Senior Scholars at Queens

Overall Budget on Housing & Homelessness with Dimple Ajmera
2024-05-10 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

MakerSpace Charlotte: Enabling & Celebrating Human Creativity with Steven Gray
2024-11-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: MakerSpace Charlotte: Enabling & Celebrating Human Creativity
SPEAKER: Steven Gray, Makerspace Board Member
This talk will present an overview of makerspaces as a means of providing affordable access to a wide variety tools, equipment and training to the general public both nationally and across the globe. In particular it will highlight MakerSpace Charlotte’s offerings and its impact on the local community and discuss how the space envisions it role going forward to support the arts, local non-profits, and lifelong learning in the Charlotte community and beyond.
NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Steven Gray is a founder and the current executive director of MakerSpace Charlotte — a role which he has held for the past 7 years. During his tenure the organization has grown from 13 memberships and 800 sf of space to over 500 memberships and 33,000 sf.
Prior to helping establish MakerSpace Charlotte, he operated a small custom electronic design business for nearly two decades servicing clients ranging from fortune 500 companies to struggling artists and everything in between.
He also worked on Wall Street for 5 years between undergraduate and graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Earl Scruggs Center with Mary Beth Martin
2024-11-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby
SPEAKER: Mary Beth Martin, Executive Director of the Earl Scruggs Center, Shelby, NC
The Earl Scruggs Center combines the life story of legendary five-string banjo master and Cleveland County native, Earl Scruggs, with the unique and engaging story of the history and cultural traditions of the region in which Mr. Scruggs was born and raised. It was in the nearby Flint Hill community where Mr. Scruggs learned to play banjo and began the three-finger playing style that has come to be known around the world as “Scruggs Style.”
The Earl Scruggs Center explores Mr. Scruggs’ innovative career and the community that gave it shape while celebrating how he crossed musical boundaries and defined the voice of the banjo to the world. Mr. Scruggs embraced tradition while also adapting to the changing times and looking toward the future—themes which resonate throughout the Center. Engaging exhibits, special event space and rich programming provide a uniquely rich experience for visitors.
BIOGRAPHY
Mary Beth Martin has served as the Executive Director of the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby, NC, since 2018. During her time at the Center, Mary Beth has established ongoing programming including Musical Explorations for local children, the Center Stage Concert Series, instrument camps, and K-12 educational opportunities with the Bluegrass Ambassadors. She has been instrumental in founding and producing the Earl Scruggs Music Festival, which has been nominated for the International Bluegrass Music Association’s Event of the Year Award.
She holds an M.B.A. from Gardner-Webb University and a B.A. in Political Science from North Carolina State University. She is a graduate of IMBA’s Leadership Bluegrass program and Leadership Cleveland County.

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

Behind the Curtain with Laura Little
2025-01-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Behind the Curtain
SPEAKER: Laura Little, Executive Producer, Laura Little Theatricals
Laura will speak about what it takes to put up a theatrical production at the community theatre and regional levels and the difference between Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off Broadway.
She’ll explain the difference between the roles of the artistic director, executive director, producer, and general manager.
You’ll hear the many ways producers find a show and the process used to determine the trajectory of taking it to Broadway and whether it should move on to a national tour.
And finally, the audition process. Possibly concluding with a mock audition.
NOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC, no registration required. Attend via Zoom, please register with the Zoom link above.

BIOGRAPHY
Laura Little – Executive Producer / Artistic Director of Laura Little Theatrical Productions
Laura Little produced All Is Calm off-Broadway as well as the PBS special of the same show. She co-producer the Tony Award winning Come From Away on Broadway, Toronto, London, Australia, and National Tour. Other Broadway credits include: co-producer of the five time Tony Award winning Peter and the Starcatcher and First Date starring Zachary Levi.
Current Broadway Production: Our Town starring Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes and Richard Thomas
Broadway investing partner: Tony Award winning Parade and Swept Away.
In Charlotte she produces cabarets at Middle C Jazz Club and in 2023, the Radio City Music Hal style show Need a Little Christmas.
Laura is the past Executive Director of Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre and Executive/Artistic Director of CYT Spokane and founder of LLL Talent Agency (now MAM).
Current:
Member the LIG Rotary Club of Charlotte-part of Charlotte Rotary Club.
Advisory Board for PBS Charlotte
Past:
Past President and member of Coeur d’Alene Sunrise Rotary
Past member of the Coeur d’Alene Noon Rotary
Past President and member of Idaho Public Television
Past Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Advisory Board
Awards:
She was honored to be a Soroptimist Woman of Distinction recipient in 2015
2020 Girls Scouts of America Women of Distinction Award

How Music Impacts Society with Joe Kendrick
2025-01-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
TOPIC: Songs of Solidarity, Songs of Protest, Songs of Hope Amidst Struggle: A Brief Survey of the Impact of Music on the Radio for Social Movements
SPEAKER: Joe Kendrick, Director of Programming and Operations Manager, WNCW
An overview of songs, artists, genres and eras of music on radio that reflect and have impacted various social movements in America.

