Barry Vaughan with students in Athlone, Ireland.

Barry Vaughan, Professor of Philosophy

Alumnus Barry F. Vaughan received his doctorate in philosophy at the University of Oklahoma in 1999. Since graduating from OU, he has become a professor of philosophy at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Ariz., teaching history of ancient philosophy and philosophy of religion. As an active member of the faculty at Mesa, he has served as Faculty Senate President; Higher Learning Commission Accreditation Self-Study, Criterion 4 Tri-Chair; and Study Abroad in Ireland Director.

Vaughan says the most challenging part of being a professor is designing a course, but the most rewarding part of being a professor is that moment when a student understands what is being taught. “Seeing the look on their faces when an idea truly is understood is, for me, that magic moment and is my entire reason for teaching,” he said at a lecture on OU’s campus for FOCAS Week.

As part of the faculty of Mesa Community College, he is director for their study abroad program in Ireland. Each year, a group of students travel to central Ireland for 5 weeks. The students attend classes at Athlone Institute of Technology and visit the lovely countryside.

“I am a philosopher,” states Vaughan. “OK, so I’m a philosopher; what do I do? The short answer to that is: I teach others about philosophy and occasionally, when I’m very lucky, help them to learn how to do philosophy.”