Lecture Series

Our FAB students’ safety is important to us; therefore, we are taking precautions to make the in-person classes a safe and welcoming environment. In this environment, students will be able to enjoy face-to-face interactions with their faculty and classmates and the option to grab a coffee or a bite to eat before or after class. For those not able to join us in person, we continue to be your virtual home for learning!

Note: Walk-ins are not permitted. You may register via phone by calling 805-493-3290 at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the lecture, space permitting. Persons will not be allowed into the learning space if they are not on the roster in advance.

Regarding in-person attendance:

• FREE, accessible parking at both campus locations (view location and parking details HERE)
• Large lecture room with ample space meeting Cal/OSHA guidelines
• Masks are recommended but are not required

Can’t get to campus for an in-person lecture? No problem! Attend the course virtually instead.

In-Person & Virtual Learning

Using a hybrid learning model, in-person and virtual students can attend the same class simultaneously. A special “360-camera” will follow the instructor in the classroom, and students attending virtually will be able to see and hear the instructor and view the PowerPoint over Zoom (similar to our traditional virtual courses).

Part 1: Monday, June 2, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, June 9, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
It’s hard to believe that this year a live music radio show is celebrating its 100^th year of non-stop broadcasting! Even during the pandemic, when the live shows were cancelled, it continued on Saturday nights with recorded shows and streams.

This two-part lecture will examine the Opry’s history from the very beginning in 1925 to the current country music of today. We will also track the increased popularity of this music covering all facets of the industry: the artists, the songs, and the “movers and shakers” of Nashville’s Music Row. Videos, photos and short documentaries will all be presented in these two lectures by an individual who lived in Music City for over 40 years. Join us for a nostalgic look back at what the Grand Ole Opry and Nashville have contributed to American popular music.

Bio:
Tony Moon has spent 60 successful years in the music business. Beginning in 1960, he joined the L.A. group Dante and The Evergreens, which was managed and produced by Lou Adler and Herb Alpert. He later moved to Nashville, becoming the guitarist and conductor for Brenda Lee. Tony also began playing on recording sessions and was Nashville's first rock independent music producer, working with five major labels. He scored several big hits for The Vogues, including "5 O' Clock World." Tony has won several awards as a songwriter and music publisher. His songs have been released by artists as diverse as Porter Wagoner, Willie Nelson, Vickie Carr, Pearl Jam, and The Beatles.

He currently administers several Music Publishing Companies and a New York Entertainment Company.

Part 1: Thursday, June 5, 1:30-3:30pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Thursday, June 12, 1:30-3:30pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
While the Dead Sea Scrolls have altered our understanding of the biblical text and have been described as one of the greatest archaeological findings in history, they existed within a context. When people hear about the Dead Sea Scrolls, they often recognize that they are old, have some kind of connection to the Bible, and significantly affected our understanding of ancient Judaism. But they don’t often think about the world in which they were written. This set of lectures will consider the world in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were written, examining places like Masada, and new archaeological discoveries like the Pilgrimage Road in Jerusalem (both of which are discussed at the Reagan Library Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit). Further, these lectures will prepare students to see the Dead Sea Scrolls in person and truly recognize the significance of what they are seeing. 

Bio:
Jason Hensley, PhD (Holocaust and Genocide Studies), Dmin (Biblical Studies), teaches religious studies at a private school in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Michael LaPrade Holocaust Education Institute of the Anti-Defamation League, a higher-education ambassador for the Council on Foreign Relations, and the award-winning author of 12 books. His work has been featured in The Huffington Post as well as the BBC, and he has served as the historical advisor for a Holocaust documentary. Connect with him at jasonhensley.net. 

Tuesday, June 10, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
This lecture investigates the global proliferation of gentrification practices initiated by Rudolph Giuliani during his tenure as mayor of New York City, beginning in January 1994. Recognized by urban scholars, planners, and investors as a pioneering success, Giuliani's approach to redeveloping Manhattan established a contentious framework for urban development rooted in exclusion, erasure, and violence, particularly targeting street vendors. The lecture highlights how this model gained international traction, with cities such as Mexico City, Bogotá, San José (Costa Rica), and Johannesburg adopting similar tactics in their own urban transformations. Through a comparative analysis, we will explore how these ideologies travel and evolve globally, facilitating the reorganization of public spaces and exacerbating the violence faced by marginalized populations in urban environments. Ultimately, this lecture aims to reveal the mechanisms behind the exportation of exclusionary urban practices and their implications for social justice in cities worldwide.

Bio:
Lorena Muñoz (Ph.D.) is Professor of Ethnic and Race Studies and Associate Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at California Lutheran University.

Dr. Muñoz is an urban/cultural geographer whose research focuses on the intersections of place, space, gender, sexuality, and race. Dr. Munoz’s research agenda has been focused on Latinx/e in the global south, particularly in the areas of the (in)formal economy, sexuality and race. Some of her research has focused on immigrant street vendors’ lives across Latin America. Dr. Munoz was raised in a mix-status transnational migrant family between Ensenada, Baja California and San Diego, California. She loves to knit and crochet, loves the beach and spending time with her family.

