Simona Capisani, PhD

Experience

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  San Francisco State University, Department of Philosophy

  Jan 2011 - Dec 2012

  Instructor of Record

  ● Designed content for and instructed 15 different classes covering five topics in philosophy (Ethics, Social, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Art, and Introduction to Philosophy) at various “minority majority” public universities/colleges● Facilitated student-centered group discussions for class sizes ranging from 10-60 students● Advised and mentored a diverse student body, and extended support for needs beyond course content, resulting in 10-15% of students advancing to major, and 20-40% advancing to minor or taking additional courses in philosophy Show less

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  Sacramento State University, Department of Philosophy

  Jan 2013 - Jun 2013

  Instructor of Record

  ● Designed content for and instructed 15 different classes covering five topics in philosophy (Ethics, Social, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Art, and Introduction to Philosophy) at various “minority majority” public universities/colleges● Facilitated student-centered group discussions for class sizes ranging from 10-60 students● Advised and mentored a diverse student body, and extended support for needs beyond course content, resulting in 10-15% of students advancing to major, and 20-40% advancing to minor or taking additional courses in philosophy Show less

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  University of California, Irvine

  Sept 2013 - Jun 2020

  • Humanities Faculty Fellow

    Jul 2018 - Jun 2020

  • Graduate Teaching Assistant

    Sept 2013 - Jul 2018
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  Irvine Valley College

  Jan 2014 - Jun 2018

  Instructor of Record

  ● Designed content for and instructed 15 different classes covering five topics in philosophy (Ethics, Social, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Art, and Introduction to Philosophy) at various “minority majority” public universities/colleges● Facilitated student-centered group discussions for class sizes ranging from 10-60 students● Advised and mentored a diverse student body, and extended support for needs beyond course content, resulting in 10-15% of students advancing to major, and 20-40% advancing to minor or taking additional courses in philosophy Show less

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  San Diego Mesa College

  Jan 2015 - May 2017

  Instructor of Record
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  University of Caliornia Irvine Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation

  Sept 2015 - Dec 2016

  Pedagogical Fellow

  ● Selected for competitive (sole representative for academic department, acceptance rate less than 18%) multi-year university program focused on pedagogical and professional development● Completed training on advanced pedagogical skills and theory in higher education, with a specialization in diversity and inclusion● Created and put into effect discipline-specific Professional Development Program for approx. 500 new teaching associates, applied training for 20 philosophy teaching associates, and designed materials to support more inclusive pedagogical practices for faculty Show less

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  THI!NK Program, University of California Irvine, Department of Philosophy

  Sept 2015 - Sept 2016

  Program Developer and Coordinator

  ● Developed annual four-week, 16-hour program for elementary school children in under-served communities aimed at building critical thinking skills and introducing philosophical inquiry and discourse● Collated and analyzed evidence-based research on critical thinking education, resulting in the adoption of weekly supplemental philosophy education within select elementary school classrooms satisfying Common Core requirements● Built appropriate curriculum and best practice resource guide for program scalability Show less

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  University of California Humanities Research Institute

  Sept 2015 - May 2017

  Program Manger and Researcher: Diversity and Inclusion

  ● Wrote successful grant proposal of $5000 for multi-campus research initiative on diversity and inclusion in education, resulting in production of evidence-based training programs for educators and university staff● Established organizing principles to evaluate research and data on inclusive teaching methods, course design, and communication● Conducted quarterly meetings and informed leadership team of six teaching associates from multiple UC campuses and collaborative networks of tenured faculty and university staff on project development Show less

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  Minorities and Philosophy International (MAP nonprofit)

  Jun 2016 - Aug 2018

  Co Director

  ● Guided organizational growth (480% increase) of non-profit committed to advancing and supporting members of under-represented groups in academic philosophy; supported global chapters and 2,000 members in the U.S., U.K., Europe, and Africa● Authored quarterly reports on multi-level organizational activity resulting in enhanced visibility, greater financial support from donors, and three new collaborations with external organizations● Evaluated funding proposals and authorized decisions on financial support of $20,000 budget for individual chapter projects and regional collaborations● Developed and established new diversity and inclusion programs with three external organizations, resulting in national visibility, increase in group membership, and collaboration with largest professional philosophical association (APA), as well as community-based projects for underserved communities (including regional school districts and incarcerated peoples) Show less

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  A-id: Agenda for International Development

  Sept 2019 - now

  Associate Researcher
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  Harvard University

  Jun 2020 - now

  Research Fellow

  Research fellow in the Mahindra Humanities Center at Harvard University working at the intersection of migration and the humanities. In addition to pursuing personal research projects, fellows are core participants in bi-weekly seminars and engage with lecture series and panel discussions for the Harvard community as well as the wider academic and non-academic public.

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  Princeton University

  Sept 2021 - now

  Associate Research Fellow

  Researcher in Princeton University's Climate Futures Initiative in the High Meadows Environmental Institute and the Center for Human Values.