Senior Scholars at Queens

Unveiling the Skies: Preview of Sullenberger Aviation Museum with Kayla Adams and Misty Sweat
2024-02-16 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Unveiling the Skies: Preview of Sullenberger Aviation Museum

SPEAKER: Kayla Adams, Director of Education, and Misty Sweat, VP of Education and Programming, Sullenberger Aviation Museum
Join us for a sneak peek into the upcoming Sullenberger Aviation Museum, set to open its doors this summer in the growing city of Charlotte, NC. See a preview of the new state-of-the-art $30 million campus and get a glimpse of the museum’s innovative exhibits that will showcase the evolution of aviation technology, the pivotal moments that have defined modern air travel, and the people of aviation that have made it happen.

BIOGRAPHY
Kayla Adams is the Director of Education at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum (SAM).
Kayla is driving the development of SAM’s comprehensive education program. Her role involves orchestrating educational visitor experiences, including guided field trips, special educational programming, and makerspace engagement.
She also supports the development of SAM’s newly structured volunteer program. Kayla holds a Master’s in Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University, specializing in museum educational programming.
With over a decade of experience in educational programming, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her position, ensuring that Sullenberger Aviation provides enriching and educational experiences for visitors while preserving the heritage of aviation.
Introducing Dr. Misty Sweat, a dynamic educational leader with a passion for innovation and a commitment to shaping the future of aviation education. Currently serving as the Vice President of Education at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum for the past year, Dr. Sweat brings over 15 years of invaluable experience to the field of education.
Dr. Sweat’s journey began as a high school math and science teacher, where her dedication to fostering student growth and curiosity for improving outcomes quickly set her apart. Over the years, she transitioned into leadership roles by spearheading groundbreaking programming and introducing and providing training for transformative initiatives across five different districts spanning two states.
Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s in Instruction and Curriculum Leadership from the University of Memphis, Dr. Sweat’s academic foundation laid the groundwork for her future in educational leadership. Her commitment to continuous growth and expertise led her to attain a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from East Tennessee State University.
In her current role, Dr. Sweat is at the forefront of designing the educational and volunteer programs while also spearheading outreach and workforce development initiatives at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum. As the museum prepares to open its doors next summer, her visionary leadership and innovative approach promise to create an engaging and impactful educational experience for visitors, students, and aviation enthusiasts alike.

Understanding Indonesia with Dr. Kevin Fogg / GREAT DECISIONS Topic
2024-02-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: Understanding Indonesia
SPEAKER: Dr. Kevin Fogg, Associate Director, Carolina Asia Center, UNC-Chapel Hill
Indonesia is the world’s fourth most populous country, has more Muslims than any other country on earth, is a center for global biodiversity, and is the biggest player in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations–and yet it is not well known or understood in the United States.
This presentation will unpack how Indonesia fits into our modern world and what is next for the country after its 2024 elections.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Kevin Fogg is the Associate Director of the Carolina Asia Center at UNC-Chapel Hill and teaches in the university’s Department of History.
Dr. Fogg came to UNC from Oxford, where he taught for eight years in the Faculty of History, Brasenose College, and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. He did his undergraduate degree at Duke, and he completed his master’s and doctoral studies at Yale.
He is a historian of Southeast Asia, specializing in Islamic societies and post-colonial Indonesia.
New Mandala blog run by the Australian National University provides interesting perspectives on Indonesia (often politics) in English, usually about once a month: https://www.newmandala.org/
The Inside Indonesia online journal is written by academics for a non-specialist audience, and treats a broad range of topics in Indonesian society: https://www.insideindonesia.org/
Elizabeth Pisani’s book _Indonesia, Etc._ provides an engaging introduction to the archipelago, although now about a decade old: http://indonesiaetc.com/

Policing in 2024 with David Robinson
2024-03-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Temple Beth El, 5101 Providence Rd, Charlotte, 28270, United States
TOPIC: Policing in 2024
SPEAKER: David Robinson, Deputy Chief, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department
Deputy Chief Robinson will provide insights into the security and public-order issues facing Charlotte this year and beyond and the plans of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department to meet those challenges.
NOTE: Location change. This presentation will be at Temple Beth El.
Directions to Temple Beth El:

Enter Shalom Park at the light – 5007 Providence Rd.
At the T-intersection, turn right, then make an immediate right.
Turn left into parking lots for Temple Beth El.

