Don Habibi
Professor
Dr. Habibi joined the UNCW faculty in 1988. Previously, he taught at Cornell University, Ithaca College, California State University Fresno, and Pomona College. His teaching experience has ranged from a public elementary school to inmates at a maximum security prison. As an undergraduate at UCLA, he wrote his History Honors Thesis under the supervision of Professor Giorgio Buccellati, and played First Violin in the UCLA Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Mehli Mehta. In graduate school at Cornell, he studied with professors David Lyons and Kenneth Strike. Originally from Los Angeles, Professor Habibi is a world traveler, having visited some 70 countries.
Education
B.A. in History, Magna Cum Laude, University of California Los Angeles, 1978
M.A. in Philosophy of Education and Philosophy, Cornell University, 1982
Ph.D. in Philosophy, Cornell University, 1985
Research Interests
Dr. Habibi's wide-ranging research interests include topics in political philosophy, ethics, and jurisprudence. His area of specialization includes British intellectual history, particularly utilitarianism and liberalism.
Honors & Awards
'Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award' 1999, UNCW.
'Distinguished Teaching Professorship Award' 2003-2006, UNCW.
'Phi Eta Sigma Teacher of the Year Award' 2006.
'Outstanding Citizenship Medal' National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, 2009.
'Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award,' UNCW Alumni Association, 2019.
Teacher of the Year,’ Alpha Phi Alpha Teaching Excellence Award, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, 2019.
Ambassador, Higher Education Outreach Program, Council on Foreign Relations, 2023-present