UTRGV Department of Philosophy

The last recently graduated philosophy major we want to celebrate is Cadence Vaughan. Congratulations on your achievements, Cadence!

1. Why did you choose to major in philosophy at UTRGV?

I was drawn to philosophy because I enjoyed the history of ideas. It wasn’t until I took a philosophy class that I decided to major in it. I liked that it encouraged thinking critically about every topic imaginable.

2. Which of the many philosophers or philosophical views you have encountered was the most interesting or influential, and why? Or: Which work of philosophy did you find most interesting or impactful, and why?

I liked Hegel’s Lectures on the Philosophy of World History. I love history so much, and I hadn’t ever thought about history philosophically until I read that.

I love reading Japanese political philosophy from the Meiji and Showa eras as well as kyodatsu literature because of its existential themes.

3. What is one of your best memories of studying philosophy at UTRGV?

Becoming hyper fixated with reading all of the ideas I discovered in class. Going to Phil and Sophie’s and going to Draft House with everyone afterward was always fun.

4. What are your plans after graduation?

Disappearing into the abyss.

The next recently graduated philosophy major we want to celebrate is Andrea Molina. Congratulations on your achievements, Andrea!

1. Why did you choose to major in philosophy at UTRGV?

I chose to major in philosophy because I wanted to learn how to think deeply, not just about the world around me but about the world inside me. I wanted my mind to wander to places it had never been before, to ask questions I had never thought to ask, and to sit with answers that made me uncomfortable. I always wondered, is the point of philosophy to think outside of the box or to wonder how you got inside? That question is what drew me in and honestly, it's what kept me going every semester after that. For me, philosophy was never just an academic choice. It was my mind's freedom. And I needed that freedom more than I needed anything else at the time.

2. Which philosopher or philosophical view was most influential and why?

Socrates, without a question. Specifically, his most famous idea, I know that I know nothing. When I first encountered that I thought I understood it, but the longer I sat with it the more it changed me. I used to think philosophy was about thinking, asking questions, being curious. And it is all of those things. But the more curious I got, the more I realized that asking why is only half of it. The real challenge is listening. Listening to your professors, to your peers, to the philosophers you're reading, and most importantly to yourself. Socrates taught me that the wisest thing a person can do is admit the limits of what they know and then keep listening anyway. I loved that so much I put it on my graduation cap.

3. What is one of your best memories of studying philosophy at UTRGV?

I took a course with Dr. Dahlia Guzman where we read Plato's Symposium, which is essentially Plato's attempt to explain what love actually is. I remember reading it and stopping cold because I hadn't expected philosophy to take me there. Plato describes love as two souls coming together and yearning for eternity, and something about that hit me in a way I wasn't prepared for. Not because it was a new idea, but because it was an idea that had always been living inside me without a name. That's what philosophy did for me at UTRGV. It didn't just teach me new things. It helped me understand things I already knew but had never been able to say out loud.

4. What are your plans after graduation?

My next step is law school, where I plan to build the foundation I need to become a family attorney. Specifically, to be the voice of children who don't have one. I've always believed that my purpose, whether as a philosopher, a student, an attorney, or just a human being, is to serve people, love people, and have their best interest at heart. Philosophy taught me how to think, how to listen, and how to ask the right questions. Law school is where I take all of that and sharpen it into something I can actually use in a courtroom, at a negotiating table, and in the lives of families who need someone in their corner. The mission has always been the same. The title is just changing.

The next recently graduated philosophy major we want to celebrate is Brenda Santiago Herrera. Congratulations, Brenda!

1. Why did you choose to major in philosophy at UTRGV?

I decided to study philosophy because I always had a genuine interest and curiosity to know more regarding the subject, as I knew little to nothing. I originally began my higher education journey studying business; however, philosophy always caught my attention, and I later decided to major in philosophy. This was owed to the courses I was enrolled in, as I was unsure if studying philosophy was the path I should take. The more classes I took, the larger my curiosity and interest grew, specifically in the subject of ethics.

2. What is one of your best memories of studying philosophy at UTRGV?

My best memories studying in the university are found in organizations and class discussions. I was fortunate enough to be part of clubs such as Phil S.T.A.I.R.S and the Religious Studies Club where I formed most of my connections and friends outside of the classroom with like-minded individuals. Whether it be working on research projects together and presenting in conferences or enjoying my Friday afternoons learning more about world religions and later ending the evening with movie night. It is forming part of these orgs that kept me in touch with the importance of the social aspect of learning from one another.

3. What are your plans after graduation?

I would love to continue my higher education in the Bioethics Master's program here at UTRGV, if possible. Aside from that, I would like to keep learning philosophy, whether it be through reading, keeping in touch with discussion groups and faculty. I am a believer that we are always in a constant state of never-ending learning, and thus it shall continue.

The Making of a Miracle: UTRGV graduate turns personal adversity into passion for public service Miracle Linnea Sanchez will graduate Saturday, May 16, with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a pre-law concentration, bringing her one step closer to her childhood dream of becoming an attorney.