BIOGRAPHY
Public radio programmer, music host, writer, podcaster, college instructor, public speaker, event producer
My role is to envision and develop the sound and image of WNCW, create original programming and manage round the clock operations. I recruit, develop and manage our programming staff. Also I host and produce weekly music shows and a bi-weekly podcast, Southern Songs and Stories. I represent WNCW in person as well as virtually worldwide to donors and industry partners. Additionally, I am part of the team that produces the annual Earl Scruggs Music Festival in Tryon, NC.

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

What a Rush! A Brief History of Mining in North Carolina with Valerie Reynolds
2025-01-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: What a Rush! A Brief History of Mining in North Carolina
SPEAKER: Valerie Reynolds, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences UNC Charlotte
From the first gold discovered in the United States to the ultra-pure quartz fueling the semiconductor industry, mining has played an essential role in North Carolina’s economy for centuries. This presentation will provide a brief history of mining in North Carolina as well as the geologic conditions responsible for forming such valuable mineral deposits.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Reynolds earned her PhD from the University of Tennessee, then worked as a Research Assistant at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History for 2 years before beginning her teaching career. She taught at The University of the South (TN) and Colby College (ME) before arriving at UNC Charlotte in 2012. In addition to teaching, Dr. Reynolds is the Undergraduate Coordinator for the Geology and Earth & Environmental Sciences programs and is a faculty advisor for the student-led GEO club.

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

What did you say? Communication, Problem-solving, and Intelligence in Birds with Jeffrey Thomas
2025-01-31 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: What did you say? Communication, Problem-solving, and Intelligence in Birds
SPEAKER: Jeffrey Thomas, Professor of Biology, Queens University of Charlotte
Birds, especially songbirds, say a lot. But what do we know about what they’re saying to each other? And how do they use their communication to negotiate interactions with each other, find food, and learn about their surroundings? Birds offer a rich and fascinating opportunity to explore and define animal intelligence and the complexity of communication systems.
From mockingbirds to ravens to vultures, birds show a remarkable breadth of intelligence, but research is beginning to shed light on the connections between vocal behavior and problem solving.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Jeffrey Thomas is a professor of biology and the director of general education at Queens University of Charlotte. His research and teaching examine the intersection of ecology and evolutionary processes on animal communication systems. He has also served on the board of Carolina Raptor Center.
In his spare time, he travels, cooks, and takes his dog for long walks.

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

The Future of US-China Relations with Keren Zhu
2025-02-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: The Future of US-China Relations
SPEAKER: Keren Zhu, Assistant Professor, Davidson College
U.S.-China relations have emerged as the most consequential dynamic in contemporary international relations, profoundly influencing global politics, economics, and security. This lecture will explore the evolution of U.S.-China relations since 1949, examine the key factors shaping the future of this relationship, and analyze how their competition extends to and impacts other regions.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Keren Zhu is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Davidson College. She teaches courses on Asia Pacific international relations, the rise of China, and policy analysis. Her research focuses on Chinese foreign policy, the Belt and Road Initiative, and global infrastructure development. She holds a B.A. from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, an M.Sc. from the University of Oxford, and a Ph.D. from the Pardee RAND Graduate School.
Dr. Zhu has published extensively on China’s global engagement and U.S.-China relations. She also co-hosts “The Belt and Road Podcast” and is currently working on a book about the global impact of Chinese infrastructure projects. Prior to Davidson, she held academic and research positions at the RAND Corporation, University of Southern California, Boston University Global Development Policy Center, and The New School India China Institute.

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

Medicare Fraud with Austin Caton
2025-02-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Medicare Fraud
SPEAKER: Austin Caton, Aging Program Coordinator, Centralina Area Agency on Aging
Austin is an Aging Program Coordinator for the Digital Navigation Program providing assistance with technology and training for older adults in our region.

