“Philosophy gave me the tools I use every single day in the legal field — analyzing arguments, identifying fallacies, asking the right questions and maintaining an open mind. It sharpened my ability to think critically and communicate clearly, both of which are invaluable in my current role as a personal injury intake director. The connections I made with peers and professors in App State's philosophy program continue to stand out as one of the most meaningful parts of my college experience.”

— Kayleigh Conley, a 2022 graduate of App State’s Philosophy program

Guy said he credits his first App State philosophy class with challenging him to look at reality in a different way and to grapple with ideas he had never considered before. He said he was encouraged to engage deeply with differing perspectives and to take the time to consider how contexts shape the way people think. Additionally, the philosophy program primed him to think about the ethical implications of AI work, he said, and how to create programs that are safe, trustworthy and fair. Guy works at Microsoft as a principal architect for Copilot AI.

Jalyn Howard ’17 added a philosophy minor to his health care management major, which set him up “to consider ethical approaches to topics in health care such as insurance — thinking about them from a philosophical point of view instead of simply an administrative point of view.”

Todd Atchison, a poet and prose writer, says he believes his time at App State as an English and philosophy major prepared him to be a writer. He recently published his grandfather’s memoir during the coronavirus pandemic.

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