Previous Forums
9/2024 - 6/2025
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-4-2024 | ||
| 10-2-2024 | ||
| 11-6-2024 | ||
| December 2024 | No Forum | |
| 1-8-2025 | ||
| 2-5-2025 | ||
| 3-5-2025 | ||
| 4-2-2025 | ||
| 5-7-2025 | ||
| 6-4-2025 |
9/2023 – 6/2024
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-6-2023 | David Roach, historian for Little River United Church of Christ (LRUCC) | One Church’s Fight for Inclusion and Diversity. The history of LRUCC. |
| 10-4-2023 | Matthew Callahan and Lisa Varga | Panel Discussion - Freedom to Read - Our panelists discussed the laws and policies applicable to banning books in libraries (public and in school) and in bookstores, and whether certain books should be restricted to readers based on age or removed from library shelves entirely. In addition, there was Brief talk by 2000 LLI/NOVA Scholarship recipient Makan Shirafkan, now a lawyer and founder of the Justice for All Political Action Committee. |
| 11-1-2023 |
Daniel Blier, National Park Service |
The hidden history of Fort Hunt Park, and the secret programs it carried out during WWII. During the WWII, Fort Hunt was the site of two secret Military Intelligence Service operations that helped the Allies win the war—and before that, it played a prominent role in a national movement that transformed it into a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp during the Great Depression. |
| December 2023 |
No Forum |
|
| 1-3-2024 |
Michael S. Bell, PhD (Col., USA, Ret) - Executive Director of the Jenny Craig Institute for the Study of War and Democracy at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. |
Dr. Bell led us on a virtual tour of the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. |
| 2-7-2024 | Michael Webster, Ph.D., author of “The Rescue Effect” & Professor of Practice, Department of Environmental Studies, New York University, New York |
Dr. Webster shared compelling stories of species that are adapting to the changing world. The “rescue effect” is nature’s innate ability to help organisms persist during hard times, when they are stressed or declining. He will reveal the science behind nature’s inherent resilience and that there are good reasons to expect a bright future because we can see evidence everywhere that nature can rescue many species from extinction; and when nature alone is not up to the task, we can help. Click Here to see the Zoom recording. |
| 3-6-2024 |
Penny Gross - recently retired Mason District Supervisor |
Penny Gross shared her perspectives on life in public service, including the most rewarding and more challenging aspects, and even mentioned a few of the more humorous requests and calls that she has received. |
| 4-3-2024 | Rev. Scott Bach-Hansen - a retired basketball official at the high school and NCAA men’s levels |
Lessons in Life on the Basketball Court - Scott shared anecdotes about his experiences with sometimes out-of-control fans, players, parents, and coaches, and perhaps some hard-to-believe experiences from his time as referee. He discussed the demands of being an official as well as how and why he chose to become a referee. |
| 5-1-2024 | Sharon Tindall - is a small business owner, advocate and educator of African American history expressed through quilt codes |
We heard a special and fascinating story of how the Underground Railroad likely used codes embedded in quilts to further its cause. NOVA’s own Black History Quilt Maker/Textile Artist Sharon Tindall (executive assistant to the Provost) is an advocate and educator of African American history. Tindall has studied the theory of quilt codes, the idea that slaves on Southern plantations sewed patterns into their quilts that other slaves could use as maps of the Underground Railroad. |
| 6-5-2024 |
Dr. Diane Mucci, the Annandale NOVA Campus Provost |
Dr. Mucci spoke to us on what’s new on the Annandale campus and discussed the Gen Z impact on education and learning. Generation Z, colloquially known as “Zoomers” or "digital natives," have birth years starting in mid 1990s and ending in early 2010. |
9/2022 – 6/2023
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-7-2022 | A Fairfax County representative of the Sloid Waste Management Program | Recycling and environmentally responsible trash disposal help keep Fairfax County clean, healthy, and sustainable. The speaker gave us an opportunity to learn first-hand about current and emerging concerns and innovations affecting trash and recycling operations in our area. Zoom program. |
