Levinson Ambassadors
In the spring of 2020, the Department of Philosophy inaugurated a student ambassador program with the support of funds provided in a generous bequest of former UMaine philosophy professor Ronald Levinson. The Levinson Ambassadorships allow philosophy majors or minors the opportunity to dive into issues of philosophical interest while also supporting the departmental community and extending the department’s impact. The focus of the ambassadorship is to support the department, its community, and, in some cases, the surrounding community through various activities and events. Ambassadors will be assigned to specific support areas, but also work together on group projects (e.g. supporting events, etc.).
Head Levinson Ambassador
Kyra Pederson
Kyra Pederson is a third-year Philosophy major with a minor in English. Her philosophical topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the philosophy of grief, love, existentialism, and ontology. She is a 24–25 Mcgillicuddy Humanities Center undergraduate research fellow working on the research project “Shoveling Sand: A Descent Into The Sinkhole—A Phenomenological Account of Grief Objects,” which asks the question “What fills the space that loss creates, and why must that space be necessarily occupied?”. She is also the president of the philosophy and women in philosophy club, which she greatly encourages you to attend!!! When she is not avoiding homework or breaking down in the Weisz room, she is likely writing Shirley Jackson-inspired poetry, buying books but never reading them, or sending ferociously anti-capitalist emails to her local congresspersons. Feel free to approach her with any questions you may have; she’ll talk your ear off for hours if you let her.
Maggie Kastelein
Maggie Kastelein is a second-year student majoring in New Media and Philosophy with a minor in Computer Science. She is interested in utilizing philosophy to explore contemporary subjects, particularly technology and gender. As a Levinson Ambassador she looks forward to helping with PR and event coordination, as well as generally getting to know the students and faculty in the department better. Outside of school Maggie enjoys photography, watching 70s horror movies, and listening to any and all music- she is currently into jazz fusion
Josh Adell
Josh Adell is a fourth-year Philosophy major and New Media minor. His philosophical interests are logic, analytical philosophy, and sports philosophy. His current research is titled “Motivations: A Comparison of the Application of Ideals Across Sports”, which seeks to explore and analyze any philosophical correlations or lack thereof to winning across individual and team sports. As a Levinson Ambassador he will provide peer support and office hours for PHI 103: Methods of Reasoning and PHI 250: Logic, as well as working on the philosophy departments website. In his free time he enjoys playing volleyball with the men’s club on campus.
Rehannah Baksh
Rehannah Baksh, was born and raised in New York before starting her undergraduate career at the College of the Atlantic. After finding her passion for interdisciplinary work concerning the body, politics, and matters of representation and their intersection with performance, she transferred to UMaine to continue these studies. Before coming to UMaine, Rehannah had worked on DEI committees and strategic task forces at COA to help integrate written policy into practical application for students to find solidarity and equitable working environments. When not working, Rehannah enjoys all types of dance and body expressions linked to movement, collaging, watching video essays, karaoke, and talking (“yapping”) about anything.
