To simplify registration, if  you would like to  participate in all classes without the concert, resiter here.

This is going to be quite an exciting year!

This year's series is full of great learning opportunities. If you would like to participate in all of our classes, register here for all classes.

Friday, October 3 and Monday, October 6

The Caribbean is a zone of remarkable religious diversity, characterized by creative responses to, and negotiations of, a history of colonial conquest, slavery and foreign exploitation. This class will offer a broad survey of Caribbean history and culture as well as the first encounters between indigenous Taino and Carib peoples and Spanish conquerors. It will address the Catholic theological debates on the status of indigenous peoples and Spanish economic interests fueling the rise of the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The class will review three major case studies, including: the rise of Rastafari in Jamaica; the political use of Haitian Vodou and its role in the Haitian Revolution; and on contemporary Puerto Rico (the world’s oldest colony) and its range of cultural protests under a religious framework. Despite histories of oppression and marginalization, one will be reminded of the irrepressible human spirit expressed in rituals, music and dance towards visions of a more ideal reality.

Spencer Dew is an associate teaching professor in the departments of Comparative Studies and African American and African Studies at OSU.  He serves as short reviews editor for "Religious Studies Review," and is the author, most recently, of "The Aliites: Race and Law in the Religions of Noble Drew Ali,” the winner of the 2020 Raboteau Prize for Best Book in Africana Religions.

Marion Ramirez, a Puerto Rican dance artist, is immersed in the practice and pedagogy of somatics (dance as a tool for experiencing bodily agency, empathy and community building). Her movement research and choreographic work is informed by her diversity of dance training and performance experience in Puerto Rican experimental dance, flamenco, salsa, contemporary dance, ballet and contact improvisation, with extended residencies in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Europe, South Korea, and the US. She holds a BFA from The Laban Center, London and an MFA at Temple University.

October 9 and 10

For over 500 years, choral music has expressed humanity’s longing for community, for meaning and for a glimpse of the divine. This course will embark on a brief history of choral music and will look closely at some of the world’s most cherished pieces of choral art (including works of Mozart, Handel, Brahms and many others).  It even includes a little singing together in a class impromptu “Lift Every Voice” choir.  All will enjoy participating whether one who loves to sing, loves listening to choral music or just wants to learn more about this venerable and soul-refreshing art form.

Robert Bode, an Ohio resident, held choral faculty positions at several universities: Arizona State (2024-2025 Visiting Professor of Choral Music), Ohio State, Missouri–Kansas City and Whitman College. He is Artistic Director Emeritus of Choral Arts Northwest which, under his leadership, won a 2010 choral excellence award from Chorus America. He  performed at three American Choral Directors Association conferences with three different choirs; and he commissioned over 50 choral pieces from American composers. A prize-winning poet, Bode has written texts for more than 75 choral works by American composers; wrote a book of poetry (Crickets and Commas (2021) and a recent book on iconic choral works (Hearts All Whole: Reflections on Life and Twelve Choral Gems).

Lee D. Thompson, a collaborative pianist and vocal coach, held academic appointments at several university music schools: OSU (as Vocal Coach/Collaborative Pianist); Missouri-Kansas City; Baylor; and Whitman College (Professor of Music, Emeritus). He  served with the summer music staff and as pianist of the Santa Fe Opera; and was appointed an American cultural ambassador to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia (by U.S. State Department) where he worked with the Mongolian National Opera. Internationally, Thompson has performed in concerts in England, Austria, Romania, Canada and China.

October 16 and 23

Do you hope to reflect on movies at deeper and more meaningful levels? Try giving more consideration to these five aspects of filmmaking: the fundamentals (a more sophisticated vocabulary); the artistic (a better understanding of the creative process); the emotional (decipher how the audience is being manipulated, in a good way); the thematic (recognize how screen writers, directors, actors and editors orchestrate the narrative); and the hypothetical (consider the future of entertainment). Explore  the art (and craft) of filmmaking by peeling back each of these layers to better understand the art of the silver screen.

