Dr. Derek O'Connell
Instructional Assistant Professor
Philosophy
Office
FEL Fell Hall 329
Office Hours
Academic advising appointments can be scheduled at https://appointments.illinoisstate.edu/ramonline/Appointment?AGID=940&P=490&AU=0&AG=940&D=-5000d
Office Phone
Email
- About
- Education
- Research
Current Courses
PHI 270.001 Existentialism
IDS 128.005 Thriving In College, Career And Beyond
PHI 251.001 Visions Of The Self:A Study Of Minds And Persons
Teaching Interests & Areas
Existentialism, Philosophy of Human Nature, Philosophy of Religion
Research Interests & Areas
Student Development Theory, Sociology of Education
MS College Student Personnel Administration
Illinois State University
Ph D Philosophy
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
MA Philosophy
University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
BA Philosophy
Northern Michigan University
Journal Article
O'Connell, D. R. (In press). The importance of meaning in life theory for academic advising. NACADA Review, 6(1).
Magazine/Trade Publication
O’Connell, D. R. (2025, July 14). How are students really using AI? Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-are-students-really-using-ai
O’Connell, D. R. (2023, Jan. 23). Chat GPT and Student Writing: Some Practical Reflections. Blog of the APA, American Philosophical Association. https://blog.apaonline.org/2023/01/23/chat-gpt-and-student-writing-some-practical-reflections/
O’Connell, D. R. (2023, June 30). Chat GPT After Six Months: More Practical Reflections. Blog of the APA, American Philosophical Association. https://blog.apaonline.org/2023/06/30/chatgpt-after-six-months-more-practical-reflections/
O’Connell, D. R. (2022, Feb. 25). Lawsuits and settlements won’t save free speech. Chronicle of Higher Education. https://www.chronicle.com/article/lawsuits-and-settlements-wont-save-free-speech
Presentations
O’Connell, D. R. (2025, May 22). AI and the college student: What do we know? [Conference session]. ILACADA 2025 Log-in Conference, online.
O’Connell, D. R. (2024, December 13). The importance of meaning-making for advising. [Invited presentation]. ILACADA December 2024 Brown Bag, online.
O’Connell, D. R. (2024, September 27). Using “simple” questions to help advisees (and you) explore meaning, values, and purpose [Conference session]. ILACADA 2024 Annual Conference, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL.
O’Connell, D. R. (2023, Nov. 17). Understanding the faculty mind: A guide for advisors [Conference session]. ILACADA 2023 Annual Conference, Principia College, Elsah, IL.
O’Connell, D. R. (2022, May 13). The Illinois Articulation Initiative general education program: What advisors need to know [Conference session]. ILACADA 2022 Log-in Conference, online.