"I really love all of it! I love learning about our area, the strong substance of the talks, the chance to meet new people, the question-and-answer session, and the respect given to the time. It is a lot of fun and I have been recommending it to anyone I see."
Engaging. Educational. Community.
LIFE@Lynchburg
Learning and Community
The University of Lynchburg’s LIFE@Lynchburg program offers not-for-credit learning opportunities for community members aged 50 and older.
The University of Lynchburg’s LIFE@Lynchburg program offers not-for-credit learning opportunities for community members age 50 and older. Ultimately, the program is a community of lifelong learners who explore topics together and do what the University of Lynchburg is known for — building friendships and connections that last a lifetime.
The program features weekly presentations on a variety of engaging topics, taught by current and retired faculty and staff members or area educators and presenters. Ten classes are offered each semester (fall and spring), with occasional field trips during the semesters and over the summer. LIFE@Lynchburg is for people who love learning, want to dig deeper in their areas of interest, or discover something new.
With LIFE@Lynchburg, you’ll learn about history, science and technology, arts, culture, politics, and more. The program is open to residents of the surrounding community, as well as alumni and existing Lynchburg friends and family! There are no requirements or prerequisites, only that you’re ready to dive in, learn about and discuss interesting topics, and make some new friends along the way. Also, after the presentations, you can eat lunch, get some coffee, or hang out with one or more of your new friends at Lynchburg’s dining facilities!
The Details
What it costs:
- Annual membership: $150
- Semester membership: $85
- Single event pass: $12
- Annual virtual membership: $79
- Semester virtual membership: $49
- Premium membership: $1,000
- Lifetime membership: $2,000
Our payment and membership options and benefits provide access to a range of on-campus amenities.
When it starts:
- Fall 2025 sessions begin on Sept. 10
- Wednesdays 10 a.m. – noon
What you get:
- Attendance at 10 in-person, two-hour interactive sessions held on the University of Lynchburg campus (typically in Sydnor Performance Hall, located in Schewel Hall).
- Reserved parking on Wednesdays.
- Access to live recordings after the event via an emailed link.
- Free tickets to theatrical and musical performances on campus are available for annual and semester members.
- Borrowing privileges at Knight-Capron Library: Check out books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVDs, and use the library’s public spaces.
- Lunch in Burton Dining Hall on Wednesdays at the student price
Curriculum
The LIFE@Lynchburg curriculum varies by semester and is shaped by suggestions from our members. History, arts and culture, science and technology, the environment, and politics are just a few topics we will cover in 2025-26.
We want to know what interests you and what you’re passionate about. Have an idea for a topic? Let us know.
Fall 2025 Course Lineup
Ota Benga — Sept. 10
Presented by Pat Price ’95, ’05 MEd
The Battle of Lynchburg: Defending Hearth & Home — Sept. 17
Presentation Brief:
Join Greg Starbuck ’19 MA, Executive Director of Historic Sandusky, as he guides us through how the battle affects Lynchburg to this day.
Speaker Biography:
Greg Starbuck ’19 MA holds bachelor’s degrees in history (1982) and business management (1983) from Virginia Tech and master’s degrees in history (2014) and non-profit leadership (2019) from the University of Lynchburg.
Following graduation from college, he worked as a Historical Interpreter at the National Colonial Farm in Accokeek, Maryland (1984), and at Old Fort Jackson in Savannah, Georgia (1985). From 1988 to 1996, he worked as an exhibits technician for the Virginia Aquarium. In 1996, he became the site manager of Old Fort Jackson in Savannah, Georgia, a second system fort used during the Civil War to defend the Savannah River.
From 2000 to 2002, he served as the first director of education at the National Civil War Naval Museum in Columbus, Georgia. Since 2002, he has served as executive director for Historic Sandusky, a historic house museum in Lynchburg, Virginia, that served as General David Hunter’s headquarters during the Battle of Lynchburg.
