Lecture Series
FABulous Fall Lecture Series Part A
Registration is now open! Click the button below to get started or continue scrolling for details.
Click HERE to view the Fall 4-Week Course Session details.
Registration closes at 3pm (PT) the business day prior to each lecture.
Lectures are $10 each. You can purchase lectures individually or choose one of our flexible bundle options:
- Choose any five lectures during the fall series for $40
- Bundle the entire lecture series in September for $60
- SPECIAL DEAL: You can bundle the fall series Part A AND our Fall Session courses for $220!
Lecture Format
All lectures can be attended virtually via Zoom; students use the chat function to submit questions. All lectures are recorded and available for students to watch upon request (instructions on viewing recordings are sent out automatically).
Over half of the lectures can be attended in-person. They will be offered at the Thousand Oaks and Oxnard Campuses. Parking is always free and is accessible at both locations. Click the drop-down menu below for more details about attending in person.
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).
We look forward to continued learning with those near and far! Keep reading to learn more about our FABulous lectures and faculty.
See below for exciting topics and faculty biographies!
Part 1: Monday, September 9, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, September 16, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
The future of democracy in the United States concerns people across today's political
spectrum. But how have we gotten here? Like today, the nature of democracy and its
place in U.S. politics has been debated since the nation's founding. We will look
at how democracy has been defined and revised over the past two and a half centuries
from the Founders' deep suspicions and the Civil War's reshaping to the impact of
both World War I and World War II. To put today's debates in context, we will also
explore what perceptive outsiders such as Alexis de Tocqueville (from whom the course
title is borrowed) and James Bryce have had to say about the American "experiment."
Click the following link to listen to a preview of these lectures on our YouTube page:
Bio:
Chris Kimball (PhD) is Professor Emeritus of History at Ï㽶´«Ã½. His undergraduate
degree is from McGill University and his master’s and doctoral degrees are from The
University of Chicago. He previously served as Ï㽶´«Ã½â€™s seventh
president (2008-2020) after two years as provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Specializing in U.S. history, he has taught on subjects such as the Civil War, U.S.
Foreign Relations, the history of sport, the history of American cities, and legal
issues in higher education.
Tuesday, September 10, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard
Lecture Description:
Spearhead of Western democracies during the Cold War, NATO’s joint efforts reached
an apex with the dissolution of both the Communist Warsaw Pact and Soviet Union in
1991. We’ll explore the post-World War II origins of the grand alliance, and its
expansion eastward over the last 25 years, including Finland and Sweden’s very recent
accession to the Alliance after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page:
Bio:
From his childhood in a Lithuanian refugee family, Linas J. Kojelis, rose to positions in Washington D.C. including Special Assistant the President (OPL/Defense
and Foreign Policy) at the White House and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, as
well as service in the U.S. Senate, Pentagon and U.S. Naval Reserve (Lieutenant/Naval
Intelligence). Later, he founded and headed the U.S.- Baltic Foundation. His articles
on Soviet affairs have been published in the Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.
Later, he headed Kojelis & Company consulting in Vilnius, Lithuania for five years.
He received his B.A. in History (highest departmental honors) from U.C.L.A., and
a M.P.A. (International Relations) from Princeton University. He lives with his wife
in Simi Valley, and his interests include cinema, travel, art and historic preservation.
Wednesday, September 11, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
Although often grouped in with the Impressionists, Édouard Manet is a pivotal and
influential transition figure between French Realism and Impressionism. His work,
focusing on capturing the immediacy of the modern world, was seen as a challenge to
the constraints of the French Academy of Fine Arts and became an inspiration for a
young generation of rebellious artists who would become known as the Impressionists.
However, as Impressionism continues to develop, its style and methods begin to make
an impact on the work of Manet. Although Manet never participated in the Impressionist
Exhibitions, in his work and those of the Impressionists—Claude Monet in particular—you
can see the reciprocity of their influences on each other. This lecture traces those
developments that helped to form the Impressionist style and how they, in turn, influenced
encouraged experimentation in Manet's works.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page:
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: Thursday, September 12, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Thursday, September 19, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Almost one-third of the world’s population views themselves as Christians. Approximately
a quarter identify as Muslims. Fifteen percent practice Hinduism. Six percent practice
Buddhism, and approximately a fifth of a percent practice Judaism. Together, these
religions account for over three-quarters of the world; a huge majority of the earth’s
population see themselves as religious. Nevertheless, all of these religions are incredibly
different and produce divergent worldviews. By contrast, 15% of the world identifies
as nonreligious.
Christianity is the largest religion in the world and Islam is the second-largest. In a few decades, it’s believed that Islam will surpass Christianity. Thus, in many ways, some have seen these as competing religions. Nevertheless, these lectures will examine these two largest religions and note the similarities and points of connection between them. It will consider the origins of both, their development over the centuries, and note both their differences and their points of agreement.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page:
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.
Wednesday, September 18, 10-11am (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Celebrating the two-year anniversary of JWST being an operational telescope, we will
look at some of the discoveries made, how it complements observations of the still
operating Hubble Space Telescope, and what the future may hold for future observation
campaigns.
And much as the JWST is the successor to the Hubble, we will look at some concepts for the next great space-based telescope.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page:
Bio:
Christopher Mick is the Education and Outreach Director for the STEAM educational nonprofit, Space
St. Croix. Space St. Croix’s mission, "Connecting Kids to the Cosmos," brings Space-themed
STEAM programming and teacher support materials to all Hudson, WI. area public, private,
and home school students.
