Lavonna Lovern, PhD
Associate Professor, Philosophy and Religious Studies at Valdosta State University
From Nashville, GA
From Nashville, GA
Dr. Lavonna Lovern joined the Valdosta State University faculty in 2003. She holds a Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts, both in philosophy from the University of Missouri, and a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Central Methodist College. She holds membership in the American Academy of Religion, Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, National Congress of American Indians, Native American & Alaskan Native Professors Association, and American Philosophical Association. She previously taught at Central Methodist College and the University of Missouri. Prior to entering the field of higher education, she worked as a research consultant for Ultimate Potential Corporatio, a non-profit Native American Foundation.
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Associate Professor, Philosophy & Religious Studies/Native American Studies at Valdosta State University
During this time period, I earned the following awards and recognitions:
* 2015 Valdosta State University Faculty Scholarship Award
* 2016 Awarded Tenure VSU
August 2015 - Present
Assistant Professor, Philosophy & Religious Studies/Native American Studies at Valdosta State University
August 2011 - August 2015
Lecturer, Philosophy & Religious Studies at Valdosta State University
During this time period, I earned the following awards and recognitions:
* 2012-2011 Excellence in Teaching Award VSU College of Arts and Sciences
August 2008 - August 2011
Adjunct, Womens Studies/Philosophy & Religious Studies at Valdosta State University
August 2003 - August 2008
Research Consultant at Ultimate Potential Corporation
Non-profit Native American Foundation Tucson, AZ. Grandparents Library/Indian Child Welfare Act/American Indian Education/American Indian Health and Disability
January 2003 - December 2003
Associate Professor, Philosophy & Religion at Central Methodist University
During this time period, I earned the following awards and recognitions:
* 1998 Awarded Tenure
August 1996 - August 2003
Assistant Professor, Philosophy & Religion at Central Methodist University
August 1993 - August 1996
Director of Honors at Central Methodist University
August 1993 - August 2003
Instructor, Philosophy & Religion at Central Methodist University
August 1990 - August 1993
Adjunct, Philosophy & Religion at Central Methodist University
August 1989 - August 1990
Graduate Student Instructor at University of Missouri-Columbia
August 1984 - August 1988
“The Star Child and The Manger Child: influences of Zoroastrianism on Christianity"
Oxford Symposium on Religious Studies. Oxford, England. Dec. 2017.
December 2017 -
Conferences
“The Pipeline Controversy”
2017 VSU Philosophy and Religious Studies Club. Panel Member September.
September 2017 -
Presentations
“Beyond Critical Theory: Indigenous models of natural democracy."
World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education. Toronto, Canada. July 2017.
July 2017 -
Presentations
“Re-envisioning Disability Dialogue using Indigenous Paradigms of Difference."
Native American & Indigenous Studies Association. Vancouver, Canada. June 2017.
June 2017 -
Presentations
“Indigenous Environmentalism”
2017 Ethics and Environment course. April.
April 2017 -
Presentations
“Religion in the Workplace”
2016 Embracing Difference, Communicating Diversity. April.
April 2016 -
Presentations
Critical Pedagogy for Native American Education Policy: Habermas, Freire, and emancipatory education
Co-Author Fred Knowles. Palgrave McMillan, October 2015.
October 2015 -
Publications
“Native American Spirituality”
2015 Unitarian Universalist Church. Valdosta, GA. August.
August 2015 -
Presentations
Native American and Indigenous Studies Association Conference
Washington D.C. June 2015.
June 2015 -
Conferences
“Koran”
2015 Panel discussion on sacred texts. Remnant Trust Project. VSU Valdosta, GA. April.
April 2015 -
Presentations
National Congress of American Indians
Atlanta Georgia November 2014.
November 2014 -
Conferences
“Native American Issues with Diabetes”
Co-author Danielle Costello. Chronic Illness and Spirituality. Ed. Darla Schumm and Michael Stoltzfus and Rebecca Green. Palgrave McMillan, September, 2013.
September 2013 -
Publications
“Native American Concepts of Wellness and Difference”
American Academy of Religion. Atlanta, GA. March 2013.
March 2013 -
Conferences
“Trampling the Sacred: Multicultural education as pedagogical racism”
International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education. Vol.27 No. 7. Routledge, November, 2012.
November 2012 -
Articles
First Floridians/First Americans Conference
Monticello, Florida. October 2012.
October 2012 -
Conferences
American Academy of Religion Meeting
Atlanta, GA. March 2012.
March 2012 -
Conferences
Meeting with Elders of Mantle Rock
Paducah, Kentucky. November 2010.
November 2010 -
Conferences
“Native Americans in Georgia”
2010 —Visiting Speaker, Darton College. Albany, Georgia. November.
November 2010 -
Presentations
“Forgotten and Hidden Knowledge: women philosophers”
2010 Unitarian Universalist Church of Valdosta. September.
September 2010 -
Presentations
“Environmental Justice and Native American Thinking”
2010 speaker. VSU Philosophy & Religious Studies Club. January.
January 2010 -
Presentations
First annual Southeastern Native American Education Conference
Bowling Green
Kentucky. November 2009.
November 2009 -
Conferences
“Native American Environmental Ethics”
2008 VSU environmental ethics course, Dr. Santas. October.
October 2008 -
Presentations
“Wisdom of the Elders” Mantle Rock
Paducah, Kentucky. Organization and Educational consultation. Advisory board member.
