The American Fire Service with Heather Burford
2025-11-07 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The American Fire Service – Proud History & Innovative Future
SPEAKER: Heather Burford
From Benjamin Franklin co-founding the Country’s first volunteer fire company in 1736, through today’s migration to electric fire engines, the American Fire Service has evolved tremendously throughout history. Ever evolving, the fire service has undergone remarkable transformation, adapting to changing environments, embracing technology and innovation, and expanding its role beyond traditional firefighting.
This presentation will guide the audience through a short history of the fire service and discuss impactful advancements being made to better serve communities across our nation. The discussion will also touch on some of the lesser-known facts about the fire service such as why Dalmatians were the dog of choice for fire departments, and the impact that COVID has had on the profession of firefighting.

BIOGRAPHY
Heather Burford has a 35-year history with the American fire service. Soon after graduating from Iowa State University, Heather joined the Wilton Fire Department in Connecticut as a volunteer firefighter and fell in love with public safety services. In 1993, Heather was hired as the first female Firefighter in Manchester, Connecticut where she spent 13 years working her way up through the ranks of the department. She became the Fire Chief of the Ridgefield Connecticut Fire Department in 2006 and in 2014 she was appointed Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management for the City of Seminole in the Tampa-St. Petersburg area of Florida.
Heather holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Connecticut, is recognized by the Center for Public Safety Excellence® as a Chief Fire Officer and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program.
Heather has a long history of community involvement and volunteering. She is an active member of Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian and disaster recover organization; she serves as a board member for the South Carolina Firefighters Burned Children’s Fund; and she currently serves as a member of the Indian Land Consolidated Fire Protection District Commission. Heather resides in South Carolina, where she is close to her parents and extended family.

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

Curriculum Committee Meeting - November 12
2025-11-12 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required
Curriculum Committee Meetings are open to Membership.
Join our monthly Curriculum Committee meetings, via Zoom, to hear about upcoming speakers/events or to suggest speakers you know (or have heard speak) and believe would be of interest to your fellow Senior Scholars.
These meetings are always held on the Zoom platform.

New Member Orientation - November 14
2025-11-14 09:00 - 09:30 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
All members old and new are invited to attend our New Member Orientation meeting in person.
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, in Room 106 in PUMC.
Click the RSVP button for an email to tell us you’re coming!

Ancient Rome's Last God with E. Michael Whittington
2025-11-14 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Ancient Rome’s Last God
SPEAKER: E. Michael Whittington, Retired Art Museum Director
The Roman Empire with its larger-than-life emperors, mighty legions, extravagant gladiatorial games, and extraordinary art and architecture fires our imagination and influences popular culture.
The ancient Roman supernatural was populated by a dizzying panoply of gods, goddesses, deified rulers, heroes, and fantastical beasts. Unique in this pantheon was a young man whose lifeless body was recovered from the Nile in the autumn of 130 CE. Immediately proclaimed a god, temples were built to worship him, a city was founded in his name, dozens of surviving sculptures forever captured his youth, coins were struck with his likeness, and Olympic games were celebrated in his honor.
Who was this young man named Antinous who rose so quickly from obscurity to prominence in the imperial court? What were the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death and why did he become the Roman Empire’s last god?

BIOGRAPHY
E. Michael Whittington is an art historian specializing in ancient art. Michael was Curator of the Arts of Ancient America at the Mint Museum of Art and an Adjunct Instructor of Art History at UNC-Charlotte. As a Director/CEO, he led art museums in California, Oklahoma and Washington state. Michael organized significant national and international exhibitions and participated in scholarly and professional symposia in the United States, Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Whittington has a BA in Anthropology from West Georgia University and an MA in Art History from the University of Florida.
Michael retired to Greenville, South Carolina in 2024. He teaches art history at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Furman University in Greenville.
Recommended Readings:

