Dr. Nancy Kettle successfully defended her dissertation titled "Climate, Neo-Spinozism, and the Ecological Worldview" in 2013 under the direction of Dr. Martin Schönfeld. Her dissertation provided a thoughtful examination of the environmental philosophy approach known as Deep Ecology. Dr. Kettle demonstrated broad expertise in environmental studies, climatology, sustainability science, and applied her interdisciplinary research to show how Deep Ecology's Spinozist roots remain highly relevant for addressing current environmental crises like climate change. After graduating, Dr. Kettle has also established herself as a knowledgeable and well-rounded businesswoman focused on implementing sustainable solutions.

1. October 22, 2015
Greetings,
I am Dr Martin Schönfeld writing about Dr Nancy Kettle’s doctoral work.
Dr Kettle wrote a thesis on “Climate, Neo‐Spinozism, and the Ecological Worldview”
under my direction, which she successfully defended as a dissertation, graduating with
the Ph.D. in December 2013. Her dissertation is a clearly written, knowledgeable, and
thoughtful examination of a key approach in classical environmental philosophy, the so‐
called Deep Ecology by the Norwegian naturalist and Spinoza‐scholar Arne Naess.
Deep Ecology is one of the pioneering approaches in environmental philosophy nearly
fifty years ago that contributed to the foundation of the discipline.
In recent decades, the environmental crisis underwent a profound transformation.
Climate change has become the defining challenge of our times; civilization finds itself
locked in a growth‐based economy even though we are already overshooting planetary
boundaries and resource limits; and environmental problems, which used to be quite
literally problems for endangered species and scenic wilderness regions, have become
problems for us, for the stability and the security of civilization, and the prospects of
future generations.
Dr Kettle examined Deep Ecology and its Spinozist roots on its potential for dealing
with this great transformation, and demonstrated, convincingly and interestingly, that
this approach has aged extremely well and applies more than ever to the present crisis.
Her line of argumentation relied extensively on up‐to‐date interdisciplinary research on
climate change and sustainability. Although this dissertation was defended in the
Philosophy Department, it was a substantial interdisciplinary achievement. Dr Kettle
demonstrated to the Doctoral Committee her broad expertise in environmental studies,
climatological findings and research methods, and in sustainability science.

2. I have known Dr Kettle for a number of years. Academically, she has an impressive
ability to conduct independent, systematic, and careful research. Her research interests
go in an empirical and interdisciplinary direction, and her focus is on environmental
matters. Generally, she impressed me with her persistence, enthusiasm, discipline, and
creativity. Personally, I know her as a person who is kind, dependable, and generous.
What is unique about Dr Kettle is that in my interactions with her after her graduation
and outside academics, I have also come to know her as a knowledgeable, talented, and
energetic business woman who is astoundingly well‐rounded. She understands the
importance of practical applications of the ideas she explored in her studies and is
capable of implementing them for the greater social good.
Dr Kettle understands the need for sustainable development and wants to assist
communities become more environmentally and economically resilient given the
changing dynamics of the Earth’s climate. For instance, Dr Kettle understands the
detrimental side of our current energy production in the warming climate, as well as the
benefits of clean energy such as solar energy, energy storage, and other clean energy
technologies. She also understands the positive economic impact of these technologies
on communities. It is unmistakable, though, that her approach is informed by the
Enlightenment thinker Baruch Spinoza (1632‐1677).
Please let me know if you need additional information about Dr Kettle’s work.
Sincerely,
Martin Schönfeld, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Philosophy
University of South Florida
Tampa, FL 33620, USA
(813) 974‐5698
mschonfe@usf.edu