Sovereign Wisdom

Biographical notes

Jennifer Vest (Author)

Jennifer Lisa Vest, Ph.D. (Mikasuki Seminole mixedblood) is a retired Associate Professor of Philosophy. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Physics from Hampshire College, her Masters in History from Howard University, and her PhD in Ethnic Studies and Philosophy at University of California, Berkeley. She won a President’s Postdoc at UCLA in the Center for the Study of Women. She has served on numerous philosophical committees including a long-time member and officer of the American Philosophical Association’s Committee on Native American and Indigenous Philosophers as well as the International Society for African Philosophy and Studies. She introduced Native American philosophy into the philosophy curriculum at two universities and has devoted decades to fighting for the inclusion of Native American and African philosophy in the canon. She has published articles and poetry in numerous journals and served on the Committee for the Status of American Indians in Philosophy for many years. She was also the Treasurer for the International Association for African Philosophy and Studies. She was an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Seattle University and earned tenure in the Philosophy Department at the University of Central Florida before leaving Academia.