Meet The Fellows
Blake Coleman
I am a sophomore in college, and my major is chemistry!
The LeFrak Forum has helped me in a number of ways, from expanding my view of what's beautiful to deepening my understanding and friendship of those around me. Even though I am a STEM major, being in the LeFrak Forum has helped me see just how much STEM and Philosophy go hand in hand with each other, and how one's strength and ideas in one, deepens understanding in another.
The ways in which the LeFrak Forum has challenged me to think differently was to not expect happiness to be directly given to us by society. To discover and find your happiness, you need to look within who you are as a person and not take what society tries to "sell" you as happiness. It has helped me deepen the understanding of myself and why I make choices that hopefully lead to my happiness.
The LeFrak Forum has helped me think more deeply about my own life by challenging the way I approach my beliefs and future goals. Being exposed to different perspectives through conversations and travel has made me more reflective about what matters to me and how I want to engage thoughtfully with the world around me.
The LeFrak Forum has challenged me to think differently by pushing me outside of my comfort zone and exposing me to viewpoints I wouldn’t normally encounter. It has made me more aware of how my background influences my thinking and has encouraged me to be more intentional about listening before forming conclusions.
Keagan Gessner
How has the LeFrak Forum helped you think more deeply about your own life?
The LeFrak Forum has brought me to think more about what is really important to me and what drives me to do what I do, and ultimately it has to come down to what will make me happiest in the long run. With the Forum's focus being on the "Pursuit of Happiness," I've thought about how what I do and what I want to do is ultimately connected to what makes me happy.
In what ways has the LeFrak Forum challenged you to think differently?
Since joining the LeFrak Forum, I have been challenged in my confidence in certain philosophical topics...Topics like ethics and justice are an important part of my Human Biology major, and the Forum has developed my understanding of those areas.
Leah Hodge
Psychology 2029
The LeFrak Forum has influenced me to better know and critically think about myself and ideologies I adhere to.
The LeFrak Forum broadened any narrow thoughts or ideas I’ve had and challenged me to connect my ideas and experiences to intellectuals before me to encourage an expansion of my opinions and beliefs.
Lucy Keeton
Junior (third year), Pre-Law Philosophy Major, Peace & Justice Studies Minor and Business Minor
- The LeFrak Forum has been an amazing opportunity to learn about political philosophy, both from professors and peers. Attending LeFrak events has repeatedly challenged me to apply the abstract concepts I learn in my philosophy classes to real life, and exposed me to a diverse array of opinions from others who love the same subjects I do.
Haley Kurak
Major(s):History, Global and International Studies
How has the LeFrak Forum helped you think more deeply about your own life?
Because the theme of this year's program is concerned with the "pursuit of happiness," the LeFrak Forum has challenged me to consider multiple versions of what "happiness" is and how I observe it within my own life. The Forum promotes a very different form of self-reflection and awareness among its students!
In what ways has the LeFrak Forum challenged you to think differently?
Engaging in the opportunities with the LeFrak Forum has encouraged me to draw as many connections as possible between the many different focal points of my studies at MSU. For instance, as a history major, I am often investigating the "what" and the "how" of past and present developments; however, the LeFrak Forum has introduced a deeper philosophical approach to investigating the "why."
Mia Magnabosco
My major is Psychology and Sociology, and I am a Junior
The LeFrak Forum encourages me to think critically in my everyday life, notice nuances in modern discussion, and develop a strong sense of self and how to communicate that effectively.
Anna McAlpine
Political Science, Junior
The LeFrak Forum has helped me to form my own conception of what the "good life" is and challenged me to think about the complex relationship between politics and morality. By exploring the origins of liberalism and some of the challenges it faces, I have developed a deep appreciation for what it offers: the liberty to choose what the good life means to us as individuals.
Jack O’Brien
Major: Political Theory & Constitutional Democracy (James Madison College)
Emma Sruba
Major and class year: Neuroscience, Class of 2029
The LeFrak Forum has helped me think more deeply about my own life through the value of travel and diversity of study, with various classes/panels exploring various philosophical values and texts, as well as trips that have allowed me to explore the historical significance of figures such as cultural icons like William Shakespeare and philosophical pillars like John Locke.
The LeFrak Forum has challenged me to think differently through a lens of love and spirituality. Dr. Rodriguez’s discussions on Aristophanes symposium on love and the two parts of the soul, as well as our exploration of Plato’s Republic have enabled me to view experiences in the context of the soul rather than just the body, which is something I had rarely considered in the past.