Q & A with Dr. Ira Bedzow
Dr. Ira Bedzow is an ethicist whose academic work bridges philosophy, religion, and the applied humanities. He earned a Ph.D. in Religion from Emory and is affiliated with multiple units across the University as an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, a core faculty member of Emory’s Center for Ethics, a senior fellow in the Center for the Study of Law and Religion, and an affiliated faculty member of the Tam Institute. Additionally, he serves as the faculty director for Bayit House, Emory’s Jewish-themed residence. His research explores how ethical traditions shape modern life, with an emphasis on moral development, leadership, and professional identity. He is a sought-after speaker and teacher, known for helping individuals and institutions cultivate meaningful, values-driven lives through reflection, dialogue, and purpose-oriented leadership.
What is your role with the Emory Purpose Project and how has the initiative developed since its inception?
I’m the inaugural Executive Director of the Emory Purpose Project (EPP), a central component of Emory University's Student Flourishing Initiative. Through the EPP, I help to integrate purpose and meaning into the student experience, fostering reflective practices that help students align their decisions with their values and aspirations.
Since its inception, the Emory Purpose Project has developed a range of programs aimed at promoting personal growth and developing a “purpose-orientation” among students. These initiatives include workshops, off-campus and global travel experiences, and faculty development programs that encourage reflective and other skills conducive to living a purposeful life. Through these efforts, the Emory Purpose Project aims to create a community where students can cultivate a sense of purpose that guides their personal and professional lives.
What prompted you to teach JS 180: Exploring Jewish Priorities in the 21st Century this semester? What aspects of the class do you see students engaging with most deeply?
I am the faculty director for the Bayit, the student-led Jewish immersion community at Emory that brings Jewish students from different backgrounds and varying levels of religious observance together under one roof for a fun and meaningful living-learning experience. We wanted to create an educational experience through the Bayit where students had an opportunity to reflect on issues of Jewish identity, community, ethics, and future priorities, not only from an academic perspective but for the sake of self-reflection as well.
In class, the questions that have engaged students most have been, “What does this essay say to you? Do you resonate with the author’s concerns and priorities? What do you experience on campus that speaks to the theme of this essay?”
What was your experience like in Emory’s Graduate Division of Religion? How does your Ph.D. influence your work as an administrator and member of the School of Medicine’s faculty?
I loved the GDR! It was a real opportunity for me to explore how and what I thought about – and what I wanted to do with – my life. I came to graduate school after working in real estate for a number of years and saw it as an opportunity both to study a topic about which I was interested and to learn how to think deeply and clearly about things in general.
This ability to think deeply and clearly influences everything I now do. Whether in medicine or strategic planning, when you know clearly what the issues are and you have appropriate goals that are grounded in apt beliefs and strongly held values, it is much easier to achieve what you set out to do.
You were recently featured in a Ted Talk, “An Ethicist’s Guide to Living a Good Life.” Can you share any advice you might have for readers on how to put their values into action and lead a life with purpose?
The TED Talk was a meaningful opportunity to share ideas about which I care deeply. One of the key messages I try to emphasize is that living a life with purpose isn't about following a rigid formula or achieving perfection – it's about aligning your actions with your values in ways that are both intentional and empowering.
Being “purpose-oriented” requires practice. It's the small, everyday choices—how we treat people, how we handle failure, how we spend our time—that, through practice, turn us into the people we aspire to become. Recognizing the small wins and to what they can add up makes it easier. Recognizing that a mistake is immediately followed by an opportunity is also an empowering perspective.
What other kinds of activities do you enjoy?
I’m someone who really values time with family—that’s always at the top of the list. Outside of work, I love reading across a wide range of topics, especially philosophy, Jewish studies, and history. I also enjoy walking—there’s something about being outside and letting my mind wander that often leads to my best thinking.
Published 6/17/25