Philosophy Alumni

Welcome to the MTSU Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies Alumni Page. Below are reports from some of our former philosophy majors about how, what, and where they might be doing whatever they’re doing. We would encourage those Philosophy Alumni who haven’t submitted information about themselves since graduating to please do so. We would love to hear from you. If you would like to submit a couple of paragraphs about what you’ve been doing since you graduated, please send your info with a picture or two to the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.

The time that I spent in the Philosophy and Religious Studies Department at MTSU was the most formative and cherished of my academic career. The interdisciplinary interests, the varied skills, and the friendships that I developed with the guidance and mentorship of these professors have proven indispensable both within and outside of the academy. In August 2023 I will begin graduate studies in the German Studies Department at the University of Illinois Chicago as a Max Kade Fellow for the 2023-24 academic year. I attribute my acceptance to the program at UIC and as well as awarding of this fellowship completely to MTSU and to the unceasing support of the philosophy faculty. The importance of these philosophers in my life and in the lives of countless others simply cannot be overestimated.

Ed Craig

Ed Craig decided, after retiring from a successful career, to pursue a philosophy degree, much to the delight of everyone in the department. Below are two video links. The first is an interview with Ed after his graduation with a BS in philosophy. The second is a plea to do as he has done.

Charlene Taylor

[The following is a reminiscence of Harold Parker, the first chair of the MTSU Philosophy Department.] 

The corporate world can stop short in the process of exchanging ideas naturally if not centered upon progressive questions of thought most necessary in creating effective marketing plans.
     I came to believe that in marketing there is, ‘always something more to consider, examine!’ And this ‘fill in the gap’ information is the result of what emerges in the logical process of asking questions to inspire enthusiasm which distinguishes the outcome of the plan. Crucial fact-finding determines the outcome. Sometimes best ideas remain hidden from the marketing plan because the more creative process of exchanging ideas is secondary.
     In the corporate communication plans and implementations I worked on for more than 30 years I began with the creative process of reasoning beginning with a documented process of discovering answers to questions before the product was ever launched. Foremost it was about aligning the market goals with answers about: use, consumer purpose, recall and profitability-to-cost. 
    The method I devised to create more substantial, formulated ideas for the marketing campaigns were molded through the imprinted recall and understanding that I had been taught by meshing logic with no-limits creativity. I shared these views and results in national presentations and  applied them fluidly to campaigns. I think the process developed was inspired by applying logic techniques to creative disciplines, live seeds planted through the teachings of Dr. Harold Parker and his selected text books and resources.
    How wonderful it would be if every college student stumbled upon such a learning experience as I did through his class(s).  And with a professor tuned into the effects of non-ordinary thinking skills.
    Being on ground level when the world of the Internet was literally turned on and made public was a thrilling moment for me. Marketing its values all over the country was a tremendous opportunity.  A large part of my success was in my belief of creating open discussion around strategically guided topics, more logical questions which would stimulate natural discussion in the marketplace and resulting in energetic thought-spinning.  
   Creative thought is what increases the power to the marketing plan. I was simply a creative guide applying the best ideas of many people so that the end result was bought into with shared success.  The result was also realized in more successful outcomes to the marketing campaign, better communication and increased human value.  Thank you Dr. Parker!  

Ashley Borges

Ashley graduated in the Spring of 2022 and is currently in the JET program in Japan.

Michael Cottone

Michael graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy from MTSU in December 2010. He attended law school at the University of Tennessee College of Law, graduating summa cum laude in May 2014. While in law school, Michael served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Tennessee Law Review and as a member of Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law. He was named the Outstanding Graduate of the Class of 2014 and the Top Collegiate Scholar for the College of Law. He also won several awards, including the Harshfield Award for Excellence in Civil Procedure, the Knoxville Auxiliary to the Tennessee Bar Association Award, and the Herbert L. Davis Memorial Trust Fund Award. He has also published several scholarly articles, focusing primarily on civil procedure and individuals’ substantive and procedural rights.

After graduation, Michael will be spending a year clerking for the chief judge of a federal district court and another year clerking for a federal circuit court judge. He has also accepted a job in the litigation department of a regional law firm in Nashville following his clerkships.

About his experience studying in the Philosophy and Religious StudiesDepartment, he says, “I am deeply grateful for the personal attention the professors in the department gave me during my time at MTSU. To my mind, a degree in Philosophy is the best value available at the university. The professors have an unwavering commitment to each of their students, not only in terms of academics, but also in their personal growth and well-being. I can trace any success I have experienced to my decision as a freshman to pursue a degree in the department. Concerning law school specifically, I can think of no better preparation than a degree in Philosophy, as it combines exposure to great political thinkers, substantial writing experience concerning abstract thought, and an insistence on rigorous, analytic reasoning.” 

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Tyler Ricker

Since graduating Tyler has “been living in NYC and working as a New York City Teaching Fellow. As part of my fellowship, I completed a M.S. in childhood education with a concentration in teaching students with disabilities. I’ve been teaching elementary school students with autism and emotional disturbances in the Bronx. My wife and I will be moving back to Nashville soon, and I’ll be starting law school at Vanderbilt this fall.” 

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Stephanie Lee

Stephanie successfully defended her masters thesis and has been accepted into a program for art history at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. She’s extremely excited about the opportunity to live abroad for the year. Stephanie has also had a paper accepted into the “Diverse Lineages of Existentialism” conference in St. Louis for summer 2014. 

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Elizabeth Burton

Elizabeth graduated in May of 2013 and  is currently preparing to take the GRE, after which she will be applying to graduate programs in Philosophy, English, and Nursing, planning to begin a graduate program in the Fall of 2015. She is currently working locally as an accountant’s assistant and claims specialist for a local restoration company. 

