The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has awarded 2021-22 fellowships to two scholars at Old Dominion University. Recipients will pursue academic work and lead community projects to empower women and girls.

  • Teresa Kouri Kissel, a recipient of an American Fellowship, is pursuing her publication in Logic.
  • Victoria Lam, a recipient of a Selected Professions Fellowship, pursuing her M.S. in cardiac modeling.

Kissel, a professor of philosophy and religious studies in the College of Arts and Letters, is working on an article called "This Argument Is Pointless: Updating Susan Stebbing's Logical Tools for the 21st Century."

In her research, Kissel focuses on the relationship between logical tools and language. Her project on Stebbing, a British philosopher from the first half of the 20th century, is meant to help shed light on how reasoning in natural language can be illuminated by formal, logical tools. She will use this grant to finish an article that updates Stebbing's philosophical tools to better fit with the current state of analytic philosophy and be more easily adapted for classroom use.

Kissel, who is also a co-director of ODU's Institute for Ethics and Public Affairs, earned her Ph.D. in philosophy from The Ohio State University in 2016.

Lam's work investigating LQT syndrome (a heart rhythm condition that can potentially cause fast, chaotic heartbeats) using finite element cardiac simulations has helped to further the understanding of this prevalent disease.

Her goal is to be admitted into a Ph.D. program after earning her master's degree. She plans on engaging with the community to increase interest in engineering among young women.

She is a member of her local women's rugby team and plans to continue empowering women through her volunteer work with youth rugby teams.

AAUW is one of the world's oldest leading supporters of graduate women's education. Since 1888, it has awarded more than $115 million in fellowships, grants and awards to 13,000 women from 150 countries. For the 2021-22 academic year, AAUW has awarded an unprecedented $5 million through its fellowships and grants programs to 260 scholars as well as to community projects and programs that promote education and equity for women and girls.

"We're proud to support the work of these outstanding scholars," Gloria Blackwell, executive vice president and chief programs officer, said in a press release. "This year's recipients are making valuable contributions in a wide range of fields, but with a common goal of improving life for all of us. We're impressed by what these scholars are doing and excited about the great things they'll accomplish throughout their research and careers."

To learn more about the AAUW, go to www.aauw.org.

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