As the seniors of the St. Olaf Philosophy Department are entering their final semester of undergraduate school, the department would like to celebrate their accomplishments and support them as they march into their rich futures. The class of 2026 has demonstrated intellectual curiosity and resilience that will help carry them into their futures. The skills these seniors have developed through their philosophical studies, from rigorous argumentation and nuanced interpretation to ethical reasoning and thoughtful engagement, are evident in their diverse takeaways from philosophy at St. Olaf and post-graduate plans.

Featured here are some of the class of ‘26 Philosophy Majors’ reflections on their time with philosophy, highlighting the impact of their education and their exciting aspirations for the future. Their experiences all vary immensely and underscore the individual value to be found in a philosophical foundation.

Kaitlyn Kinsch

Kaitlyn Kinsch, a senior Philosophy, English, and Education major, used her philosophy major to take courses that explored a wide range of philosophical questions. She additionally studied philosophy abroad and at the Kierkegaard Summer Institute, where she could more deeply immerse herself in the subjects she enjoys. Kaitlyn has found great value in the opportunities that philosophy has provided to “engage in in-depth conversations” with her peers and “think more critically” about the world around her. 

Kaitlyn will continue to utilize these skills in the fall of 2026 at Northwestern University, where she will be pursuing a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration and Policy. Her philosophical background in combination with her degree in Education has shown her how to “think broadly about the implementation and scope of different educational programs” while also benefiting her understanding of the students she works with. Kaitlyn’s ability to thoughtfully engage with perspectives other than her own stemmed from her experiences with philosophy and the small class sizes that St. Olaf provides, allowing her to participate in important and meaningful conversations.

Tristan Hansen

Tristan Hansen is a Philosophy and Political Science major, who stated that the philosophy courses he has taken at St. Olaf, have consistently been “the most meaningful, enjoyable, and impactful” of all his courses. Tristan also finds something “quite exquisitely beautiful” about the discipline of philosophy, and that his major has allowed him to both sharpen his intellectual abilities, and fundamentally transform his perspective of himself, and the world around him.

After graduating this spring, Tristan is going to take a gap year in which he hopes to teach English abroad. Beyond this first year out of undergraduate education, his ultimate goal is to attend graduate school for a PhD in philosophy. With this degree, Tristan aspires to attain an academic position in his future.

Auggie Lehn

Senior Auggie Lehn, pursuing a Philosophy and Theater major, found philosophy through a required credit without realizing how influential it would be on their education. They grew up asking “why” to everything, and discovered that St. Olaf philosophy is a place where “why”s are respected, challenged, and built upon.

Auggie recalled a statement a Professor in the department made that convinced them to take on philosophy as a second major during their first philosophy class.

In addition to providing a new way to look at the world, philosophy has taught Auggie perseverance, patience, and how to navigate tough questions.

Auggie’s long term goal is to be one of the first women to act in Waiting for Godot, the Samuel Beckett production. This opportunity is likely to manifest by the year 2049, and would allow Auggie to combine their love of existentialism, passion for theater, and “unending drive to create equitable spaces in performing arts”. In addition to this aspiration, Auggie wants to become a published playwright with their work displayed on the Broadway stage, along with their own acting.

Sophia González

Sophia González, a senior Philosophy, Mathematics, and Physics major, has come to associate the academic building Holland Hall with reading “near-impenitrable thoughts of Kant and Kierkegaard” in her time at St. Olaf. The Holland 6th floor loft has become a place of both toil and insight for Sophia, which has had rewarding effects on her education. If it weren’t for philosophy, Sophia remarks that she would never have worried about “objective morality, the reality of time, or whether or not Julius Caesar is a number”.

In the immediate future, Sophia is heading to graduate school to continue her studies in mathematics. From there, she hopes to find a blend of mathematics and philosophy by working on anti-gerrymandering mathematical research, which entails parsing a definition of fairness from data on redistricting proposals.