Wendy Parker named chair of the Department of Philosophy
Wendy Parker has been named chair of the Virginia Tech Department of Philosophy.
Parker joined the department as a professor in August 2020. Her research focuses on the philosophy of science, with an emphasis on climate science and meteorology. She is particularly interested in how scientists develop and evaluate evidence related to global climate change and its causes.
In addition to numerous articles and book chapters, Parker authored “Climate Science” in 2024 as part of the “Cambridge Elements in Philosophy of Science” series. She has received several awards and grants throughout her career, including two National Science Foundation standard grants, and has served as a Congressional Science Fellow on the staff of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
“I feel very fortunate to be taking on this role in a collegial department that is full of excellent scholars and dedicated teachers,” Parker said. “I look forward to supporting our students and faculty in my new role.”
Parker is also a faculty affiliate of Virginia Tech’s Global Change Center, and a core faculty member of Virginia Tech’s Center for Ecosystem Forecasting.
She earned bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and meteorology from Northern Illinois University and a master’s in philosophy and a Ph.D. in history and the philosophy of science from the University of Pittsburgh.
