History and Current Events   

With recent rhetoric about a "51st state", what do you know about Canada, the amazing country to the north of us? This course will cover the history of British Columbia, placing it within the larger framework of Pacific Northwest history. Students will examine and compare U.S. and Canadian political structures and policies. It will also highlight cultural differences, including First Nations histories and perspectives. Learn about regional heroes, must-see natural wonders, historical landmarks, and unique culinary delights. There will be ample opportunities to share collective expertise and to engage in individual scholarship about all things Canadian.

The Old Kingdom was the matrix of the entire Egyptian culture which lasted 3000 years. They were the first people on earth to create a nation-state and they developed characteristic ideas and patterns which were modified over the years, but never fundamentally changed. This course will reconstruct the political, social and economic history of the Old Kingdom by looking at the archaeological evidence found in architecture, literature and art.

Discover the living cultures of the coastal and plateau tribal groups in the Pacific Northwest and all that they have to offer to this region. In this class we will learn about ancient tribal traditions as well as current ones. Through stories, tribal voices, and experiential activities we will examine how tribal perspectives can differ from our modern culture.

The U.S. Constitution is at the center of so many conversations today—but how well do we really know it? This course offers a lively introduction to the nation's founding document, exploring what it is, how it was created, and why it continues to shape our daily lives. Often described as a "living document," we'll explore how the constitution has adapted and evolved. Designed as an accessible primer, this course will give students useful background and fresh perspective on one of the most influential documents in history—helping us all better understand its enduring role in American democracy today.

This course will explore the history of France's surrealist movement between World War I and World War II. Students will examine the evolution of the movement and focus on the internal debates about politics and art, which informed the movement's engagement with key episodes in French history, including the Rif War and the Colonial Exposition of 1931, to illuminate the intellectual underpinnings and revolutionary aims of the movement.

This participative discussion class looks at national and international current affairs each week. Discussions include politics and other topic matters suggested by the group. Events are considered based on their effects today and into the future, historical context and leadership.

Join me and explore 3,000 years of ancient Egyptian culture, society, religion, art, and architecture. See how they interacted with their neighboring nations. We will travel to the cities of Abydos, the cult center of the god Osiris; the ancient capital of Memphis; Thebes, where we find Karnak Temple and the royal tombs in the Valley of the kings; the workmen's village Deir el-Medina; and Amarna, capital city built by Akhenaten and the birthplace of Tutankhamun.

The U.S. Constitution is at the center of so many conversations today—but how well do we really know it? This course offers a lively introduction to the nation's founding document, exploring what it is, how it was created, and why it continues to shape our daily lives. Often described as a "living document," we'll explore how the constitution has adapted and evolved. Designed as an accessible primer, this course will give students useful background and fresh perspective on one of the most influential documents in history—helping us all better understand its enduring role in American democracy today.

This participative discussion class looks at national and international current affairs each week. Discussions include politics and other topic matters suggested by the group. Events are considered based on their effects today and into the future, historical context and leadership.

This participative discussion class looks at national and international current affairs each week. Discussions include politics and other topic matters suggested by the group. Events are considered based on their effects today and into the future, historical context and leadership.