Stillwater Courses   

Back again by popular demand, retired CIA officer Meredith Woodruff, who served 25 years in the Agency and retired as its most senior female officer in operations, will describe life in the world of espionage. With only two sessions, she’ll provide an overview of how spies work and then leave most of the class time for those questions you’ve always wanted to ask.

One of the most iconic lines in all of philosophy is Descartes’s, “I think, therefore I am.” In this six-week course, we will work through René Descartes’s most famous work, Meditations on First Philosophy, which is the source of this iconic line. The book is divided into six parts. Each week, we will take a deep dive into one of the Meditations. The book is a classic for a reason. Descartes asks (and answers!) some of the most fundamental questions that we as humans face. What can we really know? What is the nature of the self? Is there a God? What is reality like, in itself? This class presupposes no prior knowledge of Descartes or philosophy. Classes will be discussion-based, so come ready to dig into philosophical discussion together.

Remember when there were only three commercial television networks? One or two local newspapers? No internet? Times have changed! Join us to explore how to navigate the present-day bombardment of our senses with media messages through learning to “read” media like we learned to read books as children: step by step, source by source. We will examine a variety of current and historical examples from sources including advertising, TV, movies, and social media.

Santa Fe, NM is one of the oldest and most unique cities in the U.S. The course explores the history, architecture, cuisine, religion, art, cultures, people, landscape, museums, and traditions of a city that is always surprising. The course is divided into two parts: (1) a multi-media presentation with photographs, music, and a spoken narrative and (2) a fully open discussion for questions and audience comments. The multi-media presentation is a 50-minute video with photographs taken by the instructor, aerial photographs, historical photographs, music specially chosen by the instructor to enhance the experience, and a spoken narrative written by the instructor.

Life is a complicated tapestry of continuous endings and beginnings. We have all experienced those pivotal moments in life when some destabilizing event occurs that shakes us to the core. It might be the death of a loved one, a divorce, a life-altering diagnosis, or some traumatic brush with death. Blending psychological insight, practical, evidence-based self-care tools, and mindful practices designed to explore self-awareness and enhance support during life transitions, you're encouraged to embrace change with courage, confidence, and compassion. This class offers a steady guide and a hopeful perspective to help you reimagine who you truly are when life changes and to discover what gives your life meaning and purpose.

Please join us for 4 weeks of humor, all that it entails and insights into the benefits it provides. Humor can be used for influence, well-being, and entertainment. What's amazing: 1. Memory recall increases 23% after watching a funny video. 2. In anticipating humor, stress decreases by 39%. 3. A person is 2 times more productive after taking a humor break. We'll explore what science and research have to offer on the subject and most importantly, we'll gain connection with others who value humor and who seek more humor in their lives. Bring your funny stories and your funny bone. We'll have a blast getting healthier and happier with humor.

Dawna Riding in Hare followed in her parents' footsteps as an educator and has a richly storied family history. She has committed herself to preserving the stories of native peoples across our state and beyond. This course will offer us an important opportunity to grow in our understanding of sovereign nations.

Georgia OKeeffe is one America's greatest artists. She made many summer visits to New Mexico and moved to New Mexico for the last 37 years of her life. This course tells the story of O'Keeffe's life in New Mexico and the art that this time inspired. A 50-minute multi-media presentation with 400 photographs, special music, and a spoken narrative connects the actual places in New Mexico O'Keeffe lived and painted, and the paintings these places inspired. The multi-media video includes 87 of O'Keeffe's paintings. An open discussion for questions and comments follows the multi-media video.

A variety of films exhibiting the range of Mike Leigh’s signature style. Mr. Turner (2014) Historical Biography of English landscape painter, J.M.W. Turner.   Secrets and Lies (1996) Adopted child finds her birth mother creating tension and change in birth mother’s family.  Topsy-Turvy (1999) Challenges of musical team Gilbert and Sullivan during the production of The Mikado.   Vera Drake (2004)  Working class wife and mother suffers the fallout from illegal abortions in Post-War Britain.   Another Year (2010)  Stable couple stays afloat while their circle of friends struggle to find contentment.  Actors include:  Timothy Spall, Lesley Manville, Jim Broadbent, Brenda Blethyn,  Imelda Staunton. 

