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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251107T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251107T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
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SUMMARY:The American Fire Service with Heather Burford
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: The American Fire Service – Proud History & Innovative Future\nSPEAKER: Heather Burford \nFrom 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. \nThis 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY\nHeather 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. \nHeather 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.\nHeather 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/history-of-firefighting-with-heather-burford/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/HBuford_11-7-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251031T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251031T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250625T151552Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251007T163516Z
UID:10000165-1761904800-1761908400@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Energy Transition to Carbon Free Electricity with Neva Espinoza
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Energy Transition to Carbon Free Electricity \nSPEAKER: Neva Espinoza\, Senior Vice President – Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources & Chief Generation Officer \nNeva Espinoza will discuss how nuclear power and other advanced technologies can enable a transition to affordable\, reliable\, and carbon-free electricity \n\nBIOGRAPHY\nNeva Espinoza is Senior Vice President\, Energy Supply and Low-Carbon Resources and Chief Generation Officer at EPRI.\nIn 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. \nPrevious 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. \nEspinoza 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. \nEspinoza sits on the National Petroleum Council and the Georgia Institute of Technology Strategic Energy Institute Executive Advisory Board. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/energy-transition-to-carbon-free-electricity-with-neva-espinoza/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/NEspinova_10-31-2025_r1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251024T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251024T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20251015T203608Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251017T142951Z
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SUMMARY:The Future of Human-AI Relations with Mark Peres
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: The Future of Human-AI Relations\nSPEAKER:  Mark Peres\, Author/Professor/Founder \nIn 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? \nDrawing 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. \nThrough 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. \n  \n  \n\nBIOGRAPHY\nMark 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. \nHe 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/the-future-of-human-ai-relations-with-mark-peres/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MPeres_10-24-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251017T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251017T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250625T151350Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250716T164757Z
UID:10000164-1760695200-1760698800@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:The Pearl\, Charlotte's Innovation District with Hillary Crittendon
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: The Pearl\, Charlotte’s Innovation District\nSPEAKER: Hillary Crittendon \nThe 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. \nThis 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nHillary Crittendon joined Atrium Health in early 2021 and serves as Head of Operations and Strategy for The Pearl\, Charlotte’s innovation district. \nPrior 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. \nHillary 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. \nHillary 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/the-pearl-innovation-district-medical-school-with-mexico-with-hillary-crittendon/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/HCrittendon_10-17-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251010T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251010T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250916T165952Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250916T171250Z
UID:10000180-1760090400-1760094000@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:The Government Accountability Office with Davis Judson
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: The Government Accountability Office\nSPEAKER: Davis Judson\, Senior Analyst\, GAO \nGAO 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nDavis 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/the-government-accountability-office-with-davis-judson/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/DJudson_10-10-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251003T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251003T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250512T163530Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250901T154047Z
UID:10000161-1759485600-1759489200@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:How Old Age Echoes Young Age with Judy Goldman
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: How Old Age Echoes Young Age\nSPEAKER: Judy Goldman\, Author \nJudy 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nJudy 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. \nBorn 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/how-old-age-echoes-young-age-with-judy-goldman/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/JGoldman_9-26-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250926T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250926T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250901T155630Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250915T154743Z
UID:10000169-1758880800-1758884400@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:U.S. Relationship with Mexico with Dr. Jurgen Buchenau
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: U.S. Relationship with Mexico: Past\, Present and Future\nSPEAKER: Dr. Jurgen Buchenau\, Dowd Term Professor of Capitalism Studies; Professor of History and Latin American Studies\, UNC Charlotte \nAn 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY\nJürgen 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. \nBuchenau 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). \nBuchenau’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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/u-s-relationship-with-mexico-with-dr-jurgen-buchenau/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/JBunchenau_9-26-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250919T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250919T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20241014T205309Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250317T163259Z
UID:10000111-1758276000-1758279600@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Elections Integrity with Mary Jo McGowan
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Elections Integrity\nSPEAKER: Mary Jo McGowan\, Dept of Political Science and Public Administration\, UNC-Charlotte \nA review of the elections process helps folks understand how elections work and how confident we can be in our electoral process. \n\nBIOGRAPHY\nMary Jo McGowan is a faculty member at UNC Charlotte in the Department of Political Science and Public Administration. \nHer 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. \nThe 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. \nAdditionally\, 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/elections-review-with-mary-jo-mcgowan/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/MJMcGowan_10-13-2023.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250912T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250912T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250512T165319Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250626T151630Z
