Senior Scholars at Queens

Curriculum Committee Meeting - May 14
2025-05-14 13:15 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport Update with Jack Christine
2025-05-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
TOPIC: Charlotte Douglas International Airport Update
SPEAKER: Jack Christine, A.A.E., Chief Infrastructure Officer, CLT Airport
Mr. Christine is overseeing Destination CLT, a five-year, $2.5-$3.1 billion capital program that includes planning, design and construction of expansion of terminal and concourse, and the development of numerous airfield projects. He will provide an update of progress and plans for the future.

BIOGRAPHY
Details coming soon.

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

Wildlife You May Know with Bob Senn
2025-05-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
TOPIC: Wildlife You May Know
SPEAKER: Bob Senn, Certified South Carolina Master Naturalist
Presentation with slideshow, and a side of humor, on many of the wildlife seen in North and South Carolina.

BIOGRAPHY
Bob is a certified South Carolina Master Naturalist. There are five zones in SC and Bob was initially certified for the coastal zone in 2014.
After working in that area and continuing with projects and education over the next several years around the state, Bob became one of the few Naturalists with a Statewide certification in May, 2017. Bob has done work with Sea Turtles, Wolves, Snakes, Hawks, Oyster Beds and other assorted wildlife.
Bob has given presentations to many groups and has led activities at Anne Close Greenway and the SCDNR (South Carolina Department of Natural Resources) Marine Research Center on James Island, South Carolina. He is also a member of the South Carolina Association of Naturalists.

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

Charlotte Fire Department Update with Battalion Chief Horne
2025-05-30 10:00 - 11:00 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211
TOPIC: Charlotte Fire Department Update
SPEAKER: Battalion Chief Horne
Chief Horne will provide us insight into the operations of an agency that is so critical to the safety of Charlotte. This talk, which will be our last educational presentation for the spring term, will serve as something of a counterpoint to last year’s presentation by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department.

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

Spring Luncheon: June 5 | SOLD OUT!
2025-06-05 11:30 - 14:00 | Raintree County Club, 8600 Raintree Lane, Charlotte, NC, 28277
SPRING LUNCHEON IS SOLD OUT!
Get ready to enjoy our last event before our summer break—our wonderful spring luncheon. Save Thursday, June 5 from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. for this perennially popular gathering. It will be at the Raintree Country Club, 8600 Raintree Lane (near the Arboretum off Pineville-Matthews Road), and cost $45 per person.
The sumptuous buffet will include herbed chicken, pulled pork and fixings, mixed green salad, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and berry cobbler. Cash bar will be available to purchase alcoholic beverages.
Our speaker will be local historian and man-about-town Tom Hanchett, who will talk about Charlotte’s changing food scene and hidden restaurants you should know about.
Signups start mid-April with the following payment options:
• Online – Use the RSVP button above. Signups end Tuesday, May 27.
• In Person – Stop by the Spring Luncheon desk at Friday meetings starting April 11 through May 23.
• By Mail – Mail checks to:
Senior Scholars at Queens
1900 Selwyn Ave
MSC 1409
Charlotte, NC 28274
Registration and checks must be received by Friday 5/23/25.
For questions, contact Nancy Stancill at nancy.stancill@gmail.com

Globalization, Trade, and Tariffs with Sergio Castello
2025-09-12 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Globalization, Trade, and Tariffs
SPEAKER: Sergio Castello, Professor, Wingate University
A look at globalization since the 1970s to today and the importance of trade (and the notion of comparative advantage) in the US economy driven by multinational corporations and the TAA program to help dislocated workers.

BIOGRAPHY
Sergio Castello was born in Barcelona, Spain. At 18, he came to the US with $157, one suitcase and two tennis racquets. He earned a BBA in finance (minor in mathematics) from Freed-Hardeman University, an MBA from the University of Memphis, and a Ph.D. in international trade and finance from Colorado State University. He has been married to Lora for 35 years and have five children, Katie, Kerri (deceased), Walker, Monica, and Sofia. He enjoys playing tennis and golf and spending time in Montana.

