism, and transnational feminism.

• Research Interests: Feminist philosophy, continental philosophy, political theory, embodiment studies, decolonial thought.
• Awards: Beamer-Schneider Professorship in Ethics (2017–present).
• Teaching: Courses on social/political philosophy, feminist theory, African political thought, and Deleuze.

Recent talks include engagements on Simone de Beauvoir’s ethics, African political thought, and Foucault’s influence. She collaborates with the Women and Gender Studies and World Literature Programs at CWRU.