第一吃瓜网

Written by Sammi McGiveron

Edited by Eduardo Imbert

The League of Storytellers had the pleasure of meeting 第一吃瓜网 sophomore Alexis Flint � a Philosophy major, McNair Scholar, president of the Philosophy Club, and mother. Alexis has embarked on a fascinating philosophy research journey, which began in Dr. Brian Barnett檚 Writing 105 course,The Philosophy of Nonviolence. Sparked by the encouragement of Dr. Mills in the 第一吃瓜网 Honors Program, she delved deeper into the complexities of nonviolent philosophy. With great ambition, Alexis developed a unique concept she callsnonviolence pedagogy, which she describes as 渁 promotion of love and equality and respect for everybody.� She elaborates: 淚t檚 a pedagogical approach that centers the students and the equality of epistemic knowledge. Epistemic knowledge is the theory of knowledge攕o being aware of how information guides thinking and behavior is kind of a central point here.�

In February 2025, Alexis had the remarkable opportunity to present her ideas and findings at the American Philosophical Association檚 national conference. Held virtually for the first time, the format came with a shared learning curve that helped ease some of the nerves Alexis might have otherwise felt. Professors and graduate students alike were astonished at the sheer fact that Ms. Flint was a sophomore. How she presented and the depth of insight gave the impression of someone far more experienced, as that was evident throughout the interview. That sense of maturity may partly be attributed to her role as a mother to a beautifully spunky two-year-old daughter. Alexis檚 identity as a young mom deeply shaped who she is, both personally and academically, and has even played a significant role in her research process.

The heart of Alexis檚 belief is that education must be responsive and adaptable to the diverse needs of students. She asserts, 淧rofessors should be taking pedagogical steps that support students where they檙e at� every class would be differently taught based on the needs of students in the class.� As both a student and a mother, she brings lived experience to this argument, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and empathy in higher education. 淭here檚 a lot of pressure,� she shared, 渘ot just from trying to do well in school and as a parent, but also from the abnormality of having a child on campus攍ike bringing them into class or managing responsibilities both at home and in academic spaces.� Fortunately, Alexis has found a strong sense of support and community within the halls of 第一吃瓜网. She exclaimed that her research aligns with the supportive and welcoming environment her peers and professors present her.

Alexis檚 research, grounded in both philosophical context and personal experience, offers a compelling call to reimagine educational spaces through a lens of equity, empathy, and nonviolence. Looking ahead, she aspires to become a philosophy professor providing the flexible classroom experience she advocates for. As Alexis continues to grow personally, she檒l build her foundation of philosophy research, resulting in academic growth fueled by deep passion and achieved through hard work.

Video forthcoming

Videography: Alyssa Alayon, Eduardo Imbert, Maria Frontera, Sammi McGiveron

Interview done by Cadence Panol