Monday, June 16, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
In the 19th century, John Singer Sargent was considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation." Cosmopolitan and dapper, he traveled the world painting what he saw, gaining international fame and renown, and some scandal along the way. Throughout a career that lasted over 50 years, he became the most successful portrait painter, documenting everyone from art collectors, to aristocrats, to presidents. This lecture will trace his career from an art student in Paris to a watercolorist abroad. 

Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.

In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.

Thursday, June 19, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The 28th annual Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival will be producing Twelfth Night and Cymbeline in Kingsmen Park on the campus of California Lutheran University this summer. In the first hour, Artistic Director, Michael J. Arndt will discuss the history of each play and the challenges in producing them. In the second hour, the directors and cast members will join the discussion and take questions from the attendees.

Bio:
Michael J. Arndt is Professor Emeritus of Theatre Arts and Dance at California Lutheran University, having taught at the university for 41 years. He is also a founder and artistic director of the Kingsmen Shakespeare Company. As a theatre director, he has directed over 200 theatre productions. Among the awards he has received are the Cal Lutheran President’s Award for Teaching Excellence, The Kennedy Center/American College Theatre Festival, Region VIII-Outstanding Theatre Educator, and the Alliance for the Arts’ Exemplary Arts Educator Award. He was named a “local hero” by the Ventura County Reporter and “Patriotic Citizen of the Year” by the Conejo Valley Chapters of the Military Order of the World Wars and The Military Order of the Purple Heart. In 2025, he was made an honorary alumnus of California Lutheran.

A Vietnam combat veteran, Michael created Under Fire: Stories of Combat Veterans Across Generations. He is currently co-authoring a book: Making Contact: The Way to Healing from the Trauma of Combat.

Friday, June 20, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Known primarily as the birthplace of The Beatles, Liverpool is UK’s veritable cultural capital and a port city steeped in maritime history. While it is smaller than Leeds, Manchester, or Birmingham, Liverpool boasts more cultural institutions than any British city except London and more Georgian buildings than Bath. But in this lecture we will focus on the city’s connection to the sea: its role in the slave trade of the 1700s, its being an immigration hub in the 1800-1900s, and its role as the center of operations for Atlantic and Arctic convoys during World War II. Moreover, we'll discuss how Liverpool became a melting pot of different peoples and cultures. Especially significant immigrant communities in the city were the Scandinavians, who gave the city its iconic food, the scouse, and the Irish, whose impact is still felt in the peculiar dialect of Liverpool, the Scouser dialect. Finally, no discussion of Liverpool is possible without taking a look at its three iconic ships: RMS Titanic, RMS Lusitania, and RMS Queen Mary. Join us for an in-depth exploration of this underappreciated city.

Bio:
Asya Pereltsvaig received a degree in English and History from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a PhD in Linguistics from McGill University. She taught at Yale, Cornell, and Stanford universities, and has been teaching in lifelong education programs since 2010. Her expertise is in language, culture, and history, and the relationship between them. Asya has published five scholarly books with Cambridge University Press. Asya is a popular instructor for several lifelong learning institutes around the country. 

Part 1: Monday, June 23, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, June 30, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
On June 6, 1944, Allied troops began landing on the French coast at Normandy to begin the liberation of Western Europe from the grips of Nazi Germany.  Code named Operation Overlord or better known as the "D-Day" landings, more than 133,000 soldiers came ashore in what General Dwight D. Eisenhower called, "The Great Crusade."  In a single day of bloody fighting across five landing beaches, the Allies suffered more than 10,000 casualties. 

This exciting two-part lecture will explore the pivotal battles and events that shaped the final Allied campaign in Europe from D-Day to the defeat of Nazi Germany.  The lecture will discuss how the Allied campaign in the west helped establish the postwar world order that today is strained by shifting alliances and populist politics.  Part 1 of the lecture will cover the Allied invasion of Normandy through Operation Market Garden - the failed attempt to cross the Rhine River at Arnhem Bridge.  Part 2 of the lecture will begin with the German Ardennes Offensive, better known as the "Battle of the Bulge" and conclude with the final defeat of German forces in the west. We will explore why D-Day and the Second World War still resonates so powerfully in contemporary culture and specifically how its commemoration - from President Reagan's 1984 'Boys of Pointe-du-Hoc' speech to popular movies such as “Saving Private Ryan” and “The Band of Brothers” - has fueled battlefield tourism.  Professor Livingstone has been travelling to Europe over the past 26 years guiding students and tour groups on visits to the sites where these dramatic and decisive battles took place.  In this lecture, he will share his in-depth knowledge of the campaign in Western Europe by taking you on a virtual tour of the battlefields explaining the history behind them along the way and hopefully inspiring you to include these hallowed grounds in your own travel plans.

Bio:
David Livingstone received BA and MA degrees in History from California State University, Northridge and a PhD in Modern European History from the University of California, San Diego. He has taught at California Lutheran University, Moorpark College, and the United States Naval War College.  He specializes in European political, diplomatic and military history with an emphasis on modern Germany.  He also served as a law enforcement officer for 34 years with the Simi Valley Police Department and retired in 2022 at the rank of Chief of Police.  David's first book, Militarization and Democracy in West Germany's Border Police, 1951-2005 was published by Camden House in 2024.  He also serves as a historian and guide for World War Two battlefield tours.

