Alum Jerome Veith, philosophy and psychology dual major in the class of 2005, returned to the College of Arts and Sciences to teach in the Philosophy Department. Earlier this year, he received his doctorate in philosophy from Boston College where he taught undergraduate students.
 
Veith, the son of an Air Force pilot and a tour guide, grew up in Germany. He attended German public schools, visited Seattle University as a high school senior, and was accepted into the Honors Program.
 
“I always knew I wanted to focus on the humanities. I just didn’t know where my studies would lead me,” he said from his office in the Casey building.  “I thrived in the Honors Program with its total immersion in a self-contained curriculum. “
 
Fluent in German, Veith gravitated to German philosophers and psychologists. It was Professor James Risser who first introduced Veith to 20th century German philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer.  With his ability to read texts in the original German, Veith enriched the classroom experience and paved the way for his advanced studies.
 
Veith received a Fulbright grant last year and conducted research on historical understanding and its significance for the humanities in Freiburg, Germany. He is pleased to be back at Seattle University and back to teaching.
 
“Every class is different,” he said. “Each student brings a freshness to the course that is challenging and invigorating.”
 
In addition to his teaching and scholarship, Veith serves on the editorial board of the International Yearbook for Hermeneutic.

The College of Arts and Sciences, the largest college in Seattle University, offers 42 undergraduate majors, 37 minors, and 7 master's degrees.