September 2008 -
Conferences
“What Feminist Now Can Learn from Native Women Then”
2006 Valdosta State University, Women’s Studies Conference. March.
March 2006 -
Presentations
Section Editor for “Indigenous Territory Rights”
Global Encyclopedia of Territorial Rights. Under contract Springer. Estimated publication 2020.
Publications
Indigenous Civilizations and Post-Colonization Stress
Co-Author Carol Locust. Palgrave Macmillian. Estimated publication date 2020.
Publications
Fostering a Climate of Classroom Inclusion: the missing voice of the Humanities
Palgrave: McMillan, under contract, expected publication 2018.
Publications
“Zoroastrianism and Christianity: Standing Close to One Another”
Co-author Sydney A. Beckmann. Journal of Academic Perspectives. Vol. 2017 No. 4.
Publications
“Indigenous Perspectives on Difference: a case for inclusion”
Journal of Literary & Cultural Disability Studies. Vol. 11 issue 3 2017.
Publications
“Introduction to Native American Studies and Disability”
Disability and World Religions. Ed. Darla Schumm and Michael Stoltzfus. Baylor University Press, 2016.
Publications
“Trampling the sacred: multicultural education as pedagogical racism”
Education in the Comanche Nation: relationships, responsibilities, redistribution and reciprocity. Ed. Linda Sue Warner. Routledge, 2015.
Publications
“Embracing Difference: Native American Approaches to Disability”
Tikkun Magazine. Vol.29, NO. 4, Fall 2014.
Publications
Native American Communities on Health and Disability: borderland dialogues
Co- author Carol Locust. Palgrave McMillan, 2013.
Publications
“Native American Concepts Involving Human Difference”
Disability and Religious Diversity Cross-Cultural and Interreligious Perspectives. Ed. Darla Schumm and Michael Stoltzfus. Palgrave McMillan, 2011.
Articles
“Health and Disability Care in Native American and Alaska Native Communities”
Disability and Religious Diversity Cross-Cultural and Interreligious Perspectives. Ed. Darla Schumm and Michael Stoltzfus. Palgrave McMillan, 2011.
Articles
Five additional conferences and educational seminars at Mantle Rock
—Paducah, Kentucky. Origination and Educational consultant. Advisory board member.
Conferences
“Native American Concepts of Disability and Wellness”
2015 Arizona Bioethics Network. September.
Presentations
“Diversity and Religious Studies”
2018 Leading, Enriching, and Appreciating Diversity.March/October.
Presentations
“Diversity and Religious Studies”
2017 Leading, Enriching, and Appreciating Diversity.
March/October.
Presentations
“Diversity and Religious Studies”
2016 Leading, Enriching, and Appreciating Diversity. March/October.
Presentations
“Diversity and Religious Studies”
2015 Leading, Enriching, and Appreciating Diversity. March/October.
Presentations
“The Two Martin Luther King Juniors & The Civil Rights Movement That Surrounded Him”
2013 Panel Discussion. Valdosta State University. Sponsor: Department of Social Equity and Philosophy and Religious Studies Department.
Presentations
“Competing Cosmologies: Native American and Western Traditions”
2012 Valdosta State University. Sponsor: Philosophy and Religious Studies Club.
Presentations
“Debunking the Maya Myth: Reassessing the ‘Doomsday Prophecy 12/12/12’”
2012 Panel Discussion. Valdosta State University. Sponsor: Arts and Sciences Lecture Series.
Presentations
“To See the Promised Land”
2011 Panel Discussion for MLK Week Celebration. Valdosta State University. Sponsor: Office of Social Equity.
Presentations
“Building Religions and Religious Buildings”
2011 Organizer. Valdosta State University. Sponsor: Philosophy and Religious Studies Department.
Presentations
“Native American Thought on Environmentalism”
2011 Speaker. Valdosta State University. Sponsor: Philosophy and Religious Studies Club.
Presentations
“Native American Images in Gothic Film: moth man”
2010 VSU perspectives course, Dr. Vorosvary-Weller.
Presentations
“Trampling Sacred Ground: multicultural education as racism”
2004 Valdosta State University, Women’s Studies Conference.
Presentations
“Between Facts & Norms or, more properly, between Facticity & Validity: a search for character.”
1999 Central Methodist College, Faculty Forum.
Presentations
“Issues of the Term “Theist.’”
1999 a review of a paper delivered at Central States Philosophical Society.
Presentations
“Issues in Character: a philosophical dilemma involving the term ‘character’ in college advertising and mission statements.”
1998 Central Methodist College, Faculty Forum.
Presentations
“Fraser’s Failure in Linear Time: a discussion of the failure of Fraser’s theory involving moral development theories of ethics.”
1997 Central Methodist College, Faculty Forum.
Presentations
“The Importance of Developing the Study of Values, Morals and Ethics in Current Collegiate Climates.”
1995 Central Methodist College, Faculty Forum.
Presentations
“Unpacking the term ‘Spiritual’: the consequences of adopting the term into the mission statement.”
1995, Central Methodist College, Faculty Forum.
Presentations
"The Myers-Briggs and the Uses for Faculty and Students.”
1994 Central Methodist College, Faculty Forum.
Presentations
“The Economics of Philosophy and Ethics: why it pays to study and become a philosophy major.”
1994 Central Methodist College, Faculty Forum.
Presentations
“Replacing Emotion with Logic in Discussions of Abortion.”
1992 Central Methodist College, Abortion Forum.
Presentations
“Issues of Animal Treatment in College and University Lab and Classroom Experimentation.”
1991 Central Methodist College, Animal Rights Forum.
Presentations
“Issues of Censorship Involving Academia”
1990 Central Methodist College, Censorship Forum.
Presentations