BIOGRAPHY
Deputy Chief David Robinson joined the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department as a member of the 122nd Recruit Class in 1996. He was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief on October 6, 2022. As the Deputy Chief of the Patrol Services Group, he oversees approximately 1200 sworn and civilian employees, within 13 Patrol Divisions and Airport Law Enforcement.
With over 27 years of dedicated public service to the City of Charlotte, Deputy Chief Robinson has held many assignments to include, Major over the Administrative Services Bureau and Central Patrol Service Area, Captain of the Central and Hickory Grove Patrol Divisions as well as Captain over the Recruiting Unit. As a Lieutenant, Deputy Chief Robinson was assigned to the Homicide Unit where he supervised four squads of Homicide Detectives dedicated to bringing justice to murder victims and their families. Additionally, Deputy Chief Robinson served as a Supervisor in the Steele Creek Division and the Street Crimes Unit after seven years as a police officer.
As an innovative leader within the Law Enforcement Profession, Deputy Chief Robinson is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), an organization which works to address the most crucial issues facing law enforcement today. He currently serves as a member on the IACP Victim Services Committee, which supports cooperation and assistance between law enforcement and other crisis intervention providers to improve services and treatment for crime victims. Deputy Chief Robinson also graduated from the inaugural session of CMPD’s Command College in 2017.
From a young boy, Deputy Chief Robinson grew up in Charlotte, NC where he was educated in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, (CMS). Following graduation from Independence High School, he attended Appalachian State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice, December of 1995. It was only three (3) short months later, March of 1996, when he made the very important life decision to join the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department. Since that time, Deputy Chief Robinson has worked tirelessly to build collaborative partnerships within the community, while engaging with the citizens of Charlotte on a human level, one positive interaction at a time.

New Member Orientation - Friday March 8
2024-03-08 09:00 - 09:45 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
All members old and new are invited to attend in person or via Zoom, our New Member Orientation meeting.
Learn more about the organization including how to meet people, join events and how you can help the organization – the best way to meet new people!
In person meeting is in Room 106 in PUMC.

Earthquakes - A Lot of Shaking Going On with Kenneth Taylor
2024-03-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Earthquakes — Alot of Shaking Going On
SPEAKER: Kenneth Taylor, North Carolina Geological Survey; N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ)
Travel over several of time in the eastern half of our country to see the number and severity of earthquakes in the Eastern and Central Part of the US.

BIOGRAPHY
Born in North Carolina — Interest in earthquakes began after the 1971 San Fernando in California. I did not feel an earthquake personally until many years later.
In 1971, I lived at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. That year, the San Fernando earthquake in California got me excited. I am a seismologist / geophysicist / geologist. When I went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I was the Teaching Assistant (TA) for the geophysics professor — Dr. Christine Powell (as an undergraduate).
After getting my undergraduate degree in geology, I went to the University of South Carolina in Columbia. With my M.S. I got a job at Teledyne-Geotech in Dallas, Texas as a research geophysicist. Teledyne-Geotech made the most advanced borehole seismometers in the world. We even recorded a volcanic eruption in Mexico with sensors that were hundreds of miles from the volcano.
After a few years at T- G, I moved with my wife to St. Louis to complete my doctorate in geophysics. I chased earthquakes across the Midwest as well as recording seismic events in the Arctic Circle. The team I was part of during the second summer in the high artic recorded the last soviet underground nuclear test.
I got a Congressional Science Fellowship after completing my Doctorate. I spent that year in the Washington area as worked for Senator Harry Reid.
After that, I came back to North Carolina and lived in Asheville, and Wake County working for the State Government ever since.

Outsmart the Outbreak with Dr. Katie Passaretti
2024-03-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Outsmart the Outbreak: Winning the War Against Future Infectious Disease Threats with Dr. Katie Passaretti
SPEAKER: Dr. Katie Passaretti, Vice President, Chief Epidemiologist for Atrium Health
Review factors contributing to emerging pathogens, past and more recent pandemic successes and failures, and what we can do better when facing the inevitable next infectious disease threat.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Catherine Passaretti completed medical school, internal medicine and infectious disease training at Johns Hopkins. She currently is Vice President, Chief Epidemiologist for Atrium Health and is a Clinical Professor in Internal Medicine, Section for Infectious Diseases at Wake Forest University School of Medicine.

Why Disengagement from the Middle East is Harder than You Think with Professor Sylvie Toska
2024-03-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: Why Disengagement from the Middle East is Harder than You Think
SPEAKER: Professor Sylvie Toska, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Davidson College
The presentation will discuss past and present US interests in the Middle East, and examine reasons why US disengagement from the region is, and will continue to be, difficult. It also discusses failures of US policy in the region and provides policy suggestions for the future.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Toska is a Middle East and International Relations specialist with a PhD in political science from Cornell University.
Her first book, which is forthcoming with Oxford University Press, is titled: “Revolutionary Emotions: Emotions and the Spread and Success of Revolt.” This book builds on over 6 years of field work in the Middle East.
She is currently working on a second book, which examine intelligence success and failure in the Middle East.

Multiple Points of Entry with David Fisk
2024-03-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Temple Beth El, 5101 Providence Rd, Charlotte, 28270, United States
TOPIC: Charlotte Symphony – Multiple Points of Entry
SPEAKER: David Fisk, President & CEO, Charlotte Symphony
A newcomer’s guide to the Charlotte Symphony.
NOTE: Location change. This presentation will be at Temple Beth El. Speaker will be via Zoom.