Christopher is a NASA Solar System Ambassador, Space Station Ambassador with the ISS National Lab, member of the NASA Museum & Informal Education Alliance, and an Aerospace Education Member with the Civil Air Patrol. He is a blogger for the Space Science Institute, through their StarNet Library website, and recently served on the Education Advisory Board for Infiniscope (2019). Christopher was named an International Teacher Liaison in 2022 by the Space Foundation, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was a judge for the National Space Society’s, Space Settlement Contest and the NASA Space Apps Challenge – Brescia, Italy.
He lives and works in Hudson, Wisconsin.
Tuesday, September 24, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks
Lecture Description:
This lecture dives deep into the Watergate scandal, one of the most notorious political
events in American history. It explores the intrigue behind the initial break-in,
the investigative process that unraveled the truth, the lasting impact of the scandal,
and even stories that haven't been widely known before.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page:
Bio:
Paul P. Magallanes is an accomplished FBI Special Agent veteran and founder of Magallanes Associates
International. With over 21 years of experience in the FBI, Mr. Magallanes has an
extensive background in investigations, training, and security consultation. He began
his FBI career in Tampa, Florida, where he was one of the first to work in an undercover
capacity.
Throughout his career, Mr. Magallanes played a key role in various high-profile cases. He was an original investigator in the Watergate Burglary case, where he developed critical information leading to the resignation of President Nixon. In the Greylord Case, he exposed corrupt Cook County judges in Chicago while working undercover. In addition to his undercover work, Mr. Magallanes was a leading member in the landmark Class Action suit, Perez v FBI, against the FBI for discrimination in the workplace against FBI Hispanic Agents.
In addition to his investigative work, Mr. Magallanes coordinated security for the 1984 Olympic Command Headquarters in Los Angeles. He received numerous awards for his outstanding investigative and undercover efforts, including FBI Quality Service Salary Increase Awards, commendations, citations, and superior performance awards.
Mr. Magallanes is recognized as one of the "100 Most Influential Hispanics in the Nation" by Hispanic Business Magazine. He has also been featured in various international media outlets for his expertise in kidnap prevention, response, and multilingual ransom negotiation programs, as well as corporate security, executive protection, and international security issues.
Mr. Magallanes holds a Master of Science degree in Administration of Justice from the American University in Washington D.C., a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Mary's College in Winona, Minnesota, He attended Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, IL, and has completed work toward his Ph.D. in Law Enforcement Management Studies from the American University. He is an active member and leader in numerous law enforcement, social, business, and cultural organizations.
Wednesday, September 25, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard
Lecture Description:
Illuminated manuscripts are hand-written devotional books that are lavishly illuminated
with gold and silver ink on top of brightly-colored images. They were produced between
c. 500 and c. 1600, with monasteries as their earliest creators. Their subject matter
is usually Christian scripture, prayers, and lore. Wealthy patrons also wanted these
illustrative works for personal libraries and encouraged the formation of private
workshops that flourished in French and Italian cities. There is also an amusing side
of illustrated manuscripts found in the margins, called marginalia: murderous rabbits,
menacing snails, naughty nuns. Filled with imagery depicting everything from mythical
beasts to humorous depictions of contemporary issues, these delightful illustrations
give us a glimpse into the imaginations of the artists who entertained their patrons
with them.
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page:
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, September 26, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom
Lecture Description:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has dominated recent headlines. Books and magazine articles
abound describing the transformational impact “artificial intelligence†will have
on work and society. Few of these publications, however, have delved deeply into how
algorithms and AI are affecting citizens in democratic societies. This lecture will
center upon a core dilemma: how can society benefit from AI without destroying democracy?
The logic of AI models and the needs of both state and market provide strong incentives
to see individual citizens as “algorithmic problems†that need to be solved to increase
profits or to manage citizens. In this lecture, I'll argue that democratic health
requires that large numbers of its citizens defy algorithmic classification, hence
remain as “outliers" and 'algorithmic problems."
Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page:
Bio:
Jose Marichal, Ph.D., is a professor of political science at Ï㽶´«Ã½,
specializing in studying the role that social media plays in restructuring political
behavior and institutions. Dr. Marichal’s book Facebook Democracy (Routledge Press)
looks at the role of the popular social network played on the formation of political
identity across different countries. His most recent work (with Cal Lutheran colleagues
Drs. Richard Neve and Brian Collins) looks at the ways in which social media platforms
encourage antagonistic political discourse and how they could be regulated. Additionally,
Dr. Marichal and a team of collaborators are using computational social science methods
on a number of projects including: using machine learning to predict support or opposition
to fracking on Twitter, a study of how individuals censor themselves when discussing
politics on Facebook, and a project on uncovering the topic structure of Reddit comments
on WallStreetBets. In 2018, Dr. Marichal organized a mini-conference on Algorithmic
Politics for the Western Political Science Association. Dr. Marichal is currently
working on a book that looks at the effect of the “Algorithmic Age†on political citizenship.
Registration Reminders:
Once registered, the confirmation email will come from fab@CalLutheran.edu; make sure to add "fab@CalLutheran.edu" to your address book. If you do not see the FAB email, try checking your junk or spam folders, or your Promotional or Social folders in Gmail. If you don't see the FAB email the morning of your lecture, please email fab@CalLutheran.edu.
For those lectures where the fee is paid, we will send the Zoom link the evening before and the morning of each lecture.
Payment Options:
Payment through our online registration system accepts Visa and Mastercard, as well as electronic banking. Please note that American Express is not accepted.
If you need to submit your payment in person, call our office at 805-493-3290 to set up an appointment. Walk-ins are not permitted.
If you have questions regarding registration or payment, please send an email to fab@CalLutheran.edu.
Future Lecture Series Dates
Fall: November-December, 2024
Winter: January-February 2025