Back-to-School Classes

Wednesday, April 26

Life is a Puzzle - Let's Fill in the Blanks
with Vic Fleming '73

Sponsored by the Class of 1973 Reunion Committee

Crossword constructor Judge Vic Fleming will present an interactive lecture on the history, philosophy, psychology, and fun of crossword puzzles. Where'd they come from? Where are they going? What do they do and how do they do it? These and other questions will all be taken up ...and maybe even answered. What questions do you have for Davidson's crossword guru?

Recording will be available on this website two weeks following the presentation. 

Tuesday, May 2

Fire in the Forest: The Importance of Fire in Southeastern Forests
With Nick DiLuzio ’08

Sponsored by the Class of 2008 Reunion Committee

Fire plays a vital role in many ecosystems across the southeast, especially in its forest lands. As Georgia is the #1 state in the country for forestry, fire is an important tool in maintaining the health and longevity of Georgia’s forests but is not without controversy. This presentation will focus on the critical role fire plays in southeastern forests while also highlighting how differences in forest management practices have led to the extreme wildland fires observed out west in recent years.

Nick DiLuzio is the Vice President of the Georgia Forestry Foundation. In this role, he is responsible for overseeing the operations and programs of the Foundation, which is focused on ensuring the longevity of Georgia’s 22 million acres of working forests by maximizing Georgia’s working forests as a solution to our nation’s greatest challenges. Nick’s role includes overseeing the Foundation’s three programmatic areas (Education and Leadership, Environmental Sustainability, and Economic Competitiveness), leading the Foundation’s fundraising and development efforts, and engaging with stakeholders and partners across the state and the country. Nick received a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Davidson College and Masters degrees in Forestry and Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. He is also a Certified Forester and holds a Certificate in Geospatial Analysis from Duke University. Nick is a proud 2019 graduate of the Institute for Georgia Environmental Leadership (IGEL).

Monday, May 8

Davidson and Bangladesh
With Scott MacMillan, Naila Mamoon and George Shaw ‘68

Sponsored by the Class of 1968 Reunion Committee

BRAC, headquartered in Bangladesh, is a leading international nonprofit with a mission to empower people and communities in situations of poverty, illiteracy, disease, and social injustice. BRAC reaches more than 100 million people across Asia and Africa. A major component of BRAC is BRAC University, a leading educational institution in Bangladesh. The foundation of BRAC's program is a liberal arts curriculum, for which they have chosen Davidson College as their partner to update general education courses with liberal art principles. 

Scott MacMillan, Director of Learning and Innovation at BRAC USA, will provide a summary of his book, “Hope Over Fate”, a biography of Sir Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of BRAC, as well as discuss the growth of BRAC over the last fifty years. Naila Mamoon, Director of Pre Medicine and Allied Health and Assistant Professor of Public Health will discuss this emerging partnership between Davidson and BRAC University.  

Tuesday, May 9

Author Business: Actionable Tips for Turning Your Ideas into a Published Book that Readers Will Love
Moderated by Lucy Marshall Davis ‘83; Panelists Tim "T.D." Johnston ‘83, David Taylor ’83 and Mitzi Short ‘83

Sponsored by the Class of 1983 Reunion Committee

Publishing a book is one of the most enduring ways to leave a legacy. Many of us are at an age where we want to share our stories, lessons learned, systems for change, or creative ideas with readers outside of our own circles. If you dream of seeing a book for sale with your name on the cover but feel stuck about where to start, we have good news. Today there are more options than ever for creating and selling publishable fiction and nonfiction titles that sell widely and make a big impact. In this panel of award-winning authors and “author enablers” who provide professional support for writing, publishing, and marketing books, we’ll pull back the curtain and discuss writing process options you may not have considered, how to craft a “must-read” book that readers love, publishing alternatives, and how to wrangle all the choices into a plan by thinking of your author future as a set of business decisions.

Thursday, May 11

The Social Impact of Storytelling
With Ayesha Shah ‘13, Deputy Director of Partnerships at The White House; Robert Abare ‘13, Executive Communications at Accion; Quinn Libson ‘13, Freelance Writer, Editor and Audio Producer; Yuxi Lin ‘13, Chinese American Writer and English Teacher at Friends Seminary

Sponsored by the Class of 2013 Reunion Committee

Four Wildcats working in four corners of storytelling—public affairs, poetry, speechwriting, and journalism—will discuss the social impact of their craft. What makes a story inspiring? How can a few minutes with a speech, article, or poem lead audiences to shift their perspective or take action? Join us to explore these questions, and ask your own!

