The courses listed below start in March
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Global Leadership - Exploring the Lives of 20th Century Statesmen (and Women) - Part 2 | $50 Chris Sartorius
March 3-31, 2026 | Tuesdays | 1:30-3:30pm
This course examines how statesmen (and women) utilize the tools of statecraft to devise comprehensive strategies for achieving national and international objectives. We will concentrate our study on 20th-century international leaders who used their knowledge of the past, combined with their sense of the values and aspirations of their fellow countrymen, to devise national and international strategies. We will examine the key leadership traits and values that these leaders embodied, in conjunction with the challenges they faced, to gain a deeper understanding of the foreign policy options and constraints each faced when making critical decisions. With this knowledge, we will take a case study approach to evaluate the problems, policy options, successes, and failures of these key, modern 20th-century leaders. The overall course goal is to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges, risks, and accomplishments of these leaders, and to learn the importance of effective leadership in addressing the numerous complex issues facing the global community in our contemporary world. Note: This is the second course in a two-part series. We will examine a new set of leaders during part two. Part 1 (Fall 2025) is NOT a prerequisite, and Part 2 (Spring 2026) is NOT a repeat of Part 1. *Class will NOT meet 3/17
Rembrandt Reads Genesis | $5 Alan Levenson (Mornings with the Professor)
March 3, 2026 | Tuesday | 9:30-11:00am
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669) earned the status of artistic virtuoso by his creations in three media: oils, etchings, and drawings. Beyond this, his prolific output, ability to synthesize artistic styles, and talent for depicting the complexities of the human psyche continue to astound. Like the earlier Italian masters, Rembrandt dropped his family name when signing his works. Like them, he expressed a penchant for self-promotion and a keen awareness of his waxing appeal. While there are other great seventeenth-century artists, Rembrandt had no equal as an interpreter of the biblical text. A nominal Calvinist, every part of the Bible drew his interest (Old Testament, New Testament, Apocrypha). As for many artists, Genesis held a particular fascination as a treasure trove of fully drawn characters, family dramas, and pivotal moments in human history. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Rembrandt committed to the details of the biblical text, focusing on the personalities at the expense of typical typologies, and incorporated Jewish commentary. Does this constitute a reading of Genesis by the greatest biblical artist? Yes!
Improving Brain Health and Stroke Prevention Across the Lifespan | $5 Javad Anjum and Jennifer Tetnowski (Mornings with the Professor)
March 10, 2026 | Tuesday | 9:30-11:00am
This presentation will integrate up-to-date research, preventive strategies, and real-world recommendations for healthy brain aging. Additionally, learners will discover ways to support people with post-stroke aphasia.
Salt: Earth’s Most Edible Rock | $5 Ken Johnson (Mornings with the Professor)
March 12, 2026 | Thursday | 9:30-11:00am
Salt is a crystalline mineral, also known as rock salt or halite (NaCl—sodium chloride). Dissolved NaCl is present in vast quantities in seawater, and, when seawater evaporates, layers of halite crystallize from the brine and can form massive deposits of rock salt. Western Oklahoma was the site of such deposition about 275 million years ago, and thus, vast reserves of salt are present below the land surface (locally, this salt is dissolved by groundwater and emerges in salt flats, such as the Great Salt Plains in Alfalfa County). Historically, salt has been used as a trade item and as a form of currency; at times, it was worth its weight in gold. Although salt was scraped from salt flats in prehistoric times, the earliest method of processing salt involved evaporating seawater or water from salt springs to recover the salt. Later, mining of underground deposits enabled the recovery of large quantities of salt for use and trade. Salt is essential for human and animal life, is used for seasoning and preserving foods, and is the most edible of rocks or minerals. It is also one of the most widely used minerals in manufacturing and industrial processes.
Nutrition & Wellness as We Age - Part 1 | $50 Brian dela Cruz
March 23-April 13, 2026 | Mondays | 1:30-3:30pm
The aging process causes changes to our bodies in numerous ways. Although we cannot stop our bodies from the aging process, we can provide them with the proper nutrients to maintain health. Learn about the benefits of eating healthily as we age, which include resistance to diseases and illnesses, higher energy levels, increased mental activity, and better overall health.
*This course is part of a two-series course where part one focuses on nutrition for a healthy individual as we age. Part Two focuses on nutrition and disease state management and will be held later in the semester.
Misinformation Station | $50 Anne Wimberly
March 24-April 14, 2026 | Tuesdays | 10:00-11:30am
This seminar will be presented as an interactive game show. Participants will be introduced to the terms’ information, misinformation, and disinformation. Participants will act as news reporters and audience members. Your goal will be to pick one true news story out of sets of three. Your host (me) will present the first set of stories. Then, you will work in groups to write misinformation based on true stories, aiming to trick your peers.