In 2005, he led a coalition of regional tourism partners in establishing the Hunter’s Raid Civil War Trail, part of the Civil War Trails system in Virginia. In 2010, he wrote and directed “Hunter’s Raid: Defending Hearth & Home,” a documentary film about the campaign, which won three regional Emmy Awards in 2011.
The Peddler and the Pedagogue — Sept. 24
Presentation Brief:
This session will explore the unlikely partnership that resulted in the building of over 5,000 schools across the South to address the plight of African American children.
On May 18, 1911, at a luncheon at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago, Julius Rosenwald, who had amassed a modest fortune as CEO of Sears, Roebuck and Company and embarked on a second career in philanthropy, met Booker T. Washington, the former slave who had transformed a small teachers’ college in Tuskegee, Alabama, into one of the largest institutions of higher learning in the region.
The two men struck up a friendship. Rosenwald joined Tuskegee’s Board of Trustees and became a significant donor and a trusted adviser to Washington. Eventually, Washington persuaded Rosenwald to contribute seed money to a project of which he had long dreamed: new schools to remedy the dismal conditions under which black children were supposedly being educated.
Schewel will follow the course of this project from gestation to sunset. He will cover the impact of the project on African American and universal public education and on black community life. He will close his presentation with a review of recent efforts to revitalize former Rosenwald school sites, including the campus in Rustburg, Virginia.
Speaker Biography:
Marc Schewel is a lifelong resident of Lynchburg. He, his brother, his son, and his niece are the fourth and fifth generations to own and operate their family business, a chain of fifty retail furniture stores across three states, which celebrated its 128th Anniversary in May.
Schewel has been involved in numerous community service activities. Among the organizations of which he has served as either Board Chair or President are Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Virginia, the United Way of Central Virginia, New Vistas School, the YMCA of Central Virginia, Greater Lynchburg Habitat for Humanity, the National Home Furnishings Association, Agudath Sholom Congregation, and the Lynchburg Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Schewel is the recipient of the John Willis Award of Merit, the NCCJ Humanitarian Award, the Lynchburg Bar Association Liberty Bell Award, and the Paul Harris Fellow Award.
Schewel is married to the former Barb Katrinak. He is the father of three children, David, Sara, and Matthew, and of two stepdaughters, Kali and Adrienne. He has ten grandchildren: Lia, Ari, Frank, Ana, Ben, Mia, Jackson, Abigail, Bennet, and Davis. In his spare time, Mr. Schewel enjoys exercise, reading, and duplicate bridge.
My 25-Year Heart Anniversary — Oct. 1
Presentation Brief:
R. Marc Jordan ‘69 will discuss the successful heart transplant procedure he underwent in August 2000, how that experience changed his life, and how to become an organ or tissue donor. This presentation will also touch on overcoming obstacles to achieve success.
Speaker Biography:
R. Marc Jordan is a 1969 graduate of Lynchburg College, where he majored in sociology. During his extensive career, he has led chambers of commerce throughout the South, including those in Memphis, Raleigh, Norfolk, Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where he achieved both 4-Star and 5-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. With an extensive career in chamber leadership, Marc was named a Lifetime Member of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), a testament to his outstanding contributions and dedication to the industry.
Throughout his career, Jordan has held numerous volunteer leadership positions, including chairman of the Metro Cities Council and chair-elect for ACCE. He relinquished his pending chairman’s position while awaiting a heart transplant, but upon returning to his adopted home of Lynchburg, Virginia, he resumed his impactful leadership journey.
Marc’s leadership and perseverance have earned him recognition as Chamber Executive of the Year in North Carolina and, most recently, Chamber Executive of the Year in South Carolina. Additionally, he has served as president of the state associations in Tennessee and North Carolina, solidifying his legacy as a transformative force in the chamber community.
The Governor of South Carolina appointed Marc to the Organ Donation Board to oversee and grow the number of registered organ, tissue, and eye donors in the state.