Wednesday, June 25, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
This two-hour lecture will discuss the life of Polis, a Greek hoplite warrior who participated in the Battle of Plataea in 479 BC. The session will cover aspects of Greek identity, the Persian Empire's threat, and details about training, equipment, and the battle as described by ancient sources. We will discuss the events that led to this conflict and the enduring impact its outcome had on the modern world.

Using the gravestone of this Greek warrior as a reference point, the lecture will also provide a world view of the 5th century BC and why the events involving Polis are significant today.

Bio:
Scott Jones is a retired naval officer and businessman with broad experience in national security, foreign relations, and politics. Scott is also a docent at the J. Paul Getty Museum (Getty Villa) where he leads tours in the Greek and Roman Galleries, special exhibitions, Roman architecture, and Roan gardens. He teaches for a few lifelong learning programs in the area.

Part 1: Tuesday, July 1, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Tuesday, July 8, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Who dares to open a museum of modern art as the world teeters on the brink of a depression? Credentials, degrees, professional status, artistic skills... none required. And yet, MOMA comes into existence because of a generation of women who willed it to be.

Discover the power of a determined few; Rockefeller, Bliss, Sullivan and Guggenheim, and the list goes on. Although, many names are not recognizable, it is this collection of women who bore the mantle of responsibility to build and curate the world-class collection that is MOMA today.

Bio:
Christine Maasdam holds a Master in Humanities and a B.A. in Cultural Geography. Her art studies include The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center in D.C. and Post Graduate studies in Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime at the University of Glasgow. She is a graduate of the Art Crime Investigation Seminar led by Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI's National Art Crime Team. Christine is a member of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection and holds a certificate from Trident Manor on Protection of Cultural Venues. Christine received Sotheby’s certification on Determining Value: An Appraiser’s Perspective. She has spent over a decade as a LACMA docent and is an active volunteer at the City of David archaeological dig in Israel.

Wednesday, July 2 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
In the post-9/11 era, safeguarding the skies became an imperative as global aviation faced unprecedented security challenges. This lecture explores the origins, evolution, and critical role of the Federal Air Marshal Service in ensuring passenger safety on domestic and international flights. From covert operations to advanced tactical training, discover how this elite force adapts to ever-changing threats. The program itself highlights the rigorous selection process, specialized training regimens, and operational strategies that enable Federal Air Marshals to perform their vital duties effectively.

Bio:
Dr. Pedro Fernandez is a seasoned veteran in the field of criminal justice, with a career spanning over three decades. His journey began in military law enforcement, where he served as a Military Police Officer, Criminal Investigator, and served as the Chief of the Guard and Tactical Supervisor on deployments as a member of the United States Navy and Reserves. He has also served as a civilian police officer with the Los Angeles Police Department. During his tenure at the LAPD, Dr. Fernandez worked in a variety of assignment that included Patrol, Gangs, Vice, Gang Detective and Homicide Investigator. His commitment to public safety and security continued at the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Air Marshal Service, where he served on Multi-Agency Task Forces, held Supervisory Roles, and was the Assistant Federal Security Director of Law Enforcement at a major international airport. In addition to his work experience within three distinct categories of the criminal justice system, Dr. Fernandez has continuously sought to improve his contributions to American policing through his academic pursuits and has earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, a Master of Public Administration, and a Doctorate in Criminal Justice.

Beyond his professional and academic accomplishments, Dr. Fernandez is an active member of several criminal justice professional organizations, including the Hispanic American Command Police Officers Association, the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, and the American Society of Public Administrators.

Wednesday, July 9, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s in the United States resulted in a major upheaval in the lives of Americans, affecting every aspect of society. In the world of music, it helped bring together disparate musical genres which had been as segregated as American society had been during this period. But beginning in the 1950s, events spurred creativity as well as anger, indignation, and solidarity amongst songwriters and artists in a variety of genres, resulting in a culturally rich display of defiance and optimism. In this lecture, we’ll take a look at 9 different musical styles, all of which used the Civil Rights Movement to apply music, both old and new, to the cause. The popular music genres will include spirituals, folk, jazz, blues, Broadway, country, soul & gospel, folk-rock, and rock.

Bio:
Cary Ginell is a Grammy-nominated writer and author of 12 books on American music. After a 30-year career in radio, he has spent the last 20 years as a public speaker, talking about music in classrooms, at conferences, and on cruise ships. Cary brings a lifelong passion for the recording industry to his work and is one of the world’s foremost authorities on his specialty, western swing. Cary previously served as President of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections, an international organization of music scholars and world-renowned institutions. He holds a master’s degree in Folklore from UCLA and a bachelor’s in Radio/TV/Film from Cal State University Northridge.

Thursday, July 10, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Now that everyone has a smartphone, and millions of (mostly forgettable) images are posted daily, can photography still challenge, engage, delight, and unsettle us? How have visual artists used photography to participate in the postmodern redefinition of art as social engagement and cultural critique? Learn about three contemporary photographers—Vik Muniz, Wolfgang Tillmans, and Zanele Muholi—whose work involves new materials, new processes, and new subjects.

Bio:
Avril Angevine is an arts aficionado, teacher, and presenter with an interest in all things California. She has lived in the state since the age of 8 and is a proud graduate of California public schools, including the University of California, Berkeley. As an undergrad at UCLA and Berkeley, she studied English, several foreign languages, and art, and received an MA in Comparative Literature from UCB in 1977.  Over a long career, she has alternated between teaching and publications work. She has taught English, French, and Humanities at numerous local colleges and universities, public and private, and in between, worked as a freelance graphics designer and as art director of the State Coastal Conservancy’s magazine, Coast and Ocean.

