Molly Kelly

Molly Kelly is an interdisciplinary philosopher whose research explores questions of place, politics and power within phenomenal experience. Specifically, she explores how experiences of sounding, listening and silence can provide philosophers and artists alike with rich resources for thinking through questions of oppression and conformity, as well as resistance and transformation. In her recent work, for example, Molly investigates the rise of bimbocore as a feminist orientating device on TikTok. Her work has been published in Continental Philosophy Review, Puncta: Journal of Critical Phenomenology and Theory & Psychology.

As an educator, Molly approaches philosophy as a way of thinking that extends beyond the classroom into students’ lives. Her teaching style encourages students to think about philosophical concepts as they appear in everyday contexts, and to question the social, cultural and historical conditions that frame them. As a first-generation college student and graduate, Molly is committed to making her classroom a safe community space for all students.

Outside of teaching and research, Molly enjoys sewing, quilting, weightlifting and spending time with her dog and two cats. If she’s not in the classroom or her office, you can likely find her in the RISD Nature Lab, telling everyone about the tragic history of pigeons.