Faculty Focus-April 21, 2026
Faculty members put their knowledge into action so students and others are able to benefit from it. Recently, faculty published papers in prestigious outlets and presented at renowned conferences.
Philosophy Faculty
Associate Professor of Philosophy Katharine Wolfe, Professor and Chair of Philosophy Jeffrey Maynes, and Assistant Professor of Philosophy Richard Lauer recently held a session for the Pacific Division of the American Philosophical Association’s Teaching Hub.
In the session, titled “Cultivating Intellectual Virtues in the Classroom,” they presented on the recent innovative changes in St. Lawrence’s departmental learning goals which aims to teach students practical wisdom. Theydiscussed those changes and provided examples of assignments and activities used in their courses aimed at the cultivation of the intellectual virtues.
It is a rare event for three philosophers from the same department to be featured speakers in the same conference session. Collaborating in this way was a chance for them to highlight the innovative teaching they get to do every day as philosophy professors at a small liberal arts college.
Wolfe served as the primary organizer for this session.
Richard Lauer
Assistant Professor of Philosophy Richard Lauer recently presented his paper, “More than mere persuasion? Metaphysics and Empirical Success in Social Science” at a workshop titled, “Social Ontology and Empirical Inquiry: Conflicts and Connection” hosted at the Center for Philosophy of Science at the University of Pittsburgh.
The paper examines the claim that metaphysics—a discipline of philosophy concerned with describing the fundamental nature of reality—is important to progress in the social sciences. Lauer argued against this claim, showing instead that metaphysics can at best serve as a source of inspiration, much the way any other field might. To illustrate this, Lauer draws on Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the 21st Century, highlighting his use of fiction, and particularly Jane Austen, to describe rates of inflation in the 19th century.
Mert Kartal
Associate Professor of Political Science Mert Kartal recently brought fifteen students to the Intercollegiate Model European Union Conference held in Buffalo. The students were from his course, “The European Union in a Fragmented World.”
During the conference simulation, St. Lawrence students represented Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, and the Netherlands across three committees. Delegates debated and negotiated policy proposals on a range of issues, including the European Single Market, energy security, European Security and Defense Policy, and EU enlargement.
Several students received individual honors, and in addition to these individual recognitions, St. Lawrence students earned three Best Country Delegation awards, which recognize the overall performance of national teams. The delegation also received five additional awards for preparation and contributions during the pre-conference planning process.
With a total of 11 awards, St. Lawrence students were, by far, the most recognized participants at the conference by both the organizers and their peers from other institutions.
Statistics Faculty
Cummings Professor of Statistics Jessica Chapman and Jack and Sylvia Burry Associate Professor of Statistics Ivan Ramler recently co-authored a contribution to the S-STEM REC blog series hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Their blog post describes how meaningful mentored research experiences for first-year students were built into the Liberal Arts Science (LAS) Scholars program at St. Lawrence University. Their post reinforces existing evidence that early research experiences can be a transformative part of undergraduate education.
The LAS Scholars program at St. Lawrence University has been funded by two National Science Foundation (NSF) Scholarships in STEM (S-STEM) awards. The NSF’s S-STEM program supports the success of low-income, academically talented students in STEM fields. Since 2015, nearly four dozen St. Lawrence students have been supported by this scholarship program.
The AAAS S-STEM Resource and Evaluation Center (REC) Blog Series highlights stories and insights from NSF S-STEM grantees across the country. Topics range from program design strategies to student success narratives, aiming to support the STEM education community in enhancing recruitment, retention, and student outcomes in STEM disciplines.
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