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. 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 3, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, June 10, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The life of Frank Sinatra was quite unusual and beyond interesting for such an iconic singer and actor. This two-part lecture will examine his complex personality and how he approached his long and varied career. We will see, hear and enjoy videos of Sinatra’s earliest beginnings with Big Bands to his later hits of the 70s and even 80s. We’ll look into where he got his music and style, discuss The Rat Pack, and examine the peaks and valleys of his career.  Come to these lectures and be prepared to enjoy a lot of nostalgia as we visit “Ole Blue Eyes”, and find out why he also was called “The Chairman of The Board”. 

Click the following link to listen to Tony's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page:https://youtu.be/g_VXBIqvFVM

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: Wednesday, June 5, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Wednesday, June 12, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Around 1812, Lady Caroline Lamb used the aforementioned “mad, bad, and dangerous to know” characterization to describe her lover Lord Byron, our original Byronic Hero who infamously began the trope of a suave, mysterious, unconventionally handsome, often hard-hearted charismatic wild man who’s been recreated in literature and films for centuries. In this class, we’ll study a few of the best: Jane Eyre’s Rochester, Wuthering Heights’s Heathcliff, the Phantom of the Opera’s titular Phantom, The Great Gatsby’s Gatsby himself, and the contemporaneous Pirates of the Caribbean’s Captain Jack Sparrow. What makes the Byronic Hero so alluring? Will you fall under his spell? Learn how this trope has evolved and yet remarkably remained the same over the past 200 years.

Click the following link to listen to Tracy's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/BZfuBU-mPI8

Bio:
Tracy Dubin hails from Thousand Oaks, collects academic degrees, and delights in now teaching at California Lutheran University. She is an award-winning psychology and neuroscience researcher, national lecturer, essayist, and ethicist, having completed numerous post-graduate clinical research fellowships at The Medical University of South Carolina. She holds an MA (in World Literature & Pedagogy with a Thesis in Critical Theory, Religion & Philosophy) from the University of California at Irvine, and a BS (in Human Development and Aging/Gerontology) plus a BA (in English with an Emphasis in Creative Writing) both from the University of Southern California. She studied graduate-level journalism at Harvard University for a bit too and wrote for their Harvard Gazette. She adores writing and has multitudes of publications forthcoming, ranging from scientific articles on ethics and brain stimulation; to memoir pieces of personal, romantic musings; to zeitgeist-filled essays reflecting contemporaneous topics of import  She loves philosophy, pedagogy, critical theory, and literary criticism. You can read her academic research projects and presentations on ResearchGate at https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tracy-Dubin. And the too long, didn’t read synopsis: she’s a writer, thinks of herself as a Renaissance Woman, and hopes in advance that you’ll enjoy her class.

Part 1: Thursday, June 6, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Thursday, June 13, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Many of the founders of the United States believed in a God. But, their beliefs were unconventional––they didn't necessarily belong to a religious community or follow the ideas of traditional theology. Why? What did these people think about God and religion? Why did their beliefs go against the grain? And, do these ideas even matter today? This set of lectures will examine the religious views of some of the country’s major influencers: John and Abigail Adams, Thomas Paine, and Alexander Hamilton.

Click the following link to listen to Jason's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/iKdqHV4EWmw

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, June 17, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
This lecture will explore the themes of love in Shakespeare’s plays and poetry, by highlighting the contrasting love stories found in Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet, staged this summer at the Kingsmen Shakespeare Festival. The lecture will be followed by a question and answer session with members of the Kingsmen creative team.   

Click the following link to listen to Michael's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/ij3naQYLaAk

Bio:
Michael J. Arndt has been a Professor of Theatre Arts at California Lutheran University for the past forty years and is the 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.

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.

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

Lecture Description:
Journalism is under extreme pressure in 2024 with advertising dollars declining and Big Tech monopolies siphoning millions of dollars in revenues out of the news business. Yet in spite of these onerous financial times, American investigative journalism is thriving. Technology, new tools, databases and access to information online have made the skills of investigative reporters more valuable than ever. And while artificial intelligence poses a new threat to journalism, investigative reporters are optimistic they will survive even AI’s voracious appetite. James V. Grimaldi, a two-time winner of the investigative Pulitzer Prize, walks through this tricky media landscape and offers hope for why investigative journalism will prosper and perhaps offer the a solution to save our democracy. 