| 10-12-2022 | Dr. Jimmie McClellan, Dean of Liberal Arts for the College, and Dean of Languages, Arts, and Social Sciences for the NOVA Alexandria Campus. | His talk highlighted the often-unacknowledged contributions of Native Americans to our government and country. He described the role they have played in advancing civilization and explore why we, as a country, too frequently ignore it. He outlined some of the core values of the foundation of Native Americans and explain why denying Native Americans credit for their contributions became necessary to establish the myth of our country’s creation. Zoom program. |
| 11-2-2022 | Ellen Crosby, award-winning author | Ellen Crosby, author of the Virginia wine country mystery series, will share how she became a mystery writer and her creative process through final publication. In-person at Little River United Church of Christ. |
| December 2022 | No Forum | |
| 1-4-2023 | Honorable Vivian Watts, Representative 39th District in the Virginia House of Delegates, | Delegate Watts discussed a wide range of public policy challenges, such as what is taught in schools, nursing home staffing, political polarization, tribalism, greenhouse gases, women’s roles, and traffic congestion. This provided a rare behind-the-scenes look at the challenges of supporting her constituency and the interests of the Commonwealth. Zoom program. |
| 2-1-2023 | KaLynn Clark, the Development Director at 4 Paws for Ability |
Ms. Clark told us about this inspiring organization that trains service dogs. 4 Paws was founded to help people with disabilities access the life-changing love, assistance, and support offered by a service dog. The organization specializes in placements with children, but also places dogs with military veterans and other adults. Zoom program. |
| 3-1-2023 | Arch Campbell, the "Accidental Critic"
|
Arch Campbell is a local legend. He has reported on and critiqued movies, theater, and entertainment events in Washington, D.C., and nationally since the 1970s. This Forum was very well attended (100 peak) and highly entertaining. |
| 4-5-2023 | Dr. Katy Oh |
North Korea: A Hidden Nation - A Unique Insight, Past and Present. Dr. Oh, with her extensive experience and knowledge, provided us with a unique insight into North Korea and a rare opportunity for an in-depth look at a country that is not very familiar to most of us. |
| 5-3-2023 | Amir Mostafavi |
Juicing the Neighborhood - What it Takes to be an Entrepreneur. Amir Mostafavi discussed his journey from graphics designer to founder and CEO of South Block, a local chain serving cold-pressed juices and healthy snacks. |
| 6-7-2023 |
Dr. Diane Mucci |
Annandale Campus Provost Dr. Diane Mucci discussed various types of lifelong learning programs at NOVA. |
9/2021 – 6/2022
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-1-2021 | Dr. Madhavi Colton, Executive Director of the Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) |
Half a billion people around the world depend on coral reefs for food, their livelihoods, and shelter from natural disasters. A quarter of all marine species depend upon coral reefs for food and shelter. Yet coral reefs face unprecedented challenges and destruction due to climate change, acidification, pollution, and other factors. Dr. Colton addressed these issues. Forum Presentation (click to see slides) |
| 10-6-2021 |
Mr. Charles Meng, CEO of the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) |
Mr. Meng presented on food insecurity in NOVA, its root causes and extent, and what AFAC is doing to alleviate long-term food insecurity in Arlington County and nearby jurisdictions. The presentation will also provide an overview of the Food Bank/Food Pantry in the nation and in NOVA. |
| 11-3-2021 | Colonel Scott Willey, USAF (Ret.), docent at National Air & Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center |
Col. Willey provided an overview of the huge Smithsonian facility near Dulles International airport and provide unique insights into the SR 71 Blackbird and the Space Shuttle Orbitor Discovery. Forum Presentation (click to see slides) |
| 1-5-2022 | Joanne E. Cohen, CBIS/Managing Partner, CTAT, LLC and Senior Organizational Consultant |
Joanne Cohen provided a presentation on "Adapting and Coping with Brain Injury." |
| 2-2-2022 | Adam Ratner, Associate Director of Conservation Education with the Marine Mammal Center | Adam Rather related stories about the Center’s patients, new research on marine mammal health, and actions we can take as individuals and communities to help protect marine mammals and ourselves for generations to come. |