UID:10000162-1757671200-1757674800@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Globalization\, Trade\, and Tariffs with Sergio Castello
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Globalization\, Trade\, and Tariffs\nSPEAKER: Sergio Castello\, Professor\, Wingate University \nA 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY\nSergio 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/globalization-trade-and-tariffs-with-sergio-castello/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SCastello-1_9-12-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250411T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250411T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250121T203048Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250401T165118Z
UID:10000126-1744365600-1744369200@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Update on Mecklenburg County Initiatives with Dena Diorio
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Update on Mecklenburg County Initiatives \nSPEAKER: Dena Diorio\, Mecklenburg County Manager \nDena will provide an update on County projects and initiatives and answer questions. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nDena Diorio has been a leader in public administration since 1988. After graduate school Dena started what would be a ten-year stint with the City of New York\, eight of which were in the Mayor’s Office. Serving under three different Mayors\, Dena started as a financial analyst in the Departments of Sanitation and General Services where she provided financial support to various operating divisions. In 1990\, she was appointed a supervising analyst at the Mayor’s Office of Operations where she rose to the level of Deputy Director in only five years. In 1995\, she was appointed the Director of City Legislative Affairs and served as the Mayor’s lobbyist to the City Council. In that role she is credited with facilitating the passage of over 100 local laws included in the Mayor’s legislative agenda. \nIn 1998\, Dena was appointed the inaugural Director of the Office of Policy and Management for the City of Stamford\, Connecticut. She established a strong budget and auditing department that improved efficiency and accountability. In 2002\, Dena moved to the City of Danbury\, Connecticut where she served as the Director of Finance and Human Resources. \nDena joined Mecklenburg County\, North Carolina in 2007 as Director of the Department of Financial Services. She is recognized for guiding the County through the fiscal crisis and implementing policies that significantly improved the financial position of the County. In 2013\, she was promoted to Assistant County Manager and in 2014 was selected as the first woman to serve as County Manager for Mecklenburg County. As County Manager Dena serves as the CEO of the organization and is responsible for a workforce of 6\,000 employees and an annual operating budget of $2 billion. \nIn her role as County Manager\, Dena serves on a variety of boards including Charlotte Center City Partners\, the Charlotte Sports Foundation\, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance\, Blumenthal Performing Arts\, and United Way of Central Carolinas. \nDena has been recognized for her leadership by many organizations. In 2015\, she was named Public Policy Leader of the Year by the National Association of Women Business Owners\, and in 2016\, she received the Leadership in Action award by Career Mastered. In 2018 she was named one of the 50 Most Influential Women by the Mecklenburg Times\, and in 2019 a Most Admired CEO by the Charlotte Business Journal. In 2020\, Dena was chosen as the Businesswoman of the Year by Queens University\, the first woman from the public sector to receive the honor. In 2021\, she was awarded the Excellence in Leadership Award from the Centralina Regional Council\, received a Woman in American History Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution\, and the Pegasus Award from the Public Relations Society of America\, which honors someone from outside the public relations profession for embracing the strategic use of communications. In 2023\, she was awarded the Whitney M. Young award by the Urban League of Central Carolinas that honors those that have made significant impacts in the black community. \nDena earned her bachelor’s degree in social services from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. She earned a master’s degree in public administration from Columbia University. \nDena lives with her husband Phil in Charlotte\, North Carolina. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/how-pbs-charlotte-shines-the-spotlight-on-our-region-with-amy-burkett-2/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/DDiorio_4-11-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250404T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250404T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250311T161603Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250317T155714Z
UID:10000147-1743760800-1743764400@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:American Foreign Policy in the Middle East with Dr. Harry Chernotsky
DESCRIPTION:GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: American Foreign Policy in the Middle East \nSPEAKER: Dr. Harry Chernotsky\, Professor Emeritus Global Studies\, UNC Charlotte \nThis presentation – part of the Great Decisions 2025 program -will address the continuing search for peace in the Middle East\, as the region looks to move beyond the events of October 7 and confronts the realities of an uncertain future.  We will review the latest developments impacting the region’s many trouble spots and will examine the changing posture of the United States under the Trump administration. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nHarry I. Chernotsky is Professor Emeritus in Global Studies\, retiring after 43 years on the faculty of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He served as the founding chair of the Department of Global Studies from 2009-2016 after spending 30 years in the university’s Department of Political Science. Previous positions included Director of International Studies and Interim Associate Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. He is the recipient of UNC Charlotte’s Bank of America Teaching Excellence Award and its International Education Faculty Award. \nChernotsky received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Rutgers University. He specializes in international political economy and American foreign policy and has published in a wide range of professional journals. He is most proud of his work (with Heidi Hobbs) – Crossing Borders: International Studies for the 21st Century (4rd edition\, 2022) – one of the first textbooks providing an interdisciplinary perspective on the field. \nThroughout his career\, Chernotsky was a leader in international studies education. He spearheaded numerous initiatives at UNC Charlotte\, including the development of the Model United Nations program and the interdisciplinary International Studies major. He was Director of the North Carolina Great Decisions public affairs series and still lectures widely on international affairs and U.S. foreign policy. He also served as President of the Southern region of the International Studies Association (ISA) and as Chair of ISA’s International Education section. He worked for many years with the University of Cantabria (Spain) on its global studies certificate program and was Scholar in Residence at Florida Atlantic University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute\, where he continues lecture each year. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/american-foreign-policy-in-the-middle-east-with-dr-harry-chernotsky/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/HChernotsky_4-4-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250307T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250307T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250310T191341Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250310T191341Z
