W&L Lifelong Learning Program 2023-2024

Dear

Alumni, Parents, and Friends,

Washington and Lee University operates one of the most respected arrays of lifelong learning programs in the nation. In this brochure, you’ll discover the many exciting trips, campus seminars, and virtual programming that we have prepared for you in 2023–2024.

The best way to celebrate W&L’s enduring commitment to lifelong learning is to experience it personally. You, too, can share in the life of the university with an educational adventure on campus or abroad. You’ll find the companionship of exploring the world with compatible minds rewarding, as well. As travelers, we delight in the history and culture of foreign lands, places wholly apart from the familiar customs and routines of our neighborhoods; places that open our eyes and all our senses to what is new and different, that rekindle the wonder of discovery and the goodwill that naturally comes with it.

The W&L campus is a shorter journey for most travelers. Through the Alumni College, we encourage you to satisfy your enduring curiosity about the world, to think with us about history, philosophy, literature, the arts and sciences, and current events. As always, the journey involves a lot of fun. At W&L, it begins with our delight in one of the most beautiful campuses in the nation, the traditional warmth of its hospitality, and the engaging expertise of the W&L faculty.

You don’t have to leave home to enjoy lifelong learning through W&L. We’ve created several virtual programs that you can enjoy in the comfort of your living room. “W&L After Class,” a podcast series with W&L faculty; “Lifelong Learning Webinars,” timely panel discussions on current issues with W&L faculty and alumni expertise; and the “W&L Virtual Book Club” together offer a rich variety of educational opportunities you’ve come to expect from Washington and Lee.

Many adventures await you in 2023–2024. Please take a few minutes to read through this catalog, and prepare yourself for some tough choices! We look forward to welcoming you to the next chapter in a lifetime of learning.

Sincerely,

Fure Director of Lifelong Learning Ruth Candler Asst. Director of Lifelong Learning

Phone: 540-458-8723; Email: lifelong@wlu.edu; Fax: 540-458-8478 Follow us on @wlulifelonglearning and @wlulifelonglearning

Cover photo by Michael S. Nolan

Rob

Lisa D’Amelio Program Coordinator

Program Calendar

Jan. 17–24, 2023

The Galapagos Islands

Jan. 21–28, 2023

The Galapagos Islands

Jan. 25–30, 2023

Wild Baja: The Whales of Magdalena Bay

March 3–4, 2023

The Institute for Honor Symposium: McDonalds vs. Putin

March 6–17, 2023

Israel: The Heritage and the Hope

March 22–April 2, 2023

Japanese Immersion Cruise

April 14–22, 2023

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

April 21–29, 2023

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast

April 28–29, 2023

Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar: Amor Towles, “The Lincoln Highway”

May 26–June 3, 2023

Flavors of Dordogne

June 21–July 1, 2023

Danube River Cruise

July 2–7, 2023

Alumni College: America in the 1960s

July 9–12, 2023

Alumni College: A Family Adventure in Science Outdoors

July 12–15, 2023

Alumni College: A Family Adventure in Science and Technology

July 23–28, 2023

Alumni College: A W&L Education—Up Close and Personal

August 2–8, 2023

Canadian Rockies by Rail

August 9–19, 2023

Douro River Cruise

Sept. 2–12, 2023

From Sicily to Athens

Sept. 20–28, 2023

Southwest National Parks

Oct. 27–28, 2023

Law and Literature Weekend: David Guterson’s “The Final Case”

Oct. 28–Nov. 4, 2023

Panama Canal and Columbia Cruise

Oct. 28–Nov. 10, 2023

Egypt and the Nile Valley

Jan 20–27, 2024

Cuba: From Revolution to Evolution

Feb. 3–16, 2024

Egypt and the Nile Valley

Feb. 6–20, 2024

New Zealand’s Great Outdoors

April 19–25, 2024

Six-Day Getaway to Istanbul

May 25–June 2, 2024

Flavors of Northern Italy

June 7–15, 2024

Scottish Isles and Norwegian Fjords Cruise

June 12–22, 2024

Land of the Ice Bears

Campus Program Reviews

“The course was very well organized, the RAs were awesome—very fun to interact with, the instructors superb, the classroom comfortable, and the ‘Glamping’ facilities, and of course the social hours, morning break, and the meals were wonderful.”

“Excellent speakers who opened our hearts and minds to our past with insights to hope for a better future.”

“The faculty’s depth of knowledge is phenomenal. A real treat to learn from real ‘experts’ in their field.”

“The attendees and their participation add so much to the class. The bonding of attendees is great.”

“Very impressed with the in-depth knowledge. Their personal experiences make the class even more interesting.”

“The meals were like eating at a 5-star restaurant.”

“This was more than worth the long wait! I’ve never read much American poetry, but after this crash course can’t wait to wear out both our textbooks.”

“I had high expectations and the program and all of the faculty exceeded them!”

“You know it’s a good program when the faculty are obviously enjoying themselves as much as the rest of us.”

“What an experience!! As a W&L parent I know the sessions first would live up to W&L’s legacy!”

“Always makes me proud I went here.”

“Glad I traveled 500 miles each way, as it was well worth it.”

Campus Programs

March 3–4

The Institute for Honor Symposium: McDonalds vs. Putin— Corporate Responsibility in

Times of Armed Conflict

March 3–4, 2023

W&L’s fall, winter, and spring weekend seminars continue to be a popular feature of the Alumni College, for the programs offer participants a substantive weekend getaway in the beautiful environs of Lexington and Rockbridge County. Participants stay in local inns, with the program, receptions, dinner, and lunch on campus. Programs begin on Friday afternoon and conclude after lunch on Saturday.

Established in 2000 at Washington and Lee by a generous endowment from the Class of 1960, the Institute for Honor includes an array of initiatives and specific programs designed to promote the understanding and practice of honor as an indispensable element of society. The Institute for Honor Symposium is dedicated to the advocacy of honor as the core value in personal, professional, business, and community relations. The symposium is directed by Kish Parella, the Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and Law.

The 2023 Institute for Honor symposium will ponder the question “What are the responsibilities of a corporation or other business in a war?” This question became painfully significant in February 2022 when Russian forces invaded Ukraine. Many American corporations, some of them household names, operate in Russia, Ukraine, as well as in other countries involved in armed conflict. This year, the IFH Symposium will explore the ethical considerations that

occur in boardrooms where executive decision-makers are confronted with hard choices: Should their company stay or leave? What is their responsibility to aid the suffering of those harmed by the conflict? What, if any, steps should they take to stop the conflict? And what should they do if any or all of these decisions impede the financial profitability of their companies?