Beard, Mary: Emperor of Rome: Ruling the Ancient Roman World. Liveright Publishing Corporation, New York. 2023
Birley, Anthony R. Hadrian: The Restless Emperor. Rutledge, London and New York. 1997
Boatwright, Mary Taliaferro: Hadrian and the City of Rome. Princeton University Press, Princeton. 1987
Everitt, Anthony: Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome. Random House, New York. 2009
Holland, Tom Pax: War and Peace in Rome’s Golden Age. Abacus Books, London. 2023
Lambert, Royston: Beloved and God: The Story of Hadrian and Antinous. Phoenix, London. 1984
Opper, Thorsten: Hadrian: Empire and Conflict. Harvard University Press. Cambridge. 2008
Zaccaria, Mari and Sergio Sgalambro: “The Antinoeion of Hadrian’s Villa: Interpretation and Architectural Reconstruction.” American Journal of Archaeology. Volume 111 No. 1, January, 2007
Ancient Sources: Aurelius Victor de Caesaribus. Translated with an introduction and commentary by H.W. Bird. Liverpool University Press, Liverpool. 1994.
Dio’s Roman History. William Heinemann, London. 1914
Lives of the Later Caesars. The first part of the Augustan History with newly compiled Lives of Nerva and Trajan. Translated and Introduced by Anthony Birley. Penguin Books, London. 1976

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

Queens University: Dido and Aeneas Choir Concert
2025-11-16 15:30 - 17:00 | Sarah Belk Gambrell Center for the Arts, 2319 Wellesley Ave, Charlotte, 28207, United States
In 1689, near the end of his life, the great English composer Henry Purcell composed the tragic opera Dido and Aeneas, one of the most beloved English operas of all time, and the sacred ode Celestial Music did the Gods Inspire. Queens Choirs perform both works in collaboration with dancers and scenic designers.

Queens University: Exploring Jewish, Israeli and Mediterranean Cuisine
2025-11-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Queens University
We are thrilled to announce the Inaugural Marc and Mattye Jewish Cultural Series Program on November 20, 2025, at 7:00 pm at Queens University Charlotte.
How have Jews influenced food in the diaspora, and how has the diaspora influenced Jewish food? What is Israeli food, shaped by waves of immigration and the country’s geography? How does it relate to — and interact with — the broader traditions of Middle Eastern cuisine? This program explores the two-way influence and symbiotic relationship between cultures, showing how food can be a powerful force to bring people together.
Learn about the rich culinary traditions of Israel and the Mediterranean with acclaimed Israeli Chef Shai Fargian, Executive Chef and Co-Owner of Yafo in Charlotte for nearly a decade and Calle Sol for the past four years. This interactive program blends cooking demonstrations with cultural storytelling, offering a window into the diversity and depth of Jewish and Israeli foodways. Everyone will have the opportunity to taste the chef’s creations immediately following the program.

Talking Turkey to Keep the Wolves Away with Anne Larkin and Samuel Kunjukunju
2025-11-21 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Talking Turkey to Keep the Wolves Away – Eradicating Elder Financial Fraud
SPEAKER: Ann Larkin and Samuel Kunjukunju
Seniors lose billions of dollars every year due to criminals absconding with much-needed retirement assets. Learn about current scams, the financial industry’s responses, and the need for more help.

BIOGRAPHY
ANNE WILSON LARKIN works as a consultant with the American Bankers Association (ABA) and The Moonshot Initiative to help fight elder financial exploitation. Scammers took her parents’ assets, which ignited a passion for keeping other people’s assets safe. She is a litigator by training, holding five state bar licenses and, also worked within government and academia. Anne’s work for 15 years as a Senior Vice President for a large bank connected her with other passionate people across the country and internationally. During COVID, she held 50 conversations with different Adult Protective Services agencies regarding what is needed. She obtained her Juris Doctorate with Highest Honors from the University of Oklahoma and is a proud TCU Horned Frog undergrad.
SAMUEL KUNJUKUNJU is the Vice President of Consumer Education at the American Bankers Association (ABA). He designs and implements programs to support the banking industry’s efforts to protect consumers and engage vulnerable communities through the ABA Foundation. Sam oversees the Foundation’s national financial education programming and serves as the subject matter expert on elder financial exploitation. Sam holds a Master of Public Health as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Rochester.
Many financial industry, government, and non-profit resources exist (see e.g., bank and investments websites; FBI, including iC3; DOJ, including Elder Justice Coordinators; FTC and their elder advisory committees; CFPB’s Office of Older Americans; state Adult Protective Agencies (APS) and the National APS Association; AARP; the Better Business Bureau; The Moonshot Initiative (TMI); and other state and local law enforcement).
Similarly, many books address elder financial fraud: Empty Mansions re: Huguette Clark; The Stealing Joy; Elder Fraud Wars; Quick Guide to Recognizing Elder Fraud. Recent movies include “I Care A Lot” (guardianship abuse); “Tinder Swindler” (romance scams); and “The Bee Keeper” (retribution after a computer scam).`

