I was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida. Here’s a fun fact ingrained in my brain forever by my elementary school teachers: Pinellas, the county of St. Petersburg, is a peninsula on a peninsula: Florida!

My philosophical journey began at Florida State University, where I studied from 2012—2014 before transferring to Reed College. I received my BA in philosophy there in 2017. I then moved to the University of Southern California, where I completed my PhD in philosophy in 2025. Along the way, I earned an MA in humanities (concentrating in linguistics) at the University of Chicago in 2021.

When I’m not doing philosophy, I’m often playing video games, playing chess, or training Brazilian Jiujitsu, in which I am a blue belt. I have also been reading some fiction recently. A recent obsession of mine is Berserk, a wonderful manga series written by the late Kentaro Miura. Moreover, Berserk greatly influenced some of my favorite video games: Fromsoftware’s Bloodborne, Elden Ring, Sekiro, and Dark Souls series.

These video games (and therefore, albeit indirectly, Miura’s Berserk) have also influenced the 2025 masterpiece Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is one of my favorite games of all time. Clair Obscur stands out for its extraordinary storytelling and meaningful reflection on various philosophical themes. It is both artistically and philosophically rich—a rare feat.

Finally, my identity as a Vietnamese American has shaped my experience in academic philosophy and beyond. I am the son of immigrants, refugees of the Vietnam War. I reflect on these experiences in my essay, “Alienation, Ambiguity, and Authenticity,” which I wrote for a newsletter for the APA committee on Asian and Asian American Philosophers and Philosophies.

I also wrote a lighter piece, an APA member interview, in which I discuss philosophy, books, and my least favorite type of fruit.