Alison Simmons

Alison Simmons, born in 1965, is a prominent American philosopher and the Samuel H. Wolcott Professor of Philosophy and Harvard College Professor at Harvard University. Her academic focus lies in early modern theories of mind (17th-18th century), exploring the intricate connections between the mind and body, natural philosophy, and the nature of sensory perception. She is also recognized for her role as co-founder of the Embedded EthiCS program at Harvard, an initiative that integrates ethical considerations into computer science curricula. Simmons' educational background includes a B.A. in psychology from Bucknell University, graduating summa cum laude, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania, where she studied under Gary Hatfield. Her career at Harvard began as an assistant professor, and she rose through the ranks, becoming the first woman to be tenured from a junior faculty position in Harvard's philosophy department. She has been honored with numerous awards and fellowships, including the Harvard Phi Beta Kappa Teaching Prize and a Harvard College Professorship. Her work on Descartes has been particularly influential, earning her recognition from The Philosopher's Annual.