2015 JES Winter Schedule

2015 Winter Schedule
All programs are held at times scheduled at the Jefferson Educational Society, 3207 State Street, Erie, PA 16508.
For more information or to register, call 814-459-8000 or visit www.JESerie.org. Visa, MasterCard, AMEX and Discover accepted.
Payments must be made at registration.
SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Day / Date /Time
Title
Instructor
Program Type
Tues./Jan. 27/7:00-8:30
Eye of the Storm: Understanding Lake-Effect Snow
Kerry Moyer, Ph.D.
Free Lecture
Wed./Jan. 28/7:00-8:30
Life as an Elected Official
Jane Earll, J.D. and Joyce Savocchio, M.A.
Discussion/Lecture
Thurs./Jan. 29/7:00-8:30
Living Along Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie Shoreline
Donald Benczkowski, B.S.
Free Lecture
Tues./Feb. 3/7:00-8:30
Privacy and National Security in the Digital Age
Michael J. Songer, J.D.*
Wed./Feb. 4/7:00-8:30
Saving Monticello
Thurs./Feb. 5/7:00-8:30
The Future of U.S. Immigration
Mon./Feb. 9/7:00-8:30
Tues./Feb. 10/7:00-8:30
Winning World War II – Mobilizing Industry
The Grizzly Bears of Yellowstone National Park
Barry Grossman, J.D.
Baher Ghosheh, Ph.D., Nadia Harvard,
J.D., Norman Stark, J.D.
Mark Squeglia, B.A.
Steven Ropski, Ph.D.
Distinguished Visiting
Speaker Lecture
Lecture
Free Brock Institute
Discussion Panel
Lecture
Free Lecture
Thurs./Feb. 12/7:00-8:30
Scott, Zelda, the Jazz Age, and The Great Gatsby
Regis Sabol, Ph.D.
Lecture
Mon./Feb. 16/7:00-8:30
The French Revolution and the Rise of Napoleon
William P. Garvey, Ph.D.
Free Lecture
Wed./Feb. 18/7:00-8:30
The Napoleonic Era – Grand Success or Failure?
William P. Garvey, Ph.D.
Lecture
Fri./Feb. 20/7:00-8:30
Gershwin, Ellington, and the Search for an American
Sound
Anna Celenza, Ph.D.*
Distinguished Visiting
Speaker Lecture
Mon./Feb. 23/7:00-8:30
Winning Battles, Losing Wars: The New American
Way of War?
Lt. Gen. James Dubik (Ret.)*
Lecture
Tues./Feb. 24/7:00-8:30
Strengthening our Community through Historic
Preservation
David Brennan, AIA NCARB
Free Lecture
Wed./Feb. 25/7:00-8:30
Spring Migration Magic at Presque Isle
Susan A. Smith
Free Lecture
Mon./Mar. 2/7:00-8:30
Sport and Society: A Look at Elite Athletes in China
and the United States
Elizabeth Darling, D.P.T.
Lecture
Tues./Mar. 3/7:00-8:30
Remarkable American Women: Betty Friedan
Corrine Egan, B.A.
Lecture
COURSES/DISCUSSION GROUPS – LIMITED REGISTRATION
Tues./Jan. 20, 27, Feb. 3, 10,
17, and 24/4:00-5:30
Great Books: Great Conversations (Part Two)
Corrine Egan, B.A.
Course/Discussion Group
Thurs./Jan. 29, Feb. 5, Feb.
12, 19/4:00-6:00
The Art of the Tale: An International Anthology
Marjorie Podolsky, M.Ed.
Course/Discussion Group
*Denotes Visiting Lecturer from outside the Erie community
Breakdown of Program Costs (unless otherwise noted):
Lectures: $10/person; $15 with a guest
Courses: $50/person; $75 with a guest
Distinguished Visiting Speaker Lectures: $15/person; $25 with a guest
Payments must be made at registration.
Act 48 hours for the Erie Catholic Diocese, Erie Day School, Erie School District, Corry, Fort LeBoeuf, Girard, Harborcreek, and Wattsburg
teachers apply to ALL programs at no additional cost.
