Written by Sammi McGiveron
Edited by Eduardo Imbert
The League of Storytellers had the pleasure of meeting Geneseo sophomore Alexis Flint — a Philosophy major, McNair Scholar, president of the Philosophy Club, and mother. Alexis has embarked on a fascinating philosophy research journey, which began in Dr. Brian Barnett’s Writing 105 course, The Philosophy of Nonviolence. Sparked by the encouragement of Dr. Mills in the Geneseo Honors Program, she delved deeper into the complexities of nonviolent philosophy. With great ambition, Alexis developed a unique concept she calls nonviolence pedagogy, which she describes as “a promotion of love and equality and respect for everybody.” She elaborates: “It’s a pedagogical approach that centers the students and the equality of epistemic knowledge. Epistemic knowledge is the theory of knowledge—so being aware of how information guides thinking and behavior is kind of a central point here.”
In February 2025, Alexis had the remarkable opportunity to present her ideas and findings at the American Philosophical Association’s national conference. Held virtually for the first time, the format came with a shared learning curve that helped ease some of the nerves Alexis might have otherwise felt. Professors and graduate students alike were astonished at the sheer fact that Ms. Flint was a sophomore. How she presented and the depth of insight gave the impression of someone far more experienced, as that was evident throughout the interview. That sense of maturity may partly be attributed to her role as a mother to a beautifully spunky two-year-old daughter. Alexis’s identity as a young mom deeply shaped who she is, both personally and academically, and has even played a significant role in her research process.
The heart of Alexis’s belief is that education must be responsive and adaptable to the diverse needs of students. She asserts, “Professors should be taking pedagogical steps that support students where they're at… every class would be differently taught based on the needs of students in the class.” As both a student and a mother, she brings lived experience to this argument, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and empathy in higher education. “There’s a lot of pressure,” she shared, “not just from trying to do well in school and as a parent, but also from the abnormality of having a child on campus—like bringing them into class or managing responsibilities both at home and in academic spaces.” Fortunately, Alexis has found a strong sense of support and community within the halls of Geneseo. She exclaimed that her research aligns with the supportive and welcoming environment her peers and professors present her.
Alexis’s research, grounded in both philosophical context and personal experience, offers a compelling call to reimagine educational spaces through a lens of equity, empathy, and nonviolence. Looking ahead, she aspires to become a philosophy professor providing the flexible classroom experience she advocates for. As Alexis continues to grow personally, she’ll build her foundation of philosophy research, resulting in academic growth fueled by deep passion and achieved through hard work.
Video forthcoming
Videography: Alyssa Alayon, Eduardo Imbert, Maria Frontera, Sammi McGiveron
Interview done by Cadence Panol