Dallas Havens is originally from Oregon and was raised in the Midwest. He joined Rice's Philosophy Department as a doctoral student in 2022, after having earned his M.A. in philosophy from Northern Illinois University. 

Dallas primarily works in ethics and political philosophy. Within ethics, Dallas is interested in the relationship between rationality and morality, as well as a variety of issues in applied ethics. Within political philosophy, he is interested in the relationship between state coercion and citizens' freedom and political theories that both endorse liberal neutrality and emphasize individual liberty. Dallas is also interested in epistemology and some topics in philosophy of mind.

Why I decided to go to grad school:

I decided to go to grad school to expand my knowledge and skillset in philosophy, continue research in ethics and political philosophy, and gain experience in teaching philosophy in higher education.

Fun fact about me:

I have hitchhiked through a handful of states and travel whenever I get the chance!

Favorite thing about Rice:

The graduate community at Rice is welcoming and supportive, even outside of one's department.

Favorite thing about Houston:

Houston is highly diverse and has incredible food!