Distinguished Visiting Speakers Programs
Privacy and National Security in the Digital Age – This presentation will examine the impact of the Internet and Social Media on
privacy and national security from a legal, cultural, and public policy perspective. Recent events, such as Edward Snowden and
the revelation of NSA information through Wikileaks, the hijacking of private information for retailers such as Home Depot and
Target, and the ongoing Sony hacking leaks have challenged the foundations of privacy and national security in the United
States (and beyond). How much privacy can individuals claim in today’s camera-ready world? Can anything put out in
Cyberspace remain private? And, once a secret is revealed on the Internet, is it ever possible to stop the leaks? Michael J.
Songer, J.D.
Gershwin, Ellington, and the Search for an American Sound – During the 1920s and 30s, composers, music critics,
entertainment executives and audiences believed in the idea of an American Sound. This course explores the origins of
two quintessential American masterpieces -- George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue and Duke Ellington's Symphony in Black
-- and their relationship to contemporary American culture. Using film clips, music excerpts, and popular dance steps from
the 1920s and 30s, Professor Celenza will introduce participants to the wide range of musical genres and styles that
influenced Gershwin and Ellington (from spirituals, blues, and Klezmer music to Tin Pan Alley songs, opera, symphonic
forms and Ragtime) and facilitate an open discussion concerning music's current role in defining American culture. Anna
Celenza, Ph.D.
JES 2015 Winter Lectures
Eye of the Storm: Understanding Lake-Effect Snow - Although lake-effect snows are a common feature of our lives during
the winter months here in northwestern Pennsylvania, they are notoriously difficult to accurately forecast. Dr. Moyer will
provide a primer on the basics of lake-effect snow including why they form, how they are organized, and the factors that
control how much snow they can produce. Kerry Moyer, Ph.D.
Life as an Elected Official – This “coffee-table discussion” will feature two popular Erie County political figures – former
Senator Jane Earll and former Erie Mayor Joyce Savocchio – as they discuss life as an elected official. Their discussion will
offer a women’s perspective on challenges of holding an elected office, the different viewpoints from an executive and
legislator, and they will draw on their experiences to give the audience insight into life in government. Jane Earll, J.D. and
Joyce Savocchio, M.A.
Living Along Pennsylvania’s Lake Erie Shoreline – The Coastal Resources Management (CRM) Program of the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection has been instrumental in monitoring and assessing the Lake Erie bluffs and
shoreline since 1980. Several factors affect bluff recession and coastal erosion, from the local geology on a reach of
beach, to groundwater and storm water issues, to human activities taking place on that specific property. Through aerial
and oblique angle photographs, the CRM Program will bring the Lake Erie bluff to you in this photographic presentation.
We’ll give you some facts about Lake Erie, and clue you in to the ‘real’ story of living along the coast. Donald Benczkowski,
B.S.
Saving Monticello - When Thomas Jefferson died in 1826, he was saddled with over $100,000 in debt (about four million in
today’s dollars). Nearly a century passes between Jefferson’s death and the acquiring of Monticello by the Thomas
Jefferson Foundation in 1923. The amazing story of Commodore Uriah Levy - who purchased the rundown estate for
$2,700 - and his nephew Jefferson Monroe Levy’s 90-year stewardship of this American treasure will be examined. Barry
Grossman, J.D.
Winning World War II – Mobilizing Industry – The Great Depression left U.S. industrial might a shell of its former shelf.
With the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the U.S. began to awake from its industrial and military slumber. This
presentation will include an in-depth review and discussion of the events, policies, and actions that led the U.S. to become
the “Arsenal of Democracy,” a military leader in the Allied cause, and one of the two super powers in the post-World War
II world. How did the US become the Arsenal of Democracy? Mark Squeglia, B.A.
The Grizzly Bears of Yellowstone National Park – This presentation will cover the bears in Yellowstone National Park,
including a discussion of hibernation, food habits, attacks on humans, reproduction and much more. Dr. Ropski has led
nearly 30 trips to the park and recently published a guide book entitled Let Yellowstone Come to You. Steven Ropski, Ph.D.
