Meet our Graduates!

Our graduating philosophy majors are heading into careers in law, government, medicine, software engineering, public service, graduate school, and beyond—paths that make great use of the critical thinking, communication, and problem-solving skills they’ve developed through philosophy. But what makes this group especially memorable is the range of passions and experiences they bring with them. This year’s graduates include skiers, climbers, filmmakers, artists, raft guides, musicians, travelers, athletes, and community leaders. We’re proud to celebrate this talented and wide-ranging group as they take their next steps after CSU.

Lily Scanlon is graduating this spring with a major in Philosophy, a minor in Political Science and an undergraduate certificate in Ethics & Society.

Lily decided to pursue philosophy because she loves reading, writing, and critical thinking, and feels deeply motivated by philosophical questions. “It’s really nice to have found a major that I am passionate about and that drives me to keep learning. Philosophy has shaped me by making me a critical thinker, and I really believe it has made me wiser in general.”

With her skills in clear and careful thinking and reading, Lily is planning for a career in government. “I think our government needs more people with critical thinking skills and I feel like a background in philosophy is perfect for that.” After a summer working on a ranch in Montana, Lily is planning for an internship or entry-level position in Oregon or Washington, D.C. to get a better introduction to careers in the political sphere.

Outside of school, Lily loves skiing, hiking, rock climbing, and spending as much time outside as possible. She loves being in the mountains, being active, and spending time in nature. She also loves to read and go to concerts in her free time.

Will Roberts is graduating with a major in Philosophy, a minor in Legal Studies, and a certificate in Ethics & Society.

Will appreciates how studying philosophy has taught him how to think. “If you enjoy thinking as much as I do, or if you simply can’t stop your brain from thinking like me, then engaging with other people’s ideas is a great way to hammer out a more solid foundation for the rest of your life. Philosophy is about exercising the mind. When you regularly practice stretching your mind to understand new and foreign concepts, you are preparing yourself to be able to make better decisions when new and different situations arise.”

Over the last four years, Will has been a leader for CSU Freeride, the Big Mountain Ski and Snowboard Team, as a general officer, social media manager, and president this year. Will describes joining the snowboard team as “the best thing to ever happen to me.” Will has spent almost every weekend since freshman year traveling all over the west taking in “beautiful views, incredible places, and extraordinary individuals.”

Will plans to continue his seasonal job as a whitewater raft guide and then work and travel for a bit before pursuing a career in law.

Cruz Keefner is graduating with a degree in Philosophy. Originally a civil engineering major, Cruz found himself asking bigger questions about existence. “I chose Philosophy because I have a deep interest in the human person and wanted to understand the person on a deeper level than I already had.”

Coming from a religious background, Cruz was excited to study a variety of perspectives and different lenses through which to view the world. He values the pursuit of truth and meaning that is central to philosophical study and has found it both personally and professionally rewarding. “I have grown deeper in my faith because of philosophy. It has helped me to articulate my ideas more precisely (both in writing and conversation), argue more persuasively, and dialogue more effectively. Because of these things, my philosophy degree will help me pursue a career in law where I can be a lawyer who values the dignity of human life as well as the essential importance of justice in the legal system.”

Outside of studying philosophy, Cruz loves being outdoors and enjoys hiking, running, and climbing. He also enjoys weightlifting and playing sports. During his time at CSU, much of his life revolved around Ram Catholic, including retreats and Bible studies.  After graduation, Cruz and his wife will spend a year serving as missionaries with FOCUS, a campus-based Catholic organization. Then, Cruz plans to attend law school.

Will Kindred Connally is graduating this spring with a well-rounded Philosophy degree that includes a concentration in the philosophy of science and technology as well as certificates in both Ethics & Society and World Philosophies & Religions.

Will chose philosophy because it speaks to his analytical skills, his love of writing, and enjoyment of continuous study and research. Will is fascinated and excited by the heated discussions and debates that are common to philosophy. Will also finds that “thoroughly pursuing the unanswerable ‘whys’ of our world has always and will continue to captivate me far beyond the classroom.” Will is taking a well-deserved break after “a long and twisting academic career path,” and plans to pursue graduate work in philosophy, either in the US or abroad, next year.

Outside of school, Will enjoys hiking, biking around town, and exploring new places in Colorado. He is also a self-professed “huge basketball junkie” who keeps busy with his dogs and attending local concerts and comedy shows when he can.

First-generation student Iris Matzdorff is graduating with a double major in Philosophy and Women & Gender Studies with two minors in Legal Studies and Ethnic Studies.

Iris started her higher education journey at Front Range Community College as a political science major. She got hooked on philosophy after her first intro course. Iris loves philosophy because, “philosophy has introduced me to not only creating arguments but also to existential crises which have cultivated resilience. A career in law will benefit greatly from the skills I have gained from philosophy.”