Directions to Temple Beth El:

Enter Shalom Park at the light – 5007 Providence Rd.
At the T-intersection, turn right, then make an immediate right.
Turn left into parking lots for Temple Beth El.

BIOGRAPHY
David Fisk joined the Charlotte Symphony as its President & CEO in 2020. Prior to that he served as Executive Director of the Richmond Symphony in Virginia for 18 years, having previously held leadership roles in the UK and Ireland with a chamber orchestra, a symphony orchestra, an international arts festival and a sculpture park. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Manchester, and a postgraduate performer’s diploma specializing in piano accompaniment from the Royal Northern College of Music, where he also studied singing, composition and conducting.
David’s musical life began early, as a boy chorister for five years at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, which made him realize his life would be in music one way or another. Studying cello led to a deep affinity for orchestral and chamber music, and learning organ at St. Paul’s developed his love of church and choral music into adulthood. Though he started out as a professional musician, and still continues to play piano and organ to this day, David made the turn in his early twenties to arts management, to which he has ever since dedicated his career.
David is married to the Irish opera singer and voice teacher Anne O’Byrne. They live in Dilworth and have two grown children, both currently studying in Europe.

Coping with Copyright with Matthew Asbell
2024-04-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Copyright Law
SPEAKER: Matthew Asbell, Partner, Lippes Mathias
NOTE: This presentation will be via Zoom at Wolfe Hall.
As AI takes over our lives, how are we impacted regarding using materials we may have copied from an online source? Join us for this fascinating topic to make sure you are following the law correctly.
With extensive knowledge and background in information technology, entertainment, medicine, and a range of other fields, Matt Asbell, works with clients in diverse industries.
Matt assists clients in clearing, obtaining, enforcing, and defending trademark, patent, design and copyrights in the United States and throughout the world, while also advising on domain names, social media and related issues.
Matthew serves as an adjunct professor of law and frequent guest lecturer at Fordham University and The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (Yeshiva University), and has taught at Columbia University and the Instituto Superior de Derecho y Economia (ISDE) in Madrid, Spain.
He hosts a weekly podcast on the intangible aspects of business and frequently appears in the media to discuss significant cases and topics relevant to the law surrounding intellectual property.

BIOGRAPHY
Www.matthewasbell.com
Www.lippes.com

New Member Orientation - Friday April 12
2024-04-12 09:00 - 09:45 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States

Current Events in Healthcare with Brad Wilson
2024-04-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Healthcare Financing for Medicare/Medicaid
SPEAKER: Brad Wilson, CEO Emeritus, BlueCross BlueShield of NC
Brad will discuss the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, it’s implementation and potential impacts and what President Biden and President Trump are saying about their respective positions are/may be on the Act and other important healthcare issues.

BIOGRAPHY
Brad Wilson served as CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina. Prior to that, he served as Counsel to the Governor of North Carolina. Brad now teaches business and law at Wake Forest University. He currently serves as interim Director of the North Carolina Museum of History.
JAMA Network

Affordable Housing with Tom Hanchett
2024-04-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: Affordable Housing
SPEAKER: Tom Hanchett, Community Historian
Community historian Dr. Tom Hanchett is completing a book for UNC Press on the history of one of America’s most pressing issues: affordable housing. He’ll share some of his Charlotte research, from public housing in the 1930s to today — and looks forward to your comments.

Climate Change and Competition with Mark Kelso
2024-04-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: Climate Change and Competition
SPEAKER: Mark Kelso, Queens University
Professor Kelso will discuss how the politics of climate change will impact economics, especially competition among businesses and countries.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Mark Kelso is currently Professor of Political Science at Queens University of Charlotte and the 2017 winner of the Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award.
He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Murray State University and his doctorate degree in Political Science from Vanderbilt University.
He teaches a variety of courses at Queens, including European Politics, Campaigns and Elections, Environmental Politics and Congress and the Presidency. His research interests include environmental policy, electoral behavior and political leadership. He has published in such journals as Presidential Studies Quarterly and Congress and the Presidency.
He will have a chapter on President Obama’s environmental policies in the forthcoming book, Evaluating the Obama Presidency, edited by Bose and Fritz.

The Search for Life Beyond Earth with Rachel Smith
2024-05-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The Search for Life Beyond Earth
SPEAKER: Rachel Smith, Head, Astronomy & Astrophysics Research Lab, Curator of Meteorites, Professor, Physics & Astronomy. North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences/Appalachian State University.
Astronomer Dr. Rachel Smith will use new planetarium software called OpenSpace to journey from Earth to our neighboring planets, to far beyond the solar system.
Rachel will discuss some of Earth’s extreme environments and their connections to other worlds where scientists are searching for life. She will also discuss her current research on forming stars and protoplanetary systems across the Galaxy using NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility on Maunakea, Hawaii, with links to exoplanets and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
NOTE: This will be a Zoom presentation inside PUMC Wolfe Hall

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Rachel Smith is Head of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Lab and Curator of Meteorites at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. She is jointly appointed as Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Appalachian State University, and Adjunct Professor at UNC Chapel Hill.
Rachel’s research involves observing forming stars across the Galaxy to better understand the chemical pathways involved in the evolution of planets, and in the formation of carbon-based molecules needed for life.
Rachel has utilized several large observatories for her work, and is currently observing massive young stars with NASA’s Infrared Telescope Facility on Maunakea in Hawaii.
She has had a long-time interest in the search for life beyond our planet, and how life began and evolved on Earth.