Avril’s focus shifted more decisively to art in the last decade, when she became a museum guide at both the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Oakland Museum of California. In that time, she served as chair of the guide councils of both museums, and as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees of SFMOMA. Through SFMOMA, she began doing talks on the collection at local libraries; from this modest start, she has developed a new career. She currently serves as a museum guide at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.

Part 1: Monday, July 14, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, July 21, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Discover how CRISPR, a groundbreaking gene-editing technology, is reshaping medicine, agriculture, and the future of genetics. In this two-part lecture, we’ll break down the science behind CRISPR in a way that’s easy to understand, covering its origins, how it works, and its real-world applications. From curing genetic diseases to engineering drought-resistant crops, CRISPR is changing what’s possible in biology. We'll also explore the ethical dilemmas and potential risks of genetic modification. This lecture will equip you with a clear understanding of this powerful tool and its implications for society.

Bio:
Wesley Tierney is currently a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Arizona State University. He studies the mechanisms of Herpes Simplex Virus infection of neurons. He has worked in various research labs for seven years ranging from social psychology, entomology, regenerative medicine, virology, and neuroscience.

Tuesday, July 15, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
In the 1950s, as the population, freeways and suburbs exploded, Los Angeles and environs became a major hub not just for Hollywood movies, but also for the production of new TV serials including “I Love Lucy.” The threat of nuclear war meant school kids had to learn to “duck and cover,” but this was also the decade when Baby Boomers became teenyboppers and went crazy for rock ’n roll music. We’ll see the best designed houses that since have become iconic as “mid-century architecture.” We’ll also see the development of what helped thrust the Southland into the big leagues of international tourism—especially the 1955 opening of Disneyland.

Bio:
Sharon Boorstin is a contributing writer for the Los Angeles Times, specializing in lifestyle, food and travel. In 2019 she won Visit California’s Eureka Award for Best Newspaper Travel Article. In the 1970s and ‘80s Sharon was the Restaurant Critic of the (late) Los Angeles Herald-Examiner, and in the ‘90s she edited the annual Gayot Guidebooks for Los Angeles and other cities. She also wrote for magazines including Bon Appetit, Smithsonian and Town & Country Travel. With her husband Paul, she wrote dozens of screenplays for feature films and television including Angel of Death (ABC) starring Jane Seymour. Her memoir/cookbook, “Let Us Eat Cake: Adventures in Food and Friendship” (Harper-Collins 2002), was a selection of the Pulpwood Queens Book Club. Raised in Seattle, Washington, Sharon moved to Los Angeles in 1966 after earning a California Lifetime Teaching credential at U.C. Berkeley. She taught high-school History, English and Social Studies in L.A. for 11 years.

Part 1: Wednesday, July 16, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Wednesday, July 23, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Every city has a particular feel about it, defined by its architecture, demographics, geography, climate, and the people and cultures that have shaped the city from its founding to its current status.  From historical to contemporary structures, this course will explore the iconic structures that identify various American cities and how they came to be.  A variety of architectural styles are discussed, as well as the sociopolitical context in which these buildings were created. 

Portland, “The Rose City”, developed from a series of gold rushes and the flow of immigrants along the Oregon Trail. The 1905 exposition celebrating the 100th anniversary of Lewis and Clark’s arrival brought the city national attention. The frontier town, bisected by the Willamette River, developed into the largest settlement in the Pacific Northwest. Elegant Victorian mansions, soaring Gothic Revival churches, and sturdy Renaissance Revival hotels soon gave way to the modern Art Deco and Postmodern structures signaling the contemporary side of Portland.

From Native American influences in the Puget Sound area to space-age and contemporary architecture, Seattle hosts a variety of architectural styles and cultural influences. The lumber industry and the expansion of the railroads spawned the growth of the town from the 1800s to a modern metropolis incorporating the tech industry, the grunge music scene, and of course, the coffee culture. Famous structures include Pioneer Square, Smith Tower, Suzzallo Library, and the Space Needle.

Bio:
Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art and architectural history, and leads art and architecture tours throughout the world.  She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and New York.  She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.

Thursday, July 31, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Recent threats to journalism, including the loss of journalists at the “Voice of America” and the banning of Associated Press from White House press briefings, have the potential to impact journalism as we know it. This lecture will address the most current threats to U.S. journalism, how to find reliable sources of information, and how to support journalists today.

Bio:
Kirstie Hettinga (Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University) is an associate professor of communication at California Lutheran University. She teaches media writing, editing, and content creation and serves as the faculty adviser to Cal Lutheran’s award-winning student newspaper, The Echo. Her research addresses issues of accuracy and credibility in news media, as well as how students learn in student newsrooms. Her work has been published in Newspaper Research Journal, College Media Review, Journal of Media Ethics, and Journalism Practice.