Bio:
James V. Grimaldi is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist on The Wall Street Journal's investigations desk and is based in Washington, D.C., where he has written accountability stories about money, politics, government, charities, lobbying and campaigns.

His work with a WSJ team won the 2023 Pulitzer for investigative reporting after finding thousands of senior federal officials investing in companies they regulated. That investigation followed an award-winning series a year earlier exposing more than 150 federal judges who owned shares of companies at the same time those companies had matters in their courtrooms.

James and two colleagues won the investigative-reporting Pulitzer in 2006 for exposing the Jack Abramoff bribery scandal. A frequent journalism and public-records trainer, James is a member of the steering committee of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. James is a past president of Investigative Reporters and Editors and a former board member for the Fund for Investigative Journalism.

Thursday, June 20, 10am-12pm (PT)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
America loves movies, and while everyone may not realize it, music is incredibly important to the final effect of a movie. Movie scores convey mood, pace and even add to the tension of a scene (for example the musical cues in the movie “Jaws” warning you there is danger lurking just below the water’s surface). A movie score is an important part of the storytelling. What may not be obvious is how many people are involved and the amount of time it takes to get that music into the film from start to finish. In this lecture, we will examine the process of how a movie score is created, orchestrated, and performed and the many different steps it takes to get from concept to a completed score.

Click the following link to listen to Steven's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/SHuTAAJtToU 

Bio:
Author of the groundbreaking book for horn, “Etudes from the Repertoire,” Steven Becknell has had an extremely varied and unique career in Southern California. At age 22, Steven moved to Los Angeles to study with Hollywood studio legend Vince DeRosa at USC, but began working professionally while still in school. He has played in orchestras throughout Southern California including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the San Diego Symphony, the Pacific Symphony, and was a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra for 8 years. The majority of Steven’s time has been spent recording in the Hollywood studios. He has played on well over 1,000 motion pictures, numerous television series, video games, and even the recorded music for theme parks such as Disneyland. Steven has played live for the Academy Awards and has had the honor of recording with such legendary artists as Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Rosemary Clooney, and Barry Manilow.

Steven has been principal horn with the Los Angeles Opera for over 25 years. In 2010 he performed all the offstage and pit solos of Wagner’s complete Ring cycle, the first time it had ever been produced in Southern California. To date, Steven has played over 1,500 performances with the Los Angeles Opera.

Monday, June 24, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Join us in preparing for the upcoming 2024 presidential election. In this lecture, we will cover some of the history of media’s role in politics and elections in particular, from the Partisan Press to the Nixon-Kennedy debate, to the role of social media. We will also touch on campaigns and political advertising and discuss how media coverage shapes today’s political landscape.

Click the following link to listen to Kirstie's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/urPz7MkexGE

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.

Part 1: Wednesday, June 26, 1-3pm (Pacfic)
Part 2: Wednesday, July 24, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 3: Thursday, August 22, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard

Lecture Description:
From the earliest cave paintings to contemporary depictions, images of both domestic and wild animals have decorated our abodes and adorned our museums. Taking symbolic and sentimental forms, animals in art history have given us a rich connection with historical styles while incorporating topical discussions of political and social issues. Through exploration of three focused animal themes of dogs, cats, and everything else, this series covers the engaging and sometimes thought-provoking connections we have with the animal world.

Click the following link to listen to Eleanor's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/SNqkGCWVmDk?si=GlhfYLxHsn6MeP4p

Part 1: All Manner of Beasties:
From feathers to scales, from beasts of burden to pampered pets, animals have come to represent a plethora of symbolism and multi-layered meaning in painting and sculpture. Through portrayals of animals in art, the viewer may discern and interpret depictions of social status, cultural associations, dramatic events, and sociopolitical issues. This lecture will encompass the natural beauty and majestic power of animals within the context of that of their human counterparts, highlighting the mutual bonds that exist between the two.

Part 2: Goin' to the Dogs:
Symbols of faithfulness and dedication, our canine companions have traveled with us from our days as hunters and gatherers to basking in posh surroundings in royal courts. Representations of dogs in art became more elaborate as individual breeds evolved and the relationships between human and canine developed. Valued not only for their courage and fidelity but also as status symbols, the depiction of dogs in art often symbolized the social standing and personality traits of their owners. This lecture will pay homage to the intimate bond between human and dog as we view the artistic portrayals of mankind’s faithful companion.

