Tim Simpson

Degrees, Licensures and Certifications: Ph.D., University of Illinois, Philosophy of Education; MA, Miami University, Philosophy; BA, Morehead State University, Philosophy and Psychology

Research Interests: He has written on figures such as Socrates and Plato, as well as on such topics as liberal education, political education, social foundations of education and teacher quality in rural schools. He has published in Educational Theory, Educational Studies, Critical Studies in Education and Journal of Thought. His most recent publications include Timothy L. Simpson and Jon M. Fennell, “An Epistemological Rationale for Classical Education,” forthcoming in May 2023 in Principia Journal; Timothy L. Simpson and Jon Fennell (2023) Epistemological Foundations of Liberal Education for Democratic Life, The Educational Forum, 87:1, 47-58; Jon Fennell and Timothy L. Simpson (2021). A Polanyian rationale for a liberal arts core curriculum. Theory and Research in Education, 19(1), 19–39. Timothy L. Simpson, editor, The Relevance of Higher Education: Exploring a Contested Notion (Lanham, MD: Lexington Books, 2013).

Bio

Timothy L. Simpson is Associate Dean of the Volgenau College of Education and Professor of education at Morehead State University. He was born in Evansville, IN and lived in Kentucky and Tennessee during his youth. His single ambition in life was to play professional sports. Alas, neither the New York Yankees nor the Boston Celtics called him, so he went to Morehead State University. There he had the fortunate opportunity to be blessed with inspiring professors, in particular Dr. L. Bradley Clough, who introduced him to the wonders of the psyche. Pursuing psychology and philosophy, he graduated a different person from when he began. He then left for Miami University to study philosophy with Dr. Peter Schuller, who further instructed him in the wonder of philosophy through Socrates and Plato. In Plato's Republic, his focus turned to education and the soul. With guidance from Dr. Nicholas C. Burblues at the University of Illinois, he read and studied widely the history and philosophy of education before focusing his research on the nature of democratic citizenship and our democratic republic. He continues to read deeply and widely regarding foundational educational questions and issues and shares that conversation with his students in a leisurely but serious way. He teaches the history and philosophy of education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. In addition, he has taught in the Leadership Program, Honors Program and in First Year Seminar Program. He loves to read great books, enjoy the outdoors, play darts and sports with friends, and spend time with family.