UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — This spring, “Explorations: The Penn State Emeritus Academy Lecture Series” will guide audiences from Buddhist temples to Ghanaian households to the archives of Yiddish literature.
Organized by The Penn State Emeritus Academy and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), “Explorations” provides a venue for retired Penn State faculty members to share their research, creative projects and unique perspectives with the wider Penn State community and public.
The lectures are free and registration links for “Explorations” lectures can be found at cfda.psu.edu.
Kenji Uchino, “Zen” — Principle and Practice
9–10:30 a.m. Jan. 27, Zoom
Uchino, emeritus professor of engineering, will introduce Zen Buddhism by examining its principles and related Buddhist practices, drawing on the instructor’s experience as both a practitioner and educator. The session will be held online via Zoom.
Denise Potosky, The Academic Integrity of Using AI to Review Research
1:30-3 p.m. Feb. 10, Zoom
Potosky, academy professor and professor emerita, management and organization, will examine how bibliometric systems and generative artificial intelligence tools are used in literature reviews, with attention to process, quality, rigor and academic integrity, and their implications for the advancement of scientific knowledge.
An optional accompanying workshop held from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Feb. 17 will demonstrate how to use an AI tool to search, organize, analyze and synthesize scientific research articles and whether you can trust what you find.
Francis Dodoo, “Bridewealth Payments in Ghana: Marriage Prestations and Women’s Marital Autonomy”
2:30-4 p.m. March 27, Zoom and in person at Penn State Outreach Building, Rooms 121 G and H, 100 Innovation Boulevard, University Park
Dodoo is an academy professor and distinguished professor emeritus of sociology, demography and African studies. Dodoo will provide conceptual background on bridewealth payments in sub-Saharan Africa and argue that such marriage-related payments undercut women’s sexual and reproductive autonomy within marriage.
Lois Rubin, Recovering Lost Voices: Yiddish Women’s Literature in Translation
2:-3:30. p.m. April 27, Zoom
Lois Rubin, emeritus associate professor of English, taught literature and composition at Penn State New Kensington for 31 years. This lecture will explore efforts to recover, translate and publish works by Yiddish women writers, introducing their lives and literature and highlighting the insights these texts offer into women’s experiences and historical Jewish communities.
Any questions regarding the spring 2026 lecture series can be directed to the Office for Faculty Affairs at (814) 863-7494 or via email at facultyaffairs@psu.edu.