The 2023 IFH keynote address, “Corporate Responsibility for Waging and Ending Armed Conflicts,” will be delivered by David Scheffer, the first U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues who negotiated the creation of five war crimes tribunals. The IFH Symposium will feature two panel discussions that will build upon Ambassador Scheffer’s address. The first panel, “How Can Corporations Protect Human Rights in Armed Conflict?” will feature Professor Erika George, Samuel D. Thurman Professor of Law at the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law, and Shannon Raj Singh, former Human Rights Counsel for Twitter. The second panel “Ethics in the Boardroom: How Can Corporate Executives Promote Global Peace?” will feature two W&L Law alums, Lizanne Thomas, who chairs the corporate governance practice at the international law firm Jones Day, and Michael Spencer, group vice president and associate general counsel for ethics and compliance at Rimini Street.

David Scheffer

Erika

George

Kish Parella

Shannon Raj Singh

Michael Spencer

Lizanne Thomas

The Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar: The Lincoln Highway

Featuring the Author Amor Towles

April 28–29, 2023

This year marks the 18th annual Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar, W&L’s ultimate book club. Sponsored by the W&L Class of 1951 in honor of their late classmate Tom Wolfe, the program features a distinguished writer and observer of the American scene. Our 2022 weekend focused on Rebecca Makkai’s compelling novel, The Great Believers, which chronicles the rise of the AIDS epidemic among a group of gay men during the early years of the crisis. This year, we turn to one of America’s most celebrated contemporary novelists Amor Towles, author of The Rules of Civility (2011) and A Gentleman in Moscow (2016). His latest, The Lincoln Highway (2021), debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list and reached #1 on Amazon’s list of the Best Books of the Year.

Described by Chris Bachelder in his NYT review of the novel as “mischievous, wise and wildly entertaining,” The Lincoln Highway is a picaresque novel that becomes over the course of its episodic development an anthology of rollicking adventures. Four youth—Emmett and Billy Watson along with a couple of fugitives from a reformatory Duchess and Woolly—set forth ostensibly for California but through a series of shenanigans find themselves traveling eastward. As in his previous fictions, Towles gives us diverse, though recognizably human characters making their way through vividly drawn settings. Each adolescent is motivated by a personal quest, though clearly none is a master of his own destiny. “In the universe of this novel,” Bachelder writes, “grit and integrity and determination matter, not because they get you where you want to go but because they allow you to persist when you’re inevitably blown off course by chance, vicissitude and the disruptive schemes of fellow questers.” Towles quickly seduces the

reader with his wit and obvious fondness for the players in this tale. Even at its ample length, The Lincoln Highway is a page-turner.

Joining Amor Towles in the program are Lena Hill, university provost and professor of English, and Howard Pickett, director of the Shepherd Program and associate professor of ethics and Poverty Studies. Each will discuss The Lincoln Highway from a variety of perspectives. How does this novel of misdirection and shifting points of view hold together? What does the novel make of the American Dream of westward movement and financial riches? Haunted by violence and betrayal, how does this adolescent fellowship endure? In what ways does the novel advance familiar American themes of redemption, renewal, and the human longing for community? The discussion of these and other questions should make for a most illuminating seminar.

PHOTO BY BILL HAYES

America in the 1960s

“I

t was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

So it might be said about the 1960s in the United States. It was a decade of rejuvenation and aspiration, of new energy given to the nation’s ideals: civil rights, the eradication of poverty, environmental conservation, technological advances, and the reach for the moon.

But it was also a decade marred by assassination, violent protest, and civil disorders, a new war that threatened and ultimately destroyed the lives of tens of thousands of young Americans, a powerful anti-war movement that challenged concepts of patriotism, and an irrepressible social revolution that rocked many of the nation’s traditional values.

The decade began with the election of a young president eager to lead the nation to new frontiers. But an assassin’s bullet shattered “Camelot” on a November morning in 1963. Kennedy’s death gave new urgency to the Great Society Programs of his successor, and with that the promise of equal rights and opportunities for all citizens. Congress expanded housing and medical care, guaranteed civil and voting rights, transformed the nation’s immigration system, and enacted employment and educational reform. And yet the war in Vietnam ground on, raising new questions about America’s role in the world and the obligations of citizens to support the war effort. These questions ultimately produced a political backlash that set the liberal agenda of the Great Society against a conservative new Moral Majority. And then, on July 20, 1969, we set foot on the moon.

The 1960s also inspired a remarkable cultural flourishing of music and art, of theater, and film. It was the decade of Woodstock and “Hair,” of folk

music and the Beatles, of counterculture and “Mary Poppins,” of Andy Warhol and Leonard Bernstein, and the widespread popularity of television. Reflecting on who we were and who we would become, we’ll examine how the 1960s came to be called the pivotal decade of the 20th century. W&L faculty include Molly Michelmore, professor of history; Brian Alexander, assistant professor of politics, Scott Williamson, visiting assistant professor of music; and Elliott King, associate professor of art history; along with special guest speakers. Come together.

A Family Adventure in Science Outdoors

Come share W&L and Lexington with your children and grandchildren in our special familyoriented campus program, built around amazing explorations and discoveries with the W&L faculty. Now in its 12th year, this program is specially designed for children ages 8–14, their parents, and grandparents.

From the famed Colonnade on W&L’s campus and beyond, incredible adventures await you. Are you ready for an active scientific treasure hunt in the outdoors? Grab your hiking shoes and notepad because the clues may be a challenge to find. Each one will lead you to the next exciting segment of our three-day adventure on and around campus. We’ll explore a creek bed for critters and discover how rich in life a simple neighborhood creek can be. Want to see how rivers erode bedrock in a cool science lab, then discover how it has actually happened on the river? We’ll hike along the Maury River through a towering forest of broadleaf trees and study the rock record written in the limestone cliffs along the river’s banks. Get ready for a picnic lunch on a rock that is more than a million years old! It could lead you to a discovery of what makes a plant thrive in certain areas of our back campus, or it might help you understand how critters live in streams and rivers. Like bugs? We can find them and learn more about their habitat and why it is important to keep it healthy for them.

If you’re curious and love adventure, this is the program for you. We’ll learn some basic outdoor skills, like knot-tying and how to read a map with a compass, and collect stories to tell your friends back home, along with lots of useful knowledge for your next adventure.

This program will feature short field trips and laboratory sessions led by W&L science faculty Nadia Ayoub, associate professor of biology, and Charles Winder, laboratory instructor. Parents and grandparents accompany their children and participate in nearly every phase of the program.

A Family Adventure in Science and Technology

Are you ready to explore virtual worlds? We’re excited to announce W&L’s new Family Adventure, a science and technology program designed for children ages 10–16, their parents and grandparents. This unique program will offer a friendly, hands-on introduction to the latest technology at W&L’s IQ Center, home to classrooms, labs, and a makerspace devoted to computer-enhanced technology for visual imaging and digital fabrication. It’s a lot of fun!

Our program will introduce you to exciting new realms of virtual reality through immersive adventures that will enable us to explore complex 3D structures and environments. Dividing into small groups, we’ll enjoy the opportunity to create forms in virtual reality.

