Alumni

2010

• Mary will be attending the Interdisciplinary Humanities Program at Penn State Harrisburg this fall. In this program, students choose two or more concentrations and take classes in those disciplines. The program culminates with a Masters thesis that combines all of those concentrations. Mary plans to combine Philosophy and History, and her goal after the Master’s degree is to pursue a Ph.D. at another university and ultimately to teach. Mary will also participate in a junior college teaching internship this summer while teaching an art survey course at HACC.

• Mike will begin West Chester University’s Masters of Philosophy program this fall. Mike’s program of study includes major topics and authors in the history of philosophy, as well as a focus on applied ethics. Mike hopes to use this new experience to bring his work on philosophy of science and mathematics (specifically calculus) from ontology into the realms of ethics, politics and aesthetics. Mike’s ultimate goal is to pursue a Ph.D. in Philosophy and teach.

2006

• Rebecca has received a full tuition scholarship to Drew Theological Seminary in their M.Div. program. She plans to pursue ordination in the United Methodist Church.

2005

• Kim graduated with honors from the Religion department in spring 2005.  Her honors thesis was entitled "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary (to Popular Culture)," and compared the archetypal portrayal of Mary Magdalene from recent Hollywood productions to what historians and scholars actually know about the 'real' Mary Magdalene.  Kim is currently working on her Master's of Theological Studies at Boston University's School of Theology.  After that, she plans to continue her studies in pursuit of a Ph.D. in Religion.


• In Kim's words: "I came across the Religion Department quite by accident. I was a Music Educatioin Major, and of course we are required to take a Religion or Philosophy class for our general education requirements. What I wasn’t expecting was for a few professors to change my major and influence the rest of my life. The classes grabbed my attention, challenging me and making me want to pursue more learning, even outside of class work. The professors’ own interest in our learning and their positive attitude toward our point of views is inspiring. Our Religion and Philosophy department holds some of the most intelligent and caring men and women that contribute not only to our education, but a betterment to emotional and spiritual being. They will challenge your beliefs, yet welcome debate. They make themselves available for questions, comments, or perhaps a quick visit when you need to vent at the end of the day. You don’t have to change your major, like I did, to enjoy these classes. Whenever you get the chance, take something that intrigues you, and not just to fulfill requirements. Be prepared to meet the people who will surpass the requirements of a professor and make every effort to contribute to your intellectual and spiritual development."

• Jordan graduated with honors as a dual major in Religion and American Studies in spring 2005. Jordan is currently working on his Master's of Arts degree at Boston University.  Upon completion, he will continue his graduate studies in pursuit of his Ph.D. in Religion.


• In Jordan's words: "LVC’s Religion and Philosophy department has made me a better person. In it, not only have I found an intellectual and academic stimulation unmatched by any other department on campus, but I found a social home as well. Over the past four years I am glad to say that it was my classes in this department that both pushed me to grow in ways I’d not imagined and nurtured me in some of the worst times of my life. I have never felt strong-armed by the members of the faculty—only mentored. But that doesn’t mean that they didn’t tell me a brutal truth when necessary. It’s not all puppies and fluffy clouds, but always honesty. I don’t know where I would be today without the support and mentorship I found in the Department of Religion and Philosophy, but I do know that I will be forever grateful and profoundly indebted to those professors for the experience."

• In Andy's words: "The religion minor first redefined truth for me. By getting rid of the concept of one, and only one, right answer, I was able to take a broader view of first Christianity, and then other religions. Naturally, this was primarily why I was wary of taking religious classes in the first place; no one likes having their beliefs challenged. However, having taken the courses has allowed me a deeper appreciation of the history and meaning of those religions which I studied and for that reason I would encourage others to do the same."

• Kate graduated with honors from the Religion department in spring 2005. Her honors thesis was entitled "Women in Islam: Comparative Perspectives on the Qur'an."  Kate earned her Master's of Liberal Studies at The New School for Social Research in 2007. She is currently employed as the Program Assistant for the BCA Study Abroad at Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA and plans to continue her graduate work until completing her Ph.D.