Marc’s wife, Vicki, is a double alumna from Lynchburg College, and together they share three children, one of whom, Marcus, is also an Lynchburg graduate from the class of 2008.
Understanding and Ending Homelessness: The Central Virginia Landscape and Miriam’s House’s Approach — Oct. 8
Presentation Brief:
Homelessness is a complex and evolving challenge across Central Virginia, but meaningful progress is possible with the right strategies and community partnerships. Join us for an in-depth presentation on the current scope of homelessness in our region, including key data trends, root causes, and the populations most affected. This session will explore proven, evidence-based solutions to homelessness, with a focus on the leadership and impact of Miriam’s House. Discover how Miriam’s House has revolutionized the local response through Housing First, supportive services, and innovative partnerships, paving the way toward making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Central Virginia. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of both the challenges and the pathways to lasting solutions.
Speaker Biography:
Sarah Quarantotto serves as the executive director of Miriam’s House in Lynchburg, Virginia. With a master’s degree in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University and a career dedicated to the welfare of all community members, Quarantotto’s leadership is centered on the belief that every individual deserves a place to call home. Since 2010, Quarantotto has been an integral part of the Miriam’s House team. Under her leadership, the organization has seen a remarkable expansion in service capacity, increasing the number of individuals served and the number of homeless response programs provided. In 2015, Quarantotto was recognized by Lynchburg Business Magazine as a Top 20 Under 40 Professional, and in 2024, was recognized by Lynchburg Living Magazine as a Community Champion. When not addressing homelessness, Quarantotto can be found exploring the outdoors of central Virginia with her husband and two children.
The Gift of a Skeptical Mind: Why Socrates Was Right About the Unexamined Life — Oct. 22
Presentation Brief:
Asking questions, wondering why something is the way it is, needing to understand better what has been said before agreeing or disagreeing with it, are all by-products of a healthy skeptical mind that wants to know more than it knows and to come as close to truth as is possible for flawed, fallible human beings. The questioning mind is not only essential in scientific research, but in this lecture, we will explore why it is equally essential to being a spiritually, emotionally, and intellectually mature person for whom the joy of learning never grows old.
Speaker Biography:
Jan Linn is an ordained minister of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He was the chaplain and an associate professor at Lynchburg College, now University of Lynchburg, for 10 years before serving as professor of the practice of ministry at Lexington Theological Seminary in Kentucky. He and his wife, Joy, also served as co-directors of the new clergy program for the Department of Religion at the Chautauqua Institution for two years. He was the inaugural dean of the School of Ministry for the Christian Church in the Upper Midwest region, where he helped design a special focus on theological education for commissioned ministers. He and his wife also served as co-directors of the new clergy program at the Chautauqua Institute from 2013 to 2015.
Linn has authored 21 books, including “What’s Wrong With The Christian Right” (Universal Publishers, 2004), “Evangelicalism and The Decline of American Politics” (Cascade, 2018), and “Unbinding Christianity: Choosing the Values of Jesus over the Beliefs of the Church” (Universal Publishers, 2020).
False All Through — Oct. 29
Presentation Brief:
Rev. Dennis S. Roberts examines the roots and rise of White Christian nationalism in the U.S., linking modern insurrections to decades of evangelical and fundamentalist activism. Drawing on history, theology, and political movements, Roberts traces how religious rhetoric has been re-purposed to justify anti-democratic actions, challenging assumptions about religious liberty and the founding values of the U.S.
Speaker Biography:
Rev. Dennis S. Roberts is a native of Rural Retreat, Virginia. He is a graduate of Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, and the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. He has served congregations in Frankfurt, Germany, and Harrisonburg, Virginia, before coming to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lynchburg, in 1991.