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Nelson Maddaloni

Nelson graduated in May of 2012, and recently moved from one program/university to another. He is currently pursuing an MFA in creative writing at University of the South. Of his experience studying philosophy at MTSU, he says, “I am, however, incredibly grateful and thankful for every single moment I spent in philosophy and for everything I learned there. I wouldn’t change a thing about my philosophy education, it was truly one of the great experiences of my college career.”

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Charlie Burns

Charlie Burns graduated with a B.A. in philosophy from MTSU in 2011. After graduation, he attended Chicago-Kent College of Law, specializing in labor and employment law. He will graduate in May of 2014, and has accepted a job with a labor law firm in Chicago representing labor unions and employees.

About his experience at MSTU he says: “I loved every minute of my education in MTSU’s Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. In addition to playing a crucial role in my intellectual and academic development, the camaraderie with and commitment to their students displayed by the faculty is truly special. Whether in class or outside on the JUB steps, my philosophy professors without fail impressed me with their knowledge and passion.”

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Crystal VanDalsem

Crystal graduated in May of 2013. She is currently employed in management at Enterprise Holdings.

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Kaitlyn Newman

Kaity graduated in May of 2013. She has accepted an offer, for the coming academic year, with full funding, for the graduate program in philosophy at Pennsylvania State University, aka Penn State. 

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William Wilson

Billy is expected to graduate in May 2014. He has accepted an offer for the coming academic year, with full funding, for the graduate program in philosophy at Marquette University. Billy has also recently published an essay in the undergraduate philosophy journal, Philologoi. 

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Steven Wolfe 

Steven is currently pursuing a JD at Gonzaga University School of Law.

My experience with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. at MTSU was tremendous.  The thoughtful and encouraging professors gave me confidence and advice that prepared me for the critical analysis necessary to succeed in graduate school.  Far more than just a survey of introspective authors, Dr. Ron Bombardi, Dr. Jack Purcell, Dr. Clarence Jones, and the other MTSU Philosophy professors I had the pleasure of learning from helped me understand the deeper meanings and contexts of the great writers.  I never enjoyed Plato so much as in Dr. Purcell’s class, and, in my opinion, Dr. Ron Bombardi teaching Elementary Logic should be required for all students at MTSU. 

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Brian Chance

Brian graduated ( summa cum laude) from MTSU with a BA in philosophy in 2001. He was a Fulbright Fellow from 2001-2002 in Berlin. In 2009 Brian received the PhD from University of Pennsylvania in philosophy. Since receiving the PhD he has taught at University of Oklahoma and University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he is currently teaching.

Brian has published articles in the European Journal of Philosophy, Kant-Studien, Kantian Review, and British Journal for the History of Philosophy. Additionally, he has contributed a translation for a forthcoming publication ( The Neo-Kantian Reader: An Anthology of Primary Texts) and has presented numerous articles at professional conferences.

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Erin Green

My name is Erin Green, and I got my BA in Philosophy from MTSU in 2009. I am currently living in China teaching at an international university in the Henan Province. My husband and I are having a great time here! When we’re not teaching or trying to learn Chinese, we enjoy traveling around China, playing sports, spending time with friends, and getting involved in all kinds of other fun activities. I am also currently taking a class on Chinese Philosophy at the university, which has been very interesting!

I am incredibly thankful for my time with the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies. at MTSU. The professors are brilliant, yet so down to earth. The critical thinking skills that I learned through the Philosophy major have been extremely beneficial to me. I’ve been attempting to teach critical thinking skills to my students, and I feel that I am making a difference as that subject is not taught very widely here in China. I truly cannot convey how valuable both my time at MTSU and my degree are to me.

Click here to view Erin’s pictures from China

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Debra Jackson

Debra Jackson received her BA in philosophy from MTSU in 1996 and her PhD in philosophy from Purdue University in 2002. She is currently Assistant Professor of Philosophy at California State University, Bakersfield. She specializes in feminist philosophy, continental philosophy, social and political philosophy, and critical thinking. She participated in the 2003 NEH Summer Seminar on Feminist Epistemologies at the Pennsylvania State University and has been a two-time fellow at the Feminism and Legal Theory Project at Emory University School of Law. She has published essays on identity politics and gaming, sexual violence discourse, and biotechnology, has published a critical thinking textbook, and has just had a paper on witnessing trauma accepted for a book on new approaches to trauma studies.

About her experience at MSTU she says, “My years at MTSU were among the best of my life. They formed my passion for learning and my commitment to social justice. I am most grateful to the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies., the Women Studies faculty, and the Honors Program for providing me with a rich, engaging educational experience. Outside of my excellent courses, I had the opportunity to attend exciting lectures and conferences, most notably the Women and Power Conference and the Applied Philosophy Lyceum. I also was fortunate to develop close, life-long relationships with faculty that have inspired and challenged me to become a dedicated teacher and scholar. As a professor at a state university, I strive to provide my students with the kinds of experiences that I benefited from at MTSU.”

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Brian Roberts

Brian Roberts graduated with a B.A. in philosophy from MTSU in December 2001. He continued foreign language study at MTSU and earned a B.A. in Spanish. After additional language study in Spain and France, Roberts returned to study foreign language pedagogy and earned his Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) in foreign languages and literatures with an emphasis in French.

Roberts went on to teach Spanish at the MTSU Summer Language Institute (SLI) using experiential learning methodologies. Impressed with the learning atmosphere and results seen at SLI, the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services (DCS) contracted Roberts’ services as a Spanish language instructor for their case managers’ basic proficiency needs.

Services were provided to DCS through MTSU’s Tennessee Center for Child Welfare (TCCW). Since teaching Spanish, Roberts has served DCS through various roles at TCCW, including change management, strategic planning, and management of federal financial aid programs for social work students.