Fairfield University's School of Continuing Education launches Open VISIONS Academy | Press Releases

To further enhance its prestigious Open VISIONS Forum (OVF), Fairfield University's School of Continuing Education will launch the Open VISIONS Academy beginning Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 6:30 p.m. The academy is designed to extend the educational outreach of the OVF to a new in-depth experience by providing informal seminar-style lectures planned around the works of several of the guest speakers.

Because many of the OVF speakers are renowned authors, the academy has engaged distinguished members of its faculty to facilitate a three-step informal "book circle" to share ideas and exchange opinions about the nationally recognized speakers who visit the campus. Participants enrolled in the academy will attend a pre- and post-lecture discussion based on one text authored by the visiting speaker, be guaranteed a seat for the Open VISIONS lecture and meet kindred spirits who are also interested in the specific author or topic to be discussed.

Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D., founder and director of the Open VISIONS Forum, now in its fourth year, says, "The academy gives a coherence to Open VISIONS and maximizes the opportunity for the audience to not only anticipate each lecture but to take a leadership role in the Question and Answer session that follows and, finally, to continue the conversations the speaker has inspired at a post-lecture meeting."

The first "mini-course," based on the works of writer/feminist/activist Susan Sontag, will begin on Wednesday, Sept. 20, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., continue on Oct. 4, when Sontag will lecture, and conclude on Wednesday, Oct. 11. The Sontag facilitator is Gita Rajan, Ph.D., associate professor of English at Fairfield University. Dr. Rajan received her B.A. from Yale University, and her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania.

Joe Klein, "Anonymous" author of Primary Colors, will be the focus of the second seminar on Thursdays, Oct. 12 and 26 and Nov. 2, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. John Orman, Ph.D., professor of politics at Fairfield University, will be the facilitator. Dr. Orman, a graduate of Indiana State University, earned his M.A. from Ball State University and his Ph.D. from Indiana University.

Playwright Tony Kushner, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Angels in America" is the subject of the third seminar on Feb. 7 and 21, and March 7. Martha LoMonaco, Ph.D., associate professor of visual and performing arts at Fairfield University will be the facilitator. Dr. LoMonaco, an alumna of Boston College, received her master's degree from Tufts University and her Ph.D., from New York University.

CBS News' veteran of television's "golden age," Daniel Schorr, will be featured in the fourth and last seminar of the season on Feb. 20, and March 4 and 6.

The facilitator is Dr. James Simon, assistant professor of English and journalism at Fairfield University. Dr. Simon, a graduate of Rutgers University, earned his M.M.C. and D.P.A. from Arizona State University.

The tuition for each three-session course is $145 which includes the cost of, and preferred seating to, the lecture. For more information, call Fairfield University's School of Continuing Education at (203) 254-4220 or toll-free at (888) 254-1566.