Many congratulations to Kerry O’Neill on the successful defence of her Ph.D. in Ethics and Public Affairs on August 9, 2021.
Kerry joined the Ethics and Public Affairs program at Carleton University in the Fall of 2016, after completing a BA (Hons) in Philosophy and Peace Studies and an MA in Philosophy at McMaster University (in combination with a Water Without Borders diploma from united Nations University – Institute for Water, Environment and Health). Her MA thesis was on the human right to safe drinking water and provided an assessment of real-coast water pricing and other policies, such as the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals, intended to fulfill this right.
We asked Kerry to reflect on her time in the EPAF Ph.D. program, and here’s what she had to say:
What did your thesis/research include?
Like my MA thesis, my doctoral project was located at the intersection of philosophy and public policy. I assessed the extent to which conditional cash transfers (CCTs) might be useful in achieving the goals of ending poverty for all and achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment as outlined in the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I argued CCTs cannot and do not satisfy both goals, but rather attempt to combat some forms of poverty at the expense of women and girls. What’s especially troubling about CCTs is that the programs require women to comply with activities that reinforce unjust gender norms and punish women for failing to comply with the patriarchally prescribed behaviours mandated by the state, and that through these programs the state also exploits beneficiary women.
What did you like most about your time in the EPAF Ph.D. program?
I was drawn to the EPAF program because of its interdisciplinary nature. Coming from a philosophy background it can be easy to get caught up in the normative debates without thinking through the practical and policy implications that theory has. The training I received from the program (in terms of classes and co-curriculars) proved invaluable and made me a better researcher and teacher. The supervision and support I received for my doctoral work were phenomenal and I could not have been happier to be a part of the EPAF community.
What did you like most about your time at Carleton in general?
The tunnel system! Who wants to walk across campus in the winter? More seriously, Carleton is a fantastic university and provides numerous opportunities for students who wish to be connected to academia or the government. There are always conferences, workshops, and guest speakers to attend, and the students are bright and engaging to work with.
What is something you wish you knew coming into your first year of the program?
Completing a Ph.D. is a marathon not a sprint – pace yourself. And network, network, network.
What can we find you doing now?
Teaching philosophy and public policy to undergraduates! I am an instructor at Carleton University where I teach in the Philosophy and Public Affairs and Policy Management programs. I also teach in the Policy, Philosophy, and Economics stream in the Trinity One program at Trinity College (University of Toronto). I also just started a postdoc at the Rotman Institute of Philosophy at Western University on the ethical pathways for therapeutics and vaccine R&D during public health emergencies, specifically the Ebola Virus Outbreak and the COVID-19 pandemic.
A few messages to Kerry O’Neill from her supervisors:
Vida Panich, Associate Professor (Philosophy and EPAF), Carleton University
It was a true pleasure to supervise Kerry’s fantastic thesis. From the first phone call we had, when she was still just inquiring about the program, I knew what a wonderful project she would produce and what a joy she would be to work with. Her doctoral project made a strong case against using conditional cash transfers as tools of gender empowerment in developing countries. Her research was extensive, her arguments were compelling, and the work ethic she demonstrated throughout was truly remarkable. Kerry has already secured teaching in political philosophy at Trinity College at The University of Toronto and a postdoctoral position in population health at Western University. She has also applied for a SSHRC postdoc that would allow her to return to EPAF to work with me exploring gender and health-based arguments for basic income. I was very fortunate to have had Kerry as my first supervisee in the EPAF program. On top of being an excellent student who produced truly first-rate work, Kerry is exceptionally motivated, collaborative, and insightful – not to mention charming, warm, funny, and an absolute delight to spend time with. I truly hope she will be successful in her SSHRC application, as I look forward to having the continued privilege of supervising Kerry’s work.
Lisa Mills, Associate Professor and Program Director (BPAPM), Carleton University
It has been a great privilege to work with you, Kerry! It’s a pleasure to work with a student who is so dedicated and well-organized, and produces such excellent work. Congratulations on an outstanding dissertation, and on your post-doc in the New Year. I hope it all goes well for you and look forward to hearing what you’re doing in the future!