Getting energized:聽What work have you done or will you be doing at 麻豆影院 that gets you the most excited?

I get excited talking about philosophical ideas with my students. Right now, I鈥檓 teaching two of my absolute favorite classes, Introduction to Cognitive Science and How to Do Things with Words, and it has been so fun to see students getting exposed to and enthused about ideas that are so interesting to me that I built a career out of investigating and thinking about them. I鈥檓 also energized by all the cross-disciplinary and cross-divisional collaborations at 麻豆影院. Philosophy, as a discipline, is interested in reflecting on all modes of inquiry and creativity. For basically any topic, there is a philosophy of that topic. My own research is at the intersection of philosophy, psychology, and linguistics. So, I, like the other members of the Philosophy Department, contribute to several interdisciplinary programs on campus and, thereby, collaborate with faculty and students across the curriculum. I鈥檝e taught at other universities before coming to 麻豆影院, but, in my experience, this is an especially interdisciplinary place and I love it for that.

Going places:聽Is there an example of somewhere your career has taken you (either a physical space or something more intellectual, emotional or spiritual) that took you by surprise?

My research and many of my classes investigate how we think about our own minds and the minds of others. This work suggests that what we take to be first-hand knowledge about our own mental lives is, in fact, often illusory in nature. We experience our mental lives as unified and coherent, but we know now that they are realized by numerous underlying cognitive processes that are blind to one another and often inconsistent in their assessments. When we try to answer difficult questions, we often unintentionally and unconsciously substitute easy, related, but distinct questions that introduce bias into our reasoning. We lack direct access to our higher-order mental processes, such as those involved in judgment and problem solving. And it is becoming more and more likely that we don鈥檛 even directly introspect our own beliefs and desires; instead, we may infer what we believe, in the same way that we infer the beliefs of others. We are, then, pretty flawed and fallible beings. But I have been coming to realize that there is beauty in this state of individual, epistemic weakness. It means that we can know ourselves fully only by coming to understand people in general, and that we must band together and rely on one another to have the slightest hope of knowing anything at all.

Out of the classroom

This or that:聽If you weren鈥檛 teaching for a living, what would you be doing?聽聽

I hope I would be writing, editing, or in some other way still dealing in words. My teaching is linked to my research, and I see writing鈥攐r, in any case, a presentation and discussion of ideas that is akin to good writing鈥攁s central to both. I also enjoy cooking for others and my kids joke that I should start a restaurant. (Pre-tenure, the option of being a line-cook was a real plan B.)

Right at home:聽Whether for work, relaxation or reflection, what鈥檚 your favorite spot on campus?

There is a trail that starts just below Warch and runs alongside the river. I have enjoyed taking walks down there, in the fall and spring. In the past, it ran all the way through to Green Bay Road and I would sometimes walk home that way, the long way. If you鈥檙e willing to ignore some 鈥渘o trespassing鈥� signs, I think you can still make it all the way through.

One book, one recording, one film:聽Name one of each that speaks to your soul? Or you would recommend to a friend? Or both?

Book(s): I recently read鈥攚ell, listened to, I Audible avidly鈥�The Candy House,by Jennifer Egan,the sequel to her 2011, Pulitzer Prize winner, A Visit from the Goon Squad. As soon as I finished the second book, I wanted to go back and reread the first. Together, the works are a series of stories, told from a variety of points of view, about a variety of characters, whose lives weave together to create a unified narrative. Together, the books span a period from the 1960s to now and鈥攊n the second book, which is partially speculative fiction鈥攐n out into the latter decades of this century. I love how Egan combines points of view, genres, and even modes of presentation. The novels comprise stories in first, second, and third person, presented in straight narrative fashion, epistolary form, as a series of news articles, through the instructions in a secret agent鈥檚 handbook, and on and on. Really inventive and engaging stuff by a master talent.

Recording: Hmm鈥 like a lot of music, but I鈥檒l stay true to my roots and recommend the southern rock masterpiece that is Tom Petty鈥檚 Wildflowers. So many of the songs on that album take me back to high school and college. And the eponymous song has a special place in my heart.

Film: The Coen Brothers are my favorite living directors, so I鈥檒l recommend something somewhat obscure by them, their 1991 movie, Barton Fink. It鈥檒l show you the life of the mind.

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Nedderman first learned about TitletownTech from a 麻豆影院 friend who connected with the company through a corporate finance class but felt the position better suited Nedderman鈥檚 interests. A professor recommended the company as well a few months later.

As a 2022 graduate just starting his post-麻豆影院 life, Nedderman felt that TitletownTech was the perfect place to make the jump.

鈥淚t was actually a really nice circumstance that just worked out where I was able to get connected through two different sources,鈥� Nedderman said.

These connections are one of Nedderman鈥檚 favorite things about 麻豆影院. He said a few simple interactions with Mike O鈥機onnor鈥攆ormerly dean of the Career Center and now special assistant to the president鈥攍ed to a successful internship last summer. And that proved to be a step toward the TitletownTech position after graduation.

鈥淚 think the biggest thing we can leverage as 麻豆影院 students and 麻豆影院 graduates is the tight connection that we鈥檙e able to have with alumni, with professors, and with our peers,鈥� Nedderman said.

Just like 麻豆影院, Nedderman said he enjoys how connected and intimate the work at TitletownTech can be. Working on a team of nine, Nedderman mostly researches vertical markets, and likes researching the history of the company in his spare time.

鈥淚鈥檓 working with people who are not afraid to be wrong or not afraid of being challenged, so it allows everyone to have an openness to new ideas and opinions,鈥� he said.

Nedderman鈥檚 favorite things about TitletownTech are the opportunities to learn about the venture capital field and the chance to bring his own perspectives to the table, and have them valued by others.