We’ll also investigate how a drone equipped with cameras and LIDAR (light detection and ranging) can be used to photograph and 3D model the earth. Weather permitting, we’ll venture outside to fly the drone.

Have you visited a technologically advanced museum lately? Meeting with museum professionals, we’ll learn about how artifacts can be scanned and turned into virtual exhibits online. We’ll then have a chance to build our own virtual museum with the virtual reality forms we created earlier.

Finally, we’ll learn how photogrammetry (the science of making reliable measurements with photographs) and terrestrial LIDAR document cultural heritage sites. Art historian George Bent will show us how he uses these technologies in his research project, “Florence As It Was,” a virtual recreation of 15th-century Florence, Italy. We’ll have a chance to see how this technology works by scanning one of W&L’s historic buildings.

If you’re curious about some exciting new developments in computer technology, this is the program for you.

A W&L Education: Up Close and Personal

July 23–28, 2023

Washington and Lee University provides a liberal arts education that develops students' capacity to think freely, critically, and humanely and to conduct themselves with honor, integrity, and civility. Graduates will be prepared for lifelong learning, personal achievement, responsible leadership, service to others, and engaged citizenship in a global and diverse society.

So reads the university’s mission and vision statement. How are such goals accomplished? In truth, the mission has many agents, those individuals and organizations on campus responsible for inspiring leadership, service to others, and engaged citizenship. But principal among the agents of a liberal arts education are the faculty. The university provides the education, the faculty deliver it.

Through a variety of Lifelong Learning programs, we’ve come to know many gifted teachers at W&L. This year, we’ve asked several of them to provide a series of free-standing presentations akin to “TED Talks.” Faculty have been chosen from the Law School and the College of Arts and Sciences. Many are familiar

to veteran Alumni Collegians. The series will be organized according to five major themes: “The Larger World,” “A Day in the Italian Renaissance,” “Race and Poverty,” “Shakespeare and His Time,” and “Our Planet, Ourselves.” Each morning, two faculty will address the day’s topic, approaching it from the perspective of their discipline. As always, there will be time for class discussion. While afternoons are free in this vacation seminar, optional activities and entertainments will be available each day.

Among the faculty featured in the program are George Bent, Childress Professor in the Arts; Mikki Brock, associate professor of history; Holly Pickett, associate professor of English; and Erich Uffelman, Bentley Professor of Chemistry. Mark Drumbl, Class of 1975 Alumni Professor of Law and director of the Transnational Law Institute; and Josh Fairfield, Bain Family Professor of Law, will join us from the Law School. If you’re curious about Alumni College, or would like to know several W&L faculty better, or would simply enjoy further mindful adventures on campus, this should be a very stimulating week.

George Bent

Mikki

Brock

Mark Drumbl

Josh Fairfield

Holly Pickett

Erich Uffelman

Law and Literature Weekend Seminar:

David Guterson’s The Final Case

In its unparalleled run of 27 years, the Alumni College’s Law and Literature Weekend Seminar has relied on a highly effective model: gathering professors and participants to study a single work of literature from legal, ethical, and literary perspectives. The results can be exhilarating. Each fall, the School of Law chooses a compelling text, assembles a team of professors, invites participants to Lexington, and clears the way for a unique sharing of ideas and responses.

In 2023, the program will focus on The Final Case, a new novel by David Guterson. Past attendees will recognize Guterson’s name: 10 years ago, we tackled Snow Falling on Cedars, his acclaimed courtroom drama set in the period of the Japanese internment. His new novel is equally well written and absorbing. Against a backdrop of today’s polarized political culture and an ebbing sense of national community, the story follows an aging, doggedly conscientious lawyer, Royal, who believes in the rule of law and has spent his career representing unpopular pro bono clients. But Royal’s final case stretches his professional code to a breaking point. When he takes on the representation of an adoptive mother whose shockingly harsh discipline may have led to the death of a foster child adopted from Africa, Royal confronts an unexpected depth of human failure and self-delusion.

Our weekend with this mesmerizing story will involve a host of questions about law, society, and professionalism. What is the scope of legal authority over the discipline of children, what are the workings of international adoption and immigration, and what is the latitude of trial judges in sentencing? The Final Case also prompts reflection on the story’s cultural setting, particularly on the various

vocations chosen by the leading characters. How can we account for Royal’s professional identity, and how closely does he represent others in the U.S. legal profession? Why has his son, a one-time novelist, abandoned his art? What kind of life choices are available in the world Guterson is describing, and does he suggest possibilities for moral progress or change?

Teaching in the program will be law professors Brian Murchison and Matthew Boaz and two faculty from the College of Arts and Sciences. Dave Caudill from Villanova Law School will continue his popular association with the program. As a bonus to practicing attorneys, the 2023 program will again seek approval for two hours of Continuing Legal Education ethics credit. The program is open to anyone interested in literature—you don’t need to be an attorney to attend.

Professor Brian Murchison

Accommodations,

Accommodations

For lodging on campus during the summer at a minimal cost, we can offer spacious, private accommodations in the new Village townhouses and apartments. Each Village apartment offers double-bed accommodations. Each single is assigned a private bedroom and bath. Each apartment includes kitchen, laundry, furnished sitting room, convenient parking, and Wi-Fi access. Residents will need to bring towels and linens.

Our summer program menu is justly famous. You will be served bountiful, tempting lunches and dinners in the main dining room on campus. We make every effort to accommodate special dietary needs. W&L’s national award-winning food service continues to be one of the truly outstanding features of the Alumni College.

If you prefer off-campus accommodations, Lexington has a wide array of lovely and comfortable lodgings. To explore accommodations in town, please consult the Lexington Visitors Center website: www.lexingtonvirginia.com.

Fees

As many participants testify each year, the Alumni College remains a bargain vacation. Our comprehensive fee, designed merely to recover W&L’s costs, includes 10 meals (Sunday evening through Friday lunch program), all instruction, books, films, performances, and incidentals. To register, please visit wlu.edu/lifelong or call 540-4588723.

The Georges

The W&L Traveller

May 2023–June 2024

Flavors of Dordogne

May 26–June 3, 2023

Danube River Cruise

June 21–July 1, 2023

Canadian Rockies by Rail

August 2–8, 2023

Douro River Cruise

August 9–19, 2023

From Sicily to Athens

September 2–12, 2023

Southwest National Parks

September 20–28, 2023

Panama Canal and Columbia

October 28–November 4, 2023

Egypt and the Nile Valley

October 28–November 10, 2023

Cuba: From Revolution to Evolution

January 20–27, 2024

Egypt and the Nile Valley

February 3–16, 2024

New Zealand’s Great Outdoors

February 6–20, 2024

Six-Day Getaway to Istanbul

April 19–25, 2024

Flavors of Northern Italy

May 25–June 2, 2024

Scottish Isles and the Norwegian Fjords

June 7–15, 2024

Land of the Ice Bears

June 12–22, 2024

Flavors of the Dordogne

May 26–June 3, 2023

n the Dordogne, all of France’s provincial charms have been distilled into one of the most beautiful regions of Europe. The medieval town of Sarlat-La Canéda, for example, one of the gems of the Périgord, boasts the greatest concentration of medieval, renaissance, and 17th-century facades of any town in Europe. The Périgord Noir, where we’ll spend most of our time, is a lushly forested corner of Aquitaine embraced by the Dordogne and Vézère rivers. From any angle, the area is rapturously lovely, but it is also a gourmet’s dream: the home of France’s finest foie gras, truffles, strawberries, walnuts—the quintessence of Gallic cuisine. Here, we’ll find wonderful markets, with their mouth-watering tableau of fruits, vegetables, cheeses, and meats, as well as crafts and a colorful array of French country folk.

