February 2021 Courses
Winter Alumni College kicked off with 13 free virtual courses! This was an opportunity for alumni and current students to interactively learn about a range of topics from Wooster alumni.
Watch Course Recordings on our Youtube ChannelThe Magic of Empathy
Listening is the easiest and hardest communication to master. Whether it’s listening to family members, business customers or colleagues, or engaging in civic discourse, listening is the key to understanding. But more powerful is the show of empathy. In an hour we will unlock the power and magic of empathetic listening.
Course Instructor: Carolyn (Childs) Shadle ’62
Date: Sunday, February 7, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. EST
Recording: The Magic of Empathy – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
From the Chicken to the Egg: Backyard Chicken Keeping 101
Do chickens need a rooster to lay eggs? Do chickens eat chicken? How long do chickens live? If you are thinking about a backyard flock but have no idea where to start, this is the course for you!
Course Instructor: Shayna Sharpe ’99
Date: Monday, February 8, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. EST
Recording: From the Chicken to the Egg: Backyard Chicken Keeping 101 – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Dickinson’s Daughters
On December 10, poets and readers around the world gather to wish Emily Dickinson a happy 190th birthday, and she does seem re-born with each generation. In one hour, after a review of the poet’s life in her own time, we’ll touch on the way she shaped the work of those who wrote extensively about her and reflected her in wildly diverse ways: Marianne Moore, Adrienne Rich, Sylvia Plath, and Tracy K. Smith. Required readings will be provided.
Course Instructor: Eleanor Elson Heginbotham ’60
Date: Tuesday, February 9, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. EST
Recording: Dickinson’s Daughters – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Wooster, Wine, and Web Design
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript are three of the core building blocks of nearly everything you see on the internet today. One of the best ways to learn the basics of these tools and how they work together is to build an interactive project. Bring a brew, some curiosity, and an interest in web design, and you’ll walk away with a basic web design project to show off to your friends and family.
Course Instructor: Matthew Germaine ’15
Date: Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. EST
Recording: Wooster, Wine, and Web Design – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Yoga for Every Body
Have you seen pictures of people doing yoga in magazines, on Facebook and Instagram and said something like this to yourself? “I can’t do yoga! I’m not flexible. I don’t have the right clothes. I’m too old. I’m too young. I’m out of shape. I can’t get up and down from the floor.” If you answered yes to this question, you are wrong. You CAN do yoga! You just haven’t found the right yoga for YOU! Yoga is for EVERY BODY, and Leslie wants to help you.
Course Instructor: Leslie (Winter) Gordon ’86
Date: Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. EST
Recording: Yoga for Every Body – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Film Marketing: Why Semiotics are the Secret Sauce to Great Promotion
Have you ever wanted to know how a movie poster is designed and why some just “work” better than others? Join this course to learn more about the field of film marketing and how semiotics are used to target consumers, produce meaning quickly, and help to tell an effective visual narrative.
Course Instructor: Susannah Montgomery ’15
Date: Saturday, February 13, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. EST
Being an Ally to BIPOC
Over the last few months, videos and reports of brutality towards Black Americans have spawned international outrage and left many with the single question, what can be done to help? This 60-minute webinar is designed to help people with a desire to address racial disparities in America by identifying practical solutions and next steps to take toward being an ally to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).
Course Instructors: Jessica Spradley ’03 and Dr. Paul Spradley
Date: Sunday, February 14, 2021 at 12:00 p.m. EST
Recording: Being an Ally to BIPOC – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Go Play with Your Dog
Quarantine times have resulted in a huge increase in the number of pets joining our families. Getting a new puppy or adopting an older dog is really fun and exciting, but also a lot of work. How can you raise your dog during these crazy times while also preparing them for “normal” life after quarantine? Niccole is here to help!
Course Instructor: Niccole (Cook) Atwell ’00
Date: Sunday, February 14, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. EST
Recording: Go Play With Your Dog – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Building an Adaptable Culture
This course will describe a step-by-step process by which any type of leader can enhance the adaptability of the team they manage. It can be implemented on a departmental or enterprise-wide level. Sample metrics will be recommended, since measurement of progress is critical for continuous learning and improvement.
Course Instructor: Marty Lattman ’74
Date: Monday, February 15, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. EST
Recording: Building An Adaptable Culture – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Tax Law Changes Under the Biden Administration
William is a full-time assistant professor at George Washington University School of Business where he teaches individual and business tax courses. This course will cover potential changes to tax laws under the Biden Administration and will emphasize changes you can make now to preserve and increase wealth.
Course Instructor: William Stromsem ’68
Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. EST
Recording: Tax Law Changes Under the Biden Administration – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Getting the Best Deal: Tips for Being a Better Negotiator
Negotiating is something we do regularly in life, when buying a car, a house or getting the best salary or raise, for example. The course will cover strategies and tactics for negotiating that will help improve ones negotiating/haggling skills. Required reading will be provided in advance.
Course Instructor: Jennifer Pope ’91
Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. EST
Recording: Getting the Best Deal: Tips for Being a Better Negotiator – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Fit from Home
This course is designed for anyone looking to keep fit, enhance mobility, or increase strength all while using only bodyweight and items you have at home. This course is designed to serve all ability levels by using enhancements and modifications. Being fit and getting moving is about getting in touch with both your mind and body and feeling good. We will have fun and learn to challenge ourselves!
Course Instructor: Meredith Shaul ’12
Date: Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. EST
Recording: Fit from Home – Winter Alumni College – YouTube
Bourbon Sippin’ 102
In this course we will discuss a few topics: flavor profiles of easy to find bourbons and flavor profiles of high-end bourbons. We will also discuss the differences between rye and bourbon, how to search for bourbon, and the secondary market. Registrants will be expected to purchase bourbon from a select list. This event is open to alumni that are 21 years or older.
Course Instructors: Ryan Allen ’99, David Newberry-Yokley ’00, and Bobby Vega ’05
Date: Friday, February 19, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. EST
Note: Bourbon Sippin’ 102 was not recorded.