Beliefless Terrorism | $50 Layla Williams
March 24-April 14, 2026 | Tuesdays |10:00am-12:00pm
There has been a rise in sadistic, nihilistic political violence from the likes of the Terrorgram movement, Groypers, Com, and 764. These international groups seem to be an amalgamation of various white supremacist, neo-fascist, and neo-Nazi ideologies. However, those involved also seem motivated by intense desires to harm others and obtain notoriety in their online communities. They often express a nihilism that holds that life is meaningless. Notably, individuals in these groups are obsessed with memes and utilize memes as an effective mechanism of ideological and political communication. Is it possible that these individuals don’t endorse these far-right ideologies and instead use them as handy vehicles for promoting violence? Does it matter if they don’t believe these views? What’s the connection between Satanism, faith-based white supremacy, and internet meme culture? This course will examine how these groups operate at the level of belief and how individuals within these communities think about the world. We will explore these groups through concepts such as perspectives, worldviews, and distortions. Additionally, we will examine potential causes and solutions to these movements. The aim of this course is to better understand an almost entirely online culture aimed at proliferating violence.
Mindfulness Meditation | $5 Haven Tobias and Matthew Collier (Mornings with the Professor)
March 24, 2026 | Tuesday | 9:30-11:00am
What is mindfulness? What is meditation? What purpose(s) does mindfulness meditation serve? Is it effective? Is it safe? In a world of marketers and self-styled gurus, it can be hard to find reliable answers to these questions. Join Haven and Matthew for an exploration of mindfulness meditation, offering impactful techniques you can use immediately to help deepen your connection with yourself, your loved ones, and your communities.
European Society and Contemporary History Through Soccer | $50 Virginie Perez-Woods
March 25-April 15, 2026 | Wednesdays | 2:00-4:00pm
We’ll examine European history and issues facing society as they are mirrored through national and club soccer. Soccer in Europe has sparked numerous debates surrounding issues such as immigration, religion, women’s rights, and other social concerns. It has also been at the center of political issues, terrorist attacks, and newer ways to think about European geography. Before the World Cup comes to the US in summer 2026, let’s familiarize ourselves with European society through this globalized sport.
Emotions 101 | $50 Matthew Collier
March 26-April 30, 2026 | Thursdays | 2:30-4:00pm
A practical class aimed at living life with greater ease through emotional intelligence. The skills we’ll develop each week can help us navigate the inevitable changes in life, such as family and friend dynamics, health and aging, shifting livelihoods, and more. Not only immediately useful to you personally, but these are also skills you can pass on as a form of generational wealth. This course has evolved from an ongoing foundational workshop held monthly at The Well, taught by internationally certified coach Matt Collier. If you’d like to read along, get a copy of our text, “Search Inside Yourself” by Chade-Meng Tan. Otherwise, feel free to just attend the classes and practice some highlights with us!
Arts and Music of the Renaissance | $50 Susan Caldwell & Eugene Enrico
March 27-May 1, 2026 | Fridays| 1:00-3:00pm
Discover the creativity and innovation that defined one of history’s most transformative eras. This course takes you on a journey through the cultural centers of Renaissance Europe, exploring how art and music reflected—and shaped—the ideals of their time.
From the courts of Burgundy and the artistic revolution in Florence, to the grandeur of Rome’s High Renaissance, you’ll encounter masterpieces by Michelangelo, Raphael, and other visionaries alongside the rise of polyphonic music. Dive into the elegance of Italian Mannerism, the power of patronage in Mantua, and the dramatic responses to religious change during the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. The course concludes in Venice, where vibrant color and musical innovation marked the height of Renaissance creativity.
Engaging lectures, visual analysis, and musical examples will immerse you in the dynamic interplay of art, music, politics, and faith that shaped Europe’s cultural identity. Perfect for students of art history, music, or anyone passionate about the Renaissance.
Variations in Biological Sex Traits | $50 Ari Berkowitz
March 30-May 4, 2026 | Mondays | 9:30-11:30am
Lectures, readings, and discussions will focus on: 1) human intersex variations and infant genital surgeries, 2) how we alter our bodies to make them more feminine or masculine, 3) do human brains differ according to sex, gender, or sexual orientation? 4) unisexual, intersex, hermaphroditic, and sex-changing animals, 5) sex testing in women’s sports, and 6) current laws and regulations related to biological sex.
