John M. Armstrong
Willis J. Smith Professor of Philosophy
John M. Armstrong is the Willis J. Smith Professor of Philosophy and associate provost at Southern Virginia University.
Dr. Armstrong joined the faculty in 1998 and founded the university's philosophy program in 2002. He was elected president of the Virginia Philosophical Association for 2003-2004 and president of Mormon Scholars in the Humanities in 2011. He coordinated Southern Virginia University's successful bid for full national accreditation in 2003 and contributes to the university's regional accreditation efforts.
He teaches the core course Reason and the Self, as well as courses in ethics, political philosophy, ancient philosophy and free will. He has taught travel study courses in Rome, Greece and China. His research has been supported by a Summer Research Stipend from the National Endowment for the Humanities and a Summer Scholarship at Harvard's Center for Hellenic Studies.
His articles and book reviews have appeared in Oxford Studies in Ancient Philosophy, Classical Quarterly, Phronesis and Ancient Philosophy.
As associate provost, Dr. Armstrong directs the university's institutional research efforts, including the assessment of student learning outcomes, and chairs the Institutional Effectiveness Committee.
Before coming to Southern Virginia, Dr. Armstrong studied and taught at the University of Arizona, the University of Texas at Austin and Brigham Young University.
He lives in Buena Vista, Va., with his wife, Carol, and four children. He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and currently serves as the bishop of the Buena Vista University 4th Ward. From 2002 to 2006, Dr. Armstrong served as an elected member of the Buena Vista City School Board.
B.A., Brigham Young University, 1992; M.A., Ph.D., University of Arizona, 1995, 1998
Contact Information:
Southern Virginia University
One University Hill Drive
Buena Vista, VA 24416
107 Magnolia Hall
540-261-4119 office
540-261-8451 fax
john.armstrong@svu.edu