During her time at CSU, Iris frequented El Centro, a Cultural Resource Center, and discovered Ethnic Studies as well. She sees a connection between her studies in philosophy and courses in the department of Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies: “I started my journey in higher education learning philosophical approaches that include critical and logical analysis, ethics and the importance of asking the right questions. As I started learning about gender and ethnic studies, I found that the tools we use in philosophy help us dive deeper into subjects about race and gender. Exploring the systems of oppression with a critical eye has allowed me to make connections between power structures and historical and social contexts.”

Outside of school, Iris has four dogs who she absolutely loves. She also enjoys traveling with her husband, painting, and having awesome conversations with friends.

Sean Lancey is graduating this spring with a Philosophy major and a minor in Legal Studies.

Sean feels that philosophy resonates with him: “I have always been a curious person and have enjoyed the process of getting things right via argumentation for some time now. I think that philosophy has been a great avenue for me to express my interest in logic, analytical thinking, and political thought.” Sean credits philosophy for making him a stronger student, more well-rounded person, and more developed professional. “This field has been so incredible in pushing me toward my goals – I can read better, write better, think better, and articulate better than before.”

Sean has been deeply involved in campus life at CSU—from crew and Freeride ski team to fraternity leadership and service in student government. Outside of school, Sean enjoys golfing, skiing, and spending time with friends.

Sean strongly recommends that philosophy majors involve themselves in professional organizations. In addition to student government, Sean completed a series of internships in the U.S. Congress. “Philosophy majors can bring great skills to these institutions and in my opinion, you need to have an avenue for professional growth during your time at college.” Sean recommends that philosophy students apply themselves and to be intentional about their time and opportunities. This determination has paid off for Sean. After graduation, he’s moving to Washington, D.C. for a full-time position.

First-generation grad Mathias Gonzales-Wagner is a double major in Philosophy and Computer Science. Mathias was drawn to philosophy through his passion for literature, arts, and the classics during high school. This interest led him to Plato’s Dialogues and the addition of a second major in philosophy. Mathias explains the influence of philosophy on his life, “It has shaped the way I view the world and what life is. For the future, I have learned to try and live my life with some reference or goal around self-transcendence.”

Mathias is passionate about the arts and has a love for film and literature. He also enjoys the outdoors and hiking. Mathias plans to pursue a career in software engineering.

Joseph Wise is graduating this spring with a Philosophy major. Originally a psychology major, he became concerned about its lack of attention to morality and the human condition. An elective philosophy course acted as “a gateway to his fixation with the practice of philosophy.” Joseph believes that philosophy is essential to a well-functioning society. One of his goals is “to circulate interest in philosophy and vitalize an interest in critical thinking by one day becoming a professor of philosophy.”

Outside of philosophy, Joseph is also an artist. “By expressing my inner dimensions and reflecting the surrounding reality of the space in time that I occupy in my art, I have developed an aptitude for art.” Joseph also loves film and recently discovered a passion for filmmaking. A film he created was recently chosen for inclusion in a student film festival.

Luke Lammers is graduating with a degree in Philosophy. Luke initially became interested in philosophy after reading Stoic philosophy. “I really do enjoy reading the ancient wisdom from various traditions about how to live a good life.”

Luke’s biggest passion is health and wellness, and he plans to become a physician to help others live healthier lives. “Having a background in philosophy and reading about how to live well from various traditions has not only improved my own life, but it will also guide my practice as a physician in the future so that I can truly help others flourish.”

Luke loves physical activities and being out in nature. He loves lifting weights, hiking, rock climbing, playing sand volleyball, biking, running, and is excited to learn how to surf in California this summer. Luke has been volunteering with the Lab for the Assessment and Promotion of Physical Activity and Health on campus for a few semesters, in addition to the Food Bank for Larimer County.

Jacob Villani is graduating with a double major in economics and philosophy. He chose philosophy “because it creates a good understanding of logical structures and argumentation, preparing me for law school.”

Jacob advises future philosophy students to spend time reading, writing, and talking to their “brilliant and incredibly supportive” professors. “The fun part of philosophy, for me, was finding some sort of logical objection to every argument I read, even if part of me agreed with the author. Find philosophical literature outside of class that you enjoy reading, it will sharpen your skills without feeling like work. Finally, I would say to write every chance you get and come to love writing. It’s truly a wonderful thing to write something that you are proud of in the discipline of philosophy.”

Outside of school, Jacob loves playing guitar and spending time with his cat, Butters. After graduation, Jacob plans to stay in Fort Collins to work as a legal assistant or paralegal. He plans to attend law school and is interested in environmental law.

Congratulations to all our graduates!