Dr. Natalie Oman
Department of Philosophy
Dr. Natalie Oman
With an extensive background in political science, philosophy and law, Dr. Natalie Oman joins the Department of Philosophy this fall as an assistant professor. She began studying political science at the University of Toronto where she received a bachelor's degree. She then went on to graduate study at McGill in Montreal where she earned a master's in political science followed by a joint doctorate in philosophy and political science. As part of her doctoral work she conducted field research in northwestern British Columbia studying aboriginal land claims and wrote a thesis on the philosophical foundations of intercultural negotiation. Her research into contemporary political events in First Nations communities moved her to apply for a Killam post-doctoral fellowship at the University of British Columbia (UBC).
While at UBC, Dr. Oman taught in the law school and in the political science department. It was at this time that she decided to formalize her studies in law by undertaking doctoral research at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University. For the past three years, while pursuing her graduate work at Osgoode Hall, she simultaneously taught courses on international human rights law and philosophy of law as an adjunct professor. She also taught a course on aboriginal politics at the University of Toronto.
Now at Memorial, she will continue her research into the ethics of international intervention, her doctoral research topic at Osgoode Hall. She is particularly interested in the problem of intercultural negotiation and the issue of judgement where people have different standards of value. She will also continue her research into land claim negotiations looking at how people reach just outcomes when there are profoundly different conceptions of the issues involved.
"This is a great time to come to Newfoundland," said Dr. Oman. "The political situation is very interesting, there are lots of economic possibilities and there seems to be a real commitment to aboriginal peoples. It's a pretty unique place and I am looking forward to becoming a part of it."