Our “base camp” for this extraordinary week will be a lovely Relais et Châteaux property, the Château de Mercuès. With a spectacular location high on a forested hill, the Château is an authentic medieval castle with manicured gardens and winery. With extraordinary style and character, the property treats guests to fine wine, gastronomic dining, luxurious rooms, and sweeping views of Lot Valley. Erected in the 13th century, Château de Mercuès' original purpose was to protect the town of Cahors and the Lot Valley. It was later rebuilt for more pleasurable pursuits. Today, guests can escape the ordinary and embrace the elegance, warmth, and pleasures of an exceptional hotel with a Michelin-star restaurant.

We’ll learn much about the culture and history of southwest France through our leisurely visits to Sarlat, Château de Beynac, and La Roque Gageac, one of France’s most beautiful villages. We’ll also enjoy an

afternoon cruise on a river barge, participate in French cuisine cooking classes, study the prehistoric paintings at the Pech Merle Grottes, and visit the pilgrimage site of Rocamadour. This, too, will be a Flavors trip worth savoring.

Price: from $5,995 from Toulouse, France

Operator: Orbridge

Danube River Adventure

June 21–July 1, 2023

European river cruising has long been among the W&L Traveller’s most popular travel options. For the first of our 2023 river journeys, we’re pleased to return to the Danube River. Cruising through the center of Europe on her most celebrated river, we’ll visit the quaint river towns and old-world capitals that have made a Danube River cruise such an appealing destination for travelers. As a special enhancement, this itinerary will begin with two days in Prague, the Czech Republic capital that boasts Europe’s most impressive display of historic architecture. Over 11 days, we’ll visit four countries—the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. After our days in Prague, we’ll travel to Nuremberg, our point of embarkation on the Main-Danube Canal. Once aboard our ship, we’ll sail through the heart of the former AustroHungarian Empire and into the resurgent nations of Central Europe, with a final call in the splendid city of Budapest.

One of the advantages of this cruise is that, in addition to the many sights, we’ll enjoy learning about the history and

culture of our destinations from W&L Professor of History Richard Bidlack and others. In addition to the Danube’s magnificent scenery, we’ll enjoy a private concert featuring the works of Strauss and Mozart in the grand splendor of the iconic Palais Liechtenstein, sample beer at one of the world’s oldest breweries in Regensburg, explore powerful WWII history in Nuremberg, and marvel at the UNESCO World Heritage Sites Cesky Krumlov and Melk Abbey.

This special departure represents an outstanding travel value, with roundtrip air from the U.S., seven nights aboard the deluxe MS Emerald Dawn, two nights in Prague’s President Hotel, all meals on the river, daily sightseeing tours, gratuities to guides and ship’s crew, with several cultural immersion events and lectures included in one very attractive price. If you haven’t tried European river cruising yet, please consider joining the many aboard who have.

Price: from $5,390 from the U.S.

Operator: Go Next

The Canadian Rockies by Rail

August 2–8, 2023

This year’s peak-season summer journey features the magnificent Canadian Rockies. Daily excursions through this spectacular region of North America will offer unforgettable wonders: the serene beauty of the Rocky Mountains looming above Fraser Canyon and Banff, the rollicking spectacle of the Kicking Horse River, and lake walks along the crystalline waters of Lake Louise and Emerald Lake. We’ll enjoy fabulous accommodations at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and the Rimrock Resort Hotel high in the mountains near Banff—a great trip must by definition include great places to stay. Our itinerary offers a full range of outdoor activities: walking trails for the fresh alpine air, mountain landscapes, and occasional glimpses of wildlife indigenous to the Rockies. Adding to our understanding of the natural history of the region will be a naturalist expedition leader.

Clearly one of the highlights of this tour is the two-day rail trip in “GoldLeaf Service” aboard the renowned Rocky Mountaineer from Vancouver to Banff. With glass-domed

seating aboard Canada’s most celebrated luxury train, we’ll follow the Fraser Canyon into British Columbia toward our overnight in Kamloops, then head toward Shuswap Lake with its 1,000-mile shoreline before traversing the Continental Divide along Kicking Horse River before arriving in Banff, Alberta. With three nights in the heart of the Rockies at the Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff National Park, we’ll enjoy a splendid variety of daily excursions, including a visit to Lake Louise, the thermal waters of Banff Hot Springs, and a scenic gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain.

With beautiful scenery and accommodations at two of Canada’s finest hotels, this is a grand tour in one of North America’s most beautiful regions.

Price: from $5,995 from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Operator: Orbridge

Secrets of the Douro River with Lisbon

August 9–19, 2023

Portugal’s spectacular Douro River Valley and the winding river that courses through this culturally rich region have been aptly designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. We invite you to join us on an exploration of the Douro River region aboard Emerald Cruises’ 112-passenger Emerald Radiance, the class act of Douro River cruising.

Following our included flight to Lisbon, Portugal’s capital city, we’ll spend two days visiting many of Lisbon’s cultural sites, including São Jorge Castle and Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest quarter. We’ll make our way to Porto, visiting Coimbra along the way for a tour of the University of Coimbra, one of the oldest universities in Europe.

Our cruise will trace the Douro’s path through sundrenched vineyards, famous for the production of port wine. In the historic port town of Vega de Terron, we’ll pause for a glimpse of western Spain and the lush landscapes of the lovely Douro International Nature Park. Our itinerary includes a full day cruising the UNESCO-listed Vinhateiro wine region. A dayvisit to Salamanca, Spain’s “Golden City,” for lunch and flamenco performance is included. Returning to Portugal, we’ll call in Pocinho for a choice between the award-winning Côa Valley Museum or the Casa Painova for a tasting of Portuguese almonds, olives and fruit. Our visit to the village Provesende, one of the Douro’s many “secrets,” will provide glimpses of ancient Portuguese small-town life. Our river cruise concludes in the historic port city of Porto with visits to its many historic treasures and a private concert in São Francisco Church.

With roundtrip air from the U.S., seven nights aboard the deluxe MS Emerald Radiance, two nights in Lisbon’s 5-star Hotel Altis Grand Lisboa, all meals on the river, daily sightseeing tours, gratuities to guides and ship’s crew included in one very attractive price, this tour is an outstanding value. We urge you to be a part of the W&L Traveller’s inaugural visit to this storied region of Portugal.