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

Queens University: Friends of the Library Holiday Books & Coffee
2025-11-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Belk Chapel
We hope you join us for Friends of the Library Holiday Books & Coffee featuring Amy Poeppel. This event is free for members and $25 for guests/non-members.

Holiday Luncheon - December 3, 2025
2025-12-03 11:30 - 14:00 | Maggiano’s, 4400 Sharon Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
HOLIDAY LUNCHEON
Join your fellow members for a delicious holiday luncheon at one of Charlotte’s premier Italian Restaurants, Maggiano’s Little Italy at Southpark.
Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025
Time: 11:30 am – 2 pm (serving starts at 12 noon)
Location: Maggiano’s Little Italy. 4400 Sharon Rd (Southpark). Maggiano’s Little Italy, Southpark
Price per Attendee: $50.
You can “Buy Tickets” via the link here or at the weekly meetings beginning October 18.
Or you can also mail a check payable to Senior Scholars:
Senior Scholars at Queens; ATTN: Nancy Stancill; 1900 Selwyn Avenue MSC 1409; Charlotte, NC 28274.

Menu:
Family style serving at tables seating 10. Each table will receive all the following items:
First Course:
• Italian Chopped Salad
• Bread
Second Course:
• Fettuccine Alfredo with Parmesan Crusted Chicken
• Lasagna
• Simply Grilled Salmon
Dessert
• Tiramisu
• Warm Apple Crostata
Beverages: Coffee (Regular and Decaf), Tea (Iced and Hot), Various Sodas and Water.
Alcoholic Beverage: Cash Bar Available.

Speaker: Tony Mecia, Founder and Executive Editor of The Charlotte Ledger
Topic: Tony’s Crystal Ball for the Charlotte Region in 2026
Tony Mecia is the founder and executive editor of The Charlotte Ledger. A graduate of Duke University, Tony is an award-winning former Charlotte Observer business writer and editor. After leaving newspapers, Tony was a freelance writer and then covered business as a staff writer for a national magazine. He and his wife have three children. They live in south Charlotte in the Olde Providence area.
NOTE: The last day for online registration/payment is Monday November 24. Checks mailed to the Queens’ mailbox must be received by Friday November 21.

Queens University: 2025 Moravian LoveFeast
2025-12-07 19:00 - 21:00 | Belk Chapel
Please join us in this long-standing tradition at Queens, consisting of readings from scripture, singing of Christmas carols, and beautiful music from the Queens Chorale.
This year, we invite you to join us at 6.30 p.m. in the Chapel Rotunda for delicious Moravian coffee and engaging fellowship.
We will enjoy the second element of the Love feast (Moravian bread) during the service, which begins at 7 p.m.
Both the coffee and bread will also be available following the service.
We look forward to seeing you in December,
Belk Chapel team