Overall Budget on Housing & Homelessness with Dimple Ajmera
2024-05-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Overall Budget on Housing & Homelessness
SPEAKER: Dimple Ajmera, Charlotte City Council At Large member
Council member Dimple Ajmera will address and share the overall budget regarding housing and homelessness.

BIOGRAPHY
Dimple Ajmera, City Council At Large, is proud to be living the American dream. With little means, her parents immigrated to the U.S. to provide their children with greater opportunities. Proving her tenacity, Ajmera graduated from Southern High School in Durham, graduated from the University of Southern California and later became a certified public accountant. After joining City Council, Ajmera left her six-figure career in order to devote her full attention to her City Council position and a mission she values – helping to make Charlotte a place where everyone has a chance to succeed and prosper, regardless of background or geography. As a mother, she is dedicated to ensuring that all children in Charlotte are given equal opportunity to succeed including access to healthcare and housing.
During her tenure on the City Council, Ajmera has been a fighter with a proven record. Ajmera’s platform includes, but is not limited to, Public Safety, Affordable Housing, a Healthy Environment, Women’s Equality, Economic Development and Infrastructure. She is widely known for chairing the Environment Committee and helping Charlotte become a global leader in sustainability with bipartisan support. The adoption of the Strategic Energy Action Plan (SEAP) is the city’s first-ever framework to transition to a low-carbon future. Within 24 hours of its passing, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg visited Charlotte to announce a $2.5 million grant from his foundation toward Charlotte’s efforts to fight climate change.
Ajmera also has a record of bold accomplishments on affordable housing. She played an integral role in securing the funding and neighborhood support for the St. John’s Place affordable housing development. She continues to work to expand access to affordable housing, increase local awareness and action on school safety, and bring traction and economic opportunities to the 69-acre Eastland site, an area left undeveloped for years. As a mother, she knows how important a child’s environment is for their future success and is committed to ensuring safety and security for each child. Ajmera lives with her husband, Dr. Vaibhav Bajaj, and her daughters, Charlotte and Arya.
Ajmera became the first Asian American and youngest woman to be elected to City Council with her historic victory in 2017. Ajmera received the 2018 Global Service Award by Rotary International, the 2019 Blue Sky Award for Public Policy Work by Clean Air Carolina, the Community Advocate Award by Café Mocha Radio, and one of Longleaf Politics’ 54 Top Young Political Stars in North Carolina. She has been recognized as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Mecklenburg County by The Mecklenburg Times and named Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40. Most recently, she received the NAACP Excellence in Leadership Award.

American Democracy & The Rule of Law in Peril with Michael Luttig
2024-05-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: American Democracy & The Rule of Law in Peril
SPEAKER: Michael Luttig, former US Court of Appeals Judge
Michael Luttig, Judge of the United States Court of Appeals (ret.) for the Fourth Circuit, retired from the bench several years ago.
A well respected conservative jurist, he advised Vice President Mike Pence on and before January 6, 2021, as to the limitations on the role of the Vice President during the congressional session at which the slates of electors certified by the states were formally presented to Congress for counting at a joint session.
NOTE: This will be a Zoom presentation inside PUMC Wolfe Hall

"Capital L" Leadership: The Story of the Duke Mansion with Peter Blair
2024-05-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: “Capital L” leadership: The Story of the Duke Mansion and the role of civic leadership in a thriving community.
SPEAKER: Peter Blair, President/CEO, The Lynnwood Foundation, Duke Mansion and Lee Institute
Duke Mansion is a rare jewel nestled in the crown of the Queen City, a splendid setting for corporate and civic gatherings, milestone celebrations, and elegant overnight stays.
It’s also been the cornerstone of “Capital L leadership” that was essential in solidifying the health and vibrancy of our community. Hear the stories and learn the role of the Duke Mansion in our city’s history.

BIOGRAPHY
Peter Blair joined the Duke Mansion and the Lee Institute as President and CEO in April, 2022. He spent the previous seven years as the CEO of the Sandra and Leon Levine Jewish Community Center. In his role as chief executive, he led a nonprofit with a staff of 450+ and a membership of over 10,000 individuals representing the diversity of the Charlotte community. Previously, he served as chief operating officer of the Harry and Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Peter Blair Linked In
Duke Mansion
Lee Institute

Attracting International Companies to Charlotte with Ljubomir (L.J.) Stambuk
2024-05-31 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Attracting International Companies to Charlotte
SPEAKER: Ljubomir (L.J.) Stambuk, President & CEO, World Affairs Council of Charlotte
Ljubomir (L.J.) Stambuk joined the World Affairs Council of Charlotte as Executive Director in 2006.
Through his dynamic leadership and systematic approach to development and asset building, Stambuk rebuilt the Council’s branding and standing in the community through strategic community partnerships, quality programming and fundraising initiatives.

