Philosophy

Support the Ilene Goldman Block Memorial Fund

Ilene Block, LS&A '69, and alumna of the Philosophy Department, lived a rich and fulfilling life, improving the lives of many along her path. Her undergraduate experience was both formative and enriching. She was grateful for the opportunities made possible by her Michigan education, and never took for granted the chance to pass on to others the wisdom and keen sense of logic that she developed here. That included her son, Jamie, LS&A '11, who graduated with Honors in Philosophy.

The Ilene Goldman Block Memorial Fund provides resources that enhance undergraduate students' experiences in Philosophy, including internships, conference attendance, research-related travel, hosting of guest speakers on campus, development of special events, and publication purchases. The Fund aims to support underrepresented students in the field of philosophy.

Contributions to the Philosophy Department play a critical role in supporting selected activities and programs. The Department benefits enormously from the generosity of University graduates, their parents, and other friends of Michigan Philosophy. We place an emphasis on broad and intensive training in the analytic tradition across the main areas of the discipline. Undergraduates are well prepared for a wide range of careers in both professional and public service, while graduate students achieve impressive job market success, with many receiving offers from highly ranked philosophy departments.

Due to the Ilene Goldman Block Memorial Fund, Noah Chang traveled to Baltimore in March 2024 to present a paper at the Macksey Symposium at Johns Hopkins University. Jacob Johnson was able to attend Purdue University's Undergraduate Conference in April 2024. Carrie Ciecierski traveled to attend the 2024 Association for Practical and Professional Applied Ethics in Charlotte, NC. Block funds also supported special achievement prizes for Mrinalini Gupta and Carrie Ciecierski for their remarkable academic achievements, participation in the Philosophy Club, and the Meteorite publication. 

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