Joseph Nuzzo is a first-year student making the most of his experience at Mount St. Mary’s University. Growing up near the Mount and occasionally visiting the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes as a child, he knew that this was a great place to blossom in his faith. He was drawn to the Mount for its strong academic reputation, specifically for its devotion to philosophy and theology, which he knew he wanted to study.
Nuzzo is a double major in philosophy and accounting. Philosophy fuels his desire to understand the nature of human virtue, ethics and society, while accounting offers a practical skill set for his future—that is, if he doesn’t join the seminary after graduation.
Nuzzo’s path through academia has already been shaped by his passion for philosophy, particularly the works of Joseph De Maistre, who wrote after the French Revolution about radicalism and the absence of community morality.
His recent paper in Stephen McGinley’s philosophy class examined Aristotle's idea of happiness as the chief good, but also questioned the notion that pursuing virtue may sometimes involve doing what is unpleasant for the greater good; for example, being generous despite a natural inclination toward greed.
As someone who dislikes “dilly dallying in trivial matters,” Nuzzo appreciates that McGinley gets to the core of what the ancient philosophers are saying and contextualizes it in the status quo of the contemporary sphere. Nuzzo's commitment to the philosophical inquiry of virtue and human action is an asset to the Mount.
Nuzzo spent last summer working for former Maryland governor Larry Hogan’s 2024 U.S. Senate campaign. This experience, which involved voter outreach, helped him interact with the community and learn the complexities of modern politics. However, he saw first-hand how politics often mirrors the shifting values of society, noting that politicians, in a democratic system, tend to reflect the majority's desires—even when those desires may conflict with Catholic Social Teaching. He believes that politics is downstream from culture, and that societal values influence political actions, sometimes leading away from virtue.
Actively involved in extracurricular activities, Nuzzo plays snare drum in the Mighty Sound of the Mount, the University’s pep band, and serves as a commuter student senator, representing those who live off-campus. These roles allow him to engage with the community, refine his leadership skills and contribute to student life.
Nuzzo is considering the possibility of entering the priesthood. Though open to meeting someone and starting a family, he has a deep desire for structure and a life dedicated entirely to the service of God. His life thus far has been shaped by a sense of duty and a search for meaning. He looks forward to further developing his understanding of virtue, the good life and how these principles can inform his future decisions, whether in the priesthood, business or a scholarly career.