Tuesday, August 5, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The House of Fabergé was a jewelry firm founded in 1842 in Saint Petersburg, Russia by Gustav Faberge, followed by his sons and grandsons.  The firm was famous for designing elaborate jewel-encrusted Fabergé eggs for the Russian Tsars, as well as a range of other work of high quality and intricate detail.   The celebrated series of 50 Imperial Easter eggs was created for the Russian Imperial family from 1885 to 1916 when the company was run by Peter Carl Fabergé.   Additionally, amongst Fabergé's more popular creations were miniature hardstone carvings of people, animals, and flowers that were carved from semi-precious or hardstones and embellished with precious metals and stones.

Bio:
Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art and architectural history, and leads art and architecture tours throughout the world.  She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and New York.  She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.

Wednesday, August 6, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
In early June, 2024, a "routine" software update was delivered from a security company, with Microsoft's blessing, to millions of computers around the world. Soon after, many of those computers were unable to restart, breaking the global operations of airlines, banks, medical facilities, and much more. Many PCs required direct, hands-on human intervention - challenging when those PCs are in locked cabinets spread out throughout a hospital or airport. This resulted in delays that impacted the recovery time for all types of businesses, as well as their employees, supply chains, and consumers.

What causes systems to be "brittle"? How do we make them more resilient?

What went wrong in this 2024 incident? What was the root cause? Why didn't we see this coming? What other systems in our day-to-day lives have shown their brittleness of late? And what can we learn from this experience that protect ourselves as consumers?

Bio:
Paul Witman (Ph.D.) is a Professor Emeritus of Information Technology Management, in California Lutheran University’s School of Management. His research interests include church administration, teaching cases, social networking for non-profits, information security, and electronic banking and finance. Prior to joining Cal Lutheran, Dr. Witman served as Director of Integration Engineering for Digital Insight Corp. and as Director of Global Delivery Systems at Citibank. He earned his Ph.D. in Information Systems and Technology from Claremont Graduate University.

Thursday, August 7, 1:30-3:30pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Which came first, the Broadway musical or the film musical? Using clips from shows such as “Showboat,” “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Cabaret,” and many others, we’ll explore and discuss musicals that successfully or unsuccessfully proceed from stage to screen.

Our purpose and belief is that musicals touch our soul, make us think, or at the very least, put a smile on our face. Join us and hopefully you’ll leave with a smile on your face and a bounce in your step.

Bio:
Film historians Sam and Candy Caponegro are passionate about movie musicals. For over thirty years, they have acted, directed, and produced professional, community, and school theater. Candy’s most notable professional acting roles are Adelaine opposite Nathan Lane in Guys and Dolls and Cheri opposite Divine in the New York production of Women Behind Bars. Sam and Candy have taught numerous courses and lecture on cruise lines, at libraries, and for many 50+ audiences. They hope to keep the classic movie musical and the golden age of Broadway alive through their lectures.

Part 1: Monday, August 11, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, August 18, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
This two-part lecture explores the deep and lasting impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on health, behavior, and public safety. In Part One, we’ll examine the original ACE study and what it revealed about the links between childhood trauma, long-term health outcomes, and patterns of delinquency. We’ll also look at how public health and criminal justice systems have responded to these findings — and where we still fall short. In Part Two, we’ll take a more case-based approach, examining real-life stories of individuals with high ACE scores who entered the criminal justice system. Through these examples, we’ll discuss how early adversity can shape pathways into offending, what could have made a difference, and the potential of intervention programs such as Family Justice Centers and Safe Passage to help disrupt cycles of trauma and crime.

Bio:
Dr. Molly George is a Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at California Lutheran University. She holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from UC Santa Barbara and a B.A. from the University of Denver. Dr. George teaches courses such as Research Methods, Criminology, White-Collar Crime, and Race, Ethnicity, Gender & Crime. She also mentors student researchers and advises the Criminal Justice Student Association.

She is especially passionate about evaluation research that supports community-based solutions to crime and trauma. Two of her recent projects include a study of Safe Passage and its effectiveness in reducing youth gang involvement, and a grant-funded evaluation of the Ventura County Family Justice Center and Camp HOPE, examining the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on healing, resilience, and long-term outcomes.

Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and recognized with several research grants, including the College of Arts and Sciences’ inaugural Dean’s Award for Scholarship and Creative Work.

Wednesday, August 13, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
In the era of social media, big data, and algorithmic amplification, the boundaries of free speech are being tested in new and complex ways. This lecture explores the evolving relationship between free expression and emerging technologies, examining how tools like Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), doxxing, and digital harassment are being used to chill speech. Considering the targeted harassment of journalists, social critics, and wikipedia editors, this lecture examines the tensions between free speech, platform moderation, and the growing gray areas between public discourse and private control.

Bio:
Aaron Heresco, Ph.D., is a first-generation college student who grew up in central Pennsylvania. He went to Penn State Altoona for his undergraduate degree with plans to work in international affairs. After taking two years off after graduation, Dr. Heresco decided to pursue a post-graduate degree in communication, focusing largely on news cultures and practices. While studying news Dr. Heresco developed a passion for understanding the relationship between communication, media, and power. These interests have led Dr. Heresco to research issues ranging from campaign finance coverage, television representation of masculinity, financial literacy programs, and the economics of television production. Dr. Heresco currently lives in Camarillo with his wife, Leslie, and a pet.

