Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts

Jeffry Mulrain Jr.

“I think a liberal arts degree is the best degree you can have,” says Jeffry Mulrain Jr. (Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts ’25). “It’s the ability to learn as much as you want, about as much you want, and really sharpen your instruments.” Jeffry began looking for an advanced degree when he retired from his career in national intelligence due to an injury; having previously completed degrees in science, law, and a master’s degree in liberal arts, flexibility was what he valued most in the next chapter of his life.

Heidi Boerstler

When Heidi Boerstler (Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts ’26—expected) received the title of Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado Denver Business School, where she teaches ethics and health law, she was ready to try something new. “I decided to go back and study things I’d never studied before,” she recalls. “I had always been so focused on raising my daughter, getting tenure, teaching, doing research and all.

Penn LPS in representation at COP28 in Dubai

The Kleinman Center for Energy Policy and Perry World House led a delegation of more than two dozen Penn people at COP28, the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Dubai. They shared knowledge on the energy transition, climate finance, China, health, food systems, and more. Penn LPS is proud to recognize our colleagues who attended, including Kleinman Center Executive Director Cory Colijn (MSAG ’14), Organizational Dynamics Programs instructor Steve Finn, and Master of Environmental Studies adjunct professor Lolita Jackson.

James Washington

As the Climate Manager for Russell H. Conwell Middle Magnet School, James Washington (Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts ’23) spends a lot of time coaching his young charges in the positive values that will help them thrive at school and beyond. There are the six pillars of character (trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship) to guide classroom conduct, and acronyms like THINK (Truthful, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind) to help students evaluate their social interactions in person and online.

Alain Plante

As Professor in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department at Penn, Alain Plante spends much of his time in Hayden Hall—a red brick and terracotta building named for Ferdinand Hayden, a 19th-century geologist who was instrumental in establishing Yellowstone National Park. When Alain was invited to lead an alumni trip to Yellowstone, he says, “I really went down the rabbit hole.

Faris Zwirahn

“I consider myself a global citizen,” says Faris Zwirahn (Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts ’22). “I grew up in Syria, I have family living all over the world, and I spend most of my time traveling.” A Fulbright Scholar, Faris came to the United States to pursue a master’s degree in Near and Middle Eastern Studies. For his thesis, Faris examined letters written in Arabic between Muslim and Christian intellectuals in the Middle Ages; his interdisciplinary research drew from history, sociology, and philosophy to analyze intercultural conflict and exchange between medieval writers.

Rebekah Martindale

“My passion has always been literature,” says Rebekah Martindale (MPhil `23) who is currently Director of Operations and Development at Main Line Classical Academy. “It’s something I discovered at the end of my undergraduate degree, but I was already on this path toward the world of finance and economics.” Even while she pursued her finance career, Rebekah still felt drawn toward the humanities. “I was at the University of Oxford and got a master’s degree in medieval literature there, and that’s when I really fell in love with the period,” she recalls.

Denise Dahlhoff

Denise Dahlhoff (Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts ’10) already held a PhD in marketing and an established career in marketing-related consulting and academia when she began looking for her next academic challenge. “I love studying. I love learning and expanding my horizons,” she explains. “In fact, I specifically wanted to study something that had nothing to do with my day job.” Her intellectual curiosity led her to Penn’s Master of Liberal Arts (MLA) degree, where she studied subjects from university governance and life stories to urban folklore and the history of pop culture.

Andie Tursi

“My job is to inspire,” says Andie Tursi (Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts ’19), a senior writer in Penn’s Office of Development and Alumni Relations. Andie has made a career writing features that celebrate alumni accomplishments and illustrate the impact of philanthropic contributions to the University. Outside of the workplace, she recently completed a collection of short stories as the capstone project of her Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts (MPhil) degree. For Andie, her professional responsibilities and creative pursuits draw on the same set of storytelling skills.

Ryan Tsapatsaris

“The first class I ever took in the Master of Philosophy in Liberal Arts (MPhil) program was on the subject and theory of publics. That shaped my theoretical framework for my PhD research and probably for the rest of my academic career,” shares Ryan Tsapatsaris (MPhil ’17), a PhD student at the Annenberg School for Communication. Ryan was first drawn to the University of Pennsylvania while reading Getting It On Online: Cyberspace, Gay Male Sexuality, and Embodied Identity. The book was written by Dr.

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