Stay Curious

Lecture Dates:

• Monday, Aug. 31 (In Person)
• Thursday, Oct. 15 (Zoom)

Hosted by: Dottie Lofstrom, Retired Geologist

Dottie Lofstrom is a retired geologist and local lecturer who is active in the community of Stockton. She combines her love of the earth and her passion for travel to provide stimulating geology talks and travelogues.

Using her Nikon P1000 Super Zoom camera, Dot Lofstrom will bring the animals and birds of South Africa to life. Your screen will fill with the face of the leopard, the brilliant yellow of the Beekeeper bird, and the startling view inside the mouth of a hippopotamus. Join her as she soars over Victoria Falls in a helicopter, rides in a safari jeep by moonlight, and travels in a Victorian rail car.

Lecture Dates:

• Monday, Sept. 21 (In Person)
• Thursday, Sept. 24 (Zoom)

Hosted by: Dr. Rajul Patel, Professor

Rajul Patel is Professor in the Dept. of Pharmacy Practice at the UOP School of Pharmacy. He is founder and director of the Medicare Program at the School which started in 2007. Over the last two decades, the School's Medicare program has assisted 12,765 beneficiaries, helping them save an estimated $13.9 million in out-of-pocket prescription drug expenses. He has had >200 research presentations about the Part D benefit and Medicare beneficiary outcomes at national and international meetings.

We will provide an overview of Medicare, share key features of the Part D prescription drug benefit, and considerations that you should be mindful of when selecting a Part D drug or Medicare Advantage plan. We will also discuss how to minimize your out-of-pocket drug costs and changes to the Part D benefit in the upcoming year.

Lecture Dates:

• Monday, Sept. 28 (In Person)
• Thursday, Oct. 1 (Zoom)

Hosted by: Gene Bigler, Former Diplomat and Retired Professor

After graduating from Pacific, Bigler completed his studies of political economy, international relations and comparative politics as a Fulbright Scholar and at Johns Hopkins University. His academic career went from public policy & management studies in Latin America to IR and political science in the US & Europe. His US foreign service work in 19 countries emphasized public diplomacy & political economic affairs, & his six books focus on state capitalism, political leadership, & democracy.

What is not unclear and puzzling about the status of US relations around the world? Has the conflict, oil crisis & nuclear threat been settled in the Middle East? Will NATO unravel or enable Europe alone to save Ukraine? How serious is the damage to the global economy from the oil supply crisis and tariff wars? How much has Chinese power and the threat to Taiwan increased due to American bumbling.

Lecture Dates:

• Monday, Oct. 5 (In Person)
• Thursday, Oct. 8 (Zoom)

Hosted by: Russell Low, Author

Russell is a California-born 4th-generation Chinese American physician, author, & speaker. He is the great-grandson of Hung Lai Wah, a Transcontinental Railroad worker, and Tom Ying, a rescued child slave. His family's story reveals the trafficking of young Chinese women in the 1800s has been featured by the History Channel, NPR, Voice of America, and is preserved in California State Railroad Museum and the Smithsonian. His books include Three Coins, The All American Crew, and Sam Fow Roots.

Step into the vibrant world of Sam Fow, where Chinese merchants, butchers, peddlers, poultry sellers, and interpreters built lives in Stockton's diverse community. Working and living alongside neighbors of many backgrounds, they created a connected and thriving neighborhood. Their perseverance laid the foundation for future generations and left a lasting legacy in Stockton's history.

Lecture Dates:

• Monday, Oct. 19 (In Person)
• Thursday, Oct. 22 (Zoom)

Hosted by: Selina Rodrigues, Children's Museum of Stockton Development Director

Selina has over 10 years non-profit experience and has worked almost exclusively in development and fundraising throughout her career. She is passionate about creating and cultivating honest and transparent relationships with donors and the community at large. When she is not at the museum, she dedicates her time to family and face painting.

Learn about the vast benefits of play to all in our community and how the Children's Museum of Stockton plays such a great role in creating a play space for children and their families. We know what a difference a little play can make in a child's life and it is our goal to make life-long 'players' because the benefits of play help to keep us active and healthy no matter our age.

Lecture Dates:

• Monday, Oct. 26 (In Person)
• Thursday, Oct. 29 (Zoom)

Hosted by: Tom Graham, Professor and Journalist

Before retiring in 2016, Tom taught journalism for 28 years at City College of San Francisco. He previously worked (concurrently) for the San Francisco Chronicle as an editor and writer for more than 22 years. Tom also taught journalism at College of Marin, Solano Community College and the University of San Francisco.

This lecture equips you to move confidently through today's complex media landscape by shifting from passive consumption to active, informed engagement. You'll learn how news, opinion, propaganda, advertising, and entertainment each function within modern media—and how to tell them apart. The session introduces practical strategies for recognizing bias, identifying misinformation and AI-generated fakes, and understanding how digital messages are constructed. You'll also explore the essentials of ethical communication, responsible sharing, and creating clear, intentional content across multiple platforms.

Lecture Date: Thursday, Sept. 10 (Zoom)

Hosted by: Mike Agron, Music Aficionado

Music Aficionado Mike Agron, raised in LA's entertainment scene, is a former high-tech exec & entrepreneur turned storyteller who crafts dynamic seminars on music and film. He's led hundreds of engaging sessions for the Sacramento Renaissance Society, numerous OLLIs nationwide, Osher Online, Encore Learning, and this winter he returns for his 12th lecture with our OLLI.

In 1961, three brothers, a cousin, and a friend turned a garage band into a sonic revolution. Led by Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys fused doo-wop and jazz harmony, using voices as instruments to create the "sonic layer." From the innocence of "Surfer Girl" to the innovation of "Good Vibrations," hear how their sound evolved—and still shapes music today.

Lecture Date: Thursday, Sept. 17 (Zoom)

Hosted by: Anette Isaacs, German Historian

Hundreds of programs on more than 40 different topics (all pertaining to her native country's history, politics, and culture) all over the United States. She holds master's degrees in American Studies, Political Science, and History and is currently serving as the Director of OLLI at FIU (Florida International University) in Miami, FL.

During World War II, almost 400,000 German soldiers were held in POW camps across the United States—a story few Americans know. Historian Anette Isaacs explores how these men lived among American communities, confronted Nazism within the camps, and formed relationships that challenge easy narratives of enemy and ally. From Texas to Florida, this lecture reveals a complex and surprising chapter of the American home front.