What Can You Do With A Philosophy Degree?

Investor
Pomona College Class of 1991

After graduating from Pomona with a BA in philosophy, Peter attended New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business for his MBA. He currently works as an owner and managing member of the financial consulting and research firm CGS Associates LLC in the greater New York City area. He also serves as a shareholder and investor at Centara Capital Group Inc. in San Diego, where he manages capital markets and structuring and advises private wealth management programs.

Lawyer
Pomona College Class of 1983

Randolph Ortlieb is the founder of Palomar Law Group. After graduating from Pomona with a BA in philosophy, he attended Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. He is also a philanthropist and volunteer to many organizations throughout San Diego County, and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Escondido Charitable Foundation.

Educator
Pomona College Class of 2003

After graduating from Pomona, Juan received a M.A. and a Ph.D. in Education from the Claremont Graduate University and has been teaching middle school students in the city of Compton, CA for the past 12 years. Though he has also earned an Administrative Services Credential, he’s found purpose in his work as an educator, which has been gained through the understanding of ethical, socio, existential, epistemological and religious points of view. He loves what he does, and is grateful for having studied philosophy. He wishes you all the best.

Physician
Pomona Class of 2010

“I remember a lot of people asked me, ‘What are you going to do with philosophy? What’s the practical application?’ But to me, the questions of how to find purpose and how to live ethically and according to my values felt essential to my every day.” Glaser is currently preparing for a career in palliative care by studying the experiences of underserved women with advanced breast cancer during her final year of medical school at University of California, San Francisco. “There’s a lot of room for these philosophical and soulful questions within palliative and hospice care. That’s absolutely part of why I’m drawn to it.” Prior to beginning medical school, she helped to develop a women’s empowerment nonprofit organization in Ghana and volunteered at a Planned Parenthood in the U.S. “I remember being nervous that I wouldn’t get into schools because I had such a nontraditional path. But I think if you really know why you want to be a physician, and you’ve done the work for your post-bac classes and the MCAT, the world of medicine is just as open to you as to someone who was pre-med from the start.”

Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice
Pomona College Class of 2003

Tamara Zakim is Deputy Attorney General for the California Department of Justice, where she represents California's natural resource and environmental agencies in state and federal court. Previously, she was an associate attorney at Earthjustice, a national nonprofit law firm that enforces and defends environmental laws, pro bono, on behalf of environmental organizations, community groups and other nonprofit clients. Tamara sits on the Board of Directors for OUT for Sustainability, a nonprofit that works to mobilize the LGBT community for environmental and social action, and she is the former co-chair of Pride Law Fund, a non-profit that funds new leaders and civil rights lawyers in the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities. While at Pomona she won two SCIAC championships as a member and team captain of the women's basketball team, and she earned her Juris Doctorate degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2010.  She lives in Oakland, California.

Senator
Pomona College Class of 1994

Brian Schatz grew up in Hawaii and attended Pomona College to earn his BA in philosophy. After graduating, he moved back to Hawaii and became active in the community. He served as CEO of Helping Hands Hawaii and director of the Makiki Community Library and of the Center for a Sustainable Future. In March 2010, Schatz stepped down from Helping Hands to run for lieutenant governor. He currently represents Hawaii in the U.S. Senate.

Producer
Pomona College Class of 1972

After graduating from Pomona College with a BA in Philosophy, Lynda Obst became one of the most prolific female producers in the film industry. Her hit films including Flashdance, The Fisher King, Sleepless In Seattle, One Fine Day, Contact, Hope Floats, and How to Lose A Guy In Ten Days, have received critical acclaim, and combined have amassed two Oscar wins, an additional eleven Oscar nominations, four Golden Globe wins and an additional eleven Golden Globe nominations. Obst is also a well-known commentator and best selling author, frequently writing and speaking about both the industry and issues surrounding women in entertainment. 

Coach
Pomona College Class of 2019

A native of Reno, Nevada, Baleigh majored in philosophy, played four years of Softball at Pomona-Pitzer, was named team captain her senior year, and served as student-athletic trainer during her undergraduate years. After graduating from Pomona with a BA in philosophy, Baleigh became Director of Football Operations of the Pomona-Pitzer Football team. Recently, she was promoted to Outside Linebackers Coach, joining the shortlist of female position coaches in NCAA Division III football. She is also an assistant strength and conditioning coach for the Sagehens, as well as an assistant coach for the Pomona-Pitzer softball team. 

Author/Screenwriter
Pomona College Class of 2008

Greg Hickey graduated from Pomona with a BA in philosophy, and then attended University of Illinois in Chicago to receive a Master’s degree in forensic science. He has written three novels, one screenplay, and has his own blog, where he discusses a variety of issues at the intersection of health, fitness, sports, philosophy and society.

Manager
Pomona College Class of 2013

Eliot graduated from Pomona College with a BA in philosophy and a minor in economics and politics. He currently works as the risk & operations manager for the financial service organization McKinsey & Company in the greater New York City area.

Nonprofit Researcher
Pomona College Class of 2013

Josh graduated from Pomona with a double major in Philosophy and Economics. He currently works as a Senior Research Analyst at GiveWell where he does research on charities to help donors decide where to give.