Part 1: Thursday, August 14, 1:30-3:30pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Thursday, August 21, 1:30-3:30pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The so-called all-girl swing bands of WWII were staffed by surprisingly young girls and women ages 15-25 years, performing with gusto on bandstands left empty by enlisted males. They entertained the troops, touring the nation and overseas, despite dangers and discomforts. Join us exploring the performers, celebrities and orchestras that supplied a national strategic reserve of wartime morale-building. The spectacular multi-ethnic International Sweethearts of Rhythm is featured plus singers Betty Hutton, Dinah Shore, The Andrews Sisters and the newly emerging “Chinese” entertainers. Each lecture offers more than a dozen dazzling film and video clips, many created expressly for these lectures.

Bio:
During the last four decades, Dave Radlauer has been telling tales of early Jazz, Blues and Swing on the radio, garnering six broadcast awards and authoring 200 articles for online and print publications.  For Stanford Libraries, he’s written interpretive online text and donated a large collection of unique music and photos.  He teaches lifelong learning courses at UCLA, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State and Dominican University.

Part 1: Wednesday, August 20, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Wednesday, August 27, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
For many of the founders of the United States, religion shaped much of their worldview and their political understanding. However, that wasn’t the case for just the founders. Religion has played a major part in American history since the beginning until now. This series of two lectures will look deeper at the religious beliefs of major American figures that didn’t sign the Declaration of Independence. It will consider the story of Betsy Ross and Phillis Wheatley, recognizing how religion shaped their understanding of their roles and their experiences. Then, moving into the 19th century, it will dive into the role of religion in the work of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, noting how religion spurred on their reform, and acknowledging how Lincoln’s religious views changed throughout his life.

Bio:
Jason Hensley, PhD (Holocaust and Genocide Studies), Dmin (Biblical Studies), teaches religious studies at a private school in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Michael LaPrade Holocaust Education Institute of the Anti-Defamation League, a higher-education ambassador for the Council on Foreign Relations, and the award-winning author of 12 books. His work has been featured in The Huffington Post as well as the BBC, and he has served as the historical advisor for a Holocaust documentary. Connect with him at jasonhensley.net. 

Monday, August 25, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
A woman seated alone in an automat. A couple standing next to each other in an office at night. Two women in a restaurant. Edward Hopper made a career of creating quiet, thoughtful, light-filled scenes and giving us, the audience, a view onto these worlds. Brimming with narrative but not specific in the detail, we are given the opportunity to fill in the story of these realistic and relatable scenes. In this lecture, we will look at the overview of his career. 

Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.

In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.

Our FAB students’ safety is important to us; therefore, we are taking precautions to make the in-person classes a safe and welcoming environment. In this environment, students will be able to enjoy face-to-face interactions with their faculty and classmates and the option to grab a coffee or a bite to eat before or after class. For those not able to join us in person, we continue to be your virtual home for learning!

Note: Walk-ins are not permitted. You may register via phone by calling 805-493-3290 at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the lecture, space permitting. Persons will not be allowed into the learning space if they are not on the roster in advance.

Regarding in-person attendance:

• FREE, accessible parking at both campus locations (view location and parking details HERE)
• Large lecture room with ample space meeting Cal/OSHA guidelines
• Masks are recommended but are not required

Can’t get to campus for an in-person lecture? No problem! Attend the course virtually instead.

In-Person & Virtual Learning

Using a hybrid learning model, in-person and virtual students can attend the same class simultaneously. A special “360-camera” will follow the instructor in the classroom, and students attending virtually will be able to see and hear the instructor and view the PowerPoint over Zoom (similar to our traditional virtual courses).

Part 1: Monday, March 31, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, April 7, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
It is during the time period of the Middle Ages in which Paris transformed from a small provincial city into an important commercial and religious center and the seat of the royal administration of the country. The Île de la Cité became the site of the royal palace and the new cathedral of Notre-Dame, begun in 1163. In the late 1100s, the collection of colleges on the Left Bank became one of the first and leading universities in Europe, while the Right Bank, where ports, central markets, artisans and merchants were located, became the commercial center of the city. Paris became a center for the creation of illuminated manuscripts and the birthplace of Gothic architecture. Despite civil wars, the plague, and foreign occupation, Paris became the most populous city in the Western world during the Medieval time period. This two-part lecture will focus on the development of art and architecture of the Middle Ages as centered and still visible in Paris.

View a preview of this course on our YouTube page at the following link: https://youtu.be/tGn0d-iF-is

Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.

In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.

Wednesday, April 2, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
With its origins in the late 19th century, ragtime burst onto the American scene and quickly became the first uniquely American musical style. Its influence affected early jazz, blues, country, and even European classical music with its infectious syncopation and melodic ingenuity. In this lecture, you will hear about the roots of ragtime: how it developed from 19th century marches, cakewalks from slavery days, and its origins in the saloons and juke joints of the American Midwest. In addition to learning about the lives of ragtime greats like Scott Joplin, we’ll hear examples of rags and their effect on popular music in the early 20th century, played on instruments such as piano, banjo, mandolin, and even full orchestras.

View a preview of this course on our YouTube page at the following link: https://youtu.be/dMnhExJvYd4

Bio:
Cary Ginell is a music historian and leader of the Sedalia Ragtime Orchestra, a group that keeps alive the sounds of vintage as well as contemporary ragtime music.

