Below you will find upcoming Life Long Learning Events as well as past events...

Recent Lectures for our Thoughtful Scholars

The Westmont Foundation sponsors Westmont Downtown: Conversations about Things that Matter. 

Aging and Mobility: Fundamentals and Frontiers by kinesiology professor Adam Goodworth and alumnus Maury Hayashida ’95 who owns Hayashida & Associates Physical Therapy. This lecture examined how aging affects balance and mobility and provided practical tips, key research data, and information about the latest technology and future directions. Click HERE to watch the April 2024 talk.

The Transformative Power of Storytelling by theater arts professor Wendy Eley Jackson . This lecture resonated with every demographic as it explored the importance of harnessing the influence of storytelling to make a positive impact in communities. Jackson serves as the CEO of Auburn Avenue Films, a production company specializing in entertainment that brings social awareness and engages audiences to participate in social change. At Westmont, she teaches documentary filmmaking, screenwriting, and creative writing. Click HERE to watch the February 2024 talk.
 
The Changing Geopolitical Landscape and Role of Foreign Aid by political science professor Katherine Bryant . Foreign aid is one of the most commonly used tools of foreign policy, but the landscape in which states are operating is rapidly changing. This talk explored how these major shifts in the geopolitical landscape affect foreign aid spending, particularly in the United States. Click HERE to watch the November 2023 talk.

Asteroids and Exoplanets: How Scientists Are Exploring Our Universe by physics professor Jennifer Ito . Scientists are actively studying our own solar system through recent asteroid missions as well as distant planets with data from the Hubble Space Telescope and James Webb Space Telescope. Fascinating results from these studies continue to develop our understanding of our complex universe. Click HERE to watch October 2023 talk.

Heinmiller Lectures on Spiritual Formation by Steve Porter , senior research associate and executive director of the Martin Institute for Christianity and Culture. Established in 2011, the Martin Institute assists Christian individuals and organizations in deeply understanding, intelligently communicating, and effectively implementing reliable and psychologically realistic pathways of becoming more like Jesus for the sake of the world. Click HERE to watch the February 2024 talk.

The Spiritual Life in the Secular World: The Alternative Augustine by Stan Rosenberg . The Martin Institute sponsored this event. Rosenberg founded and directs Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford (SCIO). He is an academic member of Wycliffe Hall and a member of the faculty of theology and religion at the University of Oxford, teaching early Christian history and doctrine and science and religion. Click HERE to watch the March 2024 talk.

Care in Times of Crisis: Suicide and Emotions in Medieval England by Rebecca McNamara. Click HERE to watch the April 2023 talk.