Lecture Series

Monday, October 28, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The public has long been interested in polling as way to understand and also to predict political outcomes – whether that be for elections, policy proposals, or to gauge public sentiment on controversial issues from immigration to abortion and gun control. What is less known is that polls, rather than just reflecting our reality, can sometimes influence outcomes, perhaps to the detriment of our democratic principles. This talk will cover the history and development of public polling, the impacts of polling on elections, and give pointers for what to look for when reading about polling data.

Bio:
Kiku Huckle (Ph.D.) is an associate professor of Political Science at California Lutheran University. Her research addresses how culture, values, and identity intersect and ultimately affect political beliefs and patterns of engagement, with an emphasis on race, racial resentment, and religious affiliation. Her book project, “Reluctant Evolution: Latino Communities and the American Catholic Church” examines the institutional barriers to the full inclusion of Latinos within the American Catholic Church. Other projects examine the relationship between race, racial resentment, and policy issues such as gun control and immigration, as well as vote choice.

Friday, November 8, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The election is finally over (or is it?). In this lecture, we explore what happened and what it means. We will review the results of the Presidential election through the electoral college votes and discuss both what is known and what is not yet known. We will look at the control of the US House and Senate and explore both the likely actions of the winning and losing Presidential candidate. This election has profound impacts for the future of our democracy and the American people are divided over which party best represents their interests. No matter who wins the election, our nation is at a crossroads.

Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/sY4FePso-RE

Bio:
Tim Allison, J.D. is an Adjunct Faculty member at Cal State University Channel Islands. He teaches courses ranging from Constitutional Law to Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, Campaigns and Elections, Intro to American Government, Judicial Process and a seminar course on Empowering First-Generation Students. He is the Executive Director of a High School Teachers union where he has been the lead negotiator on four contract negotiations in the past two years. He is a past "Faculty of the Year" Award recipient and was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in Denver in 2008 and Chicago in 2024 and a delegate to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. He is a regular local media commentator on politics and public affairs.

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).

Monday, November 11, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard

Lecture Description:
While Hanukkah is a minor holiday in the Jewish Calendar, it has come to hold deep significance for Jews, particularly in the United States. The story of Hanukkah is typically summed up in a description of the surprise military victory in 165 BCE – a small army of Jews led by the Maccabees defeated the powerful Greek-Syrians – and the religious miracle of the oil used for rededication of the temple, which lasted for eight days despite being sufficient for only a single day of burning. Hanukkah has developed as a warm family-centric holiday focused on celebration of the miracle of the oil and Jewish self-preservation in face of powerful odds. Yet Hanukkah holds layers of meaning that go far beyond the traditional story. Examination of the holiday of Hanukkah from its ancient beginnings to the present offers a powerful view into the challenges Jews have faced over the centuries in remaining Jewish, especially in light of a perpetual status as a minority culture. This lecture will explore the historical origins, development, and contemporary impact of the Hanukkah holiday, particularly for American Jews.

Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/rqGM7PlpY20

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.

Wednesday, November 13, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
What are the holidays without music. Let’s get into the Holiday Spirit with songs and dances from Broadway and Movie musicals.  From “White Christmas” to “The Grinch” and “The Hanukkah Song”, we’ll show and discuss scenes from some beloved and some obscure Christmas movies and holiday television specials. Bring out the “Frosty-the- Snowman” cookies and hot chocolate and let’s get ready for the, “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”

Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/D_J4KCcG06o

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.

Monday, November 18, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
Originally from Philadelphia, Mary Cassatt is not just one of only three women to exhibit with the Impressionists, but she is the only American. Her work is perceptive, unique and reflective of her time and place and was considered revolutionary for its time. Ostensibly largely featuring women and children, through that lens, she also depicts aspects of societal norms of her day. This lecture will not only look at her work, but also will mention her role in the spread of the appreciation of the Impressionists.

Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/_XPBroMjXiI 

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

Lecture Description:
Each day there are many news stories revolving around the world of art. A theft, a rediscovery, forgeries, acts of terrorism, a restoration, lawsuits or restitutions…the list goes on and on.

In our media packed world, it is difficult to keep up on current happenings and even more challenging to see the implications to those people involved; collectors, museums, auction houses, the world of art and to our society and cultural heritage.

Tracking the typical art crime news of a day, we will then examine the stories and capers of today as well as the recent year. These cases have or will affect the future of the art world legally and most certainly morally and ethically.

Once again, grab your legal pad and sharpen your pencil. Come catch up on the latest Art Crimes!

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, November 20, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Thousand Oaks

Lecture Description:
From sleek new industrial materials to innovations in housing the baby boom generation, the pioneers of design in the middle of the 20th century faced new challenges in shaping a design aesthetic that would embrace the ideals of post-WWII America and Europe. Through lecture and slide illustration, this talk explores a new optimism in the relationship between design and lifestyle in the mid-20th century as manifested in open living spaces in architecture and curvaceous, biomorphic forms in furniture, lighting, and other decorative arts. The influence of the Case Study Program and the works of such design luminaries as Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Joseph Eichler, Isamu Noguchi, Arne Jacobsen, and the furniture of Knoll and Herman Miller will be discussed against the backdrop of the rapid social changes of the times.

Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/jBgDqDq5d0A

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.