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

New Member Orientation - September 19
2025-09-19 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!

Elections Integrity with Mary Jo McGowan
2025-09-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Elections Integrity
SPEAKER: Mary Jo McGowan, Dept of Political Science and Public Administration, UNC-Charlotte
A review of the elections process helps folks understand how elections work and how confident we can be in our electoral process.

BIOGRAPHY
Mary Jo McGowan is a faculty member at UNC Charlotte in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration.
Her research focus is on public policies relating to elections and running for office. She is a part of a research team studying impacts of election administration on electoral outcomes.
The team (Martha Kropf, Zachary Mohr, Mary Jo McGowan and JoEllen V. Pope) will publish their study of election costs A Republic If You Can Afford It: How Much Does it Cost to Administer an Election later this year.
Additionally, she studies policy complexity and its effect on outcome variables such as candidate decisions to run for office. Dr. McGowan teaches in the Model UN, Public Policy, and introductory Political Science courses. She is the Undergraduate Director for the Political Science Dept and Director of the American Studies program at UNC Charlotte.

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

U.S. Relationship with Mexico with Dr. Jurgen Buchenau
2025-09-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: U.S. Relationship with Mexico: Past, Present and Future
SPEAKER: Dr. Jurgen Buchenau, Dowd Term Professor of Capitalism Studies; Professor of History and Latin American Studies, UNC Charlotte
An overview of the relationship between North America’s most populous countries since independence, with special emphasis on the history of the border, economic relations, and immigration.

BIOGRAPHY
Jürgen Buchenau is the Dowd Term Chair of Capitalism Studies, the co-director of the Center for Migration and Diaspora Studies, and Professor of History and Latin American Studies at UNC Charlotte.
Buchenau has authored and edited thirteen books, including Plutarco Elías Calles and the Mexican Revolution (2007), winner of the Alfred B. Thomas Book Award of the Southeastern Council of Latin American Studies, and The Sonoran Dynasty in Mexico: Revolution, Reform, and Repression (2023).
Buchenau’s research has been funded by the National Endowment of the Humanities and the American Philosophical Society. He is currently the editor of The Latin Americanist and two book series with Wiley and the University of New Mexico Press and has just completed a book on U.S.-Mexican relations.

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

Lunch Bunch: September 26
2025-09-26 11:45 - 14:00 | Leo’s Italian Social, 4720 Piedmont Row Dr, Charlotte, NC, 28210, United States
We have booked Leo’s Italian Social, for Friday, September 26, 11:45 a.m.
Located in the Piedmont Center
Limited space available! Please sign up by 9/25/2025.
If you register and find you can’t attend, please email LunchBunch@SeniorScholars.net so that we can offer your seat to another member.
Leo’s Italian Social
4720 Piedmont Row
Suite 150
Charlotte, NC 28210

How Old Age Echoes Young Age with Judy Goldman
2025-10-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: How Old Age Echoes Young Age
SPEAKER: Judy Goldman, Author
Judy will talk about how every age — young age and old age and every age in between — brings with it the fear of the unfamiliar, as well as the exhilaration of trying out a new kind of existence.

BIOGRAPHY
Judy Goldman has published eight award-winning books — four memoirs, two novels, and two collections of poetry. Her most recent book, The Rest of Our Lives: A Memoir, published in May 2025, was named a best-seller by bookstores across the Southeast. Her work has appeared in USA Today, Washington Post, Real Simple, Our State, Charlotte Observer, and in many anthologies and literary journals.
Born and raised in Rock Hill, SC, she has lived in Charlotte for 58 years. She and her husband have two married children and four grandchildren.