Price: from $6,790 from the U.S.

Operator: Go Next

From Sicily to Athens: Exploring the Stepping Stones of Culture

September 2–12, 2023

The history of the Mediterranean provides much of what we know of modern civilization—the values of democracy and scientific inquiry, and the expression of the human spirit in literature, art and music. On a splendid and informative voyage from Sicily to Athens, we’ll explore some of the most iconic sites associated with the rich legacy of the Greco-Roman World. Caleb Dance, associate professor of classics, will serve as W&L’s study leader.

Setting forth from Sicily's capital of Palermo, we’ll sail around the island to its southern shore to discover the Doric temples of Agrigento and, further to the east, the remarkably well-preserved Greek and Roman ruins of Syracuse. Leaving Sicily, we’ll call in Crotone, home to Pythagoras's philosophical academy, before crossing the Ionian Sea to visit Olympia, one of the most sacred places in the Hellenic world, site of the Sanctuary of Zeus, and home to the athletic games that drew competitors from the four corners of the known world. On Crete, we’ll be introduced to Minoan civilization and the great myths of King Midas and the Minotaur, as we explore the Palace of Knossos and the treasures of the Heraklion Museum. Mycenae brings us to the heart of the heroic age of Homer and the Trojan War. The shrine of Asclepios at Epidaurus reminds us of the Greek origins of medicine, while the great theater nearby invites us to reflect on Greek drama.

Our vessel for this extraordinary journey, the Swan Hellenic Diana , is a state-of-the-art, new-generation expedition cruise ship, currently under construction in Finland and launching in March 2023. Accommodating only 192 guests in beautifully appointed staterooms and balcony suites, Diana will feature several lounges, a restaurant, outdoor cafe, spa, and library. The Diana

is equipped with the latest safety and environmentally friendly technology.

Please join fellow W&L travelers and Professor Dance on this thoughtfully designed voyage of discovery and rediscovery of the ancient world.

Price: from $7,990 from Palermo, Sicily

Operator: Thalassa Journeys

Southwest National Parks

September 20–28, 2023

Ken Burns, borrowing a phrase from Wallace Stegner, has described our National Parks as “America’s best idea.” And why not? The country our ancestors dreamed about still resides in America’s national parks. We began our exploration of the parks several years ago with a visit to the Black Hills, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, and the Grand Tetons, then followed it up the next year with an equally popular trip to our Southwest National Parks. We’re returning to the Southwest again this year for the wonders of the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Park. Once again, in this brilliant expanse of mountain, desert, and canyon, you will be able to find breathing space and glimpse the mythic grandeur of our national heritage.

In addition to these and other national treasures, our itinerary will include a 4-wheel drive tour of Monument Valley, a Glen Canyon rafting trip down the Colorado River, and a visit to a traditional Navajo hogan with a

Navajo guide. Optional activities include a helicopter excursion over the Grand Canyon and a pre-tour train ride from Denver to Moab aboard the Rocky Mountaineer. Our excellent accommodations include overnight stays in lodges located either within or immediately adjacent to our park destinations.

Returning as our naturalist guide will be Kent Taylor, who has served our National Parks trips so ably over the years. National Parks guides who are also specially trained in wildlife ecology, as well as history and lore, will be working with Ken. This will be an educational adventure as well as a terrific holiday.

With beautiful scenery, wildlife, hiking, storytelling, and grand vistas, this is a trip that young and old alike will remember always.

Price: $4,695 from Phoenix, AZ

Operator: Orbridge

Panama Canal and Columbia: Exploring the Caribbean Coast

Few travelers have explored the Panama Canal in its entirety, surveying its lush green shores by day and observing the luminous traffic of ships at night. On the 50-cabin National Geographic Quest , you’ll not only transit the canal, you’ll explore its verdant realm and discover the Caribbean coasts of Panama and Colombia over the course of eight days.

A transit of the Panama Canal is on most travelers’ bucket list. Our journey spans 48 hours, enabling us to see

the canal both by day and dramatically lit by night. Within the Canal Zone, we have special permission to overnight at Barro Colorado Island in Gatún Lake, home to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Later, aboard the ship, we’ll learn how the canal’s massive locks move a mountain of water as 26 million gallons of manipulated water rise magically beneath our ship, lifting us 85 feet above sea level!

The Panama Canal bisects a wealth of natural treasures: the tropical paradise of Panama and the vibrant natural and cultural history of Colombia. As you land on the shores of Portobelo or cruise by boat through the backwaters of Cispatá Bay, you’ll behold a kaleidoscope of parrots overhead and a dazzling array of wading birds poking along mangrovelined channels. You’ll explore secluded islands and riverside towns, where you’ll meet fascinating local populations as you investigate and appreciate Colombia’s legendary heritage.

Our ship is outfitted with Zodiacs, kayaks, snorkeling gear, and stand-up paddleboards. The Quest’s expedition team of naturalists will direct your attention to the plethora of mammals, birds, and insects hidden in the dense forest canopy, while the ship’s certified photo instructor will assist with your best shots ever. For a close-up view of the Panama Canal and an informed natural-history expedition to Columbia, this is a voyage that will fill your bucket, indeed.

Price: from $6,290 from Panama City, Panama Operator: Lindblad Expeditions

Egypt

the

Valley

No other place on earth reveals the ancient world as vividly and profoundly as does Egypt. To behold the pyramids emerging from the haze of dawn at Giza and to contemplate the serene, colossal figures of Ramses II at Abu Simbel is not only to marvel at their state of preservation across some 4,500 years but also to confront something timeless and true about human civilization. A trip to Egypt is a wondrous discovery of both past and present. Further, to stroll the teeming streets of Cairo, in the shadows of minarets and lofty palms, and to wander through the Khan El Khalili Bazaar is to move beyond the headlines to encounter a contemporary world that is both engaging and enlightening.

This tour of Egypt—W&L’s seventh and eighth—combines stays in Egypt’s lavishly refurbished classic hotels with a four-night deluxe barge cruise on the Nile between Luxor and Aswan. Each day of our tour we’ll enjoy visits to the major sites of ancient Egypt in Cairo, Memphis and Sakkara, Luxor, and Aswan. In Cairo, we’ll gaze upon the Sphinx, the Solar Boat, and the Great Pyramids as well as the fabulous

treasures of Tutankhamen at the new Grand Egyptian Museum. Memphis and Sakkara present the Alabaster Sphinx and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, one of the world’s oldest stone structures. In Luxor, we’ll visit the magnificent temples of Luxor and Karnak, then many of the remarkable tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Queens. In Aswan, the exquisite Temple of Philae awaits our transfer by boat. Along the way, we’ll enjoy several other famous temples and tombs, along with many additional highlights.