Lawyer
Pomona College Class of 2010

Bernice B. Yu is an associate at Cleary Gottlieb in New York. Her practice focuses on corporate and financial transactions. She joined the firm in 2014 after receiving a J.D. degree from Yale Law School, where she served as Diversity and Membership Editor of the Yale Law Journal. Ms. Yu received an undergraduate degree, cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Pomona College in 2010. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and proficient in French.

Physician
Pomona College Class of 2007

After graduating with a BA in philosophy at Pomona, Hal attended University of California Irvine’s medical program to become a physician. He is currently completing his residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, CA and is practicing medicine in their emergency department.

Businesswoman
Pomona College Class of 2010

Danielle Joseph graduated from Pomona with a double major in Philosophy and Politics and a minor in Religious Studies. She then attended the University of Connecticut for accounting, and the Stanford University Graduate School of Business for her MBA. She currently works at Venture Capital & Private Equity in Palo Alto, CA.

International Economist
Pomona College Class of 2003

After graduating from Pomona with a BA in philosophy, Will Beach attended the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for is Master’s in Business Administration in finance and economics. Will currently works for the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s office of Europe and Eurasia. 

Writer
Pomona College Class of 2005

Owen went to Pomona College and graduated in 2005. While at Pomona he studied philosophy, writing, and Japanese. At Pomona, Owen completed his first novel called Seeds, a science-fiction piece that explores basic definitions of humanity and consciousness. Owen has written over a dozen screenplays, the last of them being Samurai's Blood, which is currently in development at Benaroya Pictures.

Investment Analyst
Pomona College Class of 2011

Nicolas graduated from Pomona with a BA in philosophy, and is currently studying at Yale University to receive his Master’s in Business Administration. He currently works at McKinsey & Company Investment Office as a multi-billion dollar manager and invests on behalf of the McKinsey & Company Partnership.

Attorney and Organizer
Pomona College Class of 2014

After Pomona, Brendan worked at an economic analysis consulting firm in the clean energy sector in San Francisco. Four years later, he decided to go to law school to continue his effort to make progressive policies a reality. At Harvard Law School, he interned with the Massachusetts Attorney General, the National Consumer Law Center, and for Senator Elizabeth Warren. After school, he joined the law firm Cohen Milstein, which specializes in advocating for individuals who have been victimized by corporate misconduct. He has worked on matters involving unconstitutional prison conditions, child sexual abuse, stock market manipulation, and human trafficking/forced labor.

Clinical Psychologist
Pomona College Class of 2013

Edie double majored in Philosophy and German Studies. After Pomona, she worked with several nonprofit organizations including the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, researching addiction, brain injury, and posttraumatic stress. Edie then completed a Master’s degree in Germany which blended neuroscience and philosophy. Currently, Edie is finishing a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the PGSP-Stanford PsyD Consortium. She uses an existential lens to treat cognitive, emotional, and behavioral conditions. 

Researcher/Chemical Scientist
Pomona College Class of 2021

Graduating from Pomona with a BA in Philosophy and Chemistry, Sam began attending Stanford University chemistry Ph.D. program. There, Sam’s research involves the design, synthesis, and applications of polymers for gene delivery. Sam would cogently argue that his experiences in philosophy and molecular science uniquely prepare him for intellectual property law, a path he is considering following his Ph.D.. Sam also enjoys weightlifting, 3d printing, and cookie dough.

Alumni Who Continued in Philosophy

Daniel Moerner - Pomona 2013
Assistant Professor, University of Chicago

Zachary Barnett - Pomona 2011
Assistant Professor, National University of Singapore

Sameer Bajaj – Pomona 2006
Assistant Professor, Franklin and Marshall College

Philipp Koralus – Pomona 2005
Lecturer and Tutorial Fellow, St. Catherine's College, Oxford

Stephen White – Pomona 2005
Associate Professor at Northwestern University prior to his death in 2021.

Jennifer Nado – Pomona 2004
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Lingnan University-Hong Kong

Jorah Dannenberg – Pomona 2001
Assistant Professor of Philosophy Department, Stanford

Luca Struble – Pomona 1997
Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy, Pomona College

Sheldon Smith – Pomona 1991
Professor of Philosophy, UCLA

Deborah Smith – Pomona 1990
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Kent State University

Guy Rohrbaugh – Pomona 1990
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Auburn

Shelby Weitzel – Pomona 1990
Assistant Professor of Philosophy, College of the Holy Cross 2002-2009. Currently High School Engagement Coordinator at Treehouse for Kids

David Braun – Pomona 1978
Professor of Philosophy, SUNY Buffalo

Rachel Cohon – Pomona 1975
Professor of Philosophy, SUNY-Albany

Christopher Gowans - Pomona
Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University

David Hunt - Pomona 1974
Professor of Philosophy, Whittier College

John McCumber – Pomona 1967
Professor of Germanic Languages, UCLA

John Roth – Pomona 1962
Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Claremont McKenna College

Jim Bogen – Pomona 1957
Professor of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh

Tena Thau – Pomona 2014
Researcher at the Faculty of Law, University of Oxford

For a fuller list of what our philosophy graduates have gone on to do, see the Current Professional Activities of Pomona Alumni page.