BIOGRAPHY
Ljubomir (L.J.) Stambuk joined the World Affairs Council of Charlotte as Executive Director in 2006. Through his dynamic leadership and systematic approach to development and asset building, Stambuk rebuilt the Council’s branding and standing in the community through strategic community partnerships, quality programming and fundraising initiatives. He is also credited for leading the Council to its best financial performance from 2008-2019 and promoting Charlotte as a hub for international business in the Carolinas in partnership with corporate and community organizations in the area.
Stambuk is well-traveled with extensive experience and knowledge in leading travel programs. Born in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, he spent his childhood in Burma and Holland with his diplomat family. His early career led him to the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Council (WFC) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the UN Development Program (UNDP) which included extensive travel around the world. Stambuk has been to over 72 countries, most recently: Peru, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Poland, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany, Dominican Republic, Martinique (France), and St. Lucia. He has had the fortune to travel all over Europe, Asia, Central and Latin America and Africa.
As part of his long-term vision for innovative global issue programming in the Queen City, the Council regularly engages the greater Charlotte community through dialogue on world affairs by recruiting speakers of exceptional caliber to this region to discuss foreign policy, international business and politics and Charlotte’s role in an increasingly global world as part of Stambuk’s long-term vision for innovative global issue programming in the Queen City.
Stambuk has 25+ years of senior leadership and management experience in operations management, business development, marketing and human resources and strategic planning in various multinational corporations around the world including Applied Semiconductor Inc. (Chief Operating Officer), Ahold USA (Senior Vice-President, Corporate) and Centrocoop (Executive Vice President & Division President).
As a local expert on international relations and economics, he has frequently been mentioned and appeared in panel discussions hosted by Charlotte Talks (WFAE), Charlotte Business Review (WTVI), The Charlotte Observer, The Charlotte Business Journal, and area trade and international organizations.
In November 2021, Stambuk was recognized as the 2021 WACA Chairman’s Individual Award by the World Affairs Councils of America for his exemplary leadership and dedication to fostering international understanding and connections beyond borders. As a top global education non-profit leader in the greater Charlotte region, this award highlighted L.J.’s visionary influence and advocacy in the field of international relations and thoughtful tenacity in a time of significant crisis in our country and the world
He was also recognized with the 2017 International Leader Award by the Charlotte Business Journal, and was also recognized by the Charlotte International Rotary with the 2018 Global Service Award for his role in promoting a broader understanding of world affairs to ensure that Charlotte, North Carolina, continues to grow as a competitive global city in the Southeast.
Under Stambuk’s leadership, the Council was recognized as the 2017 Richard Vinroot Award recipient at the Mayor’s International Community Awards ceremony on May 11th. This award recognized the Council’s contributions to the international community through its international education programs and initiatives.
Stambuk has served on the board of the World Affairs Council of America (WACA) in Washington D.C. (2013-2019) and the advisory boards of the United States Global Leadership Coalition, North Carolina (USGLC) and the Charlotte Economics Club (CEC). He has also served on the board of the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce.
He received his undergraduate degree in International Economics and Business from the University of Belgrade, where he graduated in the top one percent of his class. In addition, he has a Master’s degree in Business and Organizational Development from Cornell University.
Stambuk currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina along with his wife, Natasha and their two young sons.
He was promoted to President in 2009 and CEO in 2011.

Medical Myths - What You Don't Know Just Might Kill You with Dr. Kevin Soden
2024-09-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Medical Myths – What You Don’t Know Just Might Kill You
SPEAKER: Kevin J. Soden, MD MPH
In this fun interactive lecture, you will explore some of the truths and falsehoods of various medical myths. Some of which your parents, teachers and friends taught you.
You will test your knowledge on a variety of common medical topics and if you’re not careful, what you don’t know, just might kill you. Are you up to the challenge?
Since this is our kick-off meeting for the season, support your favorite sports team and wear their colors!
NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required, just show up. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Kevin Soden is an international award-winning medical journalist who has received numerous awards for his television work including Emmy’s, Telly’s, a Freddie, and has twice been given the National Award for Excellence in Medical Reporting from the National Association of Medical Communicators. He has worked at CBS, NBC News Channel and on NBC’s Today Show.
He was an emergency room doctor for 23 years and now serves as the worldwide Chief Medical Officer for Texas Instruments and the Cardinal Health corporation. He is also a courtesy Professor at the Univ. of Florida College of Medicine.
Kevin published The Art of Medicine: What Every Doctor and Patient Should Know…a critically acclaimed book focusing on improving doctor-patient communications. He is also the primary author of a consumer medical book Special Treatment: How to Get the High-Quality Care Your Doctor Gets. Kevin speaks frequently to both medical organizations as well as business groups on a wide variety of general health topics, including laughter, aging, sex and stress.
Soden graduated with honors from the University of Florida College of Medicine and is one of the original inductees into the UF Medical Wall of Fame. He also has a Masters in Public Health from the Medical College of Wisconsin and a Masters in Personnel Administration from Florida State University. He graduated from Belmont Abbey College with a degree in history (Yes, you can get a job with a history degree.)