Our itinerary is mindful that tourism has returned to Egypt in full force. Please be assured that we have found a way to enjoy the best of Egyptian hospitality and explore the immense span of Egyptian history in relative comfort and privacy. It will be our pleasure to show you not only the magnificence and grace of ancient Egypt but also the strategy of our visits. Each of our two departures will be limited to 26 travelers.

Price: $6,495 from Cairo, Egypt

Operator: Orbridge

Cuba: From Revolution to Evolution

January 20–27, 2024

Through a relaxation in U.S. State Department travel restrictions, it is again possible for Americans to visit Cuba, one of the most intriguing destinations in our hemisphere. Although several companies again offer visits to Cuba, almost all of their itineraries are confined to Havana. Our itinerary includes fascinating sites in Trinidad—a UNESCO World Heritage site—Cienfuegos, the scenic beauty of the Artemisa Province, as well as sites in and around Havana.

In an effort to promote improved understanding between the citizens of Cuba and the United States, our program will focus especially on the history, art, architecture, and culture of Cuba. Serving as W&L’s faculty host will be Jim Casey, Professor of Economics, an experienced Cuba traveler. In addition to Cuba’s cultural treasures, we’ll consider the impact of Cuba’s agrarian economy on the social and political climate of modern Cuba and, inevitably, the status of Cuba’s relations within the Latin American community of nations and prospects for improved relations with her huge neighbor to the north.

In Havana, we’ll stay at the elegant Grand Packard Hotel, located in charming “Old Havana,” with views overlooking the Caribbean. Among the many highlights of our itinerary will be a visit to Finca Vigia, Ernest Hemingway’s house, where he lived for 20 years and wrote The Old Man and the Sea. In addition to many of the Havana’s celebrated sites, we’ll also enjoy a day’s excursion to the lush UNESCO province of Las Terrazas for the Buena Vista Coffee Plantation and the home and studio of renowned modern

artist Lester Campa. Our evenings will be enriched by delectable dishes at local “paladars” and the rhythms of Cuban music. No visit to Cuba is complete without a panoramic tour of the Malecon and Vedado in a classic American car with a dinner at La Guarida, Havana’s most famous paladar.

With the inclusion of most meals, superb accommodations, and cultural expertise throughout, this educational tour is an excellent value.

Price: $6,475 from Santa Clara, Cuba

Operator: Destinations & Adventures

New Zealand’s Great Outdoors

February 6–20, 2024

Isolated from other land masses by the swells of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean, New Zealand is a world unto itself. The island nation boasts unparalleled natural beauty—a land of glacial fjords, majestic peaks, geothermal marvels, endemic birds, pristine beaches and glacial lakes. Walking and hiking throughout New Zealand is one of the best ways to see these spectacular landscapes and explore its vast wilderness areas.

On this long overdue return to one of our favorite destinations, we’ll discover the highlights of New Zealand while sampling its very best trails and vistas. We’ll begin in Auckland with a scenic sail along Waitemata Harbor before our welcome orientation and dinner at the Grand Millennium Hotel. On the following morning, we’re off to Rotorua, the heartland of Maori culture and a geothermal wonderland, where we’ll spend two nights. We’ll then fly to Christchurch on the South Island and travel through the stunning Canterbury Plains for the turquoise waters and starry skies of Lake Tekapo. We’ll then venture into the Southern Alps for Mount Cook National Park, once a playground for such legendary figures as Sir Edmund Hillary, where we’ll find New Zealand’s highest mountains and Tasman Glacier, her longest glacier. Here we’ll also sample wine from the Gibbston Valley on our way to Queenstown for two days in New Zealand’s adventure capital, set against the spectacular Remarkables and majestic Lake Wakatipu. Thereafter, we’ll travel to picturesque Lake Te Anau, where we’ll spend three days exploring the vast glacier-carved wilderness of Fiordland National Park, including Milford Sound, before returning to Queenstown for one final night.

Here at last is an opportunity to enjoy New Zealand’s stunning beauty while sampling its very best trails, including the world-renowned Milford, Routeburn, Kepler, and Hooker Valley tracks. If there was ever a heart-healthy adventure, this is it!

Price: $8,790 from Auckland, New Zealand Operator: Criterion Travel

Six-Day Getaway to Istanbul

April 19–25, 2024

Our Six-Day Getaway series was launched in 2010 on the assumption that W&L alumni and parents would appreciate the option of shorter, less expensive travel opportunities. The inaugural program was a Getaway to Istanbul. Our assumption was correct—we filled three departures that year.

After many successful offerings throughout Europe, we’ve chosen to return to Istanbul for 2024. One never tires

of this fabled city. Istanbul has long served as the intersection between Europe and Asia. History is very thick here. In its lofty position over the Bosporus between the Dardanelles and the Black Sea, the ancient walled city has served as the capital of Eastern Roman Empire (Constantinople), the Byzantine Empire (Byzantium), and the Ottoman Empire under its current name. Istanbul impresses her visitors with a magnificence made venerable by time. Home to the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque as well as the Topkapi, Dolmabahce, and Beylerbeyi Palaces, Istanbul is well known for its wealth of architectural achievement. It is also a thriving hub of international commerce and modern Middle Eastern culture.

Leading our program in Istanbul will be George Bent, popular W&L art historian. Accommodations for our five-night stay will be the Artisan Istanbul MGallery near Taksim Square. Our package includes breakfast daily, three lunches, two dinners, all gratuities, and a Bosporus cruise. As with all our Six-Day Getaways, our visit will combine organized touring with time for independent exploration. Travelers have the option of a four-day post-extension to Cappadocia at an additional cost.

Six-Day Getaways are limited to 35 travelers. Please note that roundtrip air from Dulles or JFK International is included in the package price. If you would like to join this Getaway, we urge you to inquire soon.

Price: from $3,145, from Washington, DC

Operator: Jet Vacations

Flavors of Northern Italy

May 25–June 2, 2024

When Americans recall their love affair with Italy, most are musing on the pastoral regions of the north. Who could forget a view across the Umbrian hills at twilight, a patchwork quilt of small fields rolling up to a rhyme of rectangles in the terracotta roofs of quaint hill towns skirted by olive groves? The art lover recalls as well the astonishing wealth of Florence and Venice, the gourmet the fragrant delectations of the Bolognese, the wine connoisseur the fruity vintages of Valpolicella. The historian smiles and admits that the Veneto is the best place for dreaming of the centuries. The world traveler looks for real estate.

We’re delighted to return to our eight-day sampler of the flavors of Northern Italy. A very popular trip for us, this program features the great cuisine and cultural treasures of the Veneto and the Emilia-Romagna regions, the colorful and deep history of Verona, the medieval charm of Bologna, as well as the lovely villages and villas that dot the rolling countryside south of Lago di Garda. In a well-paced itinerary, we’ll explore the region in a variety of

daytrips, but always with an eye to local food markets and specialties. This is a tour designed to help you appreciate the flavors of our destination, indeed—to savor the olive oils and cheeses of Lessinia, the balsamic vinegar of Modena, and the Amarone-infused risotto while gazing on the vineyards of Valpolicella. We’ll sample varietals in the mountainous Trentino region, then yield to a simple gelato in beautiful Borghetto. This is an itinerary for all of your senses.