| 3-2-2022 | Barbara Smith, Program Manager of Trades and Industrial Education and the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corp (JROTC) at Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) | Barbara Smith presented an overview of FCPS’ educational courses and outreach programs that help prepare students and adults to navigate post-secondary opportunities such as education, employment, or military service as they prepare for their future. |
| 4-6-2022 | Ashley Peery, PhD, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History | Ashley Peery walked us through past examples of pandemic outbreaks and lessons we can learn in light of covid. |
| 5-4-2022 | Sandy Tarpinian, Master Gardner, Fairfax County | Discussed the important relationship among native plants and native pollinators. She told us how we can choose plants for our yards that will help preserve habitat for our native plants and wildlife. |
| 6-1-2022 | Jeff Lewis, Battalion Chief, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue | Jeff Lewis described the activities and capabilities of Fairfax County International Urban Search & Rescue. There are approximately 200 trained and equipped members on the Task Force, including 70 volunteer and career firefighters and paramedics, as well as many highly trained civilians. The Task Force works with USAID, FEMA, and the UN, and is a premier leader in providing training in catastrophic event mitigation, readiness, and response and recovery techniques. Additional References. |
9/2020 – 6/2021
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-2-2020 | Dr. Anne M. Kress, President Northern Virginia Community College | Dr. Kress discussed the role of and managing NOVA, Virginia's largest community college, and its operation in this time of pandemic. |
| 10-7-2020 | Ms. Michelle Margeotes, Fairfax County Consumer Affairs Office | Ms. Margeotes discussed current and planned updates about Scams and Robocalls. Forum Presentation (click to see slides) Pre-Forum Slide Show |
| 11-4-2020 | Mr. Robert Templin, Ed.D., Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute | Mr. Templin will will share insights on how the Institute is dedicated to cultivating leaders who seek to achieve extraordinary credential completion and labor market outcomes for students through the creation of collective impact partnerships. |
| 12-2-2020 | Ms. Anna Brown, Pew Research Center | Ms. Brown has authored almost 70 publications on an assortment of her research on social and demographic issues. She plans to address current topics such as mask wearing, racial and economic issues. Forum Presentation (click to see slides) |
| 1-6-2021 | Dr. Kalahn Taylor-Clark, Vice President and Global Head of Patient Insights, Outcomes, and Innovation at Sanofi | Her topic is Patient Centricity in Pharma during the Time of COVID-19. |
| 2-3-2021 | Ms. Tonya Chalou Beres and Ms. Erin Scheithe of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | Ms. Beres and Ms. Scheithe gave a great presentation on how the CFPB helps consumers. Forum Presentation (click to see slides) |
| 3-3-2021 |
Jennifer Collins, Arlington County’s Department of Parks & Recreation, Office of 55+ Programs, Michelle Thomas, Program Coordinator of the Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program, and Eric Timar, Compliance Officer, Arlington County Housing Division |
This trio of local experts discussed how Arlington County is balancing the need for affordable housing options for seniors, as well as aging in place. This includes efforts to maintain the safety, health, and vitality of Arlington’s senior community. |
| 4-7-2021 | David K. Owens, President/Energy Consultant Da’ Vision and Strategies |
Mr. Owens, recognized as one of the foremost authorities on electric utility issues, discussed recent power grid issues within the US (e.g., Texas and Puerto Rico). Forum Presentation (click to see slides) |
| 5-5-2021 | Karla Bruce, Chief Equity Officer for Fairfax County | Ms. Bruce will share insight's on the Commonwealth's One Virginia Plan and you will learn about the county's commitment to racial and social equity through its One Fairfax Policy. Forum Presentation (click to see slides) |
| 6-2-2021 | Daniel Piazza, Smithsonian National Postal Museum’s Chief Curator of Philately | Mr. Piazza will present on the National Postal Museum’s underlying history, science, arts, etc. He is the museum’s curator and ambassador for promoting an understanding of philately. Forum Presentation (click to see slides) |
