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.

 Great C ourse Lecturer Patrick Allitt makes his debut with OWLS. Learn about the impact of trains throughout history from 1700 to the present. You will see how railways transformed the world. This course covers the genesis of railways in England (1700-1850), then onward to the American rails and the first trans-continental railways (1830-1890) and beyond, including their impact in wars and revolutions (1860-1945) and their later resurrection in America (1920-2020).

 All Aboard Ohio will share how passenger rail is shaping the future of our state - connecting communities, expanding access to opportunity and fueling local economies. Aligned with this year’s theme, Ohio’s Future: Built by Rail, we will explore how modern rail investments can revitalize cities, reduce transportation barriers for all ages and ensure Ohio remains competitive in a rapidly changing Midwest.

Patrick Allitt is from England where he completed his undergraduate studies [at Oxford], after which his graduate and

Ph.D. studies in U.S. History took him to California [at Berkeley]. He has been a professor of American history at Emory University in Atlanta since 1988 where he teaches courses on modern U. S. history, the Industrial Revolution, environmental history and others. He is the author of 7 books (most recently A Climate of Crisis: America in the Age of Environmentalism) and 12 recorded lecture series for The Great Courses (most recently How Railways Transformed the World). 

Mitch Radakovich, who was born in Cincinnati, is the chair for All Aboard Ohio. An Ohio State graduate, he studied data science, city/regional planning and history. For him, transportation is the niche at the intersection of data, computers and society, and in this case, using data and technology to help move innovative train transportation solutions forward.  All Aboard was founded in 1973, becoming a non-profit, member-based organization in 1987 dedicated to promoting improved public transportation and passenger rail service throughout the state.   

“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.

Examine the U.S. trade and tariff policies with both a historical overview and an analysis of these policies on Ohio and the nation.  Learn about the U.S. trends in the reduction of tariffs since World War II; the history of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; and what happened in China as it joined the World Trade Organization and the subsequent employment shock experienced by the U.S. Discussions will include the recent changes to protectionist policies by the Trump Administration. Hear from the head of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce on the effects of U.S. trade policy on Ohio's businesses of all sizes. Equally important to Ohio, find out how sensitive Ohio's agricultural sector is to international trade policy.  

Professor Stephen Hills (Emeritus Faculty, OSU Fisher College of Business) has taught import and export courses and has completed comparative studies of labor markets. He also co-authored and authored several books and studies on topics such as emerging markets in international business; employment and social sciences; and education and regional economic development in Shanghai. His past affiliations include: former president, International Division, Industrial Relations Research Association; and the Peace Corps (past volunteer to Venezuela; coordinator, Fisher College Peace Corps MBA program). He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin.

Steve Stivers, CEO of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce since 2021. He holds a degree in economics and international

relations and an MBA, both from The Ohio State University. He served as a senator in Ohio's General Assembly and represented Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 - 2021. Prior to his career in politics, he had significant business experience in Ohio. He was born and raised in Ripley, Ohio.

Dr. Ian Sheldon holds the Andersons Chair in Agricultural Marketing, Trade and Policy at The Ohio State University, being a member of the OSU faculty since 1990. He is an international scholar, having served as lecturer in economics at the University of Exeter and having earned his PhD in Economics from the University of Salford in the U.K. He has published widely in the fields of economics and agricultural economics with a focus on trade and policy issues. 

Learn about the world of cryptocurrency, exploring what it is, how it works, and why it's making headlines. You will hear (without complex financial jargon) about its fundamentals, such as: what Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are; how they're bought and used; and their underlying blockchain technology.  Discover why some view crypto as "digital gold" and learn about its key risks and opportunities.  Understand how cryptocurrency differs from traditional money and discuss important considerations (like understanding scams and protecting your information). Let’s demystify this emerging technology, empowering us to make informed decisions in our future.

This course is brought to you by special demand! It will meet only in the afternoon from 1:30-3:30.

Dr. Takeshi (Mike) Tsuyuguchi teaches undergraduate finance courses at Otterbein University  (on business,intermediate corporate and international) and a graduate course (financial management). He conducts research in the cryptocurrency market, with a particular interest in analyzing relationships with other asset classes, with additional interests in big data, user-generated content (UGC) and machine learning. Previously, he taught at several other universities where he earned his degrees: Colorado (M.S., Business Analytics) and Texas A&M International (Ph.D., Finance). Having traveled to more than 20 countries, Dr. Tsuyuguchi brings a unique perspective and firsthand knowledge of various cultures.