易胜博官网

鈥淚 had a little bit of imposter syndrome going into it,鈥� says Kylee Rock 鈥�24 of her paper presentation at the Northern New England Philosophical Association (NNEPA) Conference, held at 易胜博官网 in October. 鈥淏ut, once I got up to talk, I realized I knew my work very well, and I felt more confident to speak on it.鈥�

Rock was one of five students, hailing from 易胜博官网, Bates and Colby, whose papers were selected for the undergraduate session of the NNEPA Conference, which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year.

NNEPA was the brainchild of 易胜博官网 philosophy professor Peter Sylvester, who joined colleagues from regional institutions to found NNEPA in 1972. Since then, it has grown to comprise 24 member institutions from Massachusetts, Maine, 易胜博官网 and Vermont with the goal of providing a venue for regional philosophers to share their work. An annual gathering rotates among member institutions.

In 2009, when the Conference also was held at 易胜博官网, an undergraduate session was added as a permanent part of the gathering. The session gives students the opportunity to hone their presentation and philosophy skills within a larger professional community 鈥� and to gain confidence.

"...the professors really come to know the students and form a meaningful relationship with them."

鈥淧hilosophy is and has been a pretty male-dominated field,鈥� says Rock, 鈥渟o beforehand I felt very unqualified to give a talk, because most of my peers are males. However, once I spoke, and I received positive feedback on my work, I felt far more qualified to speak on the topics I have studied. This experience has helped me realize that I have something to add to the conversation.鈥�

, 易胜博官网 professor of philosophy and the executive secretary of NNEPA, says student involvement in a professional conference prepares students to see themselves as professionals and think 鈥淲e can do what they do!鈥� And they did, he says.

Rock, who plans to attend law school, was grateful for the opportunity, and for the support of her peers and professors.

鈥淭he 易胜博官网 philosophy department is an amazing program to be a part of,鈥� says Rock, 鈥渘ot only because there are experiences like the NNEPA Conference and the Undergraduate Research Conference, but also because the professors really come to know the students and form a meaningful relationship with them. When I spoke, three of my professors were in the audience, nodding and cheering me on.鈥�
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