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Your curiosity doesn’t end when you receive your diploma. Washington and Lee’s Office of Lifelong Learning is here to help you explore the many questions that a good education stirs. In every episode, we’ll invite you to join conversations with our expert faculty, giving you another walk down the Colonnade even if you’re hundreds of miles away. You’ll hear from favorite faculty members about topics they know and love and meet new professors who can introduce you to new worlds; it all happens here on W&L After Class, where we invite you to join the kinds of discussions that happen after class every day at W&L. Indeed, curiosity remains not unmindful of the future.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 08, 2024
Tuesday Oct 08, 2024
In this episode, Melissa Kerin, Professor of Art History at Washington and Lee University and Director of the Roger Mudd Center for Ethics, discusses this year’s theme for the Mudd Center: “How We Live and Die.” As a Buddhist art historian, she presents a unique perspective on the meaning of life and death and the moral questions that shape the human condition. We discuss the history of the Mudd Center, the importance of storytelling for all of us as we process the reality of death and the way in which Buddhism addresses finality, particularly through its sacred artistic tradition. We also talk about Professor Kerin’s own journey from appreciating the social power of the arts through theater to beholding the shrines that influence the cultural world of small villages in the Himalayas.
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Lessons in Chemistry: Shaping Minds, Shaping Futures
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
Thursday Aug 08, 2024
In this episode of W&L After Class, we sit down with Lisa Alty, the John T. Herwick, M.D. Professor of Chemistry at Washington and Lee. With a career spanning over three decades, Professor Alty shares her inspiring journey from a poor high school experience to becoming a dedicated educator and mentor. She reflects on the significant changes she's witnessed at W&L, particularly the introduction of coeducation, and how these experiences have shaped her approach to teaching and guiding students towards careers in health sciences. From her passion for incorporating medical ethics into the pre-health curriculum to her work with Remote Area Medical, Professor Alty offers valuable insights and advice for young women in male-dominated fields, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in the world of chemistry education and beyond.
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Leaps and bounds: The Sky is the Limit with W&L Dance
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Tuesday Jul 09, 2024
Jenefer Davies, Professor of Dance and Chair of the Department of Theater, Dance, and Film Studies at Washington and Lee University shares her early beginnings at age three to her current role shaping W&L's dance program. We explore Jenefer's innovative approach to dance education in a liberal arts setting, including her groundbreaking work in aerial dance. Our conversation covers diverse dance genres and techniques, as well as the unexpected benefits students gain from dance classes. Jenefer shares insights on how dance challenges and empowers W&L students, pushing them out of their academic comfort zones and fostering personal growth. We'll also discuss the exciting annual tradition of the alumni and student dance performance in New York City, which has become a cherished part of the W&L dance community.
Friday May 31, 2024
Friday May 31, 2024
Through a serendipitous happenstance, Mark Drumbl, Class of 1975 Alumni Professor of Law and director of the Transnational Law Institute, has dedicated his career to practicing, teaching and questioning international law. In this episode, we examine the function — and limitations — of law as Drumbl details his experiences as a defender for those accused of mass atrocities in Rwanda, his study into the marginalization of people and collective violence and his beliefs on how we need to reconceptualize evil.
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Paul Youngman, W&L class of 1987, associate provost and the the Harry E. and Mary Jayne W. Redenbaugh Professor of German, details his very full days as a W&L undergrad, his return to his alma mater as a German professor, his journey as W&L’s Associate Provost, and also what it feels like to walk in the shoes as a W&L parent. He also shares his time in the military when he was stationed in the US, Europe and the Middle East.
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Tuesday Mar 12, 2024
Wythe Whiting, professor of cognitive and behavioral science, helps us explore the complex connections between mental health, sleep, physical activity and cognitive functioning. In this episode, we’ll discuss how modern technologies impact our ability to focus during daily tasks and potential harmful effects. And we’ll also navigate the vast social media landscape, examining its powerful influence on mental health, and shed light on the hidden dynamics that shape our online experiences.
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
The Williams School: Not Just a Business School
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Tuesday Feb 13, 2024
Rob Straughan, the Crawford family dean of the Williams school and Professor of Business Administration brings a wealth of knowledge and insights about the unique interdisciplinary approach of the Williams School. In this episode, we'll delve into Rob's journey at W&L, the evolution of the William schools' distinctive approach within a liberal arts curriculum, and the exciting initiatives on the horizon, including the plans for the new Williams school building.
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Real World Solutions
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
In this episode, we chat with Kish Parella, Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and Law, about her academic research in business and human rights, how her students influence her scholarship, and why working outside the classroom strengthens her role as a professor. We also explore the importance of corporate accountability and consumer education, including how contract clauses can have a major impact on an individual’s day-to-day life.
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Into the Vault
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Tom Camden, Washington and Lee’s outgoing head of Special Collections and Archives, tells us how W&L ignited his career as a historian, then takes us on a tour of what has come to be known as “the vault” to showcase some of the university’s extensive collection.
Friday Jun 30, 2023
A Good Education is a Habit of Mind
Friday Jun 30, 2023
Friday Jun 30, 2023
In this episode, we have a conversation with Rob Fure on his last day in the office as director of W&L’s Office of Lifelong Learning. We learn how Rob came to W&L in 1977 as an English professor and created programs that evolved into what is now the Office of Lifelong Learning. We’ll also hear from Rob about the experiences that have meant the most to him and what the one area of the world he recommends everyone visit.