Department of Philosophy

[ 2000s | 1990s | 1980s | 1970s ]

2000s

Krystyn Angle
BA, 2001, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Development Associate, The de Paul School
News: In 2004, I received an M.A. in Philanthropic Studies from the IU Center on Philanthropy. I currently work as a fundraiser, and I am enrolled for the fall at the Southern Baptist theological Seminary to pursue an M.A. in Theological Studies.

Jeffery M. Kendall
B.A. 2001, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: e-business developer/Community Health Network

Steven M. Summerlot
BA, 2001, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: US Army-enlisted
News: After 9/11 I enlisted in the military. April 27th, 2002, I married Lisa Kay Hackman (Graduate of the IU school of Physical Therapy). I was deployed for Operation Iraq: Freedom from February 2003 to February 2004. I am planning to move back to Indianapolis in the fall of 2005. I am looking at possibly coming back to IUPUI to work on getting into the Biomedical Engineering program through the graduate non-degree program. I am also going to be looking at the Bioethics Masters the department recently added.

Kevin H. Willis
BA, 2001, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Legal Assistant/Landwerlen & Rothkopf, L.L.P.
News: I am making plans to return to IUPUI--Watch out! :)

Rachael Eckles
BA, 2002, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: IU School of Medicine / Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics
News: Dean’s List, IU Law & MA program; publications in Academic Medicine Journal of Clinical Oncology; Visiting Scholar, Eli Lilly & Co. Bioethics Committee.

Zachary Rice
BA, 2002, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Manager, Government Affairs, American Teleservices Association

Brian Gavish
BA, 2005, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: CVS Pharmacy, District Manager
News: I am a district manager for CVS/Pharmacy. My experiences and philosophy education has proven to benefit my managerial approach to leading 21 stores and over 500 employees by providing me the problem solving tools and ability to observe multiple perspectives while allowing me to demonstrate my business capabilities to manage an entire business. I routinely speak at college campuses in attempts to assist students with career choices, etc. Also, I enjoy speaking with Liberal Arts students about opportunities in business and the benefits of the Liberal Arts degree. Additionally, my education and experiences have allowed me to educate and manage more effectively, logically, and productively. My decisions or forward thinking actions are well thought through and built logically when I present ideas or plans to senior management.

Jennifer D. Myers
BA, 2005, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Law student and substitute teacher for Wayne Township
News: I am entering IU School of Law in the Fall 2006. The critical analysis skills and writing experience I acquired as a philosophy major have prepared me very well for entrance to law school and law as a profession.

Sean Ryan
BA, 2005, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Customer Service Representative, Fifth Third Bank
News: My stint at Fifth Third Bank will end in August, when I begin my course of study at IU School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. I also took the Officer’s Oath and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Army on May 20, 2006. This year I was awarded the Army Health Professions Scholarship. It is one of approximately 250 scholarships awarded nationwide to potential medical students who would make good doctor-officers in the United States Army. I only regret that I did not have more years to completely exhaust your undergraduate course offerings. The Philosophy Department is a credit to the university, one of the things that distinguish it from being a mere satellite of Bloomington or West Lafayette. My undergraduate education would have been poorer for its absence.

1990s

Victoria L. Bailey
BA, 1998, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Attorney, Indiana Federal Community Defenders, Inc.
News: I graduated from law school in May of '03, passed the bar exam, and was sworn in October '03. While in law school, I worked on several death penalty cases and recently took a position as a full-time public defender in federal court. I volunteer at the law school as a judge for moot court and as an assistant coach for the national trial team.

Christopher Planeaux
BA, 1994, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Own business/IUPUI-UITS/Lecturer for Classical Studies
News: Accepted to both Oxford and Cambridge in 1996. Attended Cambridge (Darwin College). Obtained M.Phil. in 1997; published several articles in peer review journals; op-ed pieces in magazines; hired by UITS in 1998; lecturer for Classical Studies same year; given papers at several conferences (1999-2004); started own business in 2003.