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

New Member Orientation - October 10
2025-10-10 09:00 - 09:30 | Providence United Methodist Church (PUMC) – Wolfe Hall, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, North Carolina, 28211

The Government Accountability Office with Davis Judson
2025-10-10 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The Government Accountability Office
SPEAKER: Davis Judson, Senior Analyst, GAO
GAO has been called the congressional watchdog and the defender of the public interest. Learn about GAO’s unique role in the federal government and how it supports Congress with objective, reliable, and nonpartisan information.

BIOGRAPHY
Davis Judson is a project manager in GAO’s financial markets and community investment team, where he leads teams in evaluating government programs that span Wall Street to Main Street. He received an MPA from Cornell University and a BA in economics and urban studies from Washington University in St Louis.

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

The Pearl, Charlotte's Innovation District with Hillary Crittendon
2025-10-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The Pearl, Charlotte’s Innovation District
SPEAKER: Hillary Crittendon
The Pearl, anchored by Wake Forest School of Medicine, is a 30-acre mixed-use development that includes education, retail, apartments, a hotel, open community space, and health science research facilities. Located next to uptown and Atrium Health’s flagship hospital, it aims to drive economic growth and job creation in the Charlotte Region.
This presentation will explore how public-private partnerships, educational collaboration, and strategic business development are fueling growth in the district. The Pearl exemplifies how innovation district can power transformation across education, research, healthcare and economic mobility–delivering a model of inclusive innovation that is uniquely Charlotte.

BIOGRAPHY
Hillary Crittendon joined Atrium Health in early 2021 and serves as Head of Operations and Strategy for The Pearl, Charlotte’s innovation district.
Prior to joining Atrium Health, Hillary was the Director of the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council, a 30-member CEO council based in Charlotte which is focused on influencing economic mobility, policy and economic development solutions for the region. She joined the CELC via McKinsey, where she served as a consultant in various capacities over nearly 5 years.
Hillary holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Masters in Business Administration from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She has experience in investment banking, having served as an analyst at Credit Suisse, and in financial fundraising in the private equity and hedge fund industries. She also co-founded The Brandshop, a startup marketing and consultancy focused on supporting growth of high-end female-owned retail and lifestyle brands.
Hillary serves on the board of the Urban League of Central Carolinas and the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE). She also serves on the Advisory Board for the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System’s Career and Technical Education Program and on the Auxiliary of the Mint Museum.

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

The Future of Human-AI Relations with Mark Peres
2025-10-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: The Future of Human-AI Relations
SPEAKER: Mark Peres, Author/Professor/Founder
In this provocative and accessible talk, ethicist and novelist Mark Peres invites audiences to explore one of the most profound questions of the 21st century: What does it mean to share the future with intelligent machines?
Drawing on the ideas at the heart of his new novel, The Accord, Peres looks beyond today’s headlines to examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping our understanding of consciousness, agency, and responsibility — and how it might evolve from a mere tool into a genuine collaborator in the human story.
Through a blend of philosophy, literature, and real-world examples, he outlines three possible futures for human–AI relations — subordination, domination, or transformative partnership — and offers guiding principles to ensure that this powerful technology serves humanity rather than distorts it. This is not a technical presentation but a spirited conversation about values, imagination, and the choices that will determine whether AI deepens our humanity or diminishes it.

BIOGRAPHY
Mark Peres is founding director of The Charlotte Center for the Humanities & Civic Imagination, the Charlotte Ideas Festival, the On Life Life and Meaning podcast, and Charlotte Viewpoint magazine. He is also an award-winning professor of leadership and ethics at Johnson & Wales University, where he challenges students to reflect deeply on what it means to lead a good life.
He is the author of ‘The Accord’ – a novel on the future of human-AI relations, and ‘The Man Who Lived a Hundred Lives’ – a memoir about his father’s improbable life and immigrant journey. He is the winner of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Luminary Award for Lifetime Achievement. Mark is a graduate of The Florida State University College of Law, and of Rollins College, where he studied history and philosophy of religion.