Housing & Homelessness with Dimple Ajmera at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
2024-09-17 10:30 - 11:00 | Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, 3400 Beatties Ford Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28216, United States
TOPIC: Housing & Homelessness
A Joint Presentation of Senior Scholars & Friendship Missionary Baptist Church.
Join us at the beautiful Friendship Missionary Conference Center for a cup of coffee, new friends, and some enlightening conversation.
Event will be at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Conference Center. See the awe-inspiring 2,500 seat sanctuary, one of the most beautiful in the country.

Who's Afraid of Opera with James Meena
2024-09-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Who’s Afraid of Opera
SPEAKER: James Meena, Artistic Director & Principal Conductor
Mr. Meena will provide an overview of the opera art form and Opera Carolina’s 75-year history of service to Greater Charlotte.
A guest performance may be provided.

BIOGRAPHY
Entering his 25th season with Opera Carolina, Mo. James Meena’s tenure with Charlotte’s 75-year old opera company has been characterized by an unswerving commitment to artistic excellence.
During his tenure, the company has presented eight regional premieres and seven new American operas, including Cold Sassy Tree and Susannah by Carlisle Floyd, Margaret Garner by Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison, Rise for Freedom by Adolphus Hailstork, the new musical drama I Dream by Douglas Tappin about the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the House Music Opera House of Orfeus by Nmon Ford and The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson starring international superstar Denyce Graves. Under his direction, Opera Carolina performances of Margaret Garner, Faust and Il Trovatore were broadcast over NPR World of Opera, nationally syndicated to 92 stations.
He is regarded as one of America’s finest opera conductors, and has performed as guest conductor with orchestras and opera companies across the globe Turandot in the Teatro Antiche Taormina and Teatro Greco Siracusa, Tosca at the Luglio Festivale Trapani in Sicilia, a double-bill of Rachmaninoff’s rarely-performed Aleko paired with Pagliacci as well as La fanciulla del West, both with New York City Opera; Le nozze di Figaro for Teatro Sociale Rovigo Italy, La Fanciulla del West for five prestigious Italian theaters: Teatro del Giglio, Lucca Italy, Teatro Verdi in Pisa, Teatro Alighieri di Ravenna, Teatro Pavarotti di Modena and Teatro Goldoni di Livorno, a Gala concert with Renee Fleming and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, La bohème with the prestigious Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, Le nozze di Figaro, La traviata, Pagliacci, Madama Butterfly and La bohème with Opéra de Montréal.
Links:
Opera Carolina
James Meena

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

Music Therapy: The science, the singing and everything in between with Meg Johnson
2024-09-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Music Therapy: The science, the singing and everything in between.
SPEAKER: Meg Johnson, Music Therapy Program Director and Clinical Coordinator, Queens University
The presentation will provide an overview of the field of music therapy: the academic foundations, the education of students and therapists, the places we work and how we do what we do.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Meg Stanley Johnson has extensive clinical experience with a variety of client populations including child, adolescent and adult psychiatric settings, memory care groups, and children and adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities in both individual and group settings. Her current clinical focus is with young adults with autism who have limited verbal skills and a history of aggression.
She is the music therapy program director and clinical coordinator at Queens in addition to teaching in the music therapy and general education programs.
Education
M.M., Neurologic Music Therapy, Colorado State University
B.M., Music Therapy, Queens College, Charlotte, NC
B.A., Psychology, Queens College, Charlotte, NC
Bi www.musictherapy.org
www.ncmusictherapy.org
www.cbmt.org

Fall Expo - Part 1
2024-10-04 09:00 - 10:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
2nd Annual Fall Expo!
Exhibitors and information for seniors on medical plans, hobby groups and clubs, volunteer opportunities and much more!
October 4, 2024
9-10 am before speaker event
Exhibitors include:

League of Women Voters
Association of University Women

Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History with Mark Larson
2024-10-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History
SPEAKER: Mark Larson
Inspired by Studs Terkel’s 1974 classic, “Working”, Mark Larson, author of “Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater”, will discuss his new book, “Working in the 21st Century” released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Terkel’s book. Sharing video clips from his interviews, Larson will explore the similarities between Studs’s times and our own through the impact on the work lives of his 101 interviewees. Larson, who knew Studs and was interviewed by him twice, will also discuss Terkel’s influence on him.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Mark Larson is the author of “Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater” for which he conducted over 300 interviews with Chicago theater artists, past and present. His new book, “Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation”, was released in 2024 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Studs Terkel’s “Working”. In March, Larson’s book was named one of the best books of the year, so far, by Esquire magazine. He is currently working on a series of interviews with the iconic Broadway composer, John Kander (“Cabaret”, Chicago”, “New York, New York” and 16 others) for a book titled “The Best We Can: Conversations with John Kander”.
Bi website: marklarsonauthor.com
Books:
Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation
Ensemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater

Fall Expo - Part 2
2024-10-11 09:00 - 10:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
2nd Annual Fall Expo!
Loads of exhibitors and information for seniors on medical plans, hobby groups and clubs, volunteer opportunities and much more!
October 11, 2024
9-10 am before speaker event
Exhibitors include:

Writers Club
Quilters Club
Kristan Smith
Nancy Stancil
Theatre Charlotte
Shepherd’s Center
Charlotte-Meck Library
Carolina Living Benefits
Ronald McDonald House
The Barclay at Southpark
CMS HeartMath Tutoring
Mecklenburg Parks & Recreation
NC SHIIP (State Seniors Health Insurance Information Program)

The Amazing Gift of Language with Steve Clark
2024-10-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The Amazing Gift of Language
SPEAKER: Steve Clark, Professor Emeritus, Moody Bible Institute
What is language? This presentation will provide an overview of something we rarely consider because it is so automatic: language, the ability to express to others anything we can think of. After looking at what actually happens when we speak, we will summarize eight facts about language, such as its diversity, its productivity, how we learn it, etc. A variety of illustrations and demonstrations will be used to add interest. The goal is to encourage a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, this uniquely human gift.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Steve retired in 2019 after serving as professor of linguistics at a college in Chicago for 23 years. Prior to that, he and his family lived for 11 years in a remote area of Papua New Guinea, where he analyzed and became fluent in the Sio language, which is spoken by fewer than 3,000 people and had never been studied before.
He did a linguistic analysis of the language, created an orthography, collected oral texts, developed a literacy program, and translated portions of the Bible into the language. He holds graduate degrees in linguistics (University of North Dakota) and education (University of Kansas).
He currently lives in Indian Land, SC, and keeps busy teaching English to recently arrived immigrants, and officiating track and field meets at colleges and universities across the Carolinas.

Lighting a Pathway for Young Artists with Corey Mitchell
2024-10-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Lighting a Pathway for Young Artists
SPEAKER: Corey Mitchell, Founder of Theater Gap Initiative
Mitchell will talk about his journey as an arts educator spreading the message of excellence and helping to create a pathway for young artists to have a career and change their trajectory.
The Theatre Gap Initiative (TGI), founded by longtime Charlotte educator Corey Mitchell, is a nonprofit college-prep program for high school grads who aspire to apply for Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and conservatory programs. TGI’s programming is focused on helping students of color successfully navigate the process of applications, prescreens and auditions.
It was founded on the principle that equity means more than the distribution of wealth. It is access to systems that people of color have been historically excluded from. By collaborating with local, collegiate, and national Arts Institutions, TGI wants to help to dismantle those systems.
Theater Gap Initiative
BIOGRAPHY
Tony Award winner Corey Mitchell is the inaugural recipient for Excellence in Theatre Education. He was selected as a top 50 Finalist for 2017 Global Teacher Prize and was named North Carolina Outstanding Theatre Arts Educator by the North Carolina Theatre Conference. Most recently, he was selected as the first recipient of the Stephen Schwartz Musical Theatre Teacher of the Year Award, presented by the Educational Theatre Association and the ASCAP, and also received The Cato Lifetime Achievement in Teaching Award from the Arts and Science Council of Charlotte. Corey has twenty-five years’ experience in the classroom, including twenty years as Theatre Arts Educator at Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, NC.
Corey is active as a director, actor, keynote speaker, educational consultant, and workshop presenter in Charlotte and throughout the country. He advocates for arts education through his work on the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Theatre Conference and Brava Theatre Company, and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Community Foundation for the Carolinas. Corey’s past and present students are performing, writing, and composing for community, university, and regional theatre, as well as theme parks, independent and studio films, the West End, national tours, and Broadway musical-theatre productions.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: On Being American with Suzanne Reynolds
2024-10-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Ruth Bader Ginsburg: On Being American
SPEAKER: Suzanne Reynolds, Dean and Professor Emerita, Wake Forest Law
RBG expanded our concept of who and what was included in the concept of being American. As a lawyer for the ACLU’s Women’s Project, she advocated for an expansive theory of equal protection that eventually she would enshrine as an associate justice on the Supreme Court.
BIOGRAPHY
Suzanne Reynolds is widely respected for her scholarship and teaching about family law and for her public service.
She was a principal drafter of statutes that modernized the law of both alimony and of adoption, and she co-founded a domestic violence program that received national recognition by the ABA for providing legal assistance to the poor. Suzanne authored a three-volume treatise on North Carolina family law that has become the authoritative source for law students, lawyers, and judges.
Her empirical work has focused on outcomes in high conflict custody disputes. She was the recipient of a Distinguished Woman of the Year award presented by Governor Hunt in 1998 and of the Gwyneth B. Davis award for Public Service presented by N.C. Association of Women Attorneys in 1996.
Suzanne was a candidate for the North Carolina Supreme Court in November 2008, narrowly losing her bid for that seat. Before teaching, she practiced civil litigation at Smith, Moore, Smith, Schell & Hunter (now Smith Moore Leatherwood.) She and her husband, Robert (Hoppy) Elliot, who is a partner in the law firm of Elliot Morgan Parsonage, have three adult children: Michael, Caroline, and Lillie.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