Scott, Zelda, the Jazz Age, and The Great Gatsby – This lecture will analyze how the lives of F. Scott and Zelda Sayre
Fitzgerald informed and were a reflection of the Jazz Age. Additionally, this presentation will analyze how their lives and
the period reflected what the Modern Library Association has named the second greatest novel in the English language,
The Great Gatsby. (It helps to have read the novel). Regis Sabol, Ph.D.
The French Revolution and the Rise of Napoleon - This lecture will concentrate on the French Revolution that ultimately
brought Napoleon to power, and will also consider his formative years, his unique personality, and his political beliefs that
shaped one of Europe’s most iconic leaders. William P. Garvey, Ph.D.
The Napoleonic Era - Grand Success or Failure? - Historians have argued for decades over the legacy of Napoleon’s great
military triumphs and the civil reforms that accompanied such sweeping power. This lecture will review his great military
and local achievements that provided his dramatic downfall, and assess his long-term influence on both French and
European history. William P. Garvey, Ph.D.
Winning Battles, Losing Wars: The New American Way of War? - In the nearly 15 years of war, we have won nearly every battle,
but are far from winning the war against Al Qaeda. How can this be? The answer lies not with how America fights, but with
how it wages war. Is this America’s new way of war? Lt. Gen. James Dubik (Ret.)
Strengthening our Community through Historic Preservation - As a forward-looking economic development and community
revitalization strategy, historic preservation strengthens communities. Preserving our cultural and historic resources is essential
in maintaining our community’s unique sense of place. This lecture will also present an overview of past and current
historic preservation efforts and initiatives. David Brennan, AIA NCARB
Spring Migration Magic at Presque Isle - Spring Bird Migration at Presque Isle is a spectacle that thousands of people enjoy
each year. Presque Isle State Park has been rated by Birder’s World magazine as one of the top birding spots in North
America. Presque Isle’s location on the Atlantic Flyway makes it a favorable spot for birds to stop to feed and rest on their
migration across Lake Erie. Over 300 different species of birds have been identified on the peninsula. We will review some
of the wood warblers, flycatchers, woodpeckers, finches, vireos, swallows, and other birds that can be seen at Presque
Isle. Susan A. Smith
Sport and Society: A Look at Elite Athletes in China and the United States - The relationship between sport and culture in
China and the United States provides interesting insight into each culture's values regarding education, economics, and
gender. This presentation will explore - through Ms. Darling’s stories of her experiences working with Olympic athletes in
both countries - some of these differences and what they tell us about life in each country. Elizabeth Darling, D.P.T.
Remarkable American Women: Betty Friedan - An American writer, activist, and feminist, Betty Friedan was a leading
figure in the women's movement in the United States. Her 1963 book The Feminine Mystique is often credited with
sparking the second wave of American feminism in the 20th century. Corrine Egan, B.A.
Brock Institute for Mega Issues Education – Panel Discussion
The Future of U.S. Immigration - This expert panel will discuss how population migration, increased globalization, and
current legislation have affected immigration and what this means for the future of the United States. Are we citizens of
the world? Will trans-nationalism prevail? The panel will offer their insights to help reveal the answers to these crucial
questions. Baher Ghosheh, Ph.D., Nadia Harvard, J.D., Norman Stark, J.D.
Special Programs: Limited Registration
Great Books Discussion Group: Great Conversations – Join us for the second half of Great Conversations, featuring authors
Sigmund Freud, Joseph Conrad, Carl Jung, Alice Munro, among others. Corrine Egan, B.A.
The Art of the Tale: An International Anthology – The short stories written in the last half of the 20th century represent a
rich reading experience. Authors include those from Canada, Ireland, South America, the United States, and Asia. Active
reading and open discussion are strongly encouraged. Marjorie Podolsky, M.Ed.
JES Lecturer Biographies
Donald Benczkowski, B.S.