9/2019 – 6/2020
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-4-2019 | Michael J. Canning | Does Hollywood ever get it right? Film Critic Michael J. Canning reviewed past and recent movies featuring scenes and stories about our Nation’s Capital. |
| 10-2-2019 | Sheriff Stacey Kinkaid | The Sheriff is coming: Stacey Kincaid discusses leadership and innovative programs at the Fairfax county jail and throughout the Sheriff’s department. |
| 11-6-2019 | Dr. Jay Labov | A leading scientist will speak about initiatives to promote science education: How science works: Its process, nature, and limits. Forum Presentation (click to see the slides) |
| 1-8-2020 | Geir H. Haarde | A world bank official discusses Iceland: From rags to riches. This Forum was cancelled due to inclement weather. |
| 2-5-2020 | Dr. Harold Geller | Looking for life in all the wrong places: The search for life in the universe. |
| 3-4-2020 | Scott Bach Hansen | Mr. Hansen, an NBA-qualified referee, will discuss the demands of being an official as well as how and why he chose to become a referee rather than a coach. |
| April/May 2020 | Forums were cancelled due to the Corona (COVID-19) Virus | |
| 6-3-2020 | Professor John Min | The U.S. Economy and our expansionary stimulus fiscal policy. Dr. Min is a professor of economics at NOVA and a global finance consultant. Forum Presentation (click to see the slides) Pre-Forum Slide Show |
9/2018 – 6/2019
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-5-2018 | Co-Owners of the Elegant Dancing Studio, Chris Thompson and Una Lee | The Ballroom Dancing Craze Is Sweeping America: Professional Dance Exhibition by Justin Seigler and Silvia Beltran and a Fun-Filled Mini-Class for LLI Members Who Wish to Participate. |
| 10-3-2018 | Rear Admiral Philip Sobeck, Director of U.S. Navy’s 21st Century Sailor Office | What Is Being Done to Prevent Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment in the Navy? What Programs Are in Place and How Effective Are They in Changing the Culture of Silence and Discrimination? |
| 11-7-2018 | Dr. Sean Arthurs, a teacher, lawyer and researcher | A Legal Scholar Will Inform You About Your Rights in Areas of Interest to Seniors |
| 12-5-18 | LLI Annual Holiday Party In Lieu of Forum | |
| 1-9-2019 | Gary Powers, Jr., the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of The Cold War Museum | Remembering the Cold War: Gary Powers, the American U-2 Pilot Shot Down During a High-Altitude Spy Mission over Russia, the Soviet Trial, and His Return Home. |
| 2-6-2019 | Stan Corey, financial guru, author and lecturer | Will we have enough money to manage well our retirement years? An expert certified financial planner talks about the stages of retirement and how to avoid serious pitfalls. |
| 3-8-2019 | Edward R. (Ed) Alexander, Jr - Assistant Director with GAO’s e*Security Lab | A senior Government Accountability Office expert discusses proliferation of technologies embedded in millions of everyday products (the so-called Internet of Things) and how they provide benefits and present challenges to information security, safety, privacy, standards, and economics. |
| 4-6-2019 | Dr. James Zimbelman, a planetary geologist who has served as Chair of the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies at the National Air and Space Museum | Dr. Zimbelman discusses the fascinating tale of the founding of the Smithsonian Institution. |
| 5-1-2019 | April Stafford, the U.S. Director of Design Management for the U.S. Mint | Ms. Stafford discusses how circulating coins are designed. |
| 6-5-2019 | Robert Johnson, Dir. of Sustainability at NVCC. | Robert Johnson, Dir. of Sustainability at NVCC, talked with LLI membership about environmental sustainability and what they can do to help. |
9/2017 – 6/2018
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-6-2017 | Richard Harless, Ph.D., Adjunct Professor in the History Department of NOVA/Annandale | How Did George Washington Get Along with Native Americans? How Did the General Reach Out to Indians During the American Revolution and What Were His Ideas and Programs for Native Americans as President? |
| 10-4-2017 | Cecile R. Ganteaume, Associate Curator at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian | Americans, a Major New Smithsonian Exhibition - Five Years in the Making – Is About to Open this October. The Curator of this Exhibit Takes Us on a Preview and Insider’s Look. |