In the Lynchburg community, Roberts serves as chair of Lynchburg’s chapter of the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, as well as a member of VCIC’s State Board of Directors. He is a member of the Lynchburg Community Action Group board, has served on the United Way of Central Virginia Campaign Cabinet, and has been a board member and president of the Interfaith Outreach Association, as well as president of the Sphex Club of Lynchburg. In partnership with local interfaith clergy, he has facilitated public statements addressing Islamophobia, antisemitism, racism, and gun violence. In addition, he has served on various committees of the Virginia Synod of the Lutheran Church.
Roberts and his wife, Maria, are the parents of two adult daughters – Gretchen and Sena.
Music is Life: Insights from Ula Kauppi and Entertainment from the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra — Nov. 5
Presentation Brief:
Join us for a special presentation by the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra. LSO Executive Director Ula Kauppi will give brief remarks, followed by a performance by the string quartet and a Q&A with Ula Kauppi and the the musicians.
Speaker Biography:
Ula Kauppi is a dynamic nonprofit executive with an extensive background in resource development, marketing, communications, and management. Currently serving as the Executive Director of the Lynchburg SymphonyOrchestra, she previously was the Director of Development at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia and then the United Way of Central Virginia. She is a CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) and holds a master’s degree in Nonprofit Leadership Studies from the University of Lynchburg and a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Tech.
Ula serves as a volunteer leader in the Lynchburg community, having served on the boards of E.C. Glass Theatre and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. She is currently in her 6th year of board service at the Academy Center of the Arts and is a strong advocate for the revitalization of Downtown Lynchburg.
A lifelong patron of the arts, Ula has called Lynchburg home since 2004 alongside her husband Alan. They are proud to have raised three wonderful children (now young adults) who all participated in the Lynchburg City Schools Strings program.
Developing the Polio Vaccine: Recognized & Unrecognized Heroes — Nov. 12
Presentation Brief:
Join us for an insightful discussion about the development of the polio vaccine, the work of Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, and the vaccine’s experimental use on mentally disabled persons.
Speaker Biography:
Edward A. Polloway served as the Rosel H. Schewel Chair of Education at the University of Lynchburg, where he taught for over 40 years. He was also the vice president for community advancement, dean of graduate studies, and dean of the School of Education. He received his master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Virginia and his baccalaureate degree from Dickinson College.
He served twice as president of the Division on Developmental Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children and served on the board of directors of the Council for Learning Disabilities. He is a fellow of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Dr. Polloway is the coauthor of 32 books and over 100 journal articles in the field of special education and disability studies.
Empty Frames: The Gardner Heist and the Meaning of Art — Nov. 19
Presentation Brief:
On March 18, 1990, two men disguised as Boston police officers pulled off the most significant art theft in American history, robbing the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum of priceless works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas, and others. Thirty-five years later, the mystery of the heist — and the fate of the stolen masterpieces — remains unsolved. This presentation explores the infamous Gardner Museum heist, the bold and eccentric life of its founder, and the enduring role of art in American culture. From true crime and unsolved mysteries to gilded galleries and art history, the audience will come away with a deeper appreciation for beauty, loss, and the strange magic of museums, along with an invitation to experience it all firsthand in Boston.
Speaker Biography:
Dr. Price Blair, associate professor in the University of Lynchburg’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program and the assistant director of Westover Honors, joined the faculty in 2010. He earned his bachelor’s degree in both chemistry and classics from Washington & Lee University and his doctorate in pharmacology and experimental therapeutics from Boston University School of Medicine before continuing post-doctoral research at Harvard Medical School. Today, Dr. Blair teaches courses in a variety of subjects, including a Westover Honors colloquium on Frankenstein and the Science of Synthetic Life. He has led multiple study abroad trips to Italy, England, Scotland, and Germany to study the history of anatomy and medicine, as well as the works of Frankenstein. Dr. Blair’s current research interests include studying the local history of grave robbing and body snatching for the purposes of medical education.
Thank you!
Thank you to the Treadway Family Fund for their support of LIFE@Lynchburg.
Thank you to our community sponsor,
Thank you to our travel partner,