Additionally, Cary is a Grammy-nominated writer and author of 12 books on American music. After a 30-year career in radio, he has spent the last 20 years as a public speaker, talking about music in classrooms, at conferences, and on cruise ships. Cary brings a lifelong passion for the recording industry to his work and is one of the world’s foremost authorities on his specialty, western swing. Cary previously served as President of the Association for Recorded Sound Collections, an international organization of music scholars and world-renowned institutions. He holds a master’s degree in Folklore from UCLA and a bachelor’s in Radio/TV/Film from Cal State University Northridge.

Part 1: Wednesday, April 9, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Wednesday, April 16, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
As the founding document of this country, the Declaration of Independence holds a position in American history that is nearly unrivaled. However, how many people could explain the declaration? How many could quote it, beyond the first few lines regarding “Life, Liberty, & the pursuit of happiness”? But, more than just quoting the document, how many could explain what it meant? This series of lectures will delve into the text and will discuss, in the context of the late 1700s, what the document meant to its signers and what it means to American citizens today.

View a preview of this course on our YouTube page at the following link: https://youtu.be/PagLG6enRHI

Bio:
Jason Hensley, PhD (Holocaust and Genocide Studies), Dmin (Biblical Studies), teaches religious studies at a private school in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the Michael LaPrade Holocaust Education Institute of the Anti-Defamation League, a higher-education ambassador for the Council on Foreign Relations, and the award-winning author of 12 books. His work has been featured in The Huffington Post as well as the BBC, and he has served as the historical advisor for a Holocaust documentary. Connect with him at jasonhensley.net.

Part 1: Tuesday, April 22, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Tuesday, April 29, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard

Lecture Description:
Every city has a particular feel about it, defined by its architecture, demographics, geography, climate, and the people and cultures that have shaped the city from its founding to its current status.  From historical to contemporary structures, this course will explore the iconic structures that identify various American cities and how they came to be.  A variety of architectural styles are discussed, as well as the sociopolitical context in which these buildings were created.

San Francisco, the City by the Bay: From the establishment of the Presidio and Mission Dolores by Spanish missionaries to the growth of the city brought about by the Gold Rush, San Francisco boasts beautiful Victorian mansions, luxurious hotels, and many fascinating and historic structures such as the Palace of Fine Arts, Coit Tower, and Alcatraz Prison.

New York, The Big Apple: From its establishment by Dutch settlers to its modern skyscrapers, New York is a study in architectural styles. In America’s Gilded Age of the late 19th century, New York was a center of booming industry, reflected in the elegant mansions of the wealthy industrialists. Inspirational churches, sophisticated hotels, and noteworthy museums add to the cachet of this celebrated city.

View a preview of this course on our YouTube page at the following link: https://youtu.be/V6n5owggGqI

Bios:
Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures worldwide on art and architectural history, and leads art and architecture tours throughout the world.  She has been named a Distinguished Instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. She is also Professor Emeritus of Art and Architectural History at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and New York.  She has served as a Design Review Commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the John Lautner Foundation.

Thursday, April 24, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Dorothea Lange produced an astonishing body of photographic work in a career that lasted from the 1920s, when she ran the most successful portrait studio in San Francisco, to her death in 1965. Best known for her Depression-era documentary work—including the world-renowned “Migrant Mother”—Lange brought the humanity of the poor into sharp focus.

View a preview of this course on our YouTube page at the following link: https://youtu.be/DUkpR-fzn_Y

Bio:
Avril Angevine is an arts aficionado, teacher, and presenter with an interest in all things California. She has lived in the state since the age of 8 and is a proud graduate of California public schools, including the University of California, Berkeley. As an undergrad at UCLA and Berkeley, she studied English, several foreign languages, and art, and received an MA in Comparative Literature from UCB in 1977.  Over a long career, she has alternated between teaching and publications work. She has taught English, French, and Humanities at numerous local colleges and universities, public and private, and in between, worked as a freelance graphics designer and as art director of the State Coastal Conservancy’s magazine, Coast and Ocean.

Avril’s focus shifted more decisively to art in the last decade, when she became a museum guide at both the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Oakland Museum of California. In that time, she served as chair of the guide councils of both museums, and as an ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees of SFMOMA. Through SFMOMA, she began doing talks on the collection at local libraries; from this modest start, she has developed a new career. She currently serves as a museum guide at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art.

Monday, May 5, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS affect millions, with limited treatment options. But what if we could repair or even replace damaged brain cells? In this lecture, we’ll explore the science of stem cells and their potential to revolutionize the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Learn how stem cells work, the latest breakthroughs in research, and the challenges of translating discoveries into real-world therapies. We’ll also discuss ethical concerns, clinical trials, and the future of regenerative medicine. This lecture will provide a clear understanding of how stem cell technology is shaping the future of brain health and aging.

View a preview of this course on our YouTube page at the following link: https://youtu.be/erRFP9AhmqI

Bio:
Wesley Tierney is currently a PhD candidate in Neuroscience at Arizona State University. He studies the mechanisms of Herpes Simplex Virus infection of neurons. He has worked in various research labs for seven years ranging from social psychology, entomology, regenerative medicine, virology, and neuroscience.

