Hi all,

 

I received one statement of interest for Program Committee Grad Rep. from Jessie Payson, so she will be our 2011 FEAST Conference PC rep.  Please see below her statement to get an idea of her previous work for FEAST and goals for the next FEAST Conference.

 

Best,

--Jess

 

 

I am a doctoral student at Binghamton University in the Philosophy Department’s program for Social, Political, Ethical, and Legal Theory. I expect also to receive a Graduate Certificate in Feminist Theory (at the doctoral level) from the Women’s Studies Department.  My main interests are in political philosophy, ethics, and feminist theory; I am currently developing a dissertation that aims to advocate “responsibility” as a distinct sort of normative requirement that can account for people’s relationship to justice within complex and transnational structural systems.

As a Local Arrangements Coordinator for the FEAST 2009 conference, I worked closely with members of the Steering and Program Committees in planning and seeing through many of the logistical aspects of the conference.  As a presenter, I found the conference to offer an invaluable environment for encouraging feminist perspectives and collaboration; this environment has particular importance, I believe, for graduate students aiming to form connections and establish themselves in their fields.  I hope for the conference to continue to provide a unique opportunity for professional development in a context that encourages collaboration among like-minded scholars working outside of the mainstream.

My hopes for the FEAST Conference 2011 are that it continue to build on the momentum started by the work of previous graduate student representatives, and that it expand opportunities for social networking among graduate students with diverse interests.  I would aim to continue meetings over breakfast and lunch for mentoring and workshop opportunities (as in 2009), as well as take advantage of local businesses to expand opportunities for graduate students to network more informally with each other (e.g., for coffee or cocktails).  Understanding that cost is a major determinant for graduate student attendance and participation at the conference, I would also aim to build forums for “ride shares” and other cost-related issues associated with attendance in advance of the conference.  Thank you for your consideration.