• In Kate's words: "When I entered LVC as a Religion major, I had no idea the ways my interactions with the faculty and students within the Religion and Philosophy department would influence my life. From my first religion class until my last, I felt challenged intellectually and personally. Religion and Philosophy courses were difficult in a way that the other courses I took at LVC were not--they forced me to consider arguments and questions from multiple perspectives, to express my own views completely and concisely, and most importantly to debate respectfully the students and professors with whom I disagreed. The faculty members of the department are mentors in the truest sense. They treat their students with the same respect they would give a colleague and ask students to struggle alongside them as they ponder unanswerable questions, debate sensitive topics, and challenge tradition. But, even more importantly, they create an atmosphere where original thought and the free exchange of ideas can thrive. Each member of the department shares with their students a passion for learning and a generosity of time and talent. They do more than simply teach their classes, they open their doors to students in need of help, guidance, or a good laugh. I left LVC with an indescribable sense of gratitude for the people, courses, and experiences that colored my undergraduate experience and I thank the faculty of the Religion and Philosophy department for the considerable role they played in my intellectual and personal development. Every LVC student should take a few religion or philosophy courses, not because they fill a requirement, but because they provide an opportunity to explore and challenge personal beliefs and grow spiritually and intellectually."

2004

• Ryan expects to complete his MBA, focusing on Non-Profit Management, in Fall of 2009. He is currently a Tour Manager at the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program in Philadelphia, PA.


• In Ryan's words: "My religion and philosophy studies at LVC catalyzed my natural inquisitiveness into a capacity for refined critical thinking, which is imperative in the business world. Further, it led me to a deeper understanding of truth and my role in the world--a perspective that has served me in my personal as well as professional life. I find myself revisiting the texts from my philosophy studies more than any other; and I recommend that every student take at least the basic philosophy courses as they will supplement any course of study."

2003

• After graduating from LVC, Peter went on to Biblical Seminary in Hatfield, PA. He will graduate in June 2009 and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion.

• After graduating from LVC, Matthew went on to earn his Ph.D. from Northwestern University in June of 2008. He has been employed as a Lithography Process Engineer with Intel in Hillsboro, OR since 2007.


• In Matthew's words: "LVC's philosophy program teaches students critical reasoning skills by way of a classical philosophical education. The experience students gain debating the great orators is invaluable in future endeavors, and as a scientist/engineer, I rely on that skill-set to find unique solutions to problems and realize connections that others may have missed."

• After graduating from LVC, Daniel went on to earn an M.A. in Philosophy at the University of Memphis with a focus on ancient philosophy and epistemology in 2006. He is currently working on his M.Div. at Evangelical Theological Seminary in congregatonal/pastoral ministry and working as an instructor at HACC.


• In Daniel's words: "Studying philosophy is excellent preparation for any field because it is sharpens essential skills such as analytic insight, the ability to appreciate foreign perspective and concise expression of intricate ideas with clarity."

2002

• After graduating from LVC, Jason finished his MA in Theological Studies from United Theological Seminary in Dayton, OH in 2004. His thesis topic was a re-interpretation of Revelation 2.20-23 in light of contemporary Greco-Roman adultery mimes both written and performed. In the Fall of 2005 he began work on hisPhD at The Catholic University of America, where he is studying Biblical Studies, with a concentration in New Testament.


• In Jason's words: "The Religion program at LVC greatly prepared me for the work I would undertake and continue to undertake. The Religion program at LVC was challenging but that better prepared me for my future and I am grateful for all of the professors who shared their knowledge and time with us."

2001

• Donald is now employed as a Correctional Researcher & Analyst at the Lancaster County Prison in Lancaster, PA.


• In Donald's words: "My study of religion and philosophy at LVC dramatically improved my critical thinking skills and enabled me to see things in a different way than many of those in my profession. In my job, I'm tasked with making sense of very complex issues without being bound by the paradigms that permeate corrections. I owe the cultivation of that ability to those in your department."

1998

• After graduating from LVC, Sokthan obtained her Master's at the Univeristy of Toledo where she wrote a thesis on religious experience within the works of William James and Georges Bataille. She is currently in the process of finishing her doctorate in philosophy at DePaul University. Her dissertation centers around the work of Michel Foucault and how science facilitates the emergence of objects of knowledge that work to normalize the body.

If you are a graduate of the LVC department of Religion & Philosophy, we would like to hear from you.
Please email us to let us know where you are and what you are doing.