Jane Compson, Ph.D.

Instructor

jcompson@mail.ucf.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 4-5.50pm Bookstore coffee shop in Washington Center, or by appt.

Jane Compson graduated from the University of Bristol (UK) with a Ph.D. in Comparative Religion in 1998. Her dissertation was on the Buddhist attitude towards other religious groups in the early Buddhist scriptures (the Pali Nikayas), and a comparison of this approach with that of contemporary religious pluralist, John Hick. Jane's bachelor's degree was in English Literature (Exeter) - as part of this program she studied some philosophy of religion, which has since been one of her key areas of interest. She is also very interested in environmental ethics and medical ethics. She spent a year working at the groundbreaking Centre for Ethics in Medicine at the University of Bristol, before spending nearly two years working on the Anti-Whaling Team for the International Fund for Animal Welfare.

This experience prompted a keen interest in environmental ethics, and to find out more about this, she went to Colorado State University in 2001 to study for a Master's Degree in Philosophy with a special focus on environmental ethics. Her thesis was on the issue of the moral considerability of animals.

Jane has taught classes in philosophy of religion, medical ethics, argument analysis, veterinary ethics and environmental ethics. She has published papers in Religious Studies, Conversations, and has contributed to Ian Markham's reader, World Religions. She teaches at both the Daytona and the Orlando campuses of UCF.

Jane loves wildlife, animals, and getting into the great outdoors. Having moved from the sleepy villages of England to the impressive mountain ranges of the Rockies in Colorado, she is enjoying oceanside life in Florida!

Education

Ph.D. in Comparative Religion (Buddhism and Christianity) from University of Bristol, United Kingdom (1998)
M.A. in Philosophy from Colorado State University (2003)
M.A. in Religion in the Contemporary World from University of Bristol, UK (1994)
B.A. in English Literature from University of Exeter, UK (1992)

Research Interests

Theravada Buddhism and Comparative Religion
Environmental Ethics
Animal Ethics
Medical and veterinary Ethics
Contemplative Education

Selected Publications

Articles/Essays

Forthcoming · “Contemplative Classrooms in Cyberspace”. Essay in forthcoming anthology, Teaching from Within.
· “Seeing Outranks Believing: Some Buddhist Reflections on Faith and Belief” in Modern Believing, 48:3, July 2007, pp. 50-59.
· “The Dalai Lama and the World Religions: A False Friend?” in Religious Studies, 32 (2), 1996, pp.271-279

Awards

2009 Grant for Innovative Teaching and Learning, University of Central Florida, November 2008, $1000
UCF Faculty Development Summer Conference, Core Commitments Track, Orlando, Summer 2008, $800.
UCF Faculty Development Winter Conference, Core Commitments Track, Orlando, Winter 2007, $500.
UCF Faculty Development Summer Conference, Information Fluency Track, Orlando, Summer 2007, $500.
UCF Faculty Development Winter Project, Information Fluency Track, Orlando, Winter 2006, $500.
UCF Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning: Course Innovation Project, Fall 2005, $500.
UCF Faculty Development Summer Conference, Internationalizing Courses Project, April 2004, $1000
UCF Course Development and Web Services: IDL 5643, Training to Teach Fully Online, $2000
UCF Faculty Development Winter Project, Daytona Campus, Winter 2004, $500.
UCF Faculty Development Winter Conference: Collaborative Learning and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Project December 2003, $1000.
Colorado State University, Department of Philosophy, Full Teaching Assistantship, approx $30,000, and all tuition.
The British Academy: Full Four-Year Studentship for Masters and PhD Program, 1994-1998.
Commendation for M.A., University of Bristol, 1994.
Gamini Salgado Prize for Best Undergraduate Dissertation, University of Exeter, 1992.

Spring 2010 Courses

Course Number	Course	Title	Mode	Date and Time
19925	PHI3033	PHILOSOPHY RELIGION & ENVT	WWW	-
No Description Available
19926	PHI3640	ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS	WWW	-
No Description Available
21064	REL3340	BUDDHIST THOUGHT	Face2Face	M,W 4:30PM - 5:45PM
No Description Available