Mr. Don Benczkowski serves as the Coastal Resources Program Manager for the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection, at DEP headquarters in Harrisburg. He’s worked in various positions in the PA DER/DEP, in Erie,
Meadville and Harrisburg, since 1985. Prior to the position currently held, he was the DEP Lake Erie Coastal Resources
field representative at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, an investigator in DEP’s Bureau of Investigations, and in the
Waste Management Program. Don is a member of the Presque Isle Advisory Committee, and has been a Deputy
Waterways Conservation Officer with the PA Fish and Boat Commission since 1988. He graduated from Gannon University
in 1982 with a B.S. in Biology, and worked at the Erie County Department of Health prior to joining DEP. Pennsylvania has
two coastal zones, and he now primarily works in both, in Erie and Philadelphia, and in Harrisburg.
David Brennan, AIA NCARB
David A. Brennan, AIA NCARB holds a Bachelor of Architecture degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from Kent State
University. He is the Director of Erie Office of the Bostwick Design Partnership and is a member of Erie City Council. He is
committed to the promotion of the distinctive character of Greater Erie through community-based planning, urban
design, and historic preservation. At the Bostwick Design Partnership, he is responsible for office management, project
management, and marketing. As a member of Erie City Council, his experience in economic development, architecture,
and planning gives him the skills to help combat the challenges that currently face our city. He is a board member of
Preservation Erie, past chairman of the City of Erie Planning Commission, past president of the NWPA Chapter of the
American Institute of Architects, and is certified with the National Council of Architectural Registration Board.
Anna Celenza, Ph.D.
Anna Harwell Celenza is the Thomas E. Caestecker Professor of Music at Georgetown University and the author of several
scholarly books, including Music as Cultural Mission: Explorations of Jesuit Practices in Italy and North America (2014)
and Hans Christian Andersen and Music: The Nightingale Revealed (2005). Her work has also appeared in The Hopkins
Review, Musical Quarterly, Nineteenth-Century Music, Notes, The Cambridge Companion to Liszt (2005), and Franz Liszt
and His World (2006) and The Cambridge Companion to Duke Ellington (2014) . In addition to her scholarly work, she has
authored a series of award-winning children's books. Her work has been featured on nationally syndicated radio and TV
programs, including NPR's "Todd Mundt Show", BBC's "Music Matters" and "Proms Broadcasts", and C-Span's "Book-TV".
Before coming to Georgetown, she served as a writer and guest commentator for Michigan Public Radio and NPR's
"Performance Today.”
Elizabeth Darling, D.P.T.
Ms. Elizabeth Darling spent 7 months with the Chinese National Volleyball team in 2014 and helped them win the silver
medal in the 2014 World Championships. She was the first Western-trained physical therapist/athletic trainer to work
with a Chinese National team for an entire season. She has worked with USA Gymnastics for 13 years, traveling
extensively with the national gymnastics team to provide physical therapy and athletic training services. She has been
involved in competitions around the globe, including world championships in Hungary, Greece, Azerbaijan, Japan and
South Africa and the Pan Am Games in Brazil. In 2008, Ms. Darling was the USA diving team’s physical therapist at the
Olympic Games in Beijing. Ms. Darling is a graduate of Marquette University, and completed her doctorate in physical
therapy in 2009. She currently heads Keystone Rehabilitation Systems – Erie South in Erie, PA
Lt. Gen. James Dubik (Ret.)
James Dubik is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General, serving in the U.S. Army for 37 years. General Dubik holds a
Bachelor’s of Arts degree in Philosophy from Gannon University, a Master’s of Arts degree in Philosophy from Johns
Hopkins University and a Master of Military Arts and Sciences Degree from the United States Army Command and General
Staff College. He is President and CEO of Dubik Associates - an international consulting firm with a focus on leader
development, organizational change, and national strategic and intelligence issues. General Dubik is also Board Chairman
of the Leadership Roundtable on Church Management; Senior Fellow at the Institute for the Study of War and the
Institute of Land Warfare; member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Security Advisory Council; U.S.
Global Leadership Coalition; 2012-2013 General Omar N. Bradley Chair in Strategic Leadership; member of the U.S. Army
Ranger Hall of Fame; as well as a distinguished member of the U.S. Army 75th Ranger Regiment. His work has been
published in a variety of publications, and has been quoted in numerous print and on-line media, frequent lecturer, panel
member, and media analyst on national security issues. He now lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife, Sharon.
