President von Eschenbach Gives Keynote Address at Alabama Philosophical Society Convention

As President Warren von Eschenbach, PhD, leads the university, he is also staying engaged with his passion for philosophy and ethics - the foundation of his educational and academic background. The President gave the keynote address at the Alabama Philosophical Society's annual convention on Sept. 4, 2026, in Pensacola Beach, Florida.

Titled “Beyond Individual Virtue: Toward a Theory of Public Virtues,” President von Eschenbach's speech said that “virtues can be meaningfully ascribed not only to individuals but also to communities, institutions and other collective entities.”

An abstract of the President's paper said, “Drawing on Aristotle and Plato, as well as communitarian thought and contemporary theories of collective agency" and that it contended “public virtues function both as moral excellences constitutive of collective identity and as qualities that enable communities to flourish.”

The address explored “trust as a paradigmatic public virtue, demonstrating its role in social cohesion, democratic life and communal integrity.” It concluded by “examining the implications of public virtue for professional ethics, institutional leadership and civic obligation,” according to the abstract.

The President holds a PhD in Philosophy from The University of Texas at Austin, specializing in ethics and 19th and 20th-century European philosophy; an MA in Philosophy from Marquette University; and a BA in Philosophy from Trinity University. 

Dr. von Eschenbach was named Interim President of UNT Dallas in April 2024 by Chancellor Michael R. Williams. He was appointed President by the UNT System Board of Regents in August 2025 and was officially installed during an Investiture ceremony on May 1, 2026.

President von Eschenbach is a distinguished academic leader and philosopher whose research centers on ethics and technology. He has published articles in Philosophy & Technology, The Journal of Global Ethics, Culture e Fede: Journal of the Pontifical Council for Culture, The Journal of Value Inquiry, America Magazine and Indigo Humanities Journal. He is a contributing author to Encountering Artificial Intelligence: Ethical and Anthropological Explorations (Pickwick Press, 2024) and Virtues in the Public Sphere: Citizenship, Civic Friendship, and Duty (Routledge, 2019).

The President’s academic journey is marked by profound engagement with ethical and normative issues, particularly in the realm of technology. As a faculty member at the University of Notre Dame, he taught a wide array of courses including “Existentialist Themes,” “Ethics & Politics,” “British Moral Philosophy” and “Philosophy of Art and Aesthetics.” His teaching also extended to the Business School, where he developed three ethics courses: Ethics of Data Analytics, Ethics of Business Analytics (MSBA) and Ethics of Business and Data Analytics (MBA).

During his tenure at Notre Dame, Dr. von Eschenbach successfully created the University’s first multidisciplinary minor in technology ethics; fostered partnerships internationally to support faculty research and collaborations across campus; implemented a new core curriculum for international programs; opened the University’s Center in Rome; and increased experiential learning and research opportunities for students and postdoctoral fellows. In 2015, Dr. von Eschenbach and his team in London were awarded the Presidential Team Irish Award for exemplifying the University of Notre Dame’s core values.

Prior to his current position, Dr. von Eschenbach served as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of North Texas System, where he supported curricular and programmatic innovation across campuses. Before coming to the UNT System, he spent nearly 14 years at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, as a faculty member and administrator, serving in various leadership roles within the Provost’s Office, including Associate Vice President and Assistant Provost (responsible for overseeing Notre Dame’s 11 international locations and 48 study abroad programs), Academic Director of the Notre Dame London Global Gateway, Senior Advisor to the Provost, and Inaugural Managing Director of the Notre Dame Technology Ethics Center, which he was instrumental in launching.

Currently, President von Eschenbach serves on the executive committee of the North America Association for Philosophy & Education and belongs to the AI Research Group at the Vatican Center for Digital Culture, part of the Vatican Dicastery for Culture and Education. He is also a reviewer for Philosophy & Technology, Synthese and the Journal of Philosophy. His dual citizenship in the United States and Italy underscores his global perspective and dedication to international collaboration.