Daniel Heffelman
BA, 1998, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Lawyer
News: I graduated from Valparaiso University School of Law with a J.D. in August 2003. I took and passed the Indiana Bar in February of 2004, and was admitted to the Indiana Bar in May.

Colette D. Jackson
BA, 1994, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Paralegal- Hall Render Killian Health & Lyman P.S.C.

1980s

David Frisby
BA, 1980, Philosophy
MA, 1995, History
Occupation/Employer: Retired
News: Married to Mary Jane Frisby, with children Sam (born 1989) and Casey (born 1990). Hobbies and interests include pocket billiards, walking, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer"--main interest, Plato, Bacon & Descartes, Nietzsche (& Leo Strauss). After graduating, I served as Coordinator for IUPUI Faculty Council, and retired in 2003.

Dr. Walter Robinson
BA, 1983, Philosophy
News: I earned a B.A. in Philosophy from IUPUI in 1983 and a M.S. in Philosophy of Education from IU three years latter. I received my Ph.D. in 1993 from the California Institute of Integral Studies, after which I became a Zen Buddhist monk. I am on the associate faculty in the Philosophy Department at IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI where I have taught Introduction to Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, and a variety of courses on Eastern Philosophies.

Rhonda Lee-Ernest
BA, 1989, Philosophy/English
Occupation/Employer: Assistant Professor of Humanities, American University in Dubai
News: After getting my M.A. I have taught in South Carolina, Micronesia, Saudi Arabia, and am currently in the United Arab Emirates. I am currently writing a dissertation in Education, Capella University. The BA in Philosophy gave me strong critical thinking skills which help in teaching research writing and in my own dissertation study.

1970s

Michael Tandy
A.B., 1972, Philosophy
M.S., 1977, Education in Counseling & Guidance
News: I was a classmate of Dr. Keith Morran who is currently a professor on you campus. Following my Master's Degree, I had a private practice in Bloomington with athletes and executives. My son had a learning disability so we moved to Dallas and started a successful home building company, giving him an outlet for his talents. Later, my son passed away and I have returned to school to pursue a PhD at Seattle Pacific University in Clinical Psychology. This is my third year; we have two years of course work, two years of coursework/dissertation/practicum, and one year on internship.

Donald Miller
BA, 1973, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Sales & Marketing Consultant
News: Thirty-four years married. Two sons, Aaron (http://formstudios.com/), and Ryan (University of Arizona, 4th year student) Doing well in sales.; Best achievement as philosophy major: Learning how to THINK. Thank you, Professor Lampert.

William M. Hunter (Bill)
BA, 1974, Philosophy
News: My career is in transition. Ideas or opportunities appreciated!

Janet E. Rash
BA, 1976, Philosophy
Occupation/Employer: Associate to V.P., Martin University
News: Retired on July 28, 2006, after almost 15 years at Martin University in the office of Academic Affairs. We own a Harley Sportster. I’m presently reading “Harley-Davidson and Philosophy: Full-throttle Aristotle”. I received various awards at Martin University. I cannot imagine majoring in anything other than Philosophy because it is the beginning of almost all other areas of study. The quality of my education was excellent and has contributed to my “life-long learning” immeasurably.

Dr. Patrick Sullivan
BA, History & Philosophy 1978
Occupation/Employer: Senior VP of Policy Advisory Services, Synomos, Inc.
News: Since graduating I went on to get my Ph.D. in Philosophy at U of Kentucky. I tried to move an academic career along but eventually ended up in information privacy & security and regulatory compliance consulting. I still deal with philosophy problems, but they all have more immediate practical outcomes. I am married to Kitty Fenstermaker, and we have three children: Katie, Ned, and Andrew. We're very involved in Irvington area development and cultural organizations. We also are involved with the state chapter of the National MS Society. Also, a couple of years ago, I started playing guitar.

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Opinions expressed in the classnotes are those of individual alumni, not the School of Liberal Arts, its faculty, staff or students.