Leo M Bannister Jr

Leo Bannister husband, father, retired OEF and OIF combat veteran, and lecturer, was born and raised in San Antonio Texas. His ancestry can be traced back to José Francisco Ruiz who was one of only two native Texans to sign the Texas Declaration of Independence. While he himself did not know it at the time, he was brought up in a home that set the foundation for what would later become one of his greatest passions, philosophy. This groundwork festered with not much direction for years while he served in the Army questioning everything all the while seeking greater purpose and meaning. It wasn’t until he met his wife, his guiding light, that the quest seemed to take shape. She helped him though his combat injuries after his return from Iraq and gave him the confidence and support to move forward after retirement and finish his degree. The initial path was education. That quickly changed after taking the mandatory Philosophy course at UIW with Dr. Chris Edelman. He then went on get his graduate degree in Applied Philosophy and Ethics from Texas State University. He finds his inspiration for ideas like the autonomy of the child by engaging with his family and trying to see the world through their eyes. Since 2014 he has served as a judge for the Annual Texas Regional Ethics Bowl at St. Mary’s University. He has been nominated for the Regents’ Outstanding Teaching Award and the President’s Distinguished Achievement Award for Core Curriculum Teaching at UTSA. He has been teaching since 2015 and loves to see the evolution in others as they grow beyond wondering what Philosophy is to discovering the wonders that Philosophy holds.

• M.A. in Applied Philosophy and Ethics, Texas State University, (2015)
• B.S. in Philosophy, University of the Incarnate Word, (2013)
• Primary Leadership Development Course, Ft. Polk NC, (2007)

2015

• "Feminism & Foucault: Why Rape is Beyond Physical Violence" April 14, 2015, Texas State University
• "A Disability Perspective on Medicine" February 25, 2015, Texas State University

2014

• "James Joyce: The Moral Significance of the Commonplace" October 23, 2014, Texas State University
• "What is the Democratic Ideal" October 15, 2014, San Marcos Public Library Dialogue 2013
• "Making Amends: The Case for and Against Reparations" November 4, 2013, Texas State University
• "My Brain Made Me Do It" October 3, 2013, Texas State University
• "Bioethics and the Fate of the Responsible Self" October 2, 2013, San Marcos Public Library Dialogue

Doctor's Without Borders Student Chapter at UTSA

Magic and Mentalism

Judge, Annual Texas Regional Ethics Bowl at St. Mary’s University

• Freewill
• Autonomy of the child
• Implicit Bias in healthcare

Fall 2016 – Present Lecture University of Texas at San Antonio

• Intro to Medical Humanities
• Seminar in Medical Humanities Medical Humanities Seminar; Sex, Power and Poverty
• Medical Humanities Seminar; Truth, Region and Science
• Ethics
• Honors - Well-being Tutorial I

Fall 2015 – Present Adjunct Professor University of the Incarnate Word

• Intro to Philosophy
• Ethics