AI in Your Hands: A Practical Guide with Cori Faklaris
2026-01-09 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: AI in Your Hands: A Practical Guide to Capabilities, Prompting, and Pitfalls
SPEAKER: Cori Faklaris, Asst Professor, UNC Charlotte
AI is everywhere, but it doesn’t come with a user manual. Tools such as ChatGPT can be powerful assistants for brainstorming, writing, and learning. At the same time, they are used to create scams, “deepfakes,” and convincing misinformation.
How can a non-expert tap into its capabilities without falling into the pitfalls? Join Dr. Cori Faklaris, a usable security and AI expert, as she demystifies machine-learning technologies such as chatbots and image generators. Attendees will receive guidance on writing effective prompts to make AI your personal intern, the essential skills to spot frauds, and her views of AI’s impact on education, career paths, and publishing.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Cori Faklaris is an assistant professor at UNC Charlotte’s College of Computing and Informatics, where she directs the Security and Privacy Experiences (SPEX) group.
Her focus is on understanding people’s needs and designing for safe, secure, and trustworthy computing, including artificial intelligence. In this interdisciplinary work, Faklaris draws on methods from social science, computer science, data science and machine learning, cybersecurity, and design. She also employs skills and knowledge from her past careers in journalism, IT/UX, and social media.
Among other accomplishments, she received a 2024 Google Research Scholar award for work to connect people with advice about their security and privacy concerns. Her work is also funded by BasisLabs LLC founder Carl Hoffman, the U.S. Army Research Lab, and the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Dr. Cori Website

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

Curriculum Committee Meeting - January 14
2026-01-14 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required

New Member Orientation - January 16
2026-01-16 09:00 - 09:30 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211

Be a Voice for the Children in Our Community with Rhonda McGuire
2026-01-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Be a Voice for the Children in Our Community with Rhonda McGuire
SPEAKER: Rhonda McGuire
The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) program recruits, screens, trains, and supervises volunteer advocates to protect and promote the best interest of abused and neglected children in the state’s custody (foster care).
A GAL works as part of a team with a program staff and an attorney advocate to prepare a written report to help the judge understand what is best for the child and to ultimately find them a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible. Before beginning service, GALs participate in 35 hours of training and observe two hours of juvenile court.

BIOGRAPHY
Rhonda McGuire is the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) Program Specialist for the Mecklenburg County Office. She has been with GAL for 11 years. Rhonda’s role in the office is to recruit, screen and help train community members to advocate for children in foster care.

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

Habitat's Evolving Business Model with Laura Belcher
2026-01-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Habitat’s Evolving Business Model
SPEAKER: Laura Belcher, President/CEO Habitat for Humanity, Charlotte Region
Founded locally 42 years ago, Habitat Charlotte Region has built over 1500 new homes and served over 5000 families. In recent years, as land availability becomes scarce and building material costs escalate, Habitat has looked at how it needs to evolve to meet the rising demand for affordable homeownership options.
Join this presentation to hear how Habitat has moved from homebuilder to neighborhood developer while also preserving aging housing inventory and preparing future homeowners through financial education. As one of the largest affiliates in the US, Habitat Charlotte Region’s $65million operation continues to look for ways to transform and intensify its impact.

BIOGRAPHY
Laura Belcher joined Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region in 2014 as President & CEO. During her leadership, the organization has seen nearly a 400% increase in families served through new homeownership, critical home repairs and financial education programming. Laura has led the organization through 2 strategic mergers in the past 5 years, expanding programming into Iredell and Gaston Counties. 2023 provided a career highlight as Habitat Charlotte Region hosted the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project building 27 homes in a week with 3800 volunteers.
Laura spent the first 20 years of her career in corporate roles with Arthur Andersen, Wachovia Securities and Transamerica.  Laura was a CPA, graduated from the College of William and Mary, and spent 9 years in nonprofit work as CFO/COO of the Arts & Science Council prior to joining Habitat.
Laura is on the Catapult Employers Association Board of Directors and chairs the Governance Committee. Laura is a member of Women Executives and International Women’s Forum. Her recent recognitions include 2025 Charlotte Business Journal Power 100 influential leaders, 2024 Charlotte Woman of the Year and Business NC 2024 Power List as one of the most influential leaders in non-profits and philanthropies.

