The Arizona Senior Academy (ASA) Lifelong Learning Lecture series brings the best of Arizona’s academic and professional worlds directly to Academy Village. Twice weekly, we host presentations from University of Arizona faculty, regional experts, and our own distinguished **Resident Member**.
From climate change and healthcare to local art and global issues, these sessions deliver cutting-edge research and diverse perspectives to our community. Every lecture concludes with an interactive Q&A, allowing for direct, personal engagement with the presenters
Select the dates below for more information!
Monday, July 27
3:00 – 4:00 pm ASA Koffler Great Room
John Singer Sargent: Images from the Gilded Age
Martin Randall: Independent Arts Scholar and Speaker, Tucson Art Talks
Martin Randall shares how John Singer Sargent, shaped by a cosmopolitan yet outsider upbringing, became a leading Gilded Age portraitist known for captivating, sometimes controversial works. Later, he abandoned portraiture to travel widely, painting scenes across Europe, North Africa, and the United States, reflecting his lifelong passion for exploration. Read More…
Monday, August 3
3:00 – 4:00 pm ASA Koffler Great Room
Musica Femina: Celebrating the Music of Women Composers
Dr. Elizabeth Schauer: Professor Emerita, Music; Director, Choral Activities; School of Music
Despite historical recognition, many women composers were forgotten after their deaths. Today, their work is gaining renewed attention. Dr. Elizabeth Schauer introduces ten notable female composers and highlights their music through selected recordings, celebrating their contributions. Read More…
Tuesday, August 11
3:00 – 4:00 pm ASA Koffler Great Room
A Journey to Health Through Asian Medicine
Dr. Julie Armstrong, BS and MS Biomedical Engineering from the University of Southern California specializing in Neuroscience and Medical Device Development; Doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
Dr. Julie Armstrong discusses Asian medical practices and how their integration of natural world experiences and human experiences influence our health. She will share how treating the whole person, rather than just symptoms, can improve all aspects of a person’s health. Read More…
Monday, August 24
3:00 – 4:00 pm ASA Koffler Great Room
Regenerating Nature & Community: The Future of Conservation in Sonora
Allison Kries: Co-Director, La Tierra del Jaguar
Colonial expansion and livestock ranching drastically reduced jaguars’ Sonoran range. This presentation from Allison Kries, Co-Director of La Tierra del Jaguar, shares their vision of community-centered conservation. They focus on regenerative practices and empowering rural communities to support wildlife. This approach strengthens resilience for both people and ecosystems. Read More…
Monday, August 31
3:00 – 4:00 pm ASA Koffler Great Room
Belonging Matters: Social Inclusion & Outcomes for Older LGBTQ+ Adults
Mary O’Donoghue: Executive Director, Southern Arizona Senior Pride. Ames Meeks: Program Manager, Southern Arizona Senior Pride
Southern Arizona Senior Pride leaders, Mary O’Donoghue and Ames Meeks, discuss challenges facing older LGBTQ+ adults. Cultivating meaningful community connections improves well-being, reduces loneliness and stress, and fosters resilience, belonging, and dignity. SASP offers supportive programs and practical solutions for healthier aging for LGBTQ+ elders. Read More…
Monday, September 14
3:00 – 4:00 pm ASA Koffler Great Room
But Is It Art? Dada and the Rebellion Born from War (Part 1 of 6)
**Resident Member** Deborah Robin: Ed.D., Nova Southeastern University; Regional Director of Operations, Keller Graduate School of Management.; Art History Instructor, Art Institute of Phoenix and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
Part 1 of a six-part series on reinventing art explores how World War I shattered faith in European culture. In response, Dada artists rebelled against art itself—displaying a urinal, performing nonsense poetry, and creating absurd collages—leaving one enduring question: what even is art? Read More…
Wednesday, September 16
3:00 – 4:00 pm ASA Koffler Great Room
The Logic of Dreams: Surrealism and the World Beneath the Surface (Part 2 of 6)
**Resident Member** Deborah Robin: Ed.D., Nova Southeastern University; Regional Director of Operations, Keller Graduate School of Management.; Art History Instructor, Art Institute of Phoenix and Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art
In part 2, we’ll explore how Surrealists were inspired by Freud’s ideas about the unconscious; they sought truth in dreams, accidents, and the irrational. From Dalí’s melting clocks to Magritte’s riddles, they created a world beyond reality by surrendering control to the dreaming mind. Read More…