Stephen Puryear

Nov 6, 2024

Lights! Camera! Analysis!

A crew from Broadview Films descended on the department to interview Gary Comstock about his work on critical thinking.

Sep 5, 2024

New Faculty Join the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Three new tenure-track faculty joined our ranks in Fall 2024.

Aug 29, 2024

PRS Represents at Packapalooza

For the first time ever, the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies participated in Packapalooza™, NC State’s signature all-day block party and street festival.

Jul 28, 2024

In Memoriam: Bruce Mullin

Robert Bruce Mullin, formerly Professor of Religion at NC State, died on July 11, 2024, at the age of seventy.

Jul 12, 2024

NC State to Host Conference on Paradoxes

The Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies will be hosting its eighth biennial Logic and Cognitive Science Initiative (LACSI) Conference on Friday, September 13 and Saturday, September 14. The topic of the conference will be paradoxes.

Jun 28, 2024

In Brief: More News from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies

Leadership Changes: After twenty years as head of the department, Michael Pendlebury retired on January 1, 2024. Stephen Puryear, Professor of Philosophy and Associate Head, served as interim head in Spring 2024 and was appointed as the ongoing head from July 1, 2024. Robert Mabrito served as interim associate head during Spring 2024. Karey Harwood…

Jun 24, 2024

Spring Graduation Reaches New Heights

Eighteen students graduated with degrees in one or more of our disciplines this spring. A remarkable two-thirds of these graduated with honors: eight summa cum laude (GPA ≥ 3.75), one magna cum laude (GPA 3.5–3.749), and three cum laude (GPA 3.25–3.449). One graduate also completed the University Honors Program and two completed the University Scholars…

Jun 21, 2024

Top Seniors Win Awards

The NC State Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies celebrated the academic achievements of its top seniors at its spring graduation ceremony on May 3. Three awards were presented by faculty members who had worked closely with the award winners. The Religious Studies Prize in Honor of Professor W. Curtis Fitzgerald The Religious Studies Prize…

Jun 18, 2024

Looking Back: Department News from the Past

2013-14: Stephen Puryear (Ph.D., Pittsburgh) and Sanem Soyarslan (Ph.D., Duke) appointed as Assistant Professors of Philosophy. Puryear, who joined the department in 2008 as a Teaching Assistant Professor, is promoted to Associate Professor in 2017, to Professor in 2023, and is appointed Department Head in 2024. Soyarslan is promoted to Associate Professor in 2020. Christine…

Jun 17, 2024

Karey Harwood Named Associate Head

Karey Harwood, associate professor of Religious Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGS), has been appointed as associate head of the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies at NC State. She assumes her new role on July 1, 2024. Harwood joined NC State in 2003 after earning her Ph.D. from the Graduate Division of…