To add to the relaxation of the tour, we’ll use only one accommodation, a spacious, family-owned villa on a working wine- and olive oil-producing estate located just outside Verona. The Borgo San Donino will give us easy access to all of the sites on our itinerary. We’ll also enjoy some new friendships with Italian hosts through specially arranged dinners, lunches, and wine-tastings. Our tour will be limited to 20 participants, so early reservations are encouraged.

Price: from $4,995 from Verona, Italy

Operator: Orbridge

Scottish Isles and Norwegian Fjords

With W&L President Will Dudley

Spectacular fjords and glaciers, rugged islands with windswept monuments to another time, monasteries and medieval castles keeping their secrets—these are but a few of the wonders that draw travelers to Norway and northern Scotland. With the good company of W&L’s presidential couple Will Dudley and Dr. Carola Tanna and fellow W&L travelers aboard Ponant’s deluxe small ship Le Champlain , you know that this will be a remarkable cruise.

Following an overnight in scenic Bergen, our voyage begins with calls in the Norwegian village of Flam at the

end of Aurlandsfjord for the legendary train ride from Flam into the coastal range, and then on to Olden, Norway’s gateway to majestic glaciers. In Great Britain’s northernmost islands, the Shetlands, we’ll explore the Neolithic Era settlement of Jarlshof, then continue to the Orkneys, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for the ancient mysteries of the Stones of Stennes, the Ring of Brodgar, and Skara Brae. On the Hebridean Isle of Skye, we’ll visit Dunvegan Castle, the seat of Clan MacLeod, as well as Castle Armadale, home to the rival Clan Donald. Our final port of call before Glasgow is Fort William, your gateway to Highland realms of whisky, the Caledonian Canal, and the fabled Loch Ness. Passengers can continue their visit to Scotland with an optional extension to Edinburgh.

Le Champlain is one of a series of six new luxury Ponant Explorer ships, launched in 2020. These state-of-theart vessels combine understated elegance with a spirit of adventure and feature Blue Eye, the world’s first underwater passenger lounge. Le Champlain is a smallcapacity ship with just 92 staterooms and a crew of 118. We’ll be assured of attentive service, gourmet Frenchinspired cuisine, and a relaxed, congenial ambiance. Ponant Explorer ships are certified Clean Ships and meet the highest environmental standards for energy conservation and resource management.

With all excursions, meals, gratuities, and port charges included, this presidential cruise is an excellent value.

Price: from $5,970 from Bergen, Norway

Operator: Ponant

Land of the Ice Bears: An In-Depth Exploration of Arctic Svalbard

June 12–22, 2024

The most accessible place on earth to find polar bears at home in the wild is Norway’s High Arctic. A mere 600 miles from the North Pole, Svalbard is true wilderness, a pristine blue-white land of towering glaciers, spectacular fjords, teeming bird colonies, pods of walrus sunning on pebbled beaches, and reindeer grazing on tundra ablaze with wildflowers.

Here also is the realm of the great polar bears, aloof and majestic on the sea ice, where they maintain their native habitat untroubled by human encroachment. During our voyage in the Arctic ice, we’ll hope to observe all manner of polar bear behaviors, from hunting for seals amid the floes to frolicking with their cubs. The entire spectacle is viewable from the proximity and safety of the ship’s deck rail.

We’ll explore Svalbard and its wonders in comfort aboard the ice-strengthened expedition ship National Geographic Resolution . Assisting us will be the best ice team in the world. With a range of innovative tools for exploring, including a fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks for up-close wildlife viewing and personal adventures, the Resolution is the perfect mobile platform for discovering the Arctic’s wondrous panorama. A veteran captain and crew together with a team of onboard naturalists have been exploring this wilderness for years and have found the best spots to look for polar bears or search offshore for some of the largest whales on earth. In addition, an undersea specialist and a photo instructor will help you explore and capture every facet of your journey.

Geology professor Chris Connors will be W&L’s host and study leader. Join Chris and like-minded travelers during the season of the summer solstice for an unforgettable exploration in the High Arctic.

Price: from $12,350 from Oslo, Norway

Operator: Lindblad Expeditions

PHOTO BY RALPH LEE HOPKINS

W&L Scrapbook

Comments from Past Travelers

“I will treasure my memories of the Baja whale trip and the Walk thru Tuscany forever. It is because of your extraordinary attention to detail that these trips are the ‘gold standard’ of all my travel experiences, and I look forward to many more with W&L.”

“Not enough time to praise this faculty member enough. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, good tempered, always helpful, and a joy to be with.”

“Very well organized with time to rest and wander. A great group of people, so many interesting things to do and see.”

“There is simply no way to choose a favorite memory—the leadership camaraderie, developing friendships, activities, the delightful hotel—it’s the total experience that will BE the memory.”

“What a great professor! It was easy to tell he was having the time of his life and was so excited to share about it with the rest of us.”

“Having never traveled with a tour group before, my husband and I found the tour extraordinary and the group extraordinarily affable and accommodating. There was such genuine camaraderie and affection for one another that it was really quite magical.”

Additional Travel Program Information

Goals and Expectations

The W&L Traveller Programs are designed to provide exciting and enriching educational travel opportunities to W&L alumni, parents, and friends. All tour participants are expected to enjoy traveling as members of a group and as such can anticipate the many advantages of group travel as well as changes, delays, or minor mishaps that may occur in any kind of travel, whether it be group or individual. Our programs are closely managed by the personnel of the Office of Lifelong Learning working in conjunction with tour operators. While management staff will do their best to look after the individual needs of travelers, their principal concern, necessarily, will be the welfare of the group as a whole.

Program Selection

The W&L Traveller Program is compiled by W&L’s Office of Lifelong Learning from proposals by the finest tour operators specializing in educational travel. Our sponsorship of specific tours means that tour operators have met our criteria of financial responsibility, established reputation, professional staff, efficient operation, and general dependability. In contracting with tour operators, the Office of Lifelong Learning ensures that neither Washington and Lee University nor the Office of Lifelong Learning will be held liable for any failure by tour operators to uphold contracted services or to meet the expectations of our travelers. In serving W&L travelers, our principal agency is on behalf of our travelers’ realization of the program’s objectives and expectations as advertised.

Registration

Reservations are now open for 2023–2024 tours and are honored in order of receipt. Deposits, which are requested upon receipt of reservations, indicate your acceptance of

the final terms of the tour package. Balance of payment is due upon receipt of final invoice or approximately 60 days prior to departure, unless otherwise specified by the tour operator.