UID:10000146-1741341600-1741345200@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:The Shadow of Alzheimer's Disease with Dr. Adam Law
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: The Shadow of Alzheimer’s Disease\nSPEAKER: Dr. Adam Law\, Visiting Scientist\, Cornell University \nThis 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nAdam 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. \nHe 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. \nDuring 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. \nHe 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. \nHe 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/the-shadow-of-alzheimers-disease-with-dr-adam-law/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid: In-person & Zoom,Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ALaw_3-7-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250228T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250228T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250106T165742Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000120-1740736800-1740740400@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:How PBS Charlotte Shines the Spotlight on our Region with Amy Burkett
DESCRIPTION:GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: How PBS Charlotte Shines the Spotlight on our Region\nSPEAKER: Amy Burkett\, PBS General Manager \nAmy 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nAmy 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. \nThe 7D’s to Your Destiny and The Dirty F-Word: Lessons From our Failures \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/how-pbs-charlotte-shines-the-spotlight-on-our-region-with-amy-burkett/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ABurkett_2-28-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250221T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250221T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250219T170619Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250219T175523Z
UID:10000133-1740132000-1740135600@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:America and Changing Economic World with Jay Bryson
DESCRIPTION:GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC:   America and Changing Economic World\nSPEAKER: Jay Bryson\, Managing Director\, Chief Economist\, Wells Fargo Corporate and Investment Bank \nDr. Bryson will present his annual analysis of financial markets and macroeconomic developments in the global economy. \nHe 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nDetails coming soon. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/america-and-changing-economic-world-with-jay-bryson/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/JBryson_2-21-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250214T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250214T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20250219T170834Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250219T170913Z
UID:10000134-1739527200-1739530800@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Medicare Fraud with Austin Caton
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Medicare Fraud\nSPEAKER: Austin Caton\, Aging Program Coordinator\, Centralina Area Agency on Aging \nAustin is an Aging Program Coordinator for the Digital Navigation Program providing assistance with technology and training for older adults in our region. \n\n  \nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/medicare-fraud-with-austin-caton/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ACaton_2-14-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250207T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250207T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20241209T171722Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000114-1738922400-1738926000@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:The Future of US-China Relations with Keren Zhu
DESCRIPTION:GREAT DECISIONS TOPIC: The Future of US-China Relations\nSPEAKER: Keren Zhu\, Assistant Professor\, Davidson College \nU.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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nDr. 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. \nDr. 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/the-future-of-us-china-relations-with-keren-zhu/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/KZhu_2-7-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250131T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250131T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20240917T155225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000106-1738317600-1738321200@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:What did you say? Communication\, Problem-solving\, and Intelligence in Birds with Jeffrey Thomas
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: What did you say? Communication\, Problem-solving\, and Intelligence in Birds\nSPEAKER: Jeffrey Thomas\, Professor of Biology\, Queens University of Charlotte \nBirds\, 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. \nFrom 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nDr. 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. \nIn his spare time\, he travels\, cooks\, and takes his dog for long walks. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/what-did-you-say-communication-problem-solving-and-intelligence-in-birds-with-jeffery-thomas/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/JThomas_1-31-25.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250124T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250124T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20240820T155128Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000097-1737712800-1737716400@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:What a Rush! A Brief History of Mining in North Carolina with Valerie Reynolds
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC:  What a Rush! A Brief History of Mining in North Carolina\nSPEAKER: Valerie Reynolds\, Department of Earth\, Environmental\, and Geographical Sciences UNC Charlotte \nFrom 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. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nDr. 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/what-a-rush-a-brief-history-of-mining-in-north-carolina-with-valerie-reynolds/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/VReynolds_1-24-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20250110T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20250110T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20241113T155235Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000113-1736503200-1736506800@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Behind the Curtain with Laura Little
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Behind the Curtain\nSPEAKER: Laura Little\, Executive Producer\, Laura Little Theatricals \nLaura 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. \nShe’ll explain the difference between the roles of the artistic director\, executive director\, producer\, and general manager. \nYou’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. \nAnd finally\, the audition process. Possibly concluding with a mock audition. \nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nLaura Little – Executive Producer / Artistic Director of Laura Little Theatrical Productions \nLaura 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. \nCurrent Broadway Production: Our Town starring Jim Parsons\, Katie Holmes and Richard Thomas \nBroadway investing partner: Tony Award winning Parade and Swept Away. \nIn Charlotte she produces cabarets at Middle C Jazz Club and in 2023\, the Radio City Music Hal style show Need a Little Christmas. \nLaura 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). \nCurrent:\nMember the LIG Rotary Club of Charlotte-part of Charlotte Rotary Club.\nAdvisory Board for PBS Charlotte \nPast:\nPast President and member of Coeur d’Alene Sunrise Rotary\nPast member of the Coeur d’Alene Noon Rotary\nPast President and member of Idaho Public Television\nPast Salvation Army Kroc Center’s Advisory Board \nAwards:\nShe was honored to be a Soroptimist Woman of Distinction recipient in 2015\n2020 Girls Scouts of America Women of Distinction Award \n 
