Biography

Bernardo (Bernie) Joaquin Canteñs, CPA, MA (Accounting), MA (Philosophy), Ph.D. (Philosophy), is a first-generation Cuban American born in Miami, Florida. His parents emigrated to the United States as political refugees from Cuba in the 1960s. Dr. Canteñs earned both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Accounting from Florida International University (FIU) and became a Certified Public Accountant. He began his professional career with Coopers & Lybrand. Driven by a deep passion for philosophy, he later earned a second Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy, graduating cum laude and receiving the Academic Achievement Award in Philosophy. He continued his philosophical studies at the University of Miami, where he completed both a Master’s and a Ph.D. in Philosophy. Dr. Canteñs began his academic career as an Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Barry University in Miami, where he rose to the rank of Full Professor. In 2008, he joined Moravian University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as Chair of the Philosophy Department. He subsequently served as Associate Provost for Global Education and Online Innovation. In January 2022, Dr. Canteñs was appointed Executive Vice President and Provost at Sul Ross State University. A recognized scholar, he is the recipient of the American Philosophical Association’s William James Prize and the inaugural APA Latin American Philosophy Award.

Contribution to Service

College Committees

Planning and Budget Committee, 2018-2020.
Employee Recognition Committee 2018-2021.
Online Task Force, Fall 2017
Cohen Lecture Committee, 2016
Elected member of the Dispute Resolution Group, 2016-2018
Chair, General Education Committee 2013-2016.
President’s Council Subcommittee: Leadership/Marketing/Communications Design Team, 2013.
Grievance Committee-Elected Member, 2014-2015.
Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), 2009-2015.
Faculty Executive Council, 2010-2013.
Faculty Executive Council, Spring 2010.
Faculty Research and Development Committee, 2008-2009, 2009-2010.
In-Focus Committee, 2010-2013.
Committee on Themes and Academic Programming, 2009-2010.
Participated in the Teagle Workshop on Assessment on October 4, 2008, sponsored by the Teagle Foundation Grant.
Participated in the Writing Seminar at Moravian College in the summer of 2009.

Evaluation Committees

Chair of the evaluation committee for Dr. Khristina Haddad for full professor, Chair of Political Science, 2021-2022.
Chair of the periodic evaluation committee for Dr. Carol Moeller, Philosophy, 2020-2021.
Chair of the periodic evaluation committee for Dr. Naraghi, Philosophy, 2019-2020.
Member of the fifth-year review committee for Dr. Yayoi, Political Science, 2019-2020.
Member of the third-year mid-term review committee for Dr. Okpotor, Political Science, 2019-2020.
Chair of the periodic evaluation committee for Dr. Carol Moeller, Philosophy, 2018-2019.
Mentored Dr. Naraghi through the tenure process and promotion to Associate Professor.
Mentored Dr. Moeller through promotion to Associate Professor.
Co-Chair of the tenure and associate professor evaluation committee for Dr. Naraghi, Philosophy, 2014-2015.
Chair of the evaluation committee for Dr. Denton-Borhaug, Chair of Religion Department, 2013.
Member of the evaluation committee for tenure and promotion for Dr. Radine, Religion Department, 2013.
Co-Chair of the midterm evaluation committee for Dr. Naraghi, Philosophy, 2012.
Chair of the evaluation committee for Dr. Arash Naraghi, Philosophy, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014.
Chair of the evaluation committee for Dr. Moeller, Philosophy, 2008-2009, 2009-2010.

Search Committees

Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Search Committee, 2018-2019.
Marketing Assistant Professor Search Committee, Economics and Business Department, 2018-2019.
Accounting Assistant Professor Search Committee, Economics and Business Department, 2016-2017.
Dean for the School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences Search Committee, 2016-2017.
Coordinator of Global Inclusion Search Committee, 2014-2015.
Vice-President of Enrollment Committee Search Committee, 2012-2013.
Vice-President for Institutional Advancement Search Committee, 2009-2010.
Philosophy and Religion Search Committee, 2008-2009.

