World Philosophy Day 2020

A day long celebration of philosophy bringing together students, alumni, faculty, and the wider community!

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The Philosophy Department is thrilled to welcome back our alumni. This year's featured alumni include Ashli Anda, Dale Ogden, Marmar Tavasol, and Shandyn Pierce.

Ashli Anda (left) is a fifth year doctoral candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research interests include legal and political philosophy and German Idealism. Her dissertation is on Kant's political philosophy. In particular, she argues that Kant's theory of punishment is composed of three mutually supportive aims: retribution, deterrence, and restoration.

Dale Ogden (right) is an Assistant Federal Public Defender in the Western District of Texas. He graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2012 with a Philosophy degree, and graduated Loyola Law School in Los Angeles in 2016. His current and past practice includes work in post-conviction, habeas, death-penalty, and federal criminal law. He has also published work in the area of mental health and the death penalty.

Shandyn H. Pierce (left) is a 2020 graduate of UC Hastings College of Law and a proud Legal Education Opportunity Program (“LEOP”) Alum. While at Hastings, Shandyn consistently engaged in community advocacy and mentorship. He served as President of Hastings’ Black Law Students Association (“BLSA”) and as Sub-Regional Director of the National Black Law Students Association. As BLSA President, Shandyn increased the visibility of the organization and the presence of Black/African-American students on campus, while cultivating intercommunity partnerships. He is the recipient of the Student Leader of the Year Award, Hastings’ highest honor for student work outside the classroom. Shandyn also served as Student Counsel for the Hastings Appellate Project, and as a member of both the Moot Court Board and the LEOP Admissions Committee. Shandyn is passionate about servant leadership and plans to use his J.D. to continue serving his community. A past Meyers Nave Diversity Fellow, Shandyn is looking forward to joining Meyers Nave as an associate.

Marmar Tavasol graduated from Cal Poly Pomona in 2020 with a Philosophy degree, and joined Cal Poly Pomona's Office of Undergraduate Research and the office of Learn Through Discovery through an Americorps VISTA position. Being involved in the Philosophy department and the wider campus led them to want to continue being involved with the university, as well as programs like the Prison Education Program. Current projects include making online environments more accessible and friendly to the Cal Poly Pomona student community, providing online learning environments for current and formerly incarcerated populations, while applying for graduate programs in Philosophy and Cognitive Sciences.