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

America and Changing Economic World with Jay Bryson
2025-02-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: America and Changing Economic World
SPEAKER: Jay Bryson, Managing Director, Chief Economist, Wells Fargo Corporate and Investment Bank
Dr. Bryson will present his annual analysis of financial markets and macroeconomic developments in the global economy.
He will also provide an outlook for the next two years including forecasts of GDP growth rates, inflation rates, and interest rates in the major economies of the world.

BIOGRAPHY
Details coming soon.

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

How PBS Charlotte Shines the Spotlight on our Region with Amy Burkett
2025-02-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: How PBS Charlotte Shines the Spotlight on our Region
SPEAKER: Amy Burkett, PBS General Manager
Amy will share interesting statistics and behind the scenes production details woven in and out of video clips of local documentaries as well as our signature Emmy winning news magazine Carolina Impact.

BIOGRAPHY
Amy has been honored to lead the renaissance of PBS Charlotte since 2013. She’s grateful that over that time the station has seen over a 400% increase in community support. In addition to the wonderful national content the station has five weekly local shows the newest Unspun is a political program that helps you know what politicians are often thinking but not saying hosted by former Charlotte mayor and governor Pat McCrory. Amy has led the station for five Emmy awards during her time year brining her total to 11 Emmys during her more than 30 years in broadcasting. She’s published two leadership books.
The 7D’s to Your Destiny and The Dirty F-Word: Lessons From our Failures

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

The Shadow of Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Adam Law
2025-03-07 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The Shadow of Alzheimer’s Disease
SPEAKER: Dr. Adam Law, Visiting Scientist, Cornell University
This talk will explore Alzheimer’s Disease from a personal, professional and research perspective, as a physician who, in retirement, is participating in a laboratory investigating its molecular mechanisms.

BIOGRAPHY
Adam Law is a Londoner by birth and emigrated to the USA at the age of thirty-one. He moved to Ithaca 34 years ago and has lived in the same home in North East Ithaca where he and his wife Jane Marie raised 3 Ithacan children.
He trained in medicine and molecular medicine at the University of London. He was a post-doctoral researcher at UCSF and Cornell University in molecular biology and genetics. He was the only endocrinologist in Tompkins County for most of his 28 year career in medical practice in Ithaca and also was a primary care physician.
During this time when he was president of the medical staff at The Cayuga Medical Center, he was responsible for bringing medical students and residents to Ithaca from Weill Cornell, where he was a clinical assistant professor.
He has co-founded 2 non-profits. In 2010 Physicians, Scientists and Engineers for Healthy Energy (PSE) in his living room, currently board president and in 2021 Artists with Evidence (AwE), currently board treasurer.
He retired from clinical medicine in 2022. Currently, he is a visiting scientist in the Lis lab in the Biotechnology Center at Cornell University researching Alzheimer’s disease. His hobbies are learning the guitar, studying Brazilian Portuguese, running and cycling.

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

Critical Thinking – A Quick Course
2025-03-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Zoom Only
TOPIC: Critical Thinking – A Quick Course
SPEAKER: Pierce Howard, Ph.D
Beginning with a definition of critical thinking–and in the spirit of critical thinking, Pierce will offer several definitions. What it is, and what it is not.
The core is questioning, so we will explore the world of asking questions that most support critical thinking. Then Pierce will identify obstacles to thinking critically, followed by qualities that foster critical thinking.
This all leads up to identifying System I (instincts) and System II (processes) mental functions, what Daniel Kahneman described in his Thinking, Fast and Slow (2013). We will close with a daily tool bag that includes five basic skills of critical thinking.
NOTE: This meeting is Zoom only. PUMC is closed on 3/14/2025.

BIOGRAPHY
Pierce J. Howard, PhD, was born in Kinston, North Carolina. Making his way through public schools, he learned to love reading, writing, mathematics, music, and nature. Four years at Davidson College stoked his passion for literature, music, philosophy, and psychology. Three years in the U.S. Army as a Military Intelligence Specialist molded his penchant for research and investigation. During graduate school at East Carolina University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, he changed his major from literature to educational psychology.
His first job was with the North Carolina Advancement School in Winston-Salem. Moving to Charlotte in 1977 to teach at West Charlotte, Pierce then co-founded LEAD (long E) Associates in 1979. Between arriving in Charlotte and retiring, Pierce also served as an adjunct professor at UNC–Charlotte, Pfeiffer University, and most recently the McColl School of Business at Queens University.
In 1986, along with his wife, Jane, he started a consulting company, now named Paradigm Personality Labs. Over 32 years, they offered training, team building, coaching, and personnel research to clients on six continents. In 1994, Pierce wrote and published The Owner’s Manual for the Brain, now in its 4th edition and published by William Morrow. He even appeared as a guest on “Oprah” in1995. Subsequently, he wrote more than 20 books. The Howards’ core service has been through several personality assessments that they developed: the WorkPlace Big Five Profile, the SchoolPlace Big Five Profile, the WorkPlace Values Profile, and the WorkPlace Performance 360. In 2018, Pierce retired as the Chief Innovations Officer at Paradigm, but in retirement, he’s now writing The Owner’s Manual for Critical Thinking.