Part 3: Nine Lives and Catnip:
Tracing their history from worshipped gods in Ancient Egypt through their precarious place in medieval times to their pampered place in modern times, our feline companions have been subjects of both reverence and revulsion. Sometimes symbolic of cunning and contrariness, other times symbolic of leisure and abandon, the relationship between cats and humans have been depicted in art primarily through metaphorical meanings. This lecture will cover generations of artists who have captured the sleek forms of beauty of the cat, offering fascinating insights into the prominence of the cat in art in cultures worldwide.

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, June 27, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
San Francisco was a happening place at midcentury: big new ideas about music, poetry, life and love were all developing in what was then a small city. Art, of course, was also in flux, and some uniquely Bay Area artists and styles challenged New York’s dominance of the American art scene. Discover the work of David Park, Richard Diebenkorn, Joan Brown, Jay DeFeo, and more as we explore the art world of San Francisco’s Beatniks and Hippies.

Click the following link to listen to Avril's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/nSy2HNf7zes

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, July 1, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Whimsical, colorful, and populated with memories from his native Russian culture, Marc Chagall's oeuvre transcends reason and logic. His images forge his past with his new life in the artistic capital of Paris which was a center of experimentation and innovation. Chagall's creative energy pushed him to experiment in various media including painting, etchings, stained glass, mosaics, tapestry, and sets for plays and ballets. Completely individual and personal, his style is unique and easily recognizable while also embracing traditional subjects and the elements of contemporaneous developments. This lecture will explore the weird and wonderful world he created. 

Click the following link to listen to Katherine's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/wRmfLGS86dw

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.

Part 1: Tuesday, July 2, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Tuesday, July 9, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
In this two-part lecture, we will explore how the young Alma Reville and her shy husband Alfred Hitchcock became the most prominent filmmakers in early British Cinema. Alma Reville’s influence in every aspect of the legendary Hitchcock career is a remarkable story in itself. A seasoned professional when they first met, Alma took Alfred under her wing and taught him filmmaking from the ground up. A talented writer herself she remained his most trusted collaborator.  Their mutual creation of the persona of Alfred Hitchcock, and their unparalleled success in the 1930s led not only to an invitation to Hollywood but to the reinvention of moviemaking.

Lecture One - The Silent Era: Learning the Language
Re-evaluating the Hitchcock silent films: Variety, miss-steps and experimentation

Lecture Two - Finding Hitchcock’s "voice" and creating the Master of Suspense
Their remarkable early films with sound taught the Hitchcock’s what did and did not work.

Click the following link to listen to Matthew's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/Pa12tV4j-aE

Bio:
Matthew Weisman received his MFA in Film from Columbia University School of the Arts where he also taught classes in Cinema Studies and directed the Cinematheque film program. His undergraduate degree in English is from Boston University. A professional screenwriter and producer, he taught Graduate Screenwriting at the USC School of Cinema for fifteen years. He is a retired member of The Writers Guild of America. He has taught several continuing education courses in film and television history and appreciation both online and in the classroom.

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

Lecture Description:
Science fiction like the Star Wars movies gave us ideas about the possibilities for intelligent life out in the Universe. With the recent advances by the Kepler and TESS satellites in identifying new habitable exoplanets, science fiction is quickly becoming science fact. In this lecture series, we will discuss the past, present, and future vision of efforts to identify and interact with other civilizations. Part I will focus on the science of necessary conditions for a habitable planet that can host life and the history of the human endeavor to search for intelligent life. Part II will expand on the current efforts for identification of both basic and intelligent life and future challenges of our journey to explore possible contact and travel to other worlds.  

Click the following link to listen to Mary's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/XHsU_pIh-WE

Bio:
Dr. Mary Oksala is an Associate Professor of Physics at California Lutheran University and an observational stellar astrophysicist, studying the most massive stars in the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies.

Prior to joining the CLU faculty, Dr. Oksala received her Bachelors of Science degree in Physics from West Chester University of Pennsylvania and a PhD in Physics from the University of Delaware. She was a postdoctoral researcher for 3 years at the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of the Czech Republic, located in rural Prague, before receiving a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Paris Observatory in France. 