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

Civil and Indian Wars with Peter Cozzens
2026-01-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Deadwood, Wild Bill Hickok, and Calamity Jane: The Births of Three Legends
SPEAKER: Peter Cozzens, Author
The presentation will scrutinize the birth and evolution of three of the most legendary subjects of the Wild West. It will also look at how Deadwood provoked the most consequential Indian War in the West.
NOTE: This presentation will be via Zoom in Wolfe Hall.

BIOGRAPHY
Peter Cozzens is the international award-winning author and editor of nineteen books on the American Civil War and the American West. Cozzens retired after a thirty-year career as a Foreign Service Officer at the U.S. Department of State. Before joining the Foreign Service, he served as a captain in the U. S. Army. His book The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West received the 2017 Gilder Lehrman Prize in Military History for the best military history work in the English language. In December 2024, the Economist selected it as one of the seven greatest military history books ever written.
In 2002, Cozzens received the American Foreign Service Association’s highest award, given annually to one Foreign Service Officer for exemplary moral courage, integrity, and creative dissent. He has also received an Alumni Achievement Award from his alma mater, Knox College.
His most recent book is Deadwood: Gold, Guns, and Greed in the American West.

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

Lunch Bunch: January 30
2026-01-30 11:45 - 14:00 | Brixx Pizza, 7814 Fairview Rd, Charlotte, 28226, United States
We have booked Brixx Wood Fired Pizza + Craft Bar, Foxcroft location, for Friday, January 30, 11:45 a.m.
Located 7814 Fairview Rd, Charlotte, NC 28226
Limited space available! Please sign up by 01/26/2026.
If you register and find you can’t attend, please email LunchBunch@SeniorScholars.net so that we can offer your seat to another member.
Lunch menu, but full menu available. Individual checks, tip included. Plenty of free parking.
Brixx Pizza
7814 Fairview Rd
Charlotte, NC 28226

The Library Era with Jenni Gaisbauer
2026-02-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The Library Era: Charlotte Mecklenburg’s New Main Library
SPEAKER: Jenni Gaisbauer, CFRE, Executive Director, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library Foundation
A library has stood on the corner of Sixth and North Tryon Streets in Uptown Charlotte since 1903 when industrialist Andrew Carnegie donated $25,000 (equivalent of $1million today).
In the spring of 2027, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library will open its much anticipated new Main Library in the same location. Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Snohetta, your Library will be an awe-inspiring fusion of architecture, technology, and civic gathering spaces spanning an impressive 115,000 square feet. Join us as Jenni shares the vision and intimate details of the new Main Library and what will take place in all its beautiful community spaces.

BIOGRAPHY
A non-profit executive, Jenni has more than 25 years of experience in strategic planning, philanthropy, comprehensive campaigns, special events, board development, and community partnerships. Jenni joined the Library in 2013 and serves dual roles as the Chief Development Officer and the Executive Director of the Library Foundation. Previously, Jenni served as the Senior Vice President of Development at Levine Museum of the New South and Assistant Development and Marketing Director at World T.E.A.M. Sports.
Jenni a graduate of the American Leadership Forum and has served on the boards of Association of Fundraising Professionals, The Plus Collective, Girls on the Run, Community Building Initiative and currently serves on the boards of the Arts & Science Council, Children’s Home of North Carolina and the Library Support Networks. In 2015, Jenni was honored as the Fundraising Executive of the Year by Association of Fundraising Professionals, Charlotte Chapter. Jenni earned a bachelor’s degree from University of Montana and a master’s degree from The Ohio State University.
When not working, Jenni enjoys traveling, cooking, reading, watching football, and spending time with her family.

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

Curriculum Committee Meeting - February 11
2026-02-11 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required

New Member Orientation - February 13
2026-02-13 09:00 - 09:30 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211

Charlotte at a Crossroads: Building a Sustainable City for Generations to Come with Shannon Binns
2026-02-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Charlotte at a Crossroads: Building a Sustainable City for Generations
SPEAKER: Shannon Binns, Founder/Executive Director Sustain Charlotte
Charlotte is growing faster than almost any city in the nation. With this growth come big questions: How will we move around safely and efficiently? How do we keep housing affordable? How do we protect our air, water, and natural spaces?
In this talk, Shannon Binns, founder and executive director of Sustain Charlotte, will share how smart growth and better transportation choices can make our community more equitable, connected, and healthy. He’ll highlight local success stories, current challenges, and ways that all of us — at every stage of life — can play a role in shaping a thriving future for Charlotte.

