Friday University

Workshop Descriptions

The Making of Sinai Forum with Leslie Plesac

Sinai Forum at Purdue Northwest has been an institution in Northwest Indiana for over seventy years. This nationally recognized speaker’s forum has featured an extraordinary array of dynamic individuals including Eleanor Roosevelt, Studs Terkel, Doris Kearns Goodwin, William F Buckley Jr., Oprah Winfrey and many more. Join Sinai Forum’s Executive Director, Leslie Plesac, for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the series.

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You Matter in Politics! Elections, Voters, and the Public with Professor Yu Ouyang

Public opinion and elections play important roles in all governments–be they democratic or authoritarian. In recent years, long-standing established democracies have been experiencing notable strains. Do voters matter in elections? How do voters and the broader public affect candidate behaviors and strategies? This class examines the roles that voters and the public play in American politics, specifically in campaigns and elections.

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A Brief History of Jamaican Music with Professor Heather Augustyn

The music of Bob Marley is enjoyed all over the world. But Jamaican music that came before and since Marley’s rise to fame is also rich, both in sound, and in reflecting the culture, politics, and spirituality of the Jamaican people. Join Jamaican music historian Heather Augustyn for an auditory exploration of Jamaica’s many genres of music (folk, jazz, mento, ska, rocksteady, reggae, dub, and dancehall), and the forces that shaped the big sounds of this small island.

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Lifestyle Strategies to Promote Cardiometabolic Health with Professor John Durocher

The American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8™ initiative outlines eight key lifestyle strategies to promote a healthy lifestyle. This presentation will cover the four health behaviors and four health factors that are directly linked to reducing the risk for cardiovascular diseases and metabolic conditions such as type II Diabetes and metabolic syndrome. We aim to provide clear and practical recommendations for these health behaviors and factors during this session.

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Connected Corridor: Reviving Northwest Indiana’s National Economic Leadership with Matthew Wells

Northwest Indiana is at a turning point. With transformative projects like the South Shore Line double track now complete and the Greater South Shore Initiative underway, the Region is poised to reclaim its place as a national leader in advanced industries, innovation, and quality of life. In this session, Matt Wells, President & CEO of One Region and Chief Engagement Officer at Purdue Northwest, shares how strategic public-private partnerships are reshaping our communities and what it will take to fully seize this historic moment. Join us for an inside look at the vision, momentum and people driving Northwest Indiana’s revitalization.

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The One-Day Book Club: “Why Fish Don’t Exist” by Lulu Miller with Professors Justin Ness and Stephanie Triller

“Why Fish Don’t Exist” is PNW’s One Book One University selection for 2026. Over 2,500 copies will be distributed to students, faculty, staff and community members. Come join Justin Ness and Stephanie Triller for a riveting discussion of this extraordinary book. The session will include storytelling and thought-provoking conversation. Participants will receive a complementary copy of the book prior to the class.

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The Formal and Informal Powers of the American Presidency with Professors Lisa Goodnight and Richard Rupp

The American Founding Fathers envisioned the Office of the Presidency with limited powers that were checked by the other branches of government. However, over the past 250 years the powers of the presidency have grown far beyond what the framers envisioned. Lisa Goodnight and Richard Rupp have been team teaching at PNW for over twenty years and will lead the class on a journey that commenced in 1787 and continues on through this day.

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Wine Uncorked: From Grape to Glass with Professor Matthew Bauman

Join Matthew Bauman for a delightful wine tasting experience that demystifies the world of wine! In the fun, interactive workshop, you’ll actually taste and evaluate wines while learning the techniques of sommeliers use to identify flavors, aromas and characteristics. Discover what makes a Pinot Noir different from a Cabernet, master the art of wine and food pairing, and get answers to all those wine questions you’ve always wondered about—no question is too simple! Come ready to sip, swirl, and socialize in a relaxed, judgement-free environment where curiosity is the only requirement.

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Origins of the Universe with Professor Neeti Parashar

From the original Big Bang to the current gigantic particle accelerators in the world that create mini Big Bangs at the CERN and Fermilab laboratories, the author plans to take the audience on a scientific journey of evolution of the universe since its inception to the present, describing objects moving near the speed of light and colliding to make temperatures far hotter than the center of the sun, leading to the discovery of the Higgs Boson, aka the “God” Particle, and why it matters. You might be surprised to find how this relates directly to your own existence. Neeti Parashar’s research group at Purdue University Northwest was a part of the team of U.S. scientists that played a significant role in in discovering the Higgs Boson, which gives mass to elementary particles, that led to the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physics.