At CLU, Dr. Oksala teaches both introductory and upper level physics courses, as well as the Introduction to Astronomy course. She is also the faculty advisor for the Physics Club and the Physics Honors Society, Sigma Pi Sigma.

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

Lecture Description:
Like many tools of modern technology, GPS (built into our phones!) and online maps have begun to supplant and decay our ability and motivation to read paper maps. The GPS and its related services do all sorts of things that your paper map cannot – planning for traffic, easily adding a stop, recognizing when you’ve gone astray and rerouting you. But the GPS and the underlying mapping services (like most new technologies) also bring a new set of risks. You might get sent off on a detour that doesn’t go through; you might be routed off a freeway and into a once-quiet neighborhood, where misguided travelers clot narrow streets and block the locals from their travels. What information do mapping services use to do this routing? How do they choose among routes? What happens when you not only don’t read a map, but the car no longer has controls – it’s entirely self-driving? Let’s talk about this wide range of outcomes, and the data that feeds them!  

Click the following link to listen to Paul's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/yQDbPYam2rE

Bio:
Paul Witman (Ph.D.) is a Professor of Information Technology Management, in California Lutheran University’s School of Management. His research interests include social networking for non-profits, information security, usability, health care information, 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.   

Wednesday, July 17, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Who was Joan of Arc? Was she a hero, a saint, a witch, a martyr, a patriot, a mentally ill person, or a visionary? Although we do not know much about her, except for the information gathered during her trial, she is part of the Western imaginary as a woman who challenged traditions and stereotypes and changed the course of history during her short life. There are more books written about her than about any other woman. We will learn about her life and deeds and will discuss the meaning of her actions and her significance as a symbol of women’s heroism as well as the reactions to and interpretations of her and her behavior through the centuries.

Click the following link to listen to Oliva's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/O8MVVTdpVnw

Bio:
Oliva M. Espín is Professor Emerita in the Department of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University and the California School of Professional Psychology of Alliant International University. Dr. Espín was a pioneer in the practice and theory of feminist therapy with women from different cultural backgrounds, particularly immigrants and refugees. A native of Cuba, she received her BA in Psychology from the University of Costa Rica and her PhD from the University of Florida. She did post-doctoral work at Harvard University with a fellowship from NIMH. Dr. Espín held the 2010 Fulbright Distinguished Chair in Gender Studies at the University of Klagenfurt, Austria. She recently published Gendered Journeys: Women, Migration, and Feminist Psychology and Women, Sainthood, and Power: A Feminist Psychology of Cultural Constructions. Her most recent book is My Native Land is Memory: Stories of a Cuban Childhood, winner of the 2021 San Diego Book Award.  

Part 1: Monday, July 22, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, July 29, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
The United States incarcerates 689 human beings out of every 100,000 residents – a total of about 2.3 million people. Black, Latino and indigenous men are disproportionately incarcerated, and likewise people living in poverty have disproportionately frequent contact with police and prisons. The U.S. is a nation that enshrines liberty and freedom as its core values, however this nation has historically denied freedom to large sections of its population and incarcerates more people per capita than any other nation in the world. This is what is meant by the term ‘mass incarceration.’ But as a cultural and historical phenomenon, mass incarceration runs deeper than mere statistics. As such, the thesis of this lecture is that mass incarceration is but one manifestation of a carceral, slave-holding society.

To truly understand and grapple with mass incarceration, we will engage in a practice of “societal exegesis” that uses philosophical, theological and sociological texts to interrogate the slave-holding society and to articulate what its abolition will require and entail. This two part-lecture will focus on the history of the prison industrial complex and its implications for today’s society, as well as potential alternatives to prison as a form of punishment.

Click the following link to listen to Rev. Scott's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/G6MZSXS1v_E

Bio:
Rev. Scott Hamilton Adams serves as the current University Pastor at California Lutheran where he provides spiritual leadership and pastoral care to students, faculty, staff and administrators. His primary focus is to create safe and empowering spaces of belonging for spiritual growth, service to neighbor and building strong interpersonal relationships towards the realization of Beloved Community. Rev. Scott is committed to a progressive interfaith, multicultural and intergenerational approach to ministry and strives to promote an openness to difference and diversity, and a deep respect for the distinctiveness of every human being. 

