Dr. Heather Salazar

Teaching areas: Philosophy. Ethics, Philosophy of Mind, Business Ethics, Philosophy of Language

Education: B.S. and B.A., Arizona State University; M.A. and Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara

Teaching at SHC Since: 2007

Hobbies: Art, writing, practicing yoga, hiking, traveling

Faculty Web Site: Heather's faculty website/blog

Dr. Heather Salazar is a firm believer in Spring Hill College’s mission of integrating mind, body and spirit.

A new faculty member in the philosophy department, Salazar incorporates meditation, in-depth discussions and analytical reading into her classes, while encouraging students to evaluate their personal values and beliefs.

"I try to cultivate a very open attitude in my classes, where we can all be authentic and engage intellectually, emotionally and spiritually," Salazar says. "I don’t believe that we should compartmentalize our lives, and bringing it all together is the only way to learn and grow in truth and wisdom."

Salazar already has started a meditation group that meets once a week and is open to students, faculty and staff. She says the experience has been beneficial to everyone in the group.

"I am so fortunate to be able to share the things that inspire me with others," she says. "And I’m learning so much from the others in the group, too."

Salazar is in the beginning stages of an ethics research project with a dedicated group of students. The first phase of the project seeks to correlate happiness and health with the way that people prioritize their obligations. She says the hope is that she will be able to develop an ethical theory that helps to guide people to live more balanced, fulfilling and ethically satisfying lives.

Prior to coming to Spring Hill, Salazar was finishing her dissertation at the University of California at Santa Barbara. There, she spent her days reading, writing and grading at coffee houses; eating lots of Indian food; hiking in the mountains and on the beach; and practicing yoga. Originally from Phoenix, Ariz., she also enjoys art, writing, traveling and immersing herself in other cultures.

"I believe in seeking truth with courage, in understanding and compassion, and in creating harmony between perspectives and people," she says. "Every part of the world is unique, and yet it is all unified together in a masterful artwork."

Salazar says one of the things that attracted her to Spring Hill was the role the college played during the Civil Rights Movement. During her guest lectures as part of her interview, she was impressed with how current students have continued the Jesuit tradition of service to others.

"The one thing that echoed throughout these conversations is that people here really care. I was pretty much sold after that," she says. "I can’t imagine a more fulfilling life than being a part of a community that seeks to change themselves from the inside with knowledge and also extend their skills to improve the world."