Remember playing Guess Who? and trying to identify someone by asking about their hair color, eye color, or physical appearance?

Well, one Penn State student is giving the classic board game a philosophical twist.

Reyna Gowie, an undergraduate student and president of Penn State’s Students Teaching Students (STS) program, is turning her longtime passion for philosophy into a course that challenges students to look beyond appearances and explore what makes people who they are.

The course, “Guess Who? Identity, Recognition, and Representation” (PHIL 197-002), will be offered in Spring 2027, meeting Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. in Ferguson Building 202.

With just 20 seats available, Gowie’s course is now open for registration through LionPATH.

Rethinking Identity Through Philosophy

Gowie said the course idea began with its final project, inspired by the popular board game.

Rather than identifying people through outward characteristics, she imagined a version where players would recognize each other through their personalities, experiences, values, and other internal defining qualities.

She often wonders what about her would lead people to believe, “That’s her under that card.”

What began as an interesting twist on a familiar board game eventually evolved into an entire philosophy course. As she developed the idea, Gowie began exploring how people understand their own identities and how those identities are shaped by the people around them.

Throughout the semester, students will examine identity through Eastern and Western philosophical traditions, cultural analysis, and even children’s television shows and films. Discussions will explore how relationships, personal experiences, reputations, and changing circumstances influence how people see themselves and others.

Students Learning From Students

Unlike a traditional lecture course, Gowie’s class will be a discussion-based seminar with no conventional exams. Instead, students will complete reflections, collaborative activities, partner discussions, and creative projects.

“First, I want them to feel absolutely comfortable being themselves,” Gowie said.

She explained that students sometimes feel pressured to act a certain way around professors, particularly when grades, recommendations, or other academic opportunities are involved.

Although she recognizes the importance of maintaining boundaries between students and instructors, Gowie hopes to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their perspectives.

“No matter what your viewpoint or identity is, I want to make you feel that your opinions and perspectives are valued, and that you won’t be judged,” she said.

For Gowie, the course is about more than simply studying philosophical theories. It also addresses two challenges she believes many college students face: figuring out who they are and finding people they can connect with.

Behind The Scenes Of STS

Gowie sees teaching the course as an opportunity to share something she genuinely enjoys. The opportunity to do so came through STS, an organization that allows Penn State undergraduates to design and teach official, credit-bearing university courses under faculty supervision.

After hearing about a student-taught Formula 1 course her freshman year, Gowie was intrigued by the possibility of teaching one herself. Once selected for an interview, she began the lengthy process of turning her idea into an official course, spending more than a year developing the curriculum, syllabus, and lesson plans.

The process is more involved than simply having an interesting idea. Prospective instructors must submit proposals, secure approval from STS leadership, gain faculty support, and obtain departmental approval before beginning course development.

According to Gowie, STS has offered 58 courses since its founding in 2019, including repeat offerings of some classes. The organization typically supports two or three courses per semester, covering subjects ranging from Formula 1 racing to horticulture and beyond.

The Next Generation of Student Instructors

Now serving as president of STS, Gowie hopes to expand the organization’s presence on campus and encourage more students to consider sharing their knowledge with others. Beyond traditional college courses, students can also lead workshops, shorter presentations, and lectures.

Gowie hopes to recruit five prospective instructors by the end of the semester as the organization prepares for future offerings. Students interested in developing courses for the fall 2027 semester and beyond can submit proposals through STS, with applications due October 30.

For students who have spent hours researching a niche topic, explaining a favorite sport, or sharing an unusual interest with friends, Gowie believes teaching might be a natural next step.

She encourages students to consider how they can share these interests with the wider Penn State community.

After all, something that seems like an ordinary personal interest to one student could become someone else’s favorite class.