Before coming to Cal Lutheran, Rev. Scott served as Senior Pastor of Heritage United Church of Chris, as well as the Assistant Director of Interfaith and Ecumenical Ministries at Loyola University, Maryland. Rev. Scott received his second Master’s Degree (ThM) from Duke University's School of Divinity. He has also completed his course of study to become a Certified Executive Coach from The University of Texas. He holds a Master’s degree in Theology from St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from James Madison University. He also has completed significant coursework in Clinical Pastoral Counseling at Loyola University in Maryland, and Clinical Pastoral Education as a hospital chaplain at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Rev. Scott believes that his greatest gift in life and his first ministry is in his role as husband and a father. He and wife Tanya are the proud parents of two sons, Ray and Scotty.

Rev. Scott is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.

Thursday, July 25, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The aftermath of World War 2 led to a population explosion in L.A. and the Southland. Housing developments sprang up, freeways were built, and rampant traffic congestion led to the area’s first smog alerts.  We look at the bright side of the mid-to-late 1940s:  the rise of radio and television entertainment, and the flourishing movie industry. We will also examine the dark side of this tumultuous time: the still-unsolved Black Dahlia murder case, and the Cold War fears that forced the “Hollywood Ten” movie screenwriters to appear before the House Un-American Activities Committee as suspected communists.  

Click the following link to listen to Sharon's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/FunrOYaPB7M

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.

Wednesday, July 31, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Documentaries are as creative, moving, and carefully constructed as any Hollywood film. Arguably, they require even more skill to do and do well, since they draw directly from real life and tell us something specific about it. Using Bill Nichols six approaches to documentary filmmaking, we’ll explore documentary practices past and present and think about how contemporary filmmakers, in very different ways, share important insights about life and the world in ways that captivate our imagination, increase our understanding, and inspire our empathy.   

Click the following link to listen to Sarah's preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/nm_USiwz-aQ

Bio:
Dr. Sarah Childress is the Director of Strategy & Operations at Nashville Public Television, where she also works with independent producers to distribute their work to public-television stations across the country. Sarah’s career began in advertising, where she supervised TV campaign development for brands like ESPN and the Discovery Channel. Her interest in visual media led her to Vanderbilt University, where she earned a Ph.D. in Cinema Studies and helped found the International Lens film series. She has taught film courses at Vanderbilt University, Bowdoin College, Belmont University, and San Francisco State University. She produced a film, Música Campesina, which screened at internationally renowned film festivals and her short film Blue Dragon Mussel Wagon exhibited at the Boston Center for the Arts and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin. She is also the Nashville Film Festival’s Education & Engagement Manager. 

Thursday, August 1, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
What is propaganda art?  We sense that we know it when we see it but can it be defined? Art Propaganda is not new. Art has been used throughout history as a means to influence and manipulate, usually for political or religious purposes. 
In this lecture, past and current examples of government control, exploitation and subversive actions will be examined. We will question how does art and the use of propaganda art affect our perspectives and cultural conflict. The participation of artists and their art can reposition a narrative, ideal or policy. Is their participation compulsory, agreed upon or simple greed? Welcome to our investigation….let’s begin.  

Click the following link to listen to Christine's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/pqIO90UxU0Q

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

Lecture Description:
For well over half a century, discoveries made on the Northern Channel Islands off the coast of California have driven the national conversation on the antiquity of an initial human dispersal into what is now North America. These ecologically rich islands were thrust into the spotlight with the 1959 discovery of the 13,000 year-old Arlington Springs Man. Arguably the oldest human remains found anywhere in North or South America, this initial find was the beginning of the search for what eventually uncovered some of the earliest and most abundant cultural sites in the New World that dated older than 10,000 years ago. Yet, sea-level rise following the end of the last ice age submerged millions of square kilometers of coastal landscapes around the world, complicating efforts to understand the paleolandscapes, paleoecology, human dispersals, and the cultural history of these now drowned regions.

In this lecture, we will examine the particularly troublesome situation in the Southern California Bight on the eastern Pacific Coast where sea-level rise inundated thousands of square kilometers of coastal terrain, including entire islands. Recognizing that these spaces are critical to understanding our human past, we will explore recent interdisciplinary research that focuses on the area’s submerged paleolandscapes to identify how rapidly shifting habitats and evolving landscapes affected human migration, settlement, and resource strategies during periods of drastic climatic change. This marine social science research is informed and supported by geological, biological, and geophysical marine science disciplines as well as traditional indigenous knowledge and considers both the landscape and seascape as a continuous ancient maritime cultural space. 

