Applied philosophy major
Hometown: Kenton, Ohio

Adam Houser has changed The University of Findlay as much as it has shaped him.

Houser, a senior applied philosophy major, helped found the Findlay Green Campus Initiative and its Student Action Group (with hopes of bringing energy efficiency and “green change” to the University), The Salon Group (to discuss the “hot topics” of the day – like politics, science, academia and social lives) and The Wave (which is the University’s first nonfiction literary publication). In his spare time, Houser wrote nearly 100 articles for his column, “Now That’s Interesting!,” in the student newspaper The Pulse.                   

Houser as a member of the Marching Oiler Brass

In addition, Houser has served as president of the Marching Oiler Brass, and he also plays tuba in the UF wind ensemble as the principal chair.  On Fridays, he participates at the Faculty Roundtable, which is a discussion group facilitated by UF professors. He also is involved in the Physics Club and has served as treasurer, vice-president and president. 

Houser is a student ambassador for the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and he also tutors at the writing center on campus. He was awarded UF’s Student Employee of the Year award for 2010. As an employee of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Houser helped develop a series of promotional viral videos starring himself and Derrick the Oiler.                  

“The viral video …  is just one example of how noticeable Adam’s characteristics and uniqueness are,” said Diana Quate, administrative assistant to the director of undergraduate admissions. “Adam has highly effective communication skills which set him apart from the rest … He has great leadership qualities and is always happy to share his knowledge with his co-workers.  He makes every event a learning experience either for himself or those around him … His love for learning and his exemplary communication skills are what contribute to his uniqueness.”

Watch all the Derrick the Oiler videos on YouTube.
                 

Houser gives a presentation during a class.

Houser, who is slated to graduate in May 2010, will conduct independent research in the philosophy of language and philosophy of mind during the summer. He will then attend graduate school at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland, where he’ll spend one year in a position to complete his master’s degree.

“My program, officially, is philosophy with a focus in epistemology, and I have accepted a position in Edinburgh's brand-new Mind, Language and Embodied Cognition department,” said Houser. “The UF philosophy department has, of course, been the primary reason for my success — that only three professors … can prepare a student at Findlay for study in one of the best philosophy programs in the world is a huge testament to their excellence and should be recognized.”

After high school graduation, Houser chose to attend The University of Findlay simply because of its small class sizes, its proximity to his hometown of Kenton, Ohio, the quality of the education department and the fact that it “seemed like a nice fit.”

Four years later, Houser, a self-proclaimed “serious people person,” says he will miss quite a few things about the University – particularly the day-to-day interaction with professors and students. 

“The best thing about the University is the close-knit feeling you acquire with professors, staff and students … I'll miss talking to faculty and staff casually in the hallways between classes and during lunch, seeing friends and talking with them every day, marching band, faculty roundtables, Friday Science Research Seminars, our weekly Salon group meetings, writing for The Pulse and working in the writing center,” said Houser.  “I'll miss George House, the bell tower and Old Main.”

Despite all he has grown fond of at the University, Houser is looking forward to his future in Scotland after graduation.

“Findlay has prepared me well for the future, and now I'm off to Edinburgh for advanced study,” said Houser. “I'm ready to make a name for myself and for my undergraduate institution.”       

By Hannah Wurm, communication major, Bucyrus, Ohio