Corrine Egan, B.A.
Ms. Corrine Egan has served as Executive Director for the NW PA Labor Management Council and director of Special
Events and Community Education at Mercyhurst College. Ms. Egan graduated from Mercyhurst with a business degree in
1980. In April of 1993, she was recognized by The Women's Roundtable of Erie as Woman of the Year. She has served on
the Board of Trustees for Metro Health Center, as a commissioner for the NW Regional Planning Commission, and is a
past member of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. She served as a Perry 200 Coordinator at the Jefferson
Educational Society.
Jane Earll, J.D.
Senator Jane Earll was first elected to the Pennsylvania State Senate in 1996, and has been re-elected three times, to
represent the 49th Senatorial District, which includes the City of Erie and most other municipalities within Erie County. In
2002, in addition to serving the constituents of the 49th District, Senator Earll was the Republican Nominee for Lieutenant
Governor. Prior to her election to public office, Senator Earll established herself as a respected legal professional. She
practiced law for over 12 years in both the public and private sectors, including almost seven years as an Assistant District
Attorney. Senator Earll is the Chairwoman of the Community, Economic and Recreational Development Committee, Vice
Chair of the Finance Committee, and also serves on the Banking and Insurance, Judiciary, Rules and Executive
Nominations, and Transportation Committees. Senator Earll received her B.A. from Allegheny College in Meadville, PA,
and obtained her law degree from Ohio Northern University College of Law in Ada, Ohio.
William P. Garvey, Ph.D.
Dr. William Garvey received his B.A. from Gannon University and his M.S. and Ph.D. in history from the University of
Pittsburgh. Dr. Garvey had a rich, 42-year career as an educator and administrator of Mercyhurst College in Erie,
Pennsylvania – serving as the college’s president for 25 years. Dr. Garvey currently serves as the President of the Jefferson
Educational Society, Erie’s think tank for community progress.
Baher Ghosheh, Ph.D.
Dr. Baher Ghosheh is a professor at Edinboro University in the Geoscience department, specializing in Cultural Geography,
International Trade, the Middle East and Japan. He holds a Ph.D. in Economic Development from SUNY- Buffalo. He has
travelled to 48 countries (including many Arab and Muslim countries); authored one book and 60+ articles on the Middle
East, Asia, and Japan; and taught in the US, Japan, China, Morocco, Russia, and Italy. His honors include: Fulbright Scholar,
PA Geographer of the Year, and Educator of the Year.
Barry Grossman, J.D.
Barry Grossman, J.D. is a life-long resident of Erie County, and served as Erie County Executive from 2010 – 2014. He
received a B.A. in political science from Cornell University and a M.A. in political science from Gannon University. He also
received a J.D. in Law from Cleveland State University and completed a doctorial program in American History at Case
Western Reserve University (ABD). Mr. Grossman spent twenty years as a Professor of Political Science and Director of Pre
Law at Mercyhurst College.
Nadia Harvard, J.D.
Ms. Havard concentrates her practice in tax law, estate planning, estate administration, and business law. She regularly
employs efficient wealth transfer planning techniques and assists clients with their estate plans. Ms. Havard also actively
assists business owners with dispute resolutions and business succession. She helps nonprofit organizations with
restructuring and tax-exempt status matters. While in law school, Ms. Havard served as an intern in the NYS Attorney
General’s Office Health Bureau, conducted legal research on tax benefits of corporate restructuring in Moscow, Russia
and worked as a research assistant to a taxation faculty professor at Albany Law School. She speaks English, Russian and
German.
Kerry Moyer, Ph.D.
Dr. Kerry A. Moyer earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees in meteorology from Penn State University. Following
his graduate studies, he spent two years working as a Postdoctoral Investigator at the Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution on Cape Cod. Dr. Moyer has spent the past 18 years teaching meteorology and climatology courses in the
Geosciences Department at Edinboro University. His primary research interests lie in relatively small-scale (mesoscale)
weather systems such as lake-effect snow bands and thunderstorms.
