Philosophy

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 in the United States, London, Toronto, São Paulo, most recently Leiden, and upcoming in Manipal, Karnataka, India.

 

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 Economics, Pragmatism (esp. Dewey)

AOC

Comparative Philosophy, Phenomenology, Philosophy of the Americas

 

Courses Taught

Peace, Law, and Justice
Modern Philosophy
Intro to Philosophy
Intro to Ethics

 

Service

Library of Living Philosophy
Summer Institute in American Philosophy
Continental Philosophy Review
Society for Phenomenology and Existential Philosophy (SPEP)

 

Grants/Awards/Fellowships

Dewey Research Award 2025 – 2026
Dewey Research Award 2024 – 2025
She was also awarded the Jo Ann and Donald N. Boydston Chair of American Philosophy Research Award for 2024 – 2025.

 

Research in Progress

A dissertation project on Marx’s journalistic writings and their contribution to his political philosophy.

A book chapter examining the right to the city in relation to data infrastructures and urban ecology.

Ongoing work with the Center for Dewey Studies on reconstructive democracy, habit, and democratic growth.

A project with the Center for Dewey Studies on identity, experience, and regional pragmatism.

 

Recent and Upcoming Presentations

“Reconstruction as Growth: Disintegrating Habits of Ignorance and Oppression.” Society for Asian and Comparative Philosophy 58th Annual Meeting. Healing in Times of Precarity: Asian and Comparative Approaches. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) in Manipal, Karnataka, India. May 19–22, 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