Jennifer Engel
What topics will you cover in the Great Decisions course?
The Great Decisions program is made up of eight of the most critical global issues facing America today. Since the course is only five weeks, we’ll focus on the topics participants are most interested in learning. Topics I plan to discuss include:
- Brexit: taking stock and looking ahead
- Global supply chains and U.S. national security
- China and Africa
- The two Koreas
- The future of Persian Gulf security
What can participants expect in your classroom?
In general participants can expect some lively debate, and they’ll learn more about the topic to inform their perspective. Before the class they will have the opportunity to read information to prepare them for the conversation.
Each week we’ll watch a brief video on the topic. Some weeks we’ll have a guest speaker to present additional context. We’ll spend a large amount of time discussing topics by using questions to guide our conversations. While the topics can be contentious, we want the discussions to be respectful with the aim of clarifying our understanding.
This course is a discussion course led by a facilitator—not an expert—so we’ll learn together.
What are the rewards of being a lifelong learner?
There are many benefits, but I believe the biggest one is the opportunity to continually grow and evolve. No one wants to become stagnant, but without new information, that will happen. Lifelong learning is great because it isn’t set in stone what learning counts; it is completely up to the person.
I love learning facts and how things intersect, especially in history, science, human development, religion and business. For others, it is art, writing, economics and political science. We will never have enough time to learn it all, but we all can try!
What is your professional background?
I have an eclectic professional background. My bachelor’s degree is in chemistry, but I figured out pretty early that wasn’t going to be my career path. I worked with children in an after-school program, Sarah Heinz House Boys & Girls Club, as a program and camp director.
As I progressed through my career, I took on more management roles focusing on outcome measurement, administration and operations, and resource development. Looking for a new challenge, I joined the University of Pittsburgh as the director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Finally I went back to my roots as a camp director for Promise Camp, a program of Family Guidance. Due to COVID I was laid off for almost a year before I saw the job posting for La Roche’s Center of Lifelong Learning. During that job hiatus, I took the opportunity to learn— about health and my faith. I also read 20+ books and helped my kids navigate virtual learning.
What do you enjoy most about the LRU community?
The LRU community is genuinely welcoming and excited for the Center for Lifelong Learning. So many people reached out to see how we can work together to broaden what it means to be a part of the La Roche community. We invite and welcome everyone to be a part of all the great things happening here at the University.