| 11-1-2017 | Walter Haskell Pincus, one of six Washington Post reporters who shared the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for national reporting and recipient of the 2010 Arthus Ross Media Award from the American Academy of Diplomacy. | Covering National Security for 50 Years: Top Investigative Reporter Speaks About Milestone Events of the Past and the Present, Including Charges of Russian Meddling in U.S. Elections. |
| 1-3-2018 | Hilary Hart Falk, Vice President of Regional Conservation of the National Wildlife Federation | Extinction Is Forever. One-third of U.S. Wildlife Species May Be Gone in the Coming Decades. Hilary Hart Falk Speaks About the National Wildlife’s Work to Restore Habitats, Conserve Environments, and Bring Back Endangered Animals from the Brink. |
| 2-7-2018 | CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER-Brandon Cosby, Director of Development for Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (OAR) | OAR Staff and Volunteers Work with Offenders to Rebuild Their Lives and Break the Cycle of Crime, and also Assist Their Families. |
| 3-7-2018 | Dr. Jim Zimbelman, Planetary Geologist at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum | What Do Wind-Sculpted Sand Dunes on Mars Tell Us About How Mars Formed and Developed? Did Mars Lose Much of Its Atmosphere? Smithsonian Scientist Zimbelman Analyzes the Latest Findings from NASA Rover Missions to Mars. |
| 4-4-2018 | Ann Hornaday, Chief Film Critic of the Washington Post | Ann Hornaday Teaches How to Understand and Appreciate a Movie More Fully and How to Analyze Its Shortcomings. |
| 5-2-2018 | Pamela Hilbert, Ed.D., new Provost for Annandale Campus of the Northern Virginia Community College | The Provost will talk about this year’s NOVA-Annandale recipients of LLI’s scholarship funds. |
| 6-6-2018 | Brandon Cosby, Director of Development for Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (OAR) | OAR Staff and Volunteers Work with Offenders to Rebuild Their Lives and Break the Cycle of Crime, and also Assist Their Families. |
9/2013 – 6/2014
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-4-2013 | Dr. Robert G. Sutter, China expert – Professor of Practice of International Affairs at the Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University | Inside China Today – Socially, Economically, Politically |
| 10-2-2013 | Bill Kallio, Virginia’s Director of AARP | What Policy Choices Are Needed to Keep Medicare and Social Security Strong? |
| 11-6-2013 | Richard E. Rubenstein, Professor at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University | How Poverty and Inequality Endanger America. Are There Solutions? |
| 1-15-2014 | Dr. Kalahn Taylor-Clark, Director of Health Policy at the National Partnership for Women & Families, Assistant Professor and Senior Advisor to the Center for Health Policy, Visiting Scholar at The Brookings Institution. | What Should We Expect as the Affordable Care Act is Implemented? |
| 2-5-2014 | CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER - Nora Dowd Eisenhower, Assistant Director of the Office for Older Americans in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | Older Americans Are Often Targets of Consumer Financial Fraud. How Does the Federal Government Assist in Combating This Issue? |
| 3-4-2014 | Rear Admiral Terry McKnight, thirty-one year U.S. Navy veteran, served two Naval ship command duties | How Can the World Stop Somali Pirates? Insights from Rear Admiral Terry McKnight, USN, (Ret.), Task Force Commander in the Gulf of Aden |
| 4-2-2014 | Nora Dowd Eisenhower, Assistant Director of the Office for Older Americans in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau | Older Americans Are Often Targets of Consumer Financial Fraud. How Does the Federal Government Assist in Combating This Issue? |
| 5-7-2014 | Rear Admiral Terry McKnight, thirty-one year U.S. Navy veteran, served two Naval ship command duties | How Can the World Stop Somali Pirates? Insights from Rear Admiral Terry McKnight, USN, (Ret.), Task Force Commander in the Gulf of Aden |
| 6-4-2014 | Reva A. Savkar, Associate Professor of Chemistry at NOVA-Annandale | How Chemical Principles Relate to Real World Applications |
9/2016 – 6/2017
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-7-2016 | Reverend Jon Smoot, Executive Director of the NOVA Habitat for Humanity | Volunteering Together to Build Affordable Homes: The Habitat for Humanity of Northern Virginia |