Marjorie Podolsky, M.Ed.
Mrs. Marjorie Podolsky is a member of the Erie Philharmonic Chorus, two writing groups, and has written critical reviews
of Claiming Ground by Laura Bell in Magill’s Literary Annual, 2011 and A Widow’s Story by Joyce Carol Oates, in Magill’s
Literary Annual, 2012. She has also lectured and volunteered extensively with the Jefferson Educational Society and the
Perry 200 Commemoration.
Steven Ropski, Ph.D.
Dr. Steven Ropski is a graduate of Gannon College (1978) with a degree in Biology and teaching certification in high school
Biology. He then taught high school Biology at Elk County Christian High School in St. Mary's, PA for one year. He spent
1979-84 at Indiana State University getting his doctorate in Ecology while studying hibernation in the Meadow Jumping
Mouse. Dr. Ropski has been back at his alma mater since 1984.
Regis Sabol, Ph.D.
Regis T. Sabol, Ph.D. holds a B.A. and an M.A. in English from Gannon College and a Ph.D. in Criticism and Literature from
Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He also holds a Secondary Teaching Certificate from Edinboro University of
Pennsylvania. He has taught at Gannon College, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, and Mercyhurst College, as well as
the Erie and Millcreek School Districts.
Joyce A. Savocchio, M.A.
Joyce A. Savocchio was born and raised in Erie, PA. Ms. Savocchio was a teacher of social studies in the Erie School District
from 1965 - 1984, and was Assistant Principle at Strong Vincent High School in Erie from 1985-1989. She received her B.A.
from Mercyhurst College in 1961; her M.A. at Edinboro University; and her M.Ed. at the University of Pittsburgh. Ms.
Savocchio served as the first woman elected to Erie City Council from 1981 - 1989, and was the first to be Council
President. She then served as the first woman Mayor of the City of Erie from 1990 – 2002.
Susan A. Smith
Susan A. Smith interest in birds grew after receiving her first Golden Field Guide of the Birds of North America when she
was a child. It took her awhile to learn that she shouldn't look for a Vermillion Flycatcher in Erie! She has taught birding
classes, lead field trips and helped monitor the Snowy Owl invasion in Erie this past winter. She also writes articles about
birds, birding, and rescues birds for Tamarack Wildlife Rehab. Susan recently retired as Director of Development at the
Achievement Center, and currently serves on the following: Presque Isle Advisory Committee, Presque Isle Audubon
Society, Tamarack Wildlife Rehab & Education Center.
Michael J. Songer, J.D.
Michael J. Songer is a partner in Crowell & Moring's Washington, D.C. office and is co-chair of the firm's Litigation Group.
As a member of the firm's Litigation, Intellectual Property, and Privacy & Cybersecurity groups, his practice focuses on
complex commercial disputes. Michael has a B.S.M.E. (energy systems / nuclear power operations) and a B.A.
(government) from the University of Notre Dame, and a J.D. from Duke University. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of
Law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches the "Law of Cyberspace." Michael is admitted to practice in
Colorado, the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a licensed patent attorney.
Norman Stark, J.D.
Norman Stark is a Business Advisor at Erie Management Group, LLC, where he has served since 2006. Previous, Norman
Stark was a Partner at MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton LLP from 1965 – 2001. He also served as a Captain in the United
States Army Reserve. He received his B.A. from Gannon University in 1959 and his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame
in 1962. Mr. Stark has received various honors during his career, including more recently the Notre Dame Club
Humanitarian of the Year Award in March of 2014, and has been involved in numerous charitable and civic organizations
in Erie County.
Mark Squeglia, B.A.
A lifelong resident of Erie, PA, Mark has always maintained a personal interest in History. A graduate of Gannon College in
1979 with a BA in History, Mark has worked for Hammermill Paper Company, Erie Insurance, Presque Isle Insurance and
currently General Electric in the field of Information Technology. Mark was a member of the Perry 200 Commission and
has been a lecturer for the Jefferson Society since 2010. While Mark’s interest is in all periods of history, his main focus
and specialty is of military history in World War II.

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