We’ll continue our practice with watercolors for those returning, and beginners are welcome! We’ll experiment with washes, wet on wet, controlling edges, color mixing, dry brushing, working with layers, etc. We may include ink lines too. Subject matter will be nature themed and may include flowers, birds, landscapes, etc. Feel free to bring your own references for painting inspiration.

Great Decisions uses material from the American Foreign Policy Association to highlight key foreign policy issues facing the United States at this time. Class sessions include videos from the FPA to provide background, and the whole course revolves around non-partisan discussion. Expert speakers provide rich information for every session. Topics for 2026 include: US tariffs in historical perspective, US-China relations, the third nuclear age, Ukraine, multilateral institutions in a changing world order, engagement with Africa, and the future of human rights and international law. Threads expected to run throughout all topics include the economy, artificial intelligence, critical media literacy, and the need for civil discourse in a time of partisan rancor.

Great Decisions Schedule:

Sept. 24 - Dr. Josh Landry - Ruptured Alliances and the Risk of Nuclear Proliferation 

Oct. 1- Dr. Randy Kluver - US China Relations in New Trump Era  

Oct. 8 - Meredith Woodruff - Ukraine and the Future of European Security 

Oct. 15 - Catherine Seagraves - America and the World: Trump 2.0 Foreign Policy

Oct. 22 - Dr. John Shoeneman and Dr. Martin Brienen - Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World Order 

Oct. 29 - Nelda Villines - U.S. of Engagement of Africa 

Nov. 5 - Dr. Aleks Schaefer - Trump Tariffs and the Future of the World Economy  

Nov. 12 - Catherine Seagraves - Human Rights and International Law 

Discover the relaxing and creative art of crochet in this fun, hands-on class! Perfect for beginners and those looking to refresh their skills, this class will guide you through the basics of crochet, including how to hold your hook, create foundational stitches, read simple patterns, and start your first project. Participants will learn at a comfortable pace in a supportive and encouraging environment. By the end of the class, you’ll have the confidence and skills to continue crocheting on your own and creating beautiful handmade items like scarves, coasters, and small accessories. All materials are provided—just bring your creativity and excitement to learn!

Whether you are hoping to learn the fundamentals of American Mah Jongg with confidence and clarity or just coming back for more fun with American Mah Jongg, this class is for you. New players will gain a step-by-step understanding of how the game is played — from setting up to calling “Mah Jongg!”

• Start with the END Goal in Mind: Learn what a winning hand looks like.

• Tiles: Recognize and name the various types of tiles and what they mean.

• The Card: Learn to read the National Mah Jongg League card to avoid a ‘Faux Jongg’.

• Building the Wall and Dealing: Understand how the wall works and dealing the tiles correctly to each player.

• The “Journey” to Finding a Fine Line: Develop your hand thoughtfully—balancing luck and logic.

• The Charleston: Practice the all-important tile exchange that sets up your game.

• Pausing and Calling for a Tile: Learn the rules for calling and how to make exposures strategically.

• Maintaining the Pace of Play: Keep the game fun, respectful, and moving forward.

Our premiere facility enhances the student experience and our work within the aviation industry, strengthening our position as the premier destination for aviation education and the home of the best-trained aviators in the country. Get unclose with our fleet and learn how our students train to become the next generation of commercial aviators.

Join us for a 60–75 minute guided tour of the garden, where you'll learn about its history, its role within the Land-Grant University system, and its purpose in education and outreach. Along the way, you'll discover how the garden operates, with explanations of the features, systems, and practices that keep it thriving year-round.

The United States is much more religious than European countries, but that is changing. In the 1940s and 50s, the mainline denominations had churches that were packed, and the denominations promoted and taught social justice. Judaism was shaped by the Holocaust, the creation of Israel, and splits within the U.S. community.  The 1960s began a change, both away from the denominations and towards alternatives to Christianity, such as Buddhism and Islam.  Evangelicalism emerged in the Jesus Movement, the charismatic movement, and also in the rise in the South of white evangelicalism.  After 1980, white evangelicalism became increasingly politicized and focused on abortion and distrust of government.  Now, with the second Trump administration, with sexual harassment scandals, and with a public moving away from religion, we are again in times of change.