"My studies in philosophy have shaped everything for me—from my chosen career path to the way that I think about life day-to-day."
When Hannah Fowler graduated with a B.A. in philosophy from CSU in 2011 and an M.A. from CU Boulder, she was ready to make a difference in the world. “I knew I wanted to take everything that I had learned in school about ethics, politics, world religions, and critical thinking and [learn how to] apply it practically to improve our world,” she says. Fowler has succeeded in this goal many times over.
After finishing her degrees, Fowler came to “one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” she says. For the hands-on experience and an opportunity to gain different perspectives on the world, Fowler joined the Peace Corps and moved to Indonesia. She was stationed in a small town in Pasuruan, East Java where she was assigned to teach English at a vocational high school.
Fowler’s proudest and most gratifying project in Indonesia was the launch of a women’s debate team—something that had never existed at the small religious school where she worked. The creation and coaching of the team were directly inspired by Fowler’s philosophy background, especially her training in logic and ethics.
“I coached the team in making sound arguments, avoiding fallacies, and encouraged critical thinking as I had been taught at CSU,” she says. “We critically examined arguments for and against birth control, school uniforms, being stay-at-home moms, religious restrictions, abortions, and many other subjects that they may not have been exposed to or had only ever heard one side of. They excelled, and we traveled around the region winning competitions. I would not have been able to coach them without my degree in philosophy.”
After her two-year Peace Corps assignment, Fowler continued her work in the nonprofit sector around the world. First, she moved to Papua, Indonesia to work with an ocean conservation non-governmental organization (NGO) for six months, next to Ghana for a menstrual health and women’s education program for a year, and then to China to teach English for another year. When Fowler returned to the U.S., she had the opportunity to serve three years as the operations manager at a domestic violence agency and shelter for immigrants in Boston.
Fowler loved the nonprofit world even as these cross-cultural experiences pushed her to work outside her comfort zone. Fowler recognizes that her study of philosophy fostered a self-awareness that is invaluable in navigating unfamiliar regions, people, and worldviews. Fowler explains, “My philosophy degree prepared me for these because it made me ready and willing to challenge my assumptions, allowing me to be more adaptable and open to other perspectives and ways of living, which in turn made me more successful not only in my work but in making connections with people.”
Over time, Fowler came to a profound insight that would direct her path going forward. With her background in moral and political philosophy, she was very aware of the function of NGOs in civil societies. This perspective helped her understand and contextualize her own role within a broader society and government that has responsibilities to its members. “I was coming to the realization that the true power for change comes from governments, and we need better decision makers and safety net creators within our government,” she says. This was the motivation, along with her international experience, that prompted Fowler to join the U.S. State Department.
Fowler now works as a diplomat assigned to U.S. embassies and consulates around the world. As a consular officer, she conducts visa interviews for foreign applicants wanting to visit, work, or live in the U.S. She also assists Americans with consular services abroad such as in the case of arrests, adoptions, child abductions, births abroad, passport renewals, repatriations, and other services. Her first two-year placement was in Yaounde, Cameroon, and she currently serves in Bridgetown, Barbados.
This shift in focus has culminated in the perfect career for Fowler—bringing together her passion for positive change and a meaningful and sustainable path toward that end. “I enjoy the challenges of my work, the impact that I can make in the lives of applicants and Americans, the potential to positively impact government policies, and the diverse career paths that I can take in the future within the State Department,” she says.
"The benefit of studying philosophy is that you leave school with a well-rounded education that doesn’t just teach you a specific subject or have you memorize a textbook—rather you leave having learned how to be open minded, rational, and think critically."
Fowler sees the direct connection of philosophy in shaping the trajectory of her life. “The benefit of studying philosophy is that you leave school with a well-rounded education that doesn’t just teach you a specific subject or have you memorize a textbook—rather you leave having learned how to be open minded, rational, and think critically. This is incredibly valuable today,” she says. “... a solid, well-rounded education and the ability to think critically about the world around you is something that can never be taken from you.”