Part 1: Monday, December 2, 1-3pm (Pacific)
Part 2: Monday, Decemer 9, 1-3pm (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? Franklin, Jefferson, Hamilton, and Paine are some of the most well-known American founders. Each of these individuals also held very strong religious views––views which intimately impacted their understanding of politics and American independence. This set of lectures will examine each of these individuals in order to unearth their religious views and thus grow closer to an understanding of the founders of this country.

Click the following link to listen to a preview of these lectures on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/job8Vwbz1Sw

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, December 3, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Choose to Attend Online via Zoom or In-Person in Oxnard

Lecture Description:
Medicine and race have been linked since time immemorial. Over the past 100-150 years, records have been maintained recording health disparities between white and non-white individuals, and the impact of race on access to medical care. Most recently, the CoVID-19 pandemic highlighted disparities in access to health care, treatment, and outcomes. In this lecture, we will review examples of the impact of race on medical treatment and discuss well known cases that have impacted medicine and the medical field in the United States and abroad. 

Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/r7jCW2ohExE 

Bio:
Dr. Paloma Vargas (she/they/ella) is the Dean of Mathematics, Science, Health Education, Kinesiology and Athletics at Oxnard College, a 2-year public Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). In her capacity as Dean, Dr. Vargas works with administration, faculty, and staff to determine best practices in serving diverse student populations. She often serves as a facilitator and trainer for faculty at Hispanic-Serving Institutions in centering equity with a particular focus on inclusivity in STEM.

Dr. Vargas previously served as a biology faculty member, researcher, HSI Director, Science Coordinator and STEM Advisor at private and public institutions. She earned her B.S. in Biology from the University of Texas at El Paso and El Paso Community College (HSIs), and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Medical and Molecular Parasitology from The Vilcek Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at New York University. Her graduate and post-doctoral work focused on host-pathogen interactions of both parasitic amoeba (E. histolytica) and Legionella pneumophila, the causative agent of Legionnaire’s Disease.

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

Lecture Description:
Sharon Boorstin traveled to California Gold Country to research an article for the Los Angeles Times. She discovered more fascinating stories than could fit into 1500 words. Join Sharon for a virtual tour of California Highway 49, in the rolling Sierra Nevada foothills east of Sacramento. Stops include Sutter’s Fort, where gold was first discovered in 1848; and a dozen historic Gold Rush towns including Columbia, Angel’s Camp, Grass Valley, and Nevada City. See where prospectors partied when they struck it rich, and drowned their sorrows when they didn’t — and what visitors can enjoy there today.

Click the following link to listen to a preview of this lecture on our YouTube page: https://youtu.be/RY4ndu6HZNI

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, December 11, 10am-12pm (Pacific)
Online via Zoom

Lecture Description:
The Woolsey Fire in 2018 remains the largest wildfire in the history of the Santa Monica Mountains by acreage. The National Park Service, the Santa Monica Mountains Fund, partner agencies, and NPS volunteers have collaborated to study and investigate the fire's impacts and long-lasting effects on the ecosystem and its inhabitants. With the use of wildlife camera traps, biologists have gained a better sense of what lives, breathes, and zooms through the Santa Monica Mountains and nearby mountain ranges. The first part of the lecture will highlight the scope of this research, how researchers capture these wildlife images, and get insight on the massive collaborative effort driven by park staff, partner agencies, and volunteers to maintain this project. The second part of the lecture will highlight select images from the research data including images of wildlife behavior rarely seen in-person, photos of collared animals, and site comparisons over the years.

Click the following link to listen to hear more about this lecture: https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/video/how-researchers-are-tracking-wildlife-recovering-after-the-97000-acre-woolsey-fire/#:~:text=KCAL's%20Amanda%20Starrantino%20shows%20us%20how 

Bio:
Miroslava Munguia Ramos is the Woolsey Fire Recovery Project lead with the Santa Monica Mountains Fund, the official non-profit partner of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. She has worked under the Interpretation, Education, and Volunteer division of the National Park Service to provide public programming, school field trips, and engaging volunteer experiences for park visitors. She began her Santa Monica Mountains Fund career as a program supervisor for college-aged interns about exploring careers in public land management. Now collaborating with the Wildlife division, she works regularly with volunteers and citizen/community scientists to showcase some of the park's research and help make it more accessible to the public. 

Munguia Ramos received her undergraduate degree from the University of California, Davis with a major in Environmental Science and Management and a minor in Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology. She has recruited and led citizen/community scientists for years across California to study the state's biodiversity using molecular-based research including environmental DNA and crowd-sourced platforms like iNaturalist.

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, 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: https://youtu.be/8Vp3vv5-E5w 

Bio:
Chris Kimball (PhD) is Professor Emeritus of History at California Lutheran University. His undergraduate degree is from McGill University and his master’s and doctoral degrees are from The University of Chicago. He previously served as California Lutheran University’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: https://youtu.be/GlzSEBY2pdg 

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:  https://youtu.be/S-Q97QuIZgU 

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: https://youtu.be/3zPf8DS3gqc 

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: https://youtu.be/1fyaluzWLnY 

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: https://youtu.be/AjYkF52aBUo 

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, October 2, 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: https://youtu.be/4UUujHNpGVQ 

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: https://youtu.be/jbSeyQ1gUsg 

Bio:
Jose Marichal, Ph.D., is a professor of political science at California Lutheran University, 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.