| 10-5-2016 | Dr. Codrin I. Lungu, Chief of the Parkinson’s Clinic within the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health | Parkinson’s Disease and Other Neurological Disorders: The Latest Scientific Findings and Several Research Initiatives Underway |
| 11-2-2016 | Dr. Herman J. Viola, LLI member and Curator Emeritus at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History | Forgotten Soldiers: American Indians in the Armed Forces of the United States – the Contributions and Struggles of These Native Americans |
| 1-4-2017 | Robert Thomson, aka “Doctor Gridlock” for the Washington Post | Metro Trains Are Running Four Hours Late, Airports Are Jammed, Highways re Clogged, Amtrak Hit a Passenger. Is There a Doctor in the House? We Need to Call Dr. Gridlock. |
| 2-1-2017 | Jill Ingrassia | An In-Depth Look at Self-Driving Cars: The Companies, the Technologies, Test Results To Date and the Enormous Safety, Regulation and Insurance Issues Looming. |
| 3-1-2016 | Elizabeth Roy, Managing Director of The Autism Society of Northern Virginia | Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Are the Signs and Variations, Treatment Interventions and Services Available, Programs for Parents and Caretakers and Some of the Latest Research |
| 4-5-2017 | Bill Schneider, Professor of Policy, Government and International Affairs at George Mason University, formerly Senior Political Analyst at CNN | Analysis of Post-Election Political Scene in the U.S. and Around the World |
| 5-3-2017 | Major Dean Dominique, local historian and author | Author Discusses His Book, One Hell of a War: Patton’s 317th Infantry Regiment in WWII |
| 6-7-2017 | Joseph Pincus, Chair of the LLI Forum Committee | Who Wrote the Plays of Shakespeare? |
9/2015 – 6/2016
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-2-2015 | Michael Schaff, Battalion Chief of Virginia’s Urban Search and Rescue Team and other members of the Team | The Search and Rescue Mission to Nepal: Fairfax County’s International and Domestic Disaster Team |
| 10-7-2015 | Christopher A. Waldrop, Senior Public Health Educator in the Division of Public Health Informatics and Analytics at the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition | How Does the Food Safety Modernization Act Impact the Safety of Our Food Supply? |
| 11-4-2015 | Stephen Harding, Editor-in-Chief of Military History Magazine | Some Amazing Battles of WW II Were Stranger Than Fiction. Speaker Presents the Craft of Historical Writing. |
| 1-5-2016 | Callan Bentley, a structural geologist and NOVA-Annandale Professor specializing in the evolution of mountain belts, paleontology and climate science | What Can Snowball Earth Teach Us About Modern Climate Change? |
| 2-3-2016 | Jane Terry, National Safety Council’s Director of Government Affairs | What Is the National Safety Council Doing to Prevent Unintentional Injuries and Death? Learn About the Latest Initiatives and How the Council Works. |
| 3-2-2016 | Dr. John J. Whyte, Food and Drug Administration’s Director of Professional Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement at the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research | Kay Issues in Research and Development of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs and Medical Devices. |
| 4-6-2016 | Ralph Ehrenberg, Director of the Geography and Map Division of the U.S. Library of Congress and Dr. Herman J. Viola, LLI member and Curator Emeritus at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History | The Lewis and Clark Expedition: The Latest Research and Findings |
| 5-4-2016 | No Forum | |
| 6-1-2016 | Kenneth Daigler, Operations Officer (Ret.) in the CIA for nearly 20 years, including Chief of Station in the U.S. and abroad in high risk environments and senior management positions at CIA Headquarters | Intelligence-Gathering in the Revolutionary War – 1765 – 1783: Without George Washington’s Spy Network, We Might All Be British! |
9/2014 – 6/2015
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-3-2014 | Sue Difhart, Vice President of Guiding Eyes for the Blind | A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How Dogs Are Trained to Guide the Blind and Protect Autistic Children |
| 10-1-2014 | Joseph Pincus, Chair of the LLI Forum Committee | Is Google Making Us Stupid? What Is the Internet Doing to Our Brains? |
| 11-5-2014 | Dr. Gerald Dillingham, Director of Civil Aviation Issues t the U.S. Government Accountability Office | Drones Over America – Beyond Media Hype and Hyperbole |
| 1-6-2015 | Dr. Jim Zimbelman, Planetary Geologist at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum | A Spacecraft Tour of the Solar System |