Tour Costs

Dates, schedules, program details, and costs, based on information available and in force by Jan. 1, 2023, are subject to change and revision. Please note that all tour prices are per person based upon double occupancy. Single occupancy is available on a limited basis for each program at a single supplement charge. For singles wishing to share accommodations, we will do our best to make appropriate pairings.

Cancellations and Refunds

Unless otherwise noted, the initial deposit for all tours is fully refundable up to six months prior to departure. After this time, tour participants are subject to cancellation policies governing the particular trip in which they are enrolled. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other included features. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly recommended.

Additional Information

On the following registration form, please check the program(s) for which you would like to have an itinerary and package description and return the form to us. We will respond promptly to your inquiries as we receive them at Washington and Lee University, Office of Lifelong Learning, Early-Fielding Memorial Building, 204 W. Washington St., Lexington, VA 24450-2116. If you wish to make your inquiries by phone, please contact Rob Fure, Ruth Candler, or Lisa D’Amelio at (540) 458-8723, or email them at lifelong@wlu.edu.

Registration Form

I would like to enroll in the following vacation seminar(s) of the 2023 W&L Alumni College:

 The Institute for Honor: MacDonald’s vs. Putin

 Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar with Amor Towles

March 3–4, 2023

April 28–29, 2023

 America in the 1960s July 2–7, 2023

 A Family Adventure in Science Outdoors July 9–12, 2023

 A Family Adventure in Science and Technology July 12–15, 2023

 A W&L Education: Up Close and Personal July 23–28, 2023

 Law & Literature: David Guterson’s The Final Case Oct. 27–28, 2023

I would like more information about the following 2023-2024 W&L Traveller destinations:

 Flavors of Dordogne (5/26-6/3/23)

 Danube River Cruise (6/21-7/1/23)

 Canadian Rockies by Rail (8/2-8/23)

 Douro River Cruise (8/9-19/23)

 From Sicily to Athens (9/2-12/23)

 Southwest National Parks (9/20-28/23)

 Panama and Columbia (10/18-11/4/23)

 Egypt and the Nile Valley (10/28-11/10/23)

 Cuba (1/20-27/24)

 Egypt and the Nile Valley (2/3-15/24)

 New Zealand’s Great Outdoors (2/6-20/24)

 Six-Day Getaway to Istanbul (4/19-25/24)

 Flavors of Northern Italy (5/25-6/2/24)

 Scotland and Norway (6/7-15/24)

 Land of the Ice Bears (6/12-22/24)

Please reserve the following place(s): ™ I will be there. ™ I will be there with my spouse/guest.

™ Please reserve campus accommodations. ™ I plan to stay in town.

Space is limited, so early application is encouraged

Please direct questions to Rob Fure, Ruth Candler, or Lisa D’Amelio, Office of Lifelong Learning Phone (540) 458-8723; Fax: (540) 458-8478; Email: lifelong@wlu.edu

Mail, email, or fax: Washington and Lee University Office of Lifelong Learning Early-Fielding Memorial Building 204 W. Washington St. Lexington, VA 24450 Follow

on @wlulifelonglearning and @wlulifelonglearning

W&L at Home

Lifelong Learning at Your Convenience go.wlu.edu/lifelong-learning/online

Lifelong Learning Webinars

(go.wlu.edu/lifelong-learning/ webinars)

Through our webinar library, you have an opportunity to view talks and discussions with W&L faculty and other alumni on front-page issues of our day. Webinars are available through recordings archived on our website.

Webinars:

• Ukraine, Russia, EU, and Vladimir Putin

• Sustainability: Challenges, Strategies, and Technologies

• Beyond the Classroom: Frontiers of Faculty Research

• Truth, Opinion, and the News Media

• Prejudice, Discrimination and Anti-racism

a er class

W&L

After Class:

The Lifelong Learning Podcast (Season Four)

(go.wlu.edu/lifelong-learning/ podcasts)

Among lifelong learners, intellectual curiosity is a habit of mind. In “After Class,” our ongoing series of conversations with W&L faculty, you’ll encounter an extraordinary variety of subjects, from the familiar to the exotic. You’ll meet many new faculty who will introduce you to new worlds, along with favorite professors whose lives may now seem friendlier, more immediate. Through Lifelong Learning’s podcast series, we invite you to attend the kinds of discussions you had in faculty offices or along the Colonnade, those engaging conversations that remain such a vital part of the W&L experience.

W&L Virtual Book Club

(go.wlu.edu/lifelong-learning/ bookclub)

Together we will connect with our university alumni family, faculty, and staff as we read and discuss recent novels, histories, memoirs, and other bestsellers. We are eager to share in this experience of lifelong learning as we explore several of the great books available today.

Books we’ve read:

• A Gentleman in Moscow

• The Other Wes Moore

• All the Light We Cannot See

• Code Girls

• Pachinko

• The Alice Network

• The Great Believers

• Hamnet: A Novel of the Plague

• The Personal Librarian

Now reading:

• The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towels (W&L Tom Wolfe Weekend selection)

Faces and Places

of

Lifelong Learning

you!”

As I close out my 46-year career at W&L, most of those happy years as director of the W&L’s lifelong learning programs, I am reminded of a conversation with an alum at the end of our first Alumni College in 1982. I ran into him on the street near Woods Creek, just as he was leaving campus. He reached for my hand. “Thank you,” he said, emphatically. “You’ll never know how much this has meant to me.”

It’s my turn now. I understand the challenge of calculating and then conveying the meaning of things. But I know the gratitude and feel it deeply. Over the years, we have formed countless enduring friendships through Lifelong Learning. I’ve been the beneficiary more than most.

One of the many rewards of my job has been the extraordinary pleasure of working closely with W&L faculty. Selecting and developing program topics with W&L faculty has deepened my appreciation of our faculty resources as well as the art of teaching. W&L has long been esteemed for the excellence of its teaching faculty. I’ve had the honor as well as the pleasure of watching that excellence flourish through Lifelong Learning.

I’ve also benefited tremendously from the support of many colleagues in Lifelong Learning, Alumni Engagement, the Provost’s Office, and the several university presidents I have served under throughout my career. Their enlightened support of our educational mission has been vital to our success and well-being. In this I must also acknowledge a special debt of gratitude to my beloved former colleagues Susie Thompson, Tracey Riley, and Marc Conner for their many years of service and inspiration.

But, again, the greatest reward of my career has been the many friendships formed through our campus and abroad programs. I have loved exploring the world with those who enjoy each other’s company as much as our destinations. Many a tour guide has asked me, “Where did you find these people?” Good will and conviviality are familiar virtues of the W&L culture, I explain. Those qualities are also present on campus, where the warm fellowship among participants and faculty has inspired and sustained friendships that have endured throughout my career.

I will retire on June 30, but I also intend to remain a member of our community, enjoying my new role in Lifelong Learning as participant. As before, I look forward to joining you in a continuing exploration of our changing world.

Fure

“Thank

Rob