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/behind-the-curtain-with-laura-little/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/LLittle_1-10-2025.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241122T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241122T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094958
CREATED:20240429T153628Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000087-1732269600-1732273200@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Earl Scruggs Center with Mary Beth Martin
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby\nSPEAKER: Mary Beth Martin\, Executive Director of the Earl Scruggs Center\, Shelby\, NC \nThe 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.” \nThe 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. \nBIOGRAPHY \nMary 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. \nShe 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/earl-scruggs-center-with-mary-beth-martin/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241115T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241115T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20241031T173823Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000103-1731664800-1731668400@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:MakerSpace Charlotte: Enabling & Celebrating Human Creativity with Steven Gray
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: MakerSpace Charlotte: Enabling & Celebrating Human Creativity\nSPEAKER: Steven Gray\, Makerspace Board Member \nThis 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. \nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nSteven 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. \nPrior 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. \nHe also worked on Wall Street for 5 years between undergraduate and graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/makerspace-charlotte-with-steven-gray/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/MakerSpace_11-15-2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241108T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241108T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20240808T161636Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000092-1731060000-1731063600@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:An Untold Story of the US Involvement in Afghanistan...And Its Aftermath...A Personal Journey  with George Forsythe
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: An Untold Story of the US Involvement in Afghanistan…And Its Aftermath…A Personal Journey\nSPEAKER: George Forsythe\,  Brigadier General\, U.S. Army (retired) \nGeorge 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above. \n  \n\nBIOGRAHPHY \nGEORGE B. “BARNEY” FORSYTHE\, Ph.D. \nBrigadier General\, U.S. Army (retired) \nBG (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. \nWhile 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 \nFollowing 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. \nGeneral 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. \nHe and his wife\, Jane\, reside in Beaufort\, South Carolina. Jane is a retired early childhood educator. They have two grown children and three grandchildren.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/an-untold-story-of-the-us-involvement-in-afghanistan-and-its-aftermath-a-personal-journey-with-george-forsythe/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/GForsythe_11-8-2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241101T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241101T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20240325T165522Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000083-1730455200-1730458800@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:A Latvian Exile Comes to America with Joseph Ellis
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Karlis Leyasmeyer and the Baptist Speaker’s Circuit: A Latvian Exile Comes to America\nSPEAKER: Joseph Ellis\, Professor of Political Science\, Assistant Dean of Arts and Sciences\, Wingate University \nIn 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? \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nJoseph 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). \n\nA History of the Baltic States\, by Andres Kasekamp\nThe Latvians: A Short History\, by Andrejs Plakans\nAmerican Latvians: Politics of a Refugee Community\, by Ieva Zake
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/a-latvian-exile-comes-to-america-with-joseph-ellis/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/JEllis_11-1-2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241025T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241025T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20241007T182800Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000102-1729850400-1729854000@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Ruth Bader Ginsburg: On Being American with Suzanne Reynolds
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Ruth Bader Ginsburg: On Being American\nSPEAKER: Suzanne Reynolds\, Dean and Professor Emerita\, Wake Forest Law \nRBG 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. \nBIOGRAPHY\nSuzanne Reynolds is widely respected for her scholarship and teaching about family law and for her public service. \nShe 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. \nHer 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. \nSuzanne 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/justice-ruth-bader-ginsburg-with-suzanne-reynolds/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/SReynolds_10-25-2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241018T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241018T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20240529T163454Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000091-1729245600-1729249200@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Lighting a Pathway for Young Artists with Corey Mitchell
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Lighting a Pathway for Young Artists\nSPEAKER: Corey Mitchell\, Founder of Theater Gap Initiative \nMitchell 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. \nThe 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. \nIt 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. \nTheater Gap Initiative \nBIOGRAPHY \nTony 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. \nCorey 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/theater-gap-initiative-with-corey-mitchell/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/CMitchell_10-18-2024_v2.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241011T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241011T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20240212T221556Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000077-1728640800-1728644400@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:The Amazing Gift of Language with Steve Clark
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: The Amazing Gift of Language\nSPEAKER: Steve Clark\, Professor Emeritus\, Moody Bible Institute \nWhat 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nSteve 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. \nHe 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). \nHe 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.
