Animal Studies Project Area Workshop

Dec. 5, 2025

Hyde Hall, UNC


9-10a: Animal Welfare and Ethics 

Harry Lloyd, Asst. Prof., Philosophy, UNC

Matthew Adler, Richard A. Horvitz Dist. Prof. of Law & Prof., Economics, Philosophy, and Public Policy, Duke 

Irina Mikhalevich, Asst. Prof., Philosophy & Religious Studies, NC State

Moderator: Will Kanwischer, PhD candidate, Philosophy, UNC


10:15-10:45a: Sharon Holland, Townsend Ludington Dist. Prof., American Studies, UNC

Chair: Carol Kline, Director of the Hospitality and Tourism Mgmt. Program, Prof., Management, Appalachian State

10:45-11:15a: Paul Taillie, Director, Wildlife Biogeography Lab & Asst. Prof., Geography and the Environment, UNC


11:30a-12:30p: Animal Ritual 

Barbara Ambros, Prof. & Chair, Religious Studies, UNC

Joseph Lam, Assoc. Prof., Religious Studies, UNC

Andrea Cooper, Assoc. Prof., Leonard & Tobee Kaplan Scholar, Religious Studies, UNC

Maharshi Vyas, Asst. Prof, Religious Studies, UNC

Moderator: Joanna Flynn, Assoc. Director, Outreach & Strategic Collab., Carolina Public Humanities


12:30-1:15p: Lunch


1:15-2:15p: One Health 

Martin Smith, George M. Woodwell Dist. Prof. of Environmental Economics, Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke

Marnie Metzler, University Attending Veterinarian, Program of Animal Welfare and Science, NC State

Melissa Salm, Asst. Prof., Anthropology, UNC

Moderator: Norbert Wilson, Director of World Food Policy Ctr., Sanford School of Public Policy & Prof. of Food, Econ. & Community, Divinity School, Duke 


2:15-2:45p: Rachell Powell, Director, Center for Philosophy and History of Science & Prof., Philosophy, Boston University

Chair: Barbara Ambros, Prof. & Chair, Religious Studies, UNC


3-4p: Zooarchaeology 

Benjamin Arbuckle, Prof. & Assoc. Chair, Anthropology, UNC

Heather Lapham, Assoc. Director, Research Laboratories of Archaeology & Adj. Assoc. Prof., Anthropology, UNC

Kathryn Grossman, Asst. Prof., Sociology and Anthropology, NC State

Christine Mikeska, PhD Candidate, Anthropology, UNC

Moderator: TBD


4-4:30p: Animal moral status: Ancient and Modern 

Rory Hanlon, Teaching Asst. Prof., Philosophy, UNC 

Stephen Puryear, Chair and Prof., Philosophy & Religious Studies, NC State

Chair: Zach Ferguson, PhD Candidate, Philosophy, UNC