BIOGRAPHY
Shannon is the Founder and Executive Director of Sustain Charlotte. Before moving to Charlotte in 2007, Shannon worked at The Nature Conservancy in Washington, D.C., where he was part of their climate change science and policy team.
Shannon served in the Peace Corps in Senegal, in AmeriCorps’ National Civilian Community Corps, and helped found a tsunami relief organization in Thailand. He worked as an industrial engineer for Motorola, General Motors and Trane in the for-profit sector. He holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial engineering from Iowa State University and a Master of Public Administration in environmental science and policy from Columbia University.
He has previously served as a supervisor on the Mecklenburg County Soil and Water Conservation Board, an adjunct professor in the Sustainable Technologies program at Central Piedmont Community College and a member of the North Carolina Advisory Board for Environmental Defense Fund. In 2015, he was named one of “Seven to Watch” by The Charlotte Observer and one of the Charlotte Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” In 2018, Charlotte’s NPR affiliate, WFAE, named him one of “The Most Powerful Voices in Charlotte.” In 2024, the Charlotte Business Journal named Shannon one of the region’s “Top 100 Innovators.”
Website: https://www.sustaincharlotte.org
Book Recommendations:

Happy City: Transforming Our Lives Through Urban Design — Charles Montgomery
The Smart Growth Manual — Andres Duany, Jeff Speck, Mike Lydon
Reimagining Sustainable Cities: Strategies for Designing Greener, Healthier, More Equitable Communities — Stephen Wheeler
Toward Sustainable Communities — Mark Roseland
The Death and Life of Great American Cities — Jane Jacobs

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

Queens University: QUnited
2026-02-19 08:00 - 18:00
QUEENS UNIVERSITY ANNUAL DAY OF GIVING
Meeting the moment means stepping forward with purpose, turning challenges into opportunities, and taking bold action. Gifts to the Queens Fund provide critical support for scholarships, academic programs, and the unique Queens experience, while allowing the university to remain flexible and responsive to emerging needs.
Gifts to the Royals Club provide this year’s student-athletes with the resources and experiences needed to compete with excellence and thrive in a competitive Division I environment.
Together, these unrestricted funds have the greatest impact on today’s students, both in the classroom and in competition.

The United States and Africa: History, Change, and the Road Ahead with Beth Whitaker
2026-02-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The United States and Africa: History, Change, and the Road Ahead
SPEAKER: Beth Whitaker, Professor of Political Science, UNC Charlotte
How has the United States engaged with Africa over time and what does that relationship look like today?
In this talk, Dr. Beth Elise Whitaker, Professor of Political Science and longtime scholar of African politics and U.S.–Africa relations, will explore the evolving dynamics that have shaped American policy toward the continent. Drawing on more than two decades of research, teaching, and on the ground experience—including her work in Kenya as a Fulbright Scholar—she will trace key moments in the diplomatic, security, and economic ties linking the U.S. and African nations.
Dr. Whitaker will discuss how Cold War rivalries, humanitarian crises, and counterterrorism strategies influenced earlier eras of engagement, and how today’s shifting global landscape has transformed U.S. priorities. She will also highlight the role of migration, diaspora communities, and African public opinion in shaping contemporary policy debates.

BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Beth Elise Whitaker is professor of political science and associate dean for research and interdisciplinary collaboration in the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
Whitaker’s research focuses on migration and security, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Her work explores how political dynamics influence attitudes and policies toward migrants and refugees.
As a Fulbright Scholar in Kenya in 2005-2006, she examined U.S.-African counter-terrorism cooperation.
She is co-author with John F. Clark of Africa’s International Relations: Balancing Domestic and Global Interests (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2018) and her articles have appeared in many academic journals.
Whitaker worked previously at the Brookings Institution and the American Council on Education and has consulted for the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Defense, Social Science Research Council, United Nations Foundation, and Save the Children Fund. She earned her bachelor’s degree in public and international affairs from Princeton University and her master’s and Ph.D. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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

Queens University: West Georgia Game
2026-02-21 15:00 - 17:30 | Curry Arena, 2201 Wellesley Ave, Charlotte, NC, 2874
On February 21st, through our arrangement with Queen’s University we are able to get group rate tickets to the men’s basketball game (Queen’s Royals vs West Georgia Wolves) for a discounted price of $7.00.
Tickets can be purchased at link below, using promo code: SRSCHOLARS26

Queens University: Fuel the Fire
2026-02-26 19:00 - 21:00
Fuel the Fire: Celebrating the Voices, Stories & Opportunities that
Champion Girls & Women in Sport
Presented by Queens University of Charlotte Athletics
From the C-suite to the Olympic stage, and from inspiring leaders sharing their story to fathers empowering their daughters every step of the way, we’re shining a spotlight on the people, moments, and movements that fuel the fire to lift girls and women higher.
Join us as Molly Grantham delivers a powerful keynote, Bet on Yourself, followed by a moderated panel featuring trailblazers from the Charlotte community and beyond.

Microplastics with Olya Keen
2026-02-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Microplastics and Other Contaminants of Emerging Concern
SPEAKER: Olya Keen, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, UNC Charlotte
The talk will focus on microplastics and other contaminants of emerging concern, such as PFAS, plasticizers, pharmaceuticals, flame retardants, etc. I will discuss where they come from in the environment, where we encounter them in our daily lives and the latest research discoveries.

BIOGRAPHY
Olya Keen received her BS and MS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of South Florida and her PhD in the same discipline for University of Colorado at Boulder. She has been a faculty member in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at UNC Charlotte for 13 years. She has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles on contaminants of emerging concern and ways to treat them in water.

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

Lunch Bunch: February 27
2026-02-27 11:45 - 14:00 | Trio Restaurant, 10709 McMullen Creek Parkway, Charlotte, NC, 28226, United States
We have booked Trio Restaurant, for Friday, February 27, 11:45 a.m.
Located 10709 McMullen Creek Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28226
Limited space available! Please sign up by 02/25/2026.
If you register and find you can’t attend, please email LunchBunch@SeniorScholars.net so that we can offer your seat to another member.
Individual checks. Plenty of free parking.
Trio Restaurant
10709 McMullen Creek Parkway,
Charlotte, NC 28226

Vaccine Science with Courtney Labonge
2026-03-06 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Vaccines Science, Development and Clinical Trial Applications
SPEAKER: Courtney Labonge, Associate Director, Alkermes, Inc
This presentation explores the fundamentals of vaccine science, the various types of vaccines, and their critical role in clinical trials.
It covers the importance of vaccines in public health, mechanisms of immune response, safety and efficacy principles, phases of clinical research, regulatory review, and post-marketing surveillance.
Real-world case studies, including COVID-19 vaccine development, and innovations in vaccine technology are discussed, highlighting the global health impact and ongoing challenges in vaccine trials.

BIOGRAPHY
Courtney Labonge is Associate Director of Study Start Up at Alkermes, where they lead global clinical trial operations and process innovation. With extensive experience in study start-up, regulatory affairs, and team leadership, Courtney is recognized for driving collaboration and operational excellence across late-stage clinical programs.
Courtney holds a BS in Biology from UNC Wilmington. She has received multiple industry awards for leadership and research, including Charlotte Top 30 under 30.
Website
Book Recommendations:

Vaccine: The Controversial Story of Medicine’s Greatest Lifesaver by Arthur Allen
The Vaccine Race: Science, Politics, and the Human Costs of Defeating Disease By Meredith Wadman

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Curriculum Committee Meeting - March 11
2026-03-11 13:15 - 14:00 | Zoom Registration Required

New Member Orientation - March 13
2026-03-13 09:00 - 09:30 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