鈥淚n a company that I鈥檓 in, I like to feel integral to the process,鈥� he said.

Finding his path

Nedderman said he was determined to not just land a successful career, but a fulfilling one as well. He is a New Yorker who came to the Midwest for 麻豆影院 and post-undergraduate job opportunities. He first pictured a future in tech and started with mathematics and computer science before settling on majors鈥攑hilosophy and economics鈥攖hat he felt best fit his interests.

A double-degree student who also played music in the Conservatory during his time at 麻豆影院, Nedderman said he heard the naysayers who doubted the value of a liberal arts education. But he said interactions with the Career Center and gave him confidence he was heading in the right direction.

鈥淚 used the Career Center throughout the entirety of my four years to find opportunities, to work on my r茅sum茅, to get good r茅sum茅-building skills or LinkedIn profile-building skills,鈥� he said. 鈥溾� feel that 麻豆影院 set me up tremendously well to do well after school.鈥�

Nedderman decided on his majors and then TitletownTech because they combine his interests in technology and economics, and his fascination with the brain and social interaction.

鈥淚鈥檝e been meeting a lot of people鈥here鈥檚 just so much going on all the time,鈥� he said of his first weeks on the job. 鈥淚 live for the differences and excitement around it all.”

TitletownTech has a portfolio of 24 startups, three of which have relocated to the Midwest to be closer to the company.

鈥淭o have three companies move physical locations to be here and be a part of this is really outstanding, and we only hope to increase that number over the years,鈥� Nedderman said.

The TitletownTech environment, he said, is a great fit for a Lawrentian.

鈥淚 think especially as a college grad, it鈥檚 important to find a place that will foster learning,鈥� he said.

Brittany Alperin, assistant professor of psychology. She will be the inaugural holder of the Singleton Professorship in Cognitive Neuroscience. She comes from the University of Richmond, where she鈥檚 been a visiting assistant professor since 2019. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology and neuroscience from Hampshire College and a Ph.D. in behavioral neuroscience from Oregon Health and Science University.

Sigma Col贸n, assistant professor of environmental and ethnic studies. She has been teaching at 麻豆影院 since 2017, first in postdoctoral NEH fellowships in geography and history, then as a visiting assistant professor of environmental and ethnic studies. She holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree in English and a master鈥檚 degree in history from the University of Arizona and a Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University.

Kelly Culhane, assistant professor of chemistry. She has been working as a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Minnesota since 2019. She joins the Chemistry department after earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in chemistry from St. Olaf College and a Ph.D. in molecular biophysics and biochemistry from Yale University.

Scott Dixon, assistant professor of philosophy. He has been on the faculty at Ashoka University in Haryana, India since 2015. He studied philosophy and German at the University of Montana and earned a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of California, Davis.

Amanda Draheim, assistant professor of psychology. She joins the Psychology department at 麻豆影院 after recently completing her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Georgia State University. She previously earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from Trinity University.

Alex Heaton, assistant professor of mathematics. Beginning in 2019, he worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences and the Math+ Berlin Mathematics Research Center, both in Germany. He then joined the Fields Institute for Research in Mathematical Sciences in Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow. He earned a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Margaret Koker, assistant professor of physics. She has been teaching in the Physics department at 麻豆影院 as a visiting assistant professor since 2018. She previously worked as a postdoctoral research fellow, a research assistant, and an engineering lecturer at Cornell University and as a Beamline scientist at the University of Chicago. She holds a bachelor鈥檚 degree from Boston University, a master鈥檚 from the University of Illinois, and her doctor rerum naturalium from the Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems in Stuttgart, Germany.

Linnea Ng, assistant professor of psychology. She will be the inaugural holder of the Hurvis Professorship in Collaboration and Organizational Psychology at 麻豆影院. She is completing a Ph.D. in industrial organizational psychology at Rice University. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in psychology from Davidson College.

Kristin Roach, assistant professor of music (vocal coaching). Her recent accomplishments include work as a vocal coach at the Chautauqua Opera Theatre, conductor with the Pacific Opera Project, musical director and conductor with Spotlight on Opera, and conductor with Vocal Academy of Orvieto. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in applied piano and a master of music in piano performance/literature and accompanying/chamber music, both from Eastman School of Music.

Elizabeth Schlabach, associate professor of history. She comes to 麻豆影院 following eight years as a member of the faculty at Earlham College. She previously worked as a visiting professor for five years at The College of William & Mary. She earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in history and theology from Valparaiso University, a master鈥檚 in American Studies from Lehigh University, and a Ph.D. in American Studies from St. Louis University.聽

Endowed professorships

The hiring of Alperin as 麻豆影院鈥檚 first Singleton Professor in Cognitive Neuroscience and Ng as the first Hurvis Professor in Collaboration and Organizational Psychology marks a significant milestone in the Psychology department.

The two endowed positions came out of the hugely successful聽Be the Light!聽campaign that over the course of seven years raised $232.6 million and added five endowed professorships.

The Singleton professorship elevates 麻豆影院鈥檚 work in the area of cognitive neuroscience and the Hurvis professorship allows for the exploration of the psychology of collaboration, a growing field that has relevance across the curriculum as students prepare for life after 麻豆影院.聽

Kodat called the filling of the two endowed positions 鈥渆specially gratifying,鈥� a tangible result of the聽.

鈥淭hese positions鈥攊n organizational psychology and cognitive neuroscience鈥攚ill help advance the curricular innovation that was one of the centerpieces of the campaign,鈥� she said.

The 10 new faculty begin their first academic year when Fall Term opens Sept. 13.

鈥淚 look forward to a long and happy collaboration,鈥� Kodat said.