The Dean

Samantha Brennan (PhD Philosophy, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1993) began her second term as Dean of the College of Arts at the University of Guelph in January 2023.

As a feminist philosopher and ethicist, Brennan’s research spans a wide range of areas in contemporary theoretical and applied ethics, including rights; moral issues within families, such as children's rights, parental obligations, and family justice; feminist ethics; and the moral and political value of equality.

Brennan co-founded and co-edited Feminist Philosophy Quarterly, a peer-reviewed, online, SSHRC funded, open-access journal.  She has served as President of the Canadian Philosophical Association. Brennan also has a long-standing commitment to public engagement, maintaining an extremely active presence on social media across various platforms. Brennan co-founded the Fit is a Feminist Issue blog, which connects thousands of readers with feminist ideas about fitness.

Brennan serves on the executive of the Council of Ontario Deans of Arts and Science as Past Chair, following her term as Chair 2022-24. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Ethics Bowl Canada.

Brennan came to Guelph from Western University, where she served for eight years as Chair of the Department of Philosophy. Brennan has held visiting fellowships at the Australian National University, the University of Otago in New Zealand, and the University of Toronto’s Centre for Ethics. Born in England, Brennan grew up in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. She completed an Honours BA at Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College.