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

Energy Transition to Carbon Free Electricity with Neva Espinoza
2025-10-31 10:00 - 11:00 | Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom, 2810 Providence Rd, Charlotte, NC, 28211, United States
TOPIC: Energy Transition to Carbon Free Electricity
SPEAKER: Neva Espinoza, Senior Vice President – Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources & Chief Generation Officer
Neva Espinoza will discuss how nuclear power and other advanced technologies can enable a transition to affordable, reliable, and carbon-free electricity

BIOGRAPHY
Neva Espinoza is Senior Vice President, Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources and Chief Generation Officer at EPRI.
In this role, she leads a global team conducting EPRI research and development related to energy supply – including generation, nuclear, and low-carbon fuels – as electricity use continues growing through the energy transition. This includes conventional and advanced nuclear, the existing fossil fleet, large-scale renewable generation assets, long duration energy storage, and the production and use of low-carbon energy carriers.
Previous leadership roles included serving as EPRI’s Vice President of Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources and Director of R&D for the institute’s Generation Sector. She joined EPRI in January 2012 with more than 10 years of operational and engineering experience in the power industry, across a diverse set of assets and technologies. Prior to EPRI, Espinoza served in technical and leadership positions at NRG’s Arthur Kill Power Station, Exelon’s Oyster Creek Power Station and Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory.
Espinoza received a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Rutgers University and Master of Business Administration degree from Wake Forest University. She is a graduate of the U.S. Navy’s Officer Nuclear Power Program and held a senior reactor operator license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Espinoza sits on the National Petroleum Council and the Georgia Institute of Technology Strategic Energy Institute Executive Advisory Board.

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

Lunch Bunch: October 31
2025-10-31 11:45 - 14:00 | Calle Sol, 3100 Apex Drive, Charlotte, 28211, United States
We have booked Calle Sol Latin Cafe & Cevicheria, for Friday, October 31, 11:45 a.m.
Located 3100 Apex Drive, Charlotte, NC 28211
Limited space available! Please sign up by 10/25/2025.
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 not included. Free parking in the garage. Reservation at restaurant under name of Senior Scholars/Sara Friedman.
Calle Sol
3100 Apex Drive
Charlotte, NC 28211

Field Trip: Earl Scruggs Center
2025-11-05 10:00 - 15:30 | Earl Scruggs Center, 103 S Lafayette St, Shelby, 28150, United States
SOLD OUT!
The waiting list is closed. You have the option of driving up independently and paying the normal Earl Scruggs Center entry fee.
Cancel Purchased Tickets: Send a message to info@seniorscholars.net. No refunds after Wednesday October 29, 2025
DATE: November 5, 2025
TIME: 10 am – 3:15 pm
COST: $30/person (includes bus and Music Center entrance fee)
ADDRESS: 103 S Lafayette St, Shelby, NC 28150
TRANSPORTATION: SSQ is renting a 50-seat passenger van to shuttle members to the Earl Scruggs Center. The registration cost includes the bus cost plus the entrance fee to the Center. Meet in the lower lot of Providence United Methodist Church at 9:40. Lunch will not be provided and is not included in the fee, there will be opportunities to explore nearby restaurants after the tour.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: October 31, 2025
This field trip is only available to current paid up members of Senior Scholars.
The Earl Scruggs Center honors legendary banjo master Earl Scruggs, blending his story with the region’s rich history. Through engaging exhibits and events, the Center celebrates his groundbreaking “Scruggs Style” and lasting musical legacy.
Tom Hanchett will join the Magical Mystery Tour leaving PUMC. He’s on the Board of the Center and appears on the video that starts the tour. Joe Kendrick, who spoke to us (at a Friday meeting in January and at Wildacres) about music, will meet with us at the Center. Joe is also a relative of Earl Scruggs, has a weekly radio program about music and a podcast and has a relationship with the Center.
Earl Scruggs Center

The American Fire Service with Heather Burford
2025-11-07 10:00 - 11:00 | 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

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

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