Click the following link to listen to Amy's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/TUZ2ZPDicao

Bio:
Dr. Amy E Gusick earned her Ph.D. from the University of California, Santa Barbara is currently the Curator of Anthropology and Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Officer for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (NHMLA). She is an archaeologist who oversees research and management of the archaeology and ethnology collections at NHMLA, and conducts research focused on human-environmental dynamics, the development of maritime societies, peopling of the Americas, and maritime cultural landscapes. She uses both terrestrial and underwater archaeological methods in her research which has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Bureau Of Ocean Energy Management, and the National Park Service, among other organizations. 

Wednesday, August 7, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
What makes human language unique? How did it evolve? Which of our ancestors already had it? In this lecture, we'll probe into these questions, exploring the seemingly meager evidence coming from archeological digs. We will explore the latest findings in biology, paleoanthropology, genetics and linguistics that shed new light on this fascinating topic. Our focus will be on Neanderthals, our closest biological “cousins”, who mysteriously died out shortly after Homo sapiens populated Europe. Was it our language and Neanderthals' lack thereof that caused their extinction? Or did they have language after all? And most importantly, how can we study such an intricate issue, if all we have left from the Neanderthals are their bones, stone tools, burial sites and other bits and bobs?

Click the following link to listen to Asya's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/KvRAXDpmnUo

Bio:
Asya Pereltsvaig, Ph.D., 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. 

Thursday, August 8, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Embark on a captivating journey of exploration into the realm of Preventative Medicine & Wellness, guided by a presentation that unveils the pivotal role of proactive health measures in sculpting our overall well-being. In a world where healthcare often lurks in the shadows until health issues arise, the urgency of embracing Preventative Medicine & Wellness cannot be overstated. This lecture aims to redirect our attention from reactive treatments to a proactive approach, empowering individuals to seize control of their health journey. Learn how active participation in preventive measures not only safeguards our well-being but also contributes to an improved health status and an elevated quality of life. Together, let's chart the course towards a future where we embrace a sense of responsibility for personal well-being and make it not just an option but an integral part of our daily lives.

Click the following link to listen to Arvind's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/2lA6qKR0GXk

Bio:
Arvind Grewal is a dedicated individual with an unwavering passion for enhancing the quality of life for older adults. With a natural inclination to help others, he prides himself on being a lifelong learner. Currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology with a specialization in Gerontology, his research centers around the aging process and its profound impact on individuals, communities, and societies. Arvind aspires to return to his alma mater to share his knowledge and teach, driven by his deep commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of older adults. With fluency in multiple languages, exceptional communication skills, and a warm and energetic demeanor, he thrives on connecting with new people and spearheading positive change in the field of gerontology.

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

Lecture Description:
In 1987 an open-air museum and amusement park opened in Hamburg, West Germany. Curated by Austrian artist Andre Heller, he collaborated with 32 of the leading contemporary artists of the day, including Keith Haring, Salvador Dali, Sonia Delaunay, David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein, Jean-Michel Basquiat, among others, to design the rides and attractions. After being open over the one summer, the pieces ended up in 44 shipping crates in Texas until it was revived in 2022 for a global tour by rapper Drake. Described by Life magazine as the "most dizzying, dazzling art show on Earth," it has recently been on view through Spring of 2024 in Downtown Los Angeles. This lecture will give an overview of the history of Luna Luna, its rehabilitation and look into each of the artists represented.   

Click the following link to listen to Katherine's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/sPp7W2JO6ug

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.

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

Lecture Description:
In the great musicals of the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s, it was standard practice to dub the voices of actresses and actors if their singing was considered weak or inappropriate for a role.  Many of these talented artists received no screen credit.  A great example is Marnie Nixon whose voice was used for Deborah Kerr, Natalie Woods and Audrey Hepburn. In this lecture, watch, listen, and learn as we explore the roles these great ghost-voice dubbers played in musicals.

Click the following link to listen to Sam and Candy's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/GmY8fTCJn54

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.