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/the-amazing-gift-of-language-with-steve-clark/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/SClark_5-17-2024.jpg
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241011T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241011T100000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20240812T204424Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000096-1728637200-1728640800@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Fall Expo - Part 2
DESCRIPTION:2nd Annual Fall Expo! \nLoads of exhibitors and information for seniors on medical plans\, hobby groups and clubs\, volunteer opportunities and much more! \nOctober 11\, 2024\n9-10 am before speaker event \nExhibitors include: \n\nWriters Club\nQuilters Club\nKristan Smith\nNancy Stancil\nTheatre Charlotte\nShepherd’s Center\nCharlotte-Meck Library\nCarolina Living Benefits\nRonald McDonald House\nThe Barclay at Southpark\nCMS HeartMath Tutoring\nMecklenburg Parks & Recreation\nNC SHIIP (State Seniors Health Insurance Information Program)
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/fall-expo/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fall-2024-Expo_v1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241004T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241004T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20240902T204921Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000090-1728036000-1728039600@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History with Mark Larson
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Working in the 21st Century: An Oral History\nSPEAKER: Mark Larson \nInspired 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nMark 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”. \nBi website: marklarsonauthor.com \nBooks:\nWorking in the 21st Century: An Oral History of American Work in a Time of Social and Economic Transformation \nEnsemble: An Oral History of Chicago Theater
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/working-in-the-21st-century-an-oral-history-with-mark-larson/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/MLarson_10-4-2024.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20241004T090000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20241004T100000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20240930T165821Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000109-1728032400-1728036000@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Fall Expo - Part 1
DESCRIPTION:2nd Annual Fall Expo! \nExhibitors and information for seniors on medical plans\, hobby groups and clubs\, volunteer opportunities and much more! \nOctober 4\, 2024\n9-10 am before speaker event \nExhibitors include: \n\nLeague of Women Voters\nAssociation of University Women
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/fall-expo-part-1/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Fall-2024-Expo_v1.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20240927T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20240927T110000
DTSTAMP:20260504T094959
CREATED:20240912T171937Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250123T204056Z
UID:10000101-1727431200-1727434800@seniorscholars.net
SUMMARY:Music Therapy: The science\, the singing and everything in between with Meg Johnson
DESCRIPTION:TOPIC: Music Therapy: The science\, the singing and everything in between.\nSPEAKER: Meg Johnson\, Music Therapy Program Director and Clinical Coordinator\, Queens University \nThe 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. \n\nNOTE: Attend in-person at PUMC\, no registration required. Attend via Zoom\, please register with the Zoom link above. \n\nBIOGRAPHY \nMeg 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. \nShe is the music therapy program director and clinical coordinator at Queens in addition to teaching in the music therapy and general education programs. \nEducation \nM.M.\, Neurologic Music Therapy\, Colorado State University\nB.M.\, Music Therapy\, Queens College\, Charlotte\, NC\nB.A.\, Psychology\, Queens College\, Charlotte\, NC\nBi www.musictherapy.org\nwww.ncmusictherapy.org\nwww.cbmt.org
URL:https://seniorscholars.net/event/music-therapy-the-science-the-singing-and-everything-in-between-with-meg-johnson/
LOCATION:Hybrid: In-Person at PUMC & via Zoom\, 2810 Providence Rd\, Charlotte\, NC\, 28211\, United States
CATEGORIES:Speaker Presentations
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://seniorscholars.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/MJohnson_9-27-2024.jpg
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END:VCALENDAR