Dr. Heather Reid, associate professor and chair of philosophy at Morningside College, was chair of the panel “Teaching Sport-Related Philosophy Courses” at the annual meeting of the Eastern Division of the American Philosophical Association held in Washington, D.C. in December.

The panel, presented by the International Association for the Philosophy of Sport, of which Reid is current president, discussed the benefits and challenges of teaching sports related philosophy classes. Topics included the types of students who take such courses, the various assignments that can be given, the philosophical skills developed, and student response to the subject.

The American Philosophical Association is the main professional organization for philosophers in the United States. Founded in 1900, its mission is to promote the exchange of ideas among philosophers, to encourage creative and scholarly activity in philosophy, to facilitate the professional work and teaching of philosophers, and to represent philosophy as a discipline.

Reid joined the faculty at Morningside in 1996 and frequently teaches about the philosophy of sports. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She has received international recognition for her expertise on the philosophical foundations of the Olympic Games and is the author of “The Philosophical Athlete,” published in 2002 by Carolina Academic Press, Durham, N.C. She is currently at work on a book about philosophy and athletics in the ancient world.