Monday, May 15

What Are We Doing With The Rest Of Our Lives?
Moderated by Julie Chrisco Andrews '78 and Jeff Clark '78; Panelists Steve Justus ’78, Jane Perkins ’78 and George Flowers ‘78
7:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET
Zoom Event

Sponsored by the Class of 1978 Reunion Committee

This class is not about retirement—it’s about how several members of the Class of 1978 are redefining their “golden” years. The committee has assembled a panel of classmates who have all approached the Medicare chapter of their lives differently. There is no one right way to do this. Join Dr. Steve Justus '78 (EMS & Touch Foundation EVP), George Flowers '78 (Bank President and Uber volunteer) and Jane Perkins '78 (Litigation Director of National Health Law Program) as they breakdown their decisions and plot their paths 45 years after graduation. 

Suggested Reading: "Independence Day: What I learned about retirement from some who've done it and some who never will" by Steve Lopez

Tuesday, May 16

Resilience: How to Not Allow Life’s Obstacles Stop You From Living Your Best Life
With Rod Cate ‘88
7 – 8 p.m. ET 
Zoom Event

Sponsored by the Class of 1988 Reunion Committee

Rod Cate ’88 is not aware of any scientific studies that have developed a formula for living a life of resilience.  This class on resilience is purely an opinion piece.  In 1981, when Rod was 15 years old, he broke his neck playing high school football, leaving him paralyzed from the neck down.  He was fortunate in that he eventually was able to walk again but with significant paralysis.  Rod has been a lawyer for 31 years, married for almost 30 and has 3 grown children.  He deals with obstacles daily that most do not even consider.  Yet, he’s lived a wonderful life and would not have it any other way.  In this class, he will discuss what he’s learned in navigating life and provide what he hopes to be good life lessons to encourage constant movement forward.  It’s all about never giving up!  Four years ago, he self-published his motivational memoir “Get Back Up.”  But what he is most proud of is the podcast he started called “Rocket Motivation,” on which he brings on guests to talk about dealing with and overcoming adversity in their lives.  Rod feels so much satisfaction in providing a platform for people to tell their stories of resilience and give their life lessons to listeners who may be struggling in their lives.

Thursday, May 18

How a Liberal Arts Education Shapes Career Paths; Then, Now and The Future
Moderated by Demian Dellinger ’98, Town Council Member, Town of Garner and Managing Partner, The North Carolina Fund
Panelists: Jackie Rasulo Kasulis ’98, Partner Government, Regulatory and Internal Investigations Practice Group at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, New York, NY; Britton Taylor '98, Founder, Tritton Baylor Strategic Industries; and Jeff Tonidandel ’98, Founder, Owner and Operator Supperland, Haberdish, Ever Andalo, Growlers Pourhouse & Reigning Doughnuts, Charlotte, NC
8 – 9 p.m. ET
Zoom Event

Sponsored by the Class of 1998 Reunion Committee

Register here.

Davidson has a long and proud tradition of developing successful leaders in many fields. Students leave Davidson prepared to make a difference, equipped with transferable skills and character traits that enable us to think critically, analyze complex data, communicate clearly and tackle difficult problems. Join this class to hear members of the Class of 1998 share how their Davidson education shaped their varied career paths and what is the value of a liberal arts education in the 21st century.

Monday, May 22

Public Art: Opportunities in Community Development and Community Building
With Meika Fields Daus ’03 and Lia Newman, Public Art Commissioner for Arts & Science Council and Director/Curator of the Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College
7 – 8 p.m. ET

Sponsored by the Class of 2003 Reunion Committee

Join this session to discuss topics in the field of public art within the urban and community planning context. What are communities doing to support public art and art in public spaces? How are artists advancing important conversations through public art and helping communities create more inclusive public spaces? In this session Meika Fields Daus '03, community planning professional, will be sharing her thoughts on the field and drawing insight from her current role as Public Art Senior Manager with the City of Alexandria, Virginia. This conversation will be moderated by Lia Newman, Public Art Commissioner for Arts & Science Council and Director/Curator of the Van Every/Smith Galleries at Davidson College. 

Tuesday, May 23

Second Acts: Switching Gears to Change Careers Later In Life
Moderated by Bonita Paysour Zumbach ’93; Panelists include Chad McCall ’93, Matt Spear ’93 and Donna Peters ‘89
7 – 8 p.m. ET

Sponsored by the Class of 1993 Reunion Committee

Are you contemplating a later in life career change? If so, you're not alone. Changing careers can be a daunting prospect at any age, but it can be especially challenging for people who may feel that they have already invested a significant amount of time and effort into their current career path. This session will explore the challenges and opportunities that come with pursuing a "second act" and provide insights and advice from who have successfully navigated this transition. More and more people are choosing to switch careers later in life in pursuit of greater autonomy, more flexibility, a change in interests, or a need for a new challenge.

In this session, Bonita Paysour Zumbach ’93 will moderate a discussion between Chad McCall ’93, Matt Spear ’93 and Donna Peters ’89 as they share their stories. They will discuss the challenges and rewards of making a major life change, and offer advice to others who are considering their own “second act."