Credentialed Experts to Give LifeLong Learning Presentations

Patricia Ingalls

Coming up soon, four experts will give presentations in the Tuscany Falls Renaissance Theater—three as Weekday LifeLong Learning (LLL) morning offerings and one as an evening Premier presentation.

Ukraine: How Did We Get Here? On Monday, Oct. 20, Hilde Hoogenboom, associate professor of Russian in the School of International Letters and Cultures at Arizona State University, will discuss the implications of the Russian invasion, the Ukrainians’ defiant fight to remain independent, and the impact of the struggle on the rest of Europe.

Hoogenboom, a recognized authority on nineteenth-century Russian literature, culture, and history, has a Ph.D. from Columbia University and a Harriman Institute Certificate in Russian, Eurasian, and East European studies. She has travelled extensively throughout the old Soviet Union and written numerous books on Russian history, society, and culture.

Songs of Stephen Sondheim: On Monday, Oct. 27, Jeffrey Kennedy will examine the contributions of Stephen Sondheim’s music and lyrics to the musical theatre canon. Songs will be listened to that exhibit his approach to lyrics, as they tell a story and evoke character, and how his music does the same. He also will investigate Sondheim’s significant contribution to elevating Broadway musicals to be considered a substantial art form.

Kennedy is an associate professor of interdisciplinary arts and performance at ASU. He has a B.A. degree in music from California State University-Fullerton, and an M.A. and Ph.D. in educational theater from New York University. He has published books and created websites about American theater, as well as worked as music director for more than 100 productions.

Arizona’s World War II Airfields: On Monday, Nov. 3, Steve Hoza, WWII authority and author, returns to present the story of the more than 50 airbases that Arizona hosted during WWII.

For one year, Hoza flew across Arizona documenting the airfields that were used for military training. He will present photographs and stories from former pilots and other Army Air Corps personnel who trained in Arizona.

The Phoenix native has more than 40 years of museum experience. He is a consultant, educator and nationally recognized WWII expert, with two published books on WWII in Arizona. He serves as museum archivist/conservator at Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community Cultural Repository.

AI—What Are the Challenges? On Friday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m., Gary Marchant will explain the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and provide examples of its beneficial uses in health care and other fields. He’ll also review AI’s challenges, such as concerns for safety, bias, privacy, national security, and employment, and how individuals and organizations can respond.

Marchant, Ph.D., J.D., M.P.P., is a professor and faculty director for the Center for Law, Science & Innovation at ASU. His research interests include the governance of multiple emerging technologies. A prolific published author, he has served on seven National Academies of Science consensus committees (chairing two), and is a lifetime member of the American Law Institute, among other honors.

Weekday speaker tickets are $5 at the door, and go on sale at 9 a.m. in the lobby of the Renaissance Theater the day of the presentation. No registration is required. For full details, and to register for the $15 evening Premier presentation, go to lifelonglearningatpc.org.

The theater is equipped with a hearing-loop system, which is a special type of sound system for people who use hearing aids. Full information is posted at LLL’s website.