Philosophy Graduate Student Conference
ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì’s Philosophy Graduate Student Conference brings together scholars from across North America in remembrance of May 4, 1970.
On May 4, 1970, four ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì students, Allison Krause, Jeffrey Miller, Sandra Scheuer and William Schroeder were killed, and nine others wounded when the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a student protest against the Vietnam War. The Annual Philosophy Graduate Student Conference is one of the ways in which the university remembers the events of that spring afternoon.
The ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University Philosophy Department has held a Philosophy Graduate Student Conference every year in memory of the events of May 4, 1970 since the inauguration of our graduate program in 1992–1993.
The conference is open to all areas of philosophy and conference participants typically come to Kent from across North America. Attendees will be gathering in person.
Each annual conference features a well-known keynote speaker, who participates in every conference session. Please join us for the next terrific conference!
2026 Call For Papers
33rd Annual ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì Philosophy Graduate Student Conference
Conference Date: March 28, 2026
Keynote Speaker: Lanei Rodemeyer, PhD
The ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University Philosophy Department is pleased to announce its 33rd Annual Philosophy Graduate Student Conference in Remembrance of May 4th, 1970. This conference will take place in-person, on March 28, 2026.
We invite submissions from current graduate students on any philosophical topic and from any research tradition in philosophy. All submitted papers should: (i) not exceed 3,000-words, (ii) be prepared for blind review, and (iii) be accompanied by a separate page that includes paper title and author information (name, affiliation, graduate student status (MA or PHD student), and contact information).
We encourage submissions from all current graduate students! The conference will be held in person, and is open to the public and free to attend. Lunch will be provided to all participants and accommodations, such as lodging and transportation within Kent, may be available to participants as well (on a first-come, first-serve basis).
The deadline for submissions is: November 9, 2025.
All submissions and inquiries should be emailed to Dr. Austin Melton: amelton@kent.edu.
Funding Provided in part by Graduate Student Senate and ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University Research and Graduate Studies
For More Information
The ÐÔ¸£ÎåÔÂÌì University Philosophy Graduate Student Conference is among the longest running in the discipline. The conference is held in March each year.
We post a call for papers for the next conference each fall.
For submissions and inquiries please e-mail: philconf@kent.edu