Once again, we want to celebrate our recently graduated philosophy majors. Our first student is Karina Heredia. Congratulations on your achievements, Karina!

Why did you choose to major in philosophy at UTRGV?

I decided to major in philosophy out of genuine curiosity. I originally began as a psychology major, but through the courses I took, I quickly became aware of my intellectual limitations. Coming close to graduation, I decided to, somewhat last minute, add philosophy as a second major because it would've felt like I was acting in bad faith not to follow that pull.

I came to see that, mainly through studying phenomenology, I disagreed with certain aspects of how psychology approaches human experience. But instead of that distancing me from the field, that tension has encouraged me to keep pursuing it and, hopefully, contribute my own perspective to it one day.

Which of the many philosophers or philosophical views you have encountered was the most interesting or influential, and why? Or: Which work of philosophy did you find most interesting or impactful, and why?

This is a very difficult question. Of the many great works I was introduced to, I think the ones that have had the biggest impact on me were Audre Lorde’s Uses of the Erotic, Diotima’s speech from The Symposium, and Simone de Beauvoir’s The Ethics of Ambiguity (all of which I had the opportunity to study with Jeff).

Diotima’s speech influenced the way I think about beauty and human experience. It taught me to be receptive to experiences of beauty, and not to just stop at feeling them, but to reflect on them and allow them to inspire or bring something new out of us.

Uses of the Erotic showed me the possibility of moving away from the dominating structures present in society and toward a way of living that is free of those structures and more connected through what Lorde calls the “erotic,” an embodied way of living and relating to everyday life.

De Beauvoir’s The Ethics of Ambiguity taught me about the many ways that people retreat from or deny their own freedom and responsibility, and challenged me to take up my own freedom more consciously and responsibly, not only for myself but in relation to others, too.

What is one of your best memories of studying philosophy at UTRGV?

I don't think there is one particular memory, but my best memories have been the friendships I made and the experiences I got to share with others. Studying philosophy is great, but it’s even better to do it alongside other people. I’m definitely going to miss the third floor of ELABS and hanging with everyone from the philosophy department.

What are your plans after graduation?

In the long run, I’d like to eventually practice existential psychotherapy, but for now I’ll be working as an RBT and hopefully going to graduate school for psychology within the next year.

We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s student body as a part-time lecturer in Philosophy during the 2026-2027 academic year. The Department of Philosophy at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a pluralistic department that seeks candidates who are outstanding teachers. The mode of instruction for this job will be in class or online depending on the needs of the department.

We seek candidates who will inspire students to minor, major, or double-major in Philosophy by teaching some of our lower-division courses like: Intro to Philosophy; Critical Thinking; Ethics, Happiness, & The Good Life; Ethics, Technology, & Society; and Introduction to Philosophy; Art, & Film. We are especially interested in candidates with relevant experience and/ or knowledge of teaching bilingual, bicultural, or biliterate students, since UTRGV is a Hispanic Serving Institution with a 90% Hispanic student body.

Complete application includes: 1) letter of interest, 2) CV, 3) list of three references, 4) teaching portfolio (upload under ‘Other Document’) and 5) unofficial graduate transcripts. Candidates may design their teaching portfolios in whatever way best communicates their excellence in teaching, but they should include syllabi and complete student evaluations with all student comments for the past two years of teaching if available.

Part Time Lecturer in Philosophy/College of Liberal Arts We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s student body as a part-time lecturer in Philosophy during the 2026-2027 academic year. The Department of Philosophy at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a pluralistic department that seeks candid...

We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s student body as a full-time, one-year lecturer in Philosophy during the 2026-2027 academic year. The Department of Philosophy at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a pluralistic department that seeks candidates who are outstanding teachers. The mode of instruction for this job will be in class or online, depending on the needs of the department.

We seek candidates who will inspire students to minor, major, or double-major in Philosophy while teaching some of our lower-division courses like: Intro to Philosophy; Critical Thinking; Ethics, Happiness, & The Good Life; Ethics; and Ethics, Technology, & Society. We are especially interested in candidates with relevant experience and/ or knowledge of teaching bilingual, bicultural, or biliterate students, since UTRGV is a Hispanic Serving Institution with a 90% Hispanic student body.

Complete application includes: 1) letter of interest, 2) CV, 3) list of three references, 4) teaching portfolio (upload under other document) and 5) unofficial graduate transcripts. Candidates may design their teaching portfolios in whatever way best communicates their excellence in teaching, but they should include syllabi and complete student evaluations with all student comments for the past two years of teaching if available.

Lecturer in Philosophy/College of Liberal Arts We seek applicants who are dedicated to serving The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s student body as a full-time, one-year lecturer in Philosophy during the 2026-2027 academic year. The Department of Philosophy at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is a pluralistic department that se...

Check out these great events coming up on May 1st in Edinburg!

Another great Religious Studies Club meeting! Thanks to everyone who showed up!

Reminder: The Religious Studies Club meets every Friday at 3 pm in ELABN 110.

Join us for the Ethics Bowl Information meeting on 4/17 at noon! All are welcome.

https://utrgv.zoom.us/j/9024775591