Milo Newman-Lombardo ’25 (philosophy) plans to attend law school with a focus on environmental activism and human rights. Below, he discusses the passion and support he’s found within the philosophy department, how he rediscovered his love of pleasure reading, the professor who inspires him to excel and more.
Hometown:
Asheville, North Carolina.
Major:
Philosophy, with a minor in ethics.
Clubs and organizations:
Philosophy Collective.
Favorite book:
It’s a tie between We by Yevgeny Zamyatin and A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers.
Favorite movie/show/podcast:
Wall-E, Killer Klowns From Outer Space and The Midnight Gospel.
On choosing Dickinson:
Dickinson was recommended by high school counselor, based on its good pre-law program and its focus on sustainability.
Best things about my Dickinson experience so far:
My classes inspire me to get back into pleasure reading. I also enjoy participating in discussions with peers and teachers.
As I kid, I wanted to be …
… the YA editor at Harper-Collins.
Best thing about my major:
The people in the department are amazingly supportive and passionate.
Favorite class:
Environmental Ethics. All of the texts were incredible and inspiring. I got to see Robin Wall Kimmerer speak, and it made me feel much more connected with the world.
If I could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, it would be …
… Freddy Mercury.
Favorite professor:
Assistant Professor of Philosophy Amy McKiernan. She has given so much of her personal time to helping me succeed in her classes and in the department as a whole. She sets up amazing discussions in her classes, and she talks about people and nature in a way that makes both feel alive and important. She organized a movie night for our class based on a recommendation of mine, and we had so much fun. Also: Her dog, Abby!
Little-known hobby or talent:
I really like to paint; I did my AP art portfolio on the theme of contrast during my senior year of high school, and I had a lot of fun exploring that concept. One of my favorite ways to make art is with soft pastels—you can be very aggressive getting pastels onto paper. I like to do very stylized portraits of weird-looking people.
Post-Dickinson plans:
Law school. I want to be a lawyer dealing specifically with environmental action and civil rights.
Most important thing I’ve learned so far:
It’s really important to take classes you’re excited about.
Read more Student Snapshots.
Published January 1, 2024