MCLA Professor Named American Philosophical Association Edinburgh Fellow
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“This is a terrific opportunity for Dr. Nnodim and also provides significant recognition of his scholarship in philosophy. We congratulate him on this signal achievement,” said Cynthia Brown, vice president of academic affairs at MCLA.
Nnodim will be officially recognized at an award ceremony on Dec. 28 during the annual APA meeting in Boston. He applied for the fellowship in part because the IASH will play a major role in the University of Edinburgh’s program of events in 2011 to mark the tercentenary of the birth of the Scottish philosopher David Hume.
“I thought it would be nice to participate in such a historic program,” Nnodim said. Nnodim considers philosophy to be an interesting field of study because of the way it challenges students to bring a rigorous, critical, and constructive attitude to every aspect of their lives.
“As a humanistic discipline that explores the most fundamental questions of human existence, value, life, and knowledge, philosophy deepens and unifies other academic disciplines through the systematic exercise of historical, logical, literary, scientific, abstract, and practical thinking, and is in that way inseparable from a true liberal arts education,” he said.
“While many students who major in philosophy may not become philosophy teachers, they certainly have a wide range of career perspectives and opportunities,” said Nnodim. “Some may pursue a career in law, business, management, as well as in government, non-profit or international organizations. The skills they gain studying philosophy complement most careers.”Nnodim, who was born in Nigeria, earned his doctorate from Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany. Nnodim is currently writing two scholarly books for Routledge Publishers and Cambridge Scholars, respectively. He also recently published “The Tortoise and the Birds,” a young readers book. He started writing books for children a couple years ago and states that it has been “a gratifying experience.” This past fall he visited local schools and read his book to area preschoolers.
Since 1995, the APA has selected and sponsored one visiting fellow each year at the University of Edinburgh’s Institute for Advance Studies in the Humanities (IASH). The IASH at The University of Edinburgh was founded in 1970 to promote enquiry of the highest standards in the humanities. It was the first interdisciplinary research institute in the United Kingdom. Since its foundation, over 700 scholars from 60 countries have held fellowships.
For more information, go to www.mcla.edu or www.apaonline.org/opportunities/prizes/edinburgh.aspx.
