Joseph Kirkland, J.D.

Joseph Kirkland was born in Ann Arbor, raised in Detroit, and is himself a proud Wolverine. Mr. Kirkland earned his JD from the University of Michigan Law School in 2003 while completing concurrent studies in the Rackham Graduate School of Philosophy at U-M. Mr. Kirkland joined the teaching faculty at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 2006. An attorney and member of the State Bar of Michigan since 2004, he is also proud to be a member of American Federation of Teachers Union Local 6244.

As a university philosophy instructor for nearly twenty years, he especially enjoys introducing philosophy and its contemporary relevance to students new to or perhaps intimidated by the discipline. His efforts in the classroom were recognized campus-wide in 2018 when Mr. Kirkland was named a Finalist for the Distinguished Teaching Award at UM-Dearborn.

Teaching Interests

History of Philosophy, Ethics, Critical Thinking, Philosophy of Law, Marxism, Social and Political Philosophy

• J.D. University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
• B.A., Philosophy: Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.