A Latvian Exile Comes to America with Joseph Ellis
2024-11-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Karlis Leyasmeyer and the Baptist Speaker’s Circuit: A Latvian Exile Comes to America
SPEAKER: Joseph Ellis, Professor of Political Science, Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences, Wingate University
In 1949, a little known Latvian refugee named Karlis Leyasmeyer would arrive with his family in Philadelphia, after several years spent at a displaced persons camp in Germany. In less than a year, Leyasmeyer was traveling North America as a highly desired speaker in evangelical circles, speaking on the evils of communism and the glory of God. How did Leyasmeyer — a recent political exile — achieve such notoriety in such a short period of time, and what does this tell us about anti-communist movements in the 1950s among recent refugees? And what became of his life after, the final thirty years of which he spent in North Carolina, settling in Boone, and attending a small, country church in relative obscurity?

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Joseph M. Ellis is a Professor of Political Science at Wingate University in Wingate, North Carolina. He received his B.A. from Winthrop University and his M.A. and Ph.D from Temple University, all in the discipline of political science. His research interests include the Baltic States, Scandinavia, and Russia. His wife, Joanna, is a school counselor, and he has three children, Lena (14), Beau (12), and Dean (9).

A History of the Baltic States, by Andres Kasekamp
The Latvians: A Short History, by Andrejs Plakans
American Latvians: Politics of a Refugee Community, by Ieva Zake

An Untold Story of the US Involvement in Afghanistan...And Its Aftermath...A Personal Journey with George Forsythe
2024-11-08 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: An Untold Story of the US Involvement in Afghanistan…And Its Aftermath…A Personal Journey
SPEAKER: George Forsythe, Brigadier General, U.S. Army (retired)
George will discuss the establishment of the National Military Academy of Afghanistan from 2003-2005…its strategic implications and lessons learned. George will also discuss how his translator and their family immigrated to the US and settled in the heartland and how they help resettle Afghan families after 2021.

NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAHPHY
GEORGE B. “BARNEY” FORSYTHE, Ph.D.
Brigadier General, U.S. Army (retired)
BG (ret) George B. Forsythe was born at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on November 13, 1948. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from United States Military Academy at West Point in 1970, and an M.A.C.T. degree in Social Psychology and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He spent thirty-five years on active duty in the United States Army, serving in command and staff positions before returning to West Point’s Department of Behavioral Sciences and Leadership in 1984 as an Academy Professor. In 1991 he was promoted to Professor of Psychology and Leadership, and in 1996 he was appointed Professor, USMA, and Vice Dean for Education, a position he held until his retirement in 2005. Upon retirement, he was advanced to Brigadier General.
While at West Point, General Forsythe supervised the core and electives courses in leadership, designed and taught in the Eisenhower Graduate Program in Leader Development, consulted on West Point’s Cadet Leader Development System, advised the LA Police Department and the Bangladesh Military Academy, and conducted several major leadership research projects as Director of the Center for Leadership and Organizations Research. In 2003, he led an international team that wrote the concept plan for the National Military Academy of Afghanistan
Following his retirement from the Army, General Forsythe was selected to be the Senior Vice President and Dean of Faculty at Westminster College in Missouri, and in February 2008, he was appointed Westminster’s 20th President. Under his leadership, the College designed and implemented the Westminster 2020 strategic plan, internationalized and diversified the campus community, expanded academic programs, integrated academics and student life around the Concept for Student Development, created and implemented a system for assessing student learning, modernized the campus infrastructure, and enhanced the College’s national reputation, with 95% of graduates in fulltime employment or graduate school within six months of graduation. General Forsythe retired as Westminster’s President in 2015, and he now serves as a faculty member with the Thayer Leadership Group at West Point, where he does corporate leadership training.
General Forsythe’s scholarly achievements comprise over forty publications and presentations on leadership and student development, post-secondary education, and assessment. He has received three awards for Best Paper by an Established Investigator from the Division on Education in the Professions of the American Educational Research Association. In 2011, General Forsythe was honored with the Missourian Award for outstanding contributions in the areas of business, civic leadership, and the arts. In 2015, he was named by Ingram’s Kansas City Business Magazine as 50 Missourians You Should Know. He is a Professor Emeritus at both West Point and Westminster College.
He and his wife, Jane, reside in Beaufort, South Carolina. Jane is a retired early childhood educator. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.