International Climate Cooperation in an Era of Geopolitical Turmoil with Mark Kelso
2025-03-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: International Climate Cooperation in an Era of Geopolitical Turmoil
SPEAKER: Mark Kelso, Professor, Political Science, International Studies & Sociology Department, Queens University
An overview of international efforts to enhance global environmental protection, with a focus on recent efforts to address climate change. Discussion of where these efforts have succeeded.
Discussion of key challenges that lie ahead.

BIOGRAPHY
Mark Kelso is Professor of Political Science at Queens University of Charlotte. His research interests focus on environmental policy and political leadership.
His most recent publication is “A Green Presidency? Barack Obama and the Environment” in Meena Bose and Paul Fritz, Evaluating the Obama Presidency (2024).
He has also published in Congress and the Presidency and Presidential Studies Quarterly. He is the 2017 winner of the Hunter-Hamilton Love of Teaching Award.

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

NATO Under New Leadership with Dmitry Vovchuk
2025-03-28 10:00 - 11:00 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: North Atlantic Treaty Organization Under New Leadership
SPEAKER: Dmitry Vovchuk, The Cohen Group
Following NATO’s 75th Anniversary Summit in Washington DC in July 2024, the Alliance faces a new reality. The reelection of Donald Trump and his policies on NATO and Ukraine will determine the course of European security for the foreseeable future. NATO’s new Secretary General, Mark Rutte, must effectively navigate this new political environment to manage deterrence and defense against Russia, preserve Ukraine’s sovereignty, and ensure NATO remains united across the Atlantic. This timely update on NATO will be provided by Mr. Vovchuk ahead of NATO’s next Summit, taking place in The Hague in June.

BIOGRAPHY
Dmitry Vovchuk is a Vice President at The Cohen Group. During his time at the firm, Mr. Vovchuk has led a wide range of client teams in the defense, manufacturing, healthcare, financial, and technology sectors. In addition, Mr. Vovchuk supports The Cohen Group’s Europe practice and he leads the firm’s Ukraine working group, advising clients on sectoral implications of the war in Ukraine and its impacts on European markets.
Prior to joining The Cohen Group, Mr. Vovchuk served in numerous key roles at the US Departments of State and Defense, National Security Council, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He also held several leadership positions in financial services and management consulting.
Mr. Vovchuk served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Secretary General of NATO from 2013-2016. In that role, he managed the transition of NATO’s combat operations in Afghanistan to its Resolute Support Mission and helped achieve key milestones in NATO’s ballistic missile defense program. Mr. Vovchuk also led the process to conduct a full review of the US integrated campaign plan as the Director for Strategic Planning in the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy to Counter ISIS.
Additionally, Mr. Vovchuk coordinated the work of the White House Task Force responsible for the 2012 NATO Summit hosted by President Obama in Chicago and served as the National Security Council Director for Eastern Europe from 2012-2013, managing the development and execution of US policy for a region stretching from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
Mr. Vovchuk was selected to the Civil Service as a Presidential Management Fellow in 2006. He led the interagency process to invite new members into NATO at its Summit in Bucharest, Romania, supported the development of NATO’s renewed Strategic Concept, and managed US policy priorities for the Alliance’s International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan. Mr. Vovchuk also served as a Political Officer at the US Embassy in Kyiv, Ukraine and in the Office of the Secretary of Defense during the 2008 conflict between Russia and Georgia.
Outside of government, Mr. Vovchuk advised global consumer goods and health care companies on organizational change and strategic alignment as a Principal with the McChrystal Group. He was a registered financial representative and served as Chief of Staff at Ally Bank, supporting the Executive Director for its auto, deposits, online brokerage, and wealth management customer care and experience division.
Mr. Vovchuk is the recipient of the State Department’s Superior and Meritorious Honor Awards, completed a five-year term membership with the Council on Foreign Relations, and taught foreign policy at Queens University of Charlotte. He received a Master’s of Arts in US National Security Policy at Georgetown University and a Bachelor of Arts from Drew University.

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