Wednesday, May 7, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
On February 24, 2022, Russian troops launched a massive full-scale invasion of the Ukraine setting in motion the largest military conflict in Europe since the Second World War.  Thousands have been killed and the fighting has displaced more than a quarter of Ukraine’s pre-war population.  Although the West rallied to defend the Ukraine, the protracted conflict has strained the Western Alliance and threatens to undermine the world order The United States and its Allies fostered during what Time publisher Henry Luce called “The American Century.”  This lecture will explore the core diplomatic, military, and political events that shaped over a century of United States foreign policy and offers insights on how to think about and understand the current crisis in U.S.-European relations.

View a preview of this course on our YouTube page at the following link: https://youtu.be/zhvgqLAbIQU

Bio:
David Livingstone received BA and MA degrees in History from California State University, Northridge and a PhD in Modern European History from the University of California, San Diego. He has taught at California Lutheran University, Moorpark College, and the United States Naval War College.  He specializes in European political, diplomatic and military history with an emphasis on modern Germany.  He also served as a law enforcement officer for 34 years with the Simi Valley Police Department and retired in 2022 at the rank of Chief of Police.  David's first book, Militarization and Democracy in West Germany's Border Police, 1951-2005 was published by Camden House in 2024.  He also serves as a historian and guide for World War Two battlefield tours.

Part 1: Thursday, May 8, 1:30-3:30pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Thursday, May 15, 1:30-3:30pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The Classic Blues style was recorded, defined and spread during the 1920-30s by its two foremost proponents, singers and songwriters Bessie Smith, “The Empress of the Blues” and Ma Rainey, “The Mother of the Blues.” They shaped an expressive, lusty, sobbing, growling ‘opera of the vernacular,’ inscribing their distinctive voices onto America’s musical culture.

This two-part lecture explores the life and times of several extraordinary blues divas including the first woman to sell a million blues records, Mamie Smith, the bawdy Creole chanteuse, Lizzie Miles and cross-dressing singer/pianist, Gladys Bentley. Each lecture features a dozen or more video and film clips including Bessie’s 1929 collaboration with composer W.C. Handy in the landmark movie-with-sound, “The Saint Louis Blues.”

View a preview of this course on our YouTube page at the following link: https://youtu.be/3RNY9UWn_EA

Bio:
During the last four decades Dave Radlauer has been telling tales of early Jazz, Blues and Swing on the radio, garnering six broadcast awards and authoring 200 articles for online and print publications.  For Stanford Libraries, he’s written interpretive online text and donated a large collection of unique music and photos.  He teaches lifelong learning courses at UCLA, UC Berkeley, San Francisco State and Dominican University.

Tuesday, May 13, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Today, when we think of the United Kingdom, we presume England and gloss over Scotland, especially when considering art. Glasgow, Scotland was a growing industrial city in the 1880’s and through that growth produced a group of artists whose rebellious natures catapulted the art world into Modernism.

Many of the artist’s names are unfamiliar but the styles and design elements that were created by their innovations will be recognizable. Curious about who married the Macdonald sisters and were known as “The Four”? Who participated and created suffragette banners?

Discover the Glasgow Boys and Girls who pushed through and ahead of the existing, stale academy mindset and became the catalysts for a barrage of contemporary artistic movements in the 20th century, whose sphere of influence remains with us today.

Bio:
Christine Maasdam holds a Master in Humanities and a B.A. in Cultural Geography. Her art studies include The Courtauld Institute of Art in London, The Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center in D.C. and Post Graduate studies in Antiquities Trafficking and Art Crime at the University of Glasgow. She is a graduate of the Art Crime Investigation Seminar led by Robert Wittman, founder of the FBI's National Art Crime Team. Christine is a member of the International Foundation for Cultural Property Protection and holds a certificate from Trident Manor on Protection of Cultural Venues. Christine received Sotheby’s certification on Determining Value: An Appraiser’s Perspective. She has spent over a decade as a LACMA docent and is an active volunteer at the City of David archaeological dig in Israel.

Monday, May 19, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Unique among his Impressionist peers, Gustave Caillebotte came to painting later in life following a successful professional career. His realistic paintings reflect his intimate life and surroundings as a wealthy and cosmopolitan flâneur in modern Paris, mostly depicting his family and friends observed from distinct points of view influenced by photography. Despite being born into the wealth built by his father, Caillebotte resisted the idleness associated with the leisured class. He was not only an active member of the Impressionist group but also helped to organize the compositions and was a great financial support as an art patron. This lecture will look over his oeuvre of paintings ranging from his bustling street views, quiet views showing the view from his townhouse, scenes of boating, to serene images of his garden. In particular, we will look at many of the works that are currently on view in the Caillebotte exhibition at the Getty Museum. 

This lecture is a compliment to the tour of the Gustave Caillebotte: Painting Men Exhibition at the Getty on Tuesday, May 20. Space for the tour is incredibly limited. Details for that tour can be found here: https://www.callutheran.edu/centers/lifelong-learning/fifty-better/events.html

Bio:
Katherine E. Zoraster is an Art Historian and a Professor of Art History at several local colleges specializing in Western art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. She graduated with a double major in English Literature and Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles. Following her undergraduate degree, she received a Master’s Degree with Distinction in Art History from the California State University at Northridge.

In addition to the courses Katherine teaches for other lifelong learning programs, she also works as an Art History Instructor for the full-time program at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts. Katherine also serves as a commissioner for the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission and volunteers at the Burbank Animal Shelter. In her free time, Katherine is an avid runner and travels extensively.