ABOUT
The Lifelong Learners Course is an annual eight week course, with sessions held once a week during the fall. Classes begin on October 1 and conclude on November 19. The seminar focuses on one topic, chosen by Shirley Ryan and President Henry Bienen, with the majority of sessions presented by Northwestern University faculty. Participation is by invitation only, as directed by Mrs. Ryan. Marilyn McCoy, vice president of administration and planning, manages the programming for the course. The Office of Alumni Relations and Development coordinates the logistics for the course. Elizabeth Kos, associate director for development special events, leads this effort. The sessions begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday mornings. They are preceded with a light breakfast and are followed by an optional lunch where participants are encouraged to continue their discussions from the class. There is an exception to this rule on November 12; the class will convene in the evening and participants will be encouraged to bring spouses and friends. Participants and their guests will meet for cocktails prior to the lecture and will follow with a sit-down dinner.
HISTORY
The Lifelong Learners Course was founded in 1975 by Shirley Ryan. The course is open to women only and aims to educate participants on current events. The environment is intended to be an open forum where the attendees are welcome to ask questions and share thoughts and opinions. Discussion is encouraged and is available via the web.
PAST COURSE TITLES
- 2007 Globalization and the BRIC Countries
- 2006 The Science of Small: Nanobiology and the Future of Medicine
- 2005 Today’s Discoveries, Tomorrow’s Cures
- 2004 Globalization’s Effect on the United States and the World
- 2003 The United Stated and the World: Global Perspectives Today
- 2002 The United States and the World: Emerging Issues
- 2001 The Human Genome, Stem Cells, and our Health