Heimir Geirsson named next chair of Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at Iowa State

AMES, Iowa – Heimir Geirsson, associate professor of philosophy at Iowa State University, will become the new chair of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, an academic department in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Geirsson, a member of the Iowa State faculty since 1995, succeeds Kevin deLaplante, associate professor of philosophy who has served as chair since 2009 and will remain on the ISU faculty. Geirsson becomes chair effective July 1.

"We are very pleased to have Heimir Geirsson chair the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies," said Liberal Arts and Sciences Dean Beate Schmittmann. "He has served as assistant chair of the department for a number of years and has developed a compelling vision for sharing the contributions of thinkers from the past and exciting new developments occurring in the field with a wide range of students on our campus."

Mark Rectanus, chair of the Department of World Languages and Cultures, chaired the search committee. "Heimir Geirsson brings a wide range of experience in leading departmental initiatives and is committed to continuing the outstanding academic programs in the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies," Rectanus said.

Geirsson’s areas of specialization are philosophy of language and mind, epistemology, and metaphysics. He authored Philosophy of Language and Webs of Information (Routledge, 2013), co-edited Ethical Theory: A Concise Anthology (Broadview Press, 2000) and co-wrote Beginning Metaphysics: An Introductory Text with Readings (Blackwell Publishers, 1998).

Geirsson earned a Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.

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About Liberal Arts and Sciences

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is a world-class learning and research community. Iowa State’s most academically diverse college, LAS educates students to become global citizens, providing rigorous academic programs in the sciences, humanities and social sciences within a supportive personalized learning environment. College faculty design new materials, unravel biological structures, care for the environment, and explore social and behavioral issues. From fundamental research to technology transfer and artistic expression, the college supports people in Iowa and around the world.

NEWS RELEASE College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Iowa State University

Contacts: Heimir Geirsson, Philosophy and Religious Studies, (515) 294-8569, (geirsson@iastate.edu) Laura Wille, Liberal Arts & Sciences Communication, (515) 294-7742, (lge@iastate.edu)