Eric R. Williams, an Emmy Award-winning screenwriter, who during his career sold Peter Falk the last Columbo  episode; and subsequently received the Writers Guild of America Best New Screenplay award. He has been writing and directing ever since his studies at Columbia University. Over the last thirty years, Eric has written 24 screenplays; and has directed films, documentaries and television; and has written 4 books, 3 podcast series and 2 television series, including those about the creative process of digital storytelling.  Now he applies his filmmaking expertise to a new medium called cinematic virtual reality at Ohio University’s Game Research and Immersive Design Lab.  

October 17 and 24

Women have played significant roles in major world religions throughout history, often encountering empowerment and restrictions. By exploring historical female figures, the impact of women in Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Hindu faiths will be highlighted. Learn about their leadership, their roles in the family and the worship communities as well as their contribution to gender equality. We will see how the experiences of women can vary within each faith based on cultural, historical, artistic and regional contexts.

Rabbi Tali Zelcowicz completed her undergraduate work in Sociology (Dean’s List) at the University of British

Columbia. Thereafter, she received her rabbinical ordination and an MA in Jewish Education at Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles (where she later taught graduate students); and received her doctorate at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development (as a Wexner Graduate Fellow).

Rabbi Yoni Nadiv has over a decade of experience working with Jewish camps, synagogues, day schools and

universities. As an educator, he teaches classes for all ages, serves as scholar-in-residence and speaks at retreats. He studied

at Columbia University, the Jewish Theological Seminary and then at Yale University where he researched digital humanities

applications to the Babylonian Talmud.  He is the senior director of Leadership Development at Jewish Columbus.

Nicol Ghazi, executive director of Muslim Family Services of Ohio (since 2013), serves on the board of the Human

Services Chamber of Franklin County. She is an advocate on issues impacting women and families, both within our community and on behalf of our community in the public sector. She also served 2 terms on the Columbus Women’s Commission.  

Susan Warrener Smith, an ordained Presbyterian minister, is a retired associate pastor (Indianola Presbyterian Church). She studied History of Art (B.A., M.A.) and Theological & Religious Studies (Ph.D.) at Boston, Michigan and Drew universities, respectively. Her interests include the intersection of faith and art, medieval spirituality and Cistercian aesthetics. She uses art as the inspiration for reflecting on the scriptures in her sermons.

Preeti Manchanda, a practicing Hindu, is a Meditation & Wellness Coach and certified Marma Practitioner with a back- ground in business analysis and a passion for Indian spiritual traditions. Living in Japan for 7 years deepened her understanding of mindfulness and cultural harmony. Her work blends ancient wisdom with modern insight, creating reflective spaces to explore the evolving role of women in Hindu religion. She highlights the spiritual and societal contributions of women across time.

“The Ohio Country: Memory, Removal, and Revitalization”  A Seminar for O.W.L.S.

Learn more about Ohio’s indigenous history and its resurgence.  Led by moderator Chris Welter, guest speakers will confront pre-statehood sovereignty and the narratives erasing the Miami, Shawnee and Wyandotte peoples. They will analyze myths versus facts and historical interpretations. Review historic maps with Chief Glenna Wallace. Learn about Three Sisters farming and other revitalized Shawnee cultural practices from Talon Silverhorn. Explore the 1700s as Dr. StephenWarren and Dr. Cam Shriver review the Fort Ancient culture and the European-Indigenous interactions. Hear oral history by Shawnee poet, Laura Da, that explains the impact of the Indian Removal Act. Examine the tribal dilemmas and removal routes with Dr. John Bowes.  Learn what important issues face indigenous people today and join others in a closing reflection circle.

There is an extensive syllabus for this class available for this class upon registration.

Chris Welter bio:

Chris Welter is the Managing Editor of the Eichelberger Center for Community Voices at WYSO. His work has been featured in USA Today, the GroundTruth Project, Yellow Springs News, Dayton Daily News, and on ESPN, CNN, MSNBC, PBS NewsHour, NPR, and This American Life. He co-produced the award-winning podcast The Ohio Country with Neenah Ellis. A lifelong Ohioan, Welter was born and raised in Columbus and now lives in Yellow Springs with his partner, two dogs, and four cats.