• Recently, UMF student Brett Woodworth developed an Individualized Studies major in Computer Ethics, where he worked on a self-designed project on intellectual property law. His work involved consulting not only philosophers but also law students, including recent UMF Philosophy graduates now attending law school, and practicing attorneys. In addition, Brett and Professor of Philosophy George Miller and Asst. Professor of Computer Science Chris Bennett formed their own reading group to examine some of the literature in this growing field.

• In 2009 at the 5th Annual New England Undergraduate Philosophy Conference at Providence College, Philosophy / Religion major Nancy Boucher of Farmington delivered her paper, "A Confused Gaze in Philadelphia -- Devereaux's Expanded Male Gaze," a philosophical and artistic analysis of a photograph by artist Jacob Holdt. Nancy's paper was one of only 11 chosen for the day-long conference; other student readers were from Brown Univ., Bennington College, Georgia State Univ., Providence College, the Univ. Delaware, Tufts Univ., and others.

• At UMF, Philosophy/Religion students are recognized for their work. In 2008, student Matt Nichols was awarded one of Farmington's Michael Wilson Research Scholarships for a project entitled "Heidegger on Authentic Communication" and Jon St. Peter had his paper comparing Nietzsche and Heidegger accepted by The Reed, a journal of undergraduate philosophy at St. Olaf College (MN).

• Recently, UMF Philosophy faculty helped organize a semester-long forum on Philosophy and Popular Culture where students and faculty gave thoughtful and creative presentations. Examples: A student presentation entitled "Plato and Superman;" Professor of Philosophy Jonathan Cohen's presentation, "'Wouldn't It Be Nice', or, Why You Need to Take the Beach Boys Seriously;" and Asst. Professor of Philosophy George Miller and Visiting Asst. Professor of Philosophy Elliot Welch panel discussion on "Plato and Superman."

• Students in the University's Philosophy/Religion program often design their own majors and are interested in cross-disciplinary connections. Student Nate Burns, a double major in Philosophy/Religion and Music, received one of UMF's Michael Wilson Research Scholarships which he used to compose a piano trio for piano, cello and violin with two voices.

• In 2009, UMF's Philosophy and Religion Department hosted the annual meeting of the Maine Philosophical Institute. The day-long event featured thought-provoking panel discussions and presentations by philosophers teaching at Maine colleges (including Farmington's) as well as independent philosophers.

• Guest speakers in Religion are a regular feature at UMF; a recent example featured Philip Arnold of Syracuse University speaking on "Challenging the 'Doctrine of Discovery': Religious Roots of Cultural Imperialism and Environmental Destruction."

• Faculty in our Philosophy/Religion program are professionally active, which often results in distinguished visitors coming to campus to give classroom lectures and campus presentations. Some examples include: Aeon Skoble, a professor at Bridgewater State College (MA), who has contributed to or edited 13 volumes in the Philosophy and Popular Culture book series; and Jason Blahuta, a professor at Lakehead University (Ontario, CAN), co-editor of the Final Fantasy and Philosophy volume in the same series.

• UMF Professor of Religion Jennifer Reid recently published a book on Louis Riel and the Creation of Modern Canada: Mythic Discourse and the Postcolonial State.

• UMF Professor of Philosophy Jonathan Cohen's book on Nietzsche's Human, All-Too-Human, entitled Science, Culture, and Free Spirits, is forthcoming with
  Prometheus Books.

• UMF Professor of Philosophy George Miller presented two papers at the October 2008 meeting of the Northern New England Philosophical Association, Making What is False, True: Merleau-Ponty as a Response to Kuhn, and Gods, Gadflies, and Bulldog Tenacity: In Praise of Closed-Mindedness, the latter co-written with Dan Cohen of Colby College (ME).

For additional information about Philosophy / Religion at the University of Maine at Farmington, just contact the Office of Admission:

Office of Admission
University of Maine at Farmington
246 Main Street
Farmington, Maine 04938-1994
US tel 207-778-7050
Intl. tel 00-1-207-778-7050
fax 207-778-8182
TDD/TTY 207-778-7275
umfadmit@maine.edu