About
Jessica's now lifelong engagement with Political Philosophy, Pragmatism, and Phenomenology began as an undergraduate at Texas A&M University, where she studied under John McDermott. She then went on to earn an M.A. in Philosophy at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is currently a PhD Candidate at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, as well as a researcher and awardee at the Center for Dewey Studies. She is currently active on both campuses, pursuing her research at the Center for Dewey Studies at SIU as well as teaching on campus at the University of Memphis.
Soester's current research focuses on the interactions between philosophy and journalism (and has a project under development on philosophy of disability).
She has presented at conferences throughout the United States (including Memphis, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Carbondale, and Amherst) and internationally in London, Toronto, São Paulo, and Leiden, with forthcoming presentations in Fargo-Moorhead, Villanova, and Prague.
Education
Southern Illinois University Carbondale | PhD Candidate, Philosophy
Southern Illinois University Carbondale | MA, Philosophy
Texas A&M University | BA, Philosophy
AOS
Political Philosophy (esp. Marx), Philosophy of the Americas, Pragmatism (esp. Dewey), Philosophy of Economics
AOC
Comparative Philosophy and History of Philosophy, Phenomenology
Courses Taught
Peace, Law, and Justice
Modern Philosophy
Intro to Philosophy
Intro to Ethics
Service
Center for Dewey Studies
Library of Living Philosophers
Summer Institute in American Philosophy
Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy
Continental Philosophy Review
Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP)
Grants/Awards/Fellowships
Essay Research Award 2025 – 2026, Center for Dewey Studies
Graduate Student Travel Grant, Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy,
2026
Essay Research Award 2024 – 2025, Center for Dewey Studies
She was also awarded the Jo Ann and Donald N. Boydston Chair of American Philosophy
Research Award for 2024 – 2025.
Research in Progress
Dissertation
Book chapter
Center for Dewey Studies (multiple works in progress)
Recent and Upcoming Presentations
“Memphis and the Right to the City." Philosophy the City Conference, Prague, Czechoslovakia, October, 2026.
“Sedimented Selves: Identity, Experience, and Ecology in Delta Pragmatism” at the Summer Institute in American Philosophy, Moorehead-Fargo, MN. July 7-12, 2026
"Education as Growth: Enriching Sen's Capabilities Approach with the Deweyan Conception of Education." Education, Culture, and Society. 30th Annual Villanova Philosophy Graduate Student Conference, Villanova, PA. April 10 - 11, 2026 .
“Sedimented Selves: Identity, Experience, and Philosophy in Delta Pragmatism.” Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy 53rd Annual Meeting. Fantasy, Reality, and Ideals. University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV. March 12–14, 2026.
“The Growing of Freedom, and the Participatory Methodology of Gardening: An Account of John Dewey’s Conception of ‘Freedom-ing’.” Brown Bag, Department of Philosophy, University of Memphis. October 24, 2025.
“Sedimented Selves: Identity, Experience, and Philosophy in Delta Pragmatism” John Dewey's Experience & Nature: A Centennial Celebration. The Center for Dewey Studies. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. October 16-18, 2025.
“Reconstructive Democracy: creative tension and the restoration of (dynamic) equilibrium.” Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy 57th Annual Meeting. From Human to Humane: Nature, Nurture, and Narrative. Leiden University. July 9-11, 2025.
“The Growing of Freedom, and the Participatory Methodology of Gardening: An Account of John Dewey’s Conception of ‘Freedom-ing’.” 46th annual Midsouth Philosophy Conference, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee. March 28-29, 2025.
“Journalism and Democracy in a Digital Age.” Part of an organized panel titled: Deweyan Democracy in a Digital Age. John Dewey and His Legacy for Education. The Center for Dewey Studies. Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. October 12-14, 2023