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Teaching Mathematics to the Disabled in Indiana and Belize with Professor David Feikes

Purdue Northwest faculty are involved in a wide array of engagement initiatives that serve our greater community. David Feikes has long made the study of mathematics comprehensive and even fun for scores of PNW students. Less well known is David’s endearing commitment to working with individuals and groups with intellectual disabilities. Working both in LaPorte County at Sharing Meadows and in the country of Belize at The Shepard’s Work, David makes mathematics engaging to individuals and groups with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The class will also feature mathematical exercises that David has designed for all learners.

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Unlocking the Future: How AI and Quantum Tech Are Reshaping Our World with Professor Grace Yang

Artificial Intelligence, quantum technologies, and cybersecurity are converging to reshape our world, faster than most people realize. This class explores how these powerful technologies work, how they intersect, and what they mean for society, security, and innovation. You’ll also learn how Purdue University Northwest is leading the way through its new Quantum AI and Cybersecurity initiative and the regional partnerships driving the Indiana Quantum Corridor. Join us for a thought-provoking, accessible session on the science and future of the intelligent age.

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Re-imagining Aging with Professor Diane Spoljoric

By 2050, the average life expectancy is projected to surpass 84 years and probably even older for the individuals attending this class. But lets be clear, getting older doesn’t mean growing old! Join PNW’s long-serving Professor of Nursing, Diane Spoljoric on making the best of the aging process. The Healthy People 2030 project defines reimagining aging as the need to focus on disease prevention, quality of life, and social inclusion. This class will examine healthy life choices and healthy behavior from head-to-toe.

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The First 1,000 Days: Investing in Our Future, Strengthening Our Community with Professor Mary Jane Eisenhauser

Research is clear: the first 1,000 days—from pregnancy to age three—are crucial for both child development and the long-term vibrancy of our communities. Explore how support for early childhood drives stronger educational outcomes, healthier families, and significant economic returns—up to $13 for every $1 invested. Efforts during these critical years benefit not just children, but the entire community, creating lasting, positive change for individuals and society.

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Voices of the Hoosier Past: Living History from Sears to Studebaker with Professor Wendy St. Jean

Join us for a dynamic, guided oral history discussion where Indiana’s past comes alive through the personal memories of those who lived it. Designed for students in their 60s and older, this course invites participants to share vivid recollections of Indiana’s history—from childhood dreams sparked by a Sears catalog to the roar of Studebaker engines and the silence after the factory gates closed. We’ll explore shifting towns, Cold War fears, Vietnam-era tensions, and the sounds of local TV personalities that once filled Indiana living rooms. Each session preserves a piece of our collective memory, capturing how ordinary lives shaped—and were shaped by—extraordinary times.

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Lobster Hormones: Real Science or Just Another Tasty Dinner with Chancellor Chris Holford

The American lobster (Homarus Americanus) has become an iconic culinary delight. Would you believe that lobster meat was once considered a food for paupers? This seminar will include an examination of the life history of lobsters, including the science behind reproduction, growth and development of these animals. We will include a discussion of the fishery, regulation of the lobster industry, and the role that science has played (or should have played) in these regulations. Whether you are interested in the science or just want to be the best-informed guest at dinner, come join PNW’s lobster-loving Chancellor for a tasty treat.

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Conflicts in the Middle East with Professor Richard Rupp

Recent years have witnessed a range of violent and significant conflicts in the Middle East. While polling suggests that many American political elites and citizens favor limiting U.S. engagement in these conflicts, Washington has maintained an active engagement that dates back to World War II. Richard Rupp has lectured widely on this topic and has visited the region over twenty-five times since his arrival at PNW in 1998. Rupp suggests that students taking this class also attend this year’s Sinai Forum program “The Middle East and a Larger Look at Global Security and Diplomacy in a Changing World.”

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Baking with Becky with Becky Stankowski

By day she is PNW’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. But by early morning and late evenings, she is our award-winning baker! Becky will lead a class in our state-of-the-art kitchen focusing on some of the treats she brings to the office. She will equip you with all the tools and recipes you’ll need to dazzle your family and friends. Chocolate anyone? Becky’s class will feature chocolate and other tasty treats.

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Police Militarization in a Democratic Society with Professor Omeed Ilchi

Traditionally, the police and the military in a democratic society have been meant to be distinct from each other, out of a fear that military involvement in policing could endanger civil rights and liberties. Over the past few years, the rise of police militarization has increasingly blurred the line between the police and the military. This course will explore the history of police militarization, the expansion of the role of SWAT teams, and the potential dangers of police militarization in a democratic society.

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