Ecofeminist Teaching and Mentoring: Vicky Davion's Legacy

This essay contemplates the life and work of Victoria Davion and the meaning of legacy in the field of philosophy. As her former student and graduate assistant, I examine Davion's legacy through her ecological feminist teaching philosophy. Ideally, an ecological feminist pedagogy serves as a critical praxis that brings together students and teachers to empower themselves in the scope of knowledge construction about oppression of human and nonhumans and to develop ways to resist against dualistic thinking. I begin with examining best practices in an ecofeminist pedagogy for sustaining relationships between students and their teachers and ways of encouraging this relationship to translate beyond the classroom. I focus on four features of Davion's pedagogy and mentorship including 1) accessibility 2) dialogue 3) praxis and 4) interconnectedness. I address how these four features in her teaching are well suited to nurturing a flourishing relationship between students and their teachers and larger community. I draw attention to these aspects of her ecofeminist teaching practices, and I hope this reflection expands the meaning of legacy in ecofeminist philosophy.