From spintronics to philosophy of punishment, Jack Cawthon followed his curiosity at RIT

Jack Cawthon, a graduating Physics and Philosophy double major, has found fulfillment throughout his college experience by pursuing the subjects that genuinely inspire him.

After taking AP Physics in high school, Cawthon arrived at RIT ready to follow his passion within the College of Science’s School of Physics and Astronomy. During his first year, he took his first philosophy course and quickly became hooked. By the end of that year, he had officially added Philosophy as a second major.

“I’ve been fulfilled and happy pursuing my passions without worrying about jobs,” Cawthon said.

Throughout his time at RIT, Cawthon has been involved in Philosophy Club and served as vice president during the 2025-2026 academic year. One of his proudest accomplishments was presenting at the annual Undergraduate Philosophy Conference, where he discussed the epistemic shortcomings of divine morality.

His favorite course was Philosophy of Punishment with Dr. John Capps, where he explored the reasons societies punish people and the ethical questions surrounding punishment. In his physics studies, Cawthon completed capstone research on spintronics and received the 2026 College of Science undergraduate research award in physics and astronomy.

As a liberal arts student at a technical university, Cawthon values the opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives. He said his studies helped prepare him to collaborate with people who think differently and strengthened his interpersonal and communication skills. He also appreciated the close-knit environment within the College of Liberal Arts, which allowed him to build more personal connections with professors and faculty.

If he could offer advice to his freshman-year self, Cawthon said he would keep it simple: “Just chill out, stop stressing so much. Thinking too much about the future is too much pressure on yourself.”

Cawthon is grateful for the faculty and staff who supported him throughout his four years at RIT, including Dr. Capps, who became his advisor during his freshman year and helped guide his college journey while deepening his love of philosophy. He also thanked his capstone advisor, Dr. Jayathilaka, for his mentorship, as well as Lindsey Cohen, his physics academic advisor, for her consistent support.