| 2-4-2015 | Bill Schneider, Professor of Policy, Government and International Affairs at George Mason University, formerly Senior Political Analyst at CNN | A Divided America: How Did We Get Here and How Do We Get Out of Here? |
| 3-4-2015 | Dr. William Gilcher, independent writer, multi-lingual producer of international video and audio projects | Resisting Oppression Through Culture and the Arts |
| 4-1-2015 | Kirstin Downey, a prize-winning journalist (Washington Post) and author | Isabella, the Warrior Queen: One of the Most Influential Women in History |
| 5-6-2015 | Dr. Jim Zimbelman, Planetary Geologist at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (repeated due to minimal weather-related attendance at Feb. Forum | A Spacecraft Tour of the Solar System |
| 6-3-2015 | Conne Rubinstein, LLI member, world traveler and photographer | Armchair cruise of the Baltic Sea, visiting cities in Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Poland, Denmark and Germany |
9/2012 – 6/2013
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-5-2012 | William P. Lecky, Architect of the Vietnam and Korean War Memorials on the National Mall | Designing for Remembrance |
| 10-3-2012 | Dr. Henry Brandhorst, President of Carbon Free Energy | The Comparative Benefits of Solar Energy |
| 11-7-2012 | Toquir Hussain, former Ambassador of Pakistan to the U.S. | The History and Culture of Pakistan and the Need for Better Understanding with America |
| 1-16-2013 | Park Ranger Michael Kelly, a 20-year Veteran of the National Parks Service | The Mud March in 1862 under General Burnside: Might this have been the Decisive Turning Point in the Civil War? |
| 2-6-2013 | Diana Coho, a Program Manager at the Federal Communications Commission | An Inside Look at the FCC, Regulating Air Waves and Reaching Out to Underserved Communities |
| 3-6-2012 | Dr. Robert Sutter, Professor of International Relations, George Washington University | The Changing Role of China (cancelled due to snow) |
| 4-3-2013 | Sabine Gnesdiloff, Program Manager of Life with Cancer Family Centers, and Eric Cohen, Oncology Nurse and Nutritionist | The Many Educational, Counseling, and Exercise Classes Offered to Cancer Patients, Some of the Latest Cancer Treatments, and the Importance of Nutrition and other Good Health Practices in Lowering the Risk of Cancer |
| 5-1-2013 | Mike Canning, Film Critic and Author of “Hollywood on the Potomac” | How Washington, D.C. has been Portrayed in 50 American Feature Films |
| 6-5-2013 | Dr. Ellen Fancher-Ruiz, Dean of Students, NOVA Annandale Campus | Campus Initiatives to Better Prepare Students for College Course Work |
9/2011 – 6/2012
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-1-2011 | David Thompson, Vice President of Cultural Programming, WETA | America in the Age of Prohibition: A Preview of the New Ken Burns Documentary |
| 10-4-2011 | Dr. Ken Rasmussen, Professor of Geology, NOVA | Oceanographic Research and the Findings from Volcanic Flows and Earthquakes |
| 11-01-2011 | Dr. Herman Viola, Curator Emeritus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History | Magnificent Voyageurs: The U.S. Explorers Expedition of 1838-1842 to the Pacific and Antarctica |
| 1-11-2012 | Dr. David Applegate, Associate Director of Natural Hazards, U.S. Geological Survey | Latest Scientific Findings about Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Tsunamis, Floods, and other Natural Disasters |
| 2-1-2012 | Tracey Ryan, Volunteer Director of the Fairfax County Citizens Police Academy, accompanied by a Police Officer and two Citizen Graduates of the program | Overview of Police Operations in Fairfax County |
| 3-13-2012 | Ray Steiger and Scott Willey, retired Air Force Officers and Docents at the Udar-Hazy Smithsonian Space Museum | Major Milestones in Aviation |
| 4-4-2012 | Donald A. Ritchie, Historian of the U.S. Senate | The Evolution of the Senate and House of Representatives, Contrasting the Rules, Powers, and Cultures of these two Legislative Bodies |
| 5-2-2012 | Dr. Matthew McMahon, Senior Advisor for Translational Research at the National Eye Center, NIH. | The Latest Research about Reducing the Risk of and Treating Diseases of the Eye |
| 6-6-2012 | Dr. Barbara Saperstone, Provost of the NOVA Annandale Campus | The Challenges, Goals and Plans for the NOVA Annandale Campus |
9/2010 – 6/2011
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-1-10 | Brian Kelley, Retired CIA Officer | Discussed his Distinguished Career as the Nation’s Top Spy-Catcher |
