Contact Us
Battelle Tompkins, Room 120 on a map
Philosophy / Religion 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016-8056 United StatesCatherine Hou
BA/MA, Philosophy
More about Catherine
Catherine Hou's research at American University has focused on feminist philosophy, trans and nonbinary studies, and ludology. They are interested in understanding how we construct ourselves with and against others, how the concepts we think with limit our ability to make sense of ourselves, and how we might envision pathways of thought and ways of existence beyond those limitations. Catherine was also a research assistant for the Lab for the Study of Perception, Reality, and Illusions, working at the intersection of philosophy and neurophysics to explore questions about how we construct our everyday reality. They plan on pursuing a combined JD/PhD in Philosophy after graduating with their MA.
"The Philosophy department has been invaluable for my intellectual development, both as a scholar and a professional outside academia. The critical thinking skills and frameworks of thinking I have gained here have equipped me with the tools to excel in my future endeavors. I am also particularly grateful for the faculty's dedication to supporting their students; much of what I have accomplished was only possible because of the wonderful guidance of the professors here."
Haley Stevens
MA '07
More about Haley
Congresswoman Haley Stevens earned a master’s degree in social policy and philosophy and a bachelor’s in political science and philosophy from American University.
After graduating from American University and before being elected to Congress, Congresswoman Stevens served as the Chief of Staff to the U.S. Auto Rescue Task Force, the federal initiative responsible for saving General Motors, Chrysler, and 200,000 Michigan Jobs. She also played a crucial role in setting up the Office of Recovery for Automotive Communities and Workers and the White House Office of Manufacturing Policy. After serving in the Obama Administration, Congresswoman Stevens worked in a manufacturing research lab focused on the future of work in the digital age.
She writes of her philosophy studies:
Inspiring material that I continue to draw from to this day.