I am a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in Philosophy and a certificate candidate in Africana Studies at the University of Pennsylvania. I hold an MA in Philosophy and a BA in Legal Studies and Philosophy from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

My research focuses on ethics (esp. applied) and the philosophy of race, specifically developing a virtue-based account of racial identity (V-BARI). This novel framework functions as a practical user guide for ethical decision-making about identity claims, examining how self-identification, ancestry, and cultural participation interact in both paradigmatic and non-paradigmatic cases. My work demonstrates how this virtue-based approach can extend beyond race to provide ethical coordinates for navigating complex identity questions across various domains.

I am especially passionate about public philosophy, particularly in developing and teaching curricula for the general public, with a special focus on educating individuals in jails and prisons.

Beyond the academic realm, my interests include running, reading, watching films, experiencing art and performance, and photography, with a fondness for 35mm film.

As of June 2023, I am known as Asil M. Martinez, previously recognized as Lisa M. Martinez. I use they/them pronouns.