| 10-5-10 | Karen L. Bune, Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice, Marymount and George Mason Universities | Domestic Violence: Understanding the Issues, Working for Solutions Among Police, Prosecutors, Victim Assistance Personnel, and the Judiciary |
| 11-2-10 | Barbara Ferguson, Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief of Arab News | Understanding the Muslim Religion and Culture, Overcoming Stereotypes Leading to Islamophobia |
| 1-11-11 | Herman J. Viola, Ph.D., Curator Emeritus of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum | Remembering the Battle of Little Bighorn: the Untold Story of Custer’s Last Stand |
| 2-1-11 | Barbara Tuceling, Director of the Smithsonian Associates Program | The Dynamic Growth of the Smithsonian Associates: Accomplishments, Opportunities, Future Plans |
| 3-1-11 | Kirstin Downey, Author of the Prize-Winning Biography About Frances Perkins | The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life and Legacy of Frances Perkins |
| 4-5-11 | The Honorable Deborah Hersman, Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board | Fascinating Facts and History about the NTSB |
| 5-3-11 | Kathy Gold, Certified Diabetes Educator from the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation | What To Do About a Serious Disease which Is Becoming a National Epidemic |
| 6-7-11 | Dr. Robert Templin, the President of the Northern Virginia Community College | The Expanding Role of the Community College in Higher Education |
9/2009 – 6/2010
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-1-09 | LLI Member Joseph Pincus | The Shakespeare Authorship Controversy |
| 10-6-09 | Bob Ryan, NBC-4 Principal Meteorologist | The Challenges of a Weatherman and the Perils of Global Climate Change |
| 11-6-09 | Ben Boxer, Community Outreach Representative of the Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program | Keeping It Clean -Why Should I Recycle? |
| 1-12-10 | Howard Houghton, “Mr. Medicare,” Coordinator for Virginia Insurance Counseling and Assistance Program (VICAP) | What You Always Wanted to Know about Medicare, Supplemental Plans, and Related Health Issues |
| 2-3-10 | Robert Thomson, The Washington Post’s “Dr. Gridlock” | Improving Transit and Road Conditions in the D.C. Area, Especially in Northern Virginia |
| 3-2-10 | Karen Cleveland, CEO, Northern Virginia Habitat for Humanity | Helping the Homeless Here and Around the World to Participate in Building Their Own Homes with Volunteer Support |
| 4-6-10 | Prati Prachtel, NIH Public Affairs Specialist for the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine | The Latest Research and Findings About Alternative Medicine |
| 5-4-10 | Keith Morrison, Battalion Chief of Special Operations, Urban Search and Rescue, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department | Whenever Disaster Strikes, Fairfax County’s Task Force One is Ready to Respond Anywhere in the World |
| 6-2-10 | LLI Member Don Reynolds, Representing the United States in June 2009 at the Ceremonies in France Commemorating the 65th Anniversary of D-Day | Remembering D-Day and the Campaign to Liberate Europe |
9/2008 – 6/2009
9/2007 – 6/2008
| DATE | SPEAKER | TOPIC |
| 9-4-07 | None | |
| 10-1-07 | Francis Gary Powers, Jr. | Reliving Events of the Cold War and the Activities and Progress of the Cold War Museum |
| 11-7-07 | Professor Matthew Bell, University of Maryland | Restoration of Ancient Stabiae, Buried Since 79 A.D. by Mount Vesuvius |
| 1-02-08 | Professor Nan Peck, Northern Community College, Annandale Campus | Effective Methods for Improving Personal Communications and Resolving Conflicts |
| 2-05-08 | Kathleen Styles, Assistant Division Chief for Content and Outreach, U.S. Census Bureau | The Challenges of Managing the Census and Changing Demographics in the U.S., Especially in Fairfax County |
| 3-04-08 | Liz Crenshaw, Consumer Affairs Advocate, Channel 4 News | Urgent Issues in Consumer Affairs and Product Safety |
| 4-01-08 | Mark O’Meara, Owner of Cinema Arts and University Mall Movie Theaters | The Challenges and Joys of Operating an Independent Movie Theater |
| 5-06-08 | Rotonna Mullen and Michael Butler, U.S. Postal Service | Technology for Customers of the U.S. Postal Service and the Challenges of Protecting the Mails from Thieves and Swindlers |
| 6-02-08 | Dr. Richard Rubinstein, Professor, George Mason University | How Wisdom from the Old Testament Can be Applied to Resolving Modern Day Conflicts |