Thursday, August 15, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The music industry is in the midst of a seismic shift as artificial intelligence delivers unprecedented new capacities into the creative realm. Generative AI algorithms and AI platforms are transcending their roles as mere tools, evolving into collaborators that can sculpt melodies, develop songs, and even resurrect the likenesses of artists. From generating original compositions to enhancing existing works, AI is creating a new category in the creative process, one that will re-define the music industry in the years to come. In this lecture, we will delve into AI's profound influence on the music industry and explore the burgeoning tools and platforms that will reshape the very essence of music creation.

Click the following link to listen to Josh's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/n5cFFBqWe8Q

Bio:
Josh Antonuccio is the director of OHIO’s School of Media Arts and Studies offering expertise in music business, technology, music production, entrepreneurship, and experiential learning. 

He is the director of the Music Industry Summit, the largest music conference in the Midwest, welcoming a range of acclaimed artists and music industry leaders each spring.

Antonuccio is a Grammy-voting member of The Recording Academy with more than two decades in multiple industry roles as a producer, musician, audio specialist, technology adventurist, studio owner and media journalist. In addition, Antonuccio produces and hosts the performance series “The Sycamore Sessions,” a partnership with the Nelsonville Music Festival and WOUB Public Media that has been nominated for a regional Emmy.

Antonuccio developed the music industry major at Ohio University and in 2016 helped establish virtual reality education and production capacities in the Scripps College of Communication through a nearly $1 million innovation grant. Most recently he pioneered course and experiential opportunities with artificial intelligence in specialized courses. This spring he helped to program the inaugural AI Symposium at Ohio University with leaders in Hollywood film production and journalism discussing the ramifications of AI in their respective fields. A regular conference presenter, he has interviewed key leaders across technology and creative fields and most recently was interviewed about AI and Music by NBC News.

Part 1: Tuesday, August 20, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Tuesday, August 27, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Every generation wants its own music, dance, clothing and style.  Swing music evolved rapidly through dynamic processes of artistic development and competitive commercial enterprise that compressed musical eras into mere months.  In this hothouse Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Bunny Berigan, Artie Shaw, Count Basie and Billie Holiday shaped a new musical idiom, launching a second flowering of America’s most original art form, Jazz.  Each class offers a dozen audiovisual clips, many created expressly for the course.  Linked playlist and resources documents are provided for each class.

Click the following link to listen to Dave's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/9iBayR6ZvPs

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 21, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Wednesday, August 28, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
Join us for a two-part lecture examining slavery in first century Rome through the eyes of Publius Curtilius Agatho, a freed slave who died early in the first century. Slavery in Rome was a multifaceted institution that permeated every aspect of society and cultural norms. We will delve into the lives of those enslaved to reveal a complex tapestry of exploitation, resistance, and resilience. We will hear from the great men of Rome as well as those who were enslaved in order to understand this institution from a variety of perspectives. This lecture series aims to unravel the intricacies of this system, exploring its origins, dynamics, and the experiences of those ensnared within its grasp.

Click the following link to listen to Scott's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/VRmIt2NcaF0

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.

Monday, August 26, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard

Lecture Description:
In 1939, MGM released The Wizard of Oz, a film destined not only to become one of America’s most loved films but also which featured the song, “Over the Rainbow,” a song that would arguably become America’s favorite. Sung by 17-year-old Judy Garland, the song became a hallmark of The Wizard of Oz. It quickly came to be featured as a minor theme in other movies, and multiple singers and instrumentalists recorded it. The National Endowment for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America recently named it as the greatest song of the twentieth century. After Judy Garland’s introduction, the song took on a life of its own, and its many interpreters added layers of meaning to the piece. With music written by celebrated composer Harold Arlen and lyricist Yip Harburg, generations of fans have loved “Over the Rainbow” for its themes of hope and transcendence. Many have tried to delve into the origins of the song’s lyrics and have offered various theories regarding religious and historical events that may have motivated lyricist Yip Harburg in its composition. This lecture will explore the origins of the song and its long and varied career and offer an explanation for how it came to represent one of America’s most beloved “secular hymns.”

Click the following link to listen to Cliff's preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/3PbxWbXc82E

Bio:
Clifford Wilcox, Ph.D., is a historian who focuses on American intellectual and cultural history and Jewish Studies. His courses concentrate on the intersection of culture, ideas, politics, and religion in American history. He is Director of Education and Operations at Temple Beth Torah in Ventura, CA and has taught in the CLU FAB program since 2021. He holds a Ph.D. in American intellectual history from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.