Student Organizations and Clubs

Faculty Advisor to the Philosophy Club, 2008-2011.
Founder of the Student Colloquium Series at Moravian College, 2009-present.
Co-founder of the Phi Sigma Tau Chapter at Moravian College, 2008.
Coach of the Moravian Debate Team, 2009-2015 (made it to quarterfinals 2012-2015 and to nationals in 2015).

Service in the Profession

Treasurer of the Associates for Philosophy of Religion (2017-Present)
President of the Society for Philosophers of Religion, 2013-2014.
Vice-President of the Society for Philosophers of Religion, 2012-2013.
Editor of the APA Newsletter for Hispanic/Latino Philosophy, 2008-2013.
APA Committee on Hispanics, 2001-2004, and 2005-2008.
Elected to the Executive Council of the Society for Philosophers of Religion, 2008.
Elected Executive Council of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, 2007.
Nominated to the Executive Council of the American Catholic Philosophical Association, 2006.
Nominated to the Executive Council of the American Catholic PhilosophicalAssociation, 2004.
The University of Granada, Scientific Committee for the Meeting on Pragmatism: Agency, Inference, and the Origin of Analytic Philosophy, April 19-21, 2006.
Coordinator/Convener of the Annual Conference for American Catholic Philosophical
Association (2004) Miami, FL. (Sponsored by Barry University)
Society for Philosophy of Religion, New Members Committee, Member, 2004.
Medieval Academy of America, Program Committee, Member, 2004.
Fides et Ratio Conference, Program Committee, Member, 2002.

Membership in the Profession

American Philosophical Association
Society for Philosophy of Religion
Society for the Advancement of American Philosophy
Society for Applied Ethics

Editorial Activities

Reviewer for the International Journal of Philosophy of Religion.
Reviewer for the Florida Philosophical Association
Reviewer for Sophia
Reviewer for Transactions of the Charles S. Peirce Society
Reviewer for Notre Dame University Press
Reviewer for Fordham University Press
Reviewer for Choice
Editor of the APA Newsletter on Hispanic/Latino Issues in Philosophy (2008-2013)
External Reviews of Philosophy Departments and Faculty
External Reviewer of the Muhlenberg College Philosophy Department (Team Leader), 2014.
External Reviewer of East Stroudsburg University Philosophy Department, 2013.
Outside Reviewer for Oxford College of Emory University 3-year Review Process for Faculty Member in the Humanities

Community Service

Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Lehigh Valley
Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of East Stroudsburg
Lions Club

Research/Scholarly Awards and Grants

Bernie specializes in metaphysics, logic, virtue ethics, American pragmatism, and applied ethics in the health sciences. He has taught courses in Bioethics, Medical Ethics, Genetic Engineering Ethics, Public Health Ethics, the Ethics of Abortion, Virtue Ethics in Nursing, and Medical Law & Regulation. His work has been recognized through national awards, grants, and fellowships:

American Philosophical Association (APA) Prize in Latin American Thought for his essay on Francisco Vitoria’s International Law
APA William James Prize for his paper on C.S. Peirce’s Philosophy of Religion
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Fellowship for research on C.S. Peirce and Evolutionary Theory
Visiting Fellow at Harvard University
NEH Summer Institute on Cuban Identity at New York University (Buffalo)
NEH Enduring Questions Grant ($32,000) to develop the course What is Peace?
$800,000 Online Teaching Grant (Council of Independent Colleges, funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation)
Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation Grant for Applied Humanities, creating a sustainable model for integrating humanities with professional programs

Publications

A prolific scholar, Bernie has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles and delivered over 70 lectures at national and international conferences. He served as Editor of the APA Newsletter on Hispanic/Latino Issues in Philosophy (2008-2013). His work has appeared in prestigious anthologies and journals, with contributions to publishers including: