ULA Lecture Series
University Library Association lectures are sponsored by the University Library Association (ULA) and the University Libraries. Members of the DU community, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, neighbors and friends, are welcome to attend at no charge.
September 12, 2024 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM MT
Carol Lynn Tiegs, Historic Denver Districts
Anderson Academic Commons, Room 290
Denver has nearly 60 designated historic districts. We will review Denver’s Historic Preservation Ordinance and the process and criteria for historic district designation. We’ll also look at significant architectural styles of the periods represented in various historic districts.
October 10, 2024 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM MT
Sarah Morelli, Ph.D., Performing Gender in Kathak Dance
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
Kathak, a dance from northern regions of South Asia, involves storytelling. Artists enact myriad roles including males and females, demons, and divine beings. Such performances help dancers develop a more gender-inclusive sense of self generally considered healthy and beneficial. This presentation introduces the practice of kathak storytelling, drawing examples from performances of the major Hindu epic Ramayana. Sarah Morelli is a Professor of Ethnomusicology at DU's Lamont School of Music and kathak scholar, educator, and performer.
November 14, 2024 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM MT
Josh Furman, The Other Ellis Island: Jewish Immigration Through Galveston, Texas
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
Between 1907 and 1914, nearly 10,000 Eastern European Jews entered the United States through the port at Galveston, Texas rather than through Ellis Island. From Texas, they traveled on to several states, including Colorado. This presentation will discuss the history of the Galveston Movement, its successes and failures, and will feature a rare primary source document: a 1907 recruitment pamphlet, translated from Yiddish, that was distributed to encourage Jews to come to Texas and other states beyond the East Coast.
January 9, 2025 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM MT
Stephania Von Dyke and the Denver Art Museum presents: Maurice Sendak
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
Stefania Van Dyke is Associate Director, Interpretive Engagement at the Denver Art Museum (DAM), where she leads a team of five interpretive specialists and works with curators and designers to develop exhibitions from an audience advocacy perspective. Wild Things: The Art of Maurice Sendak, on view at the DAM October 13, 2024 – February 17, 2025, is the largest retrospective of the artist’s work to date. In this talk, Stefania will shed light on Sendak’s background and inspiration, as well as his artistic process when making children’s books, including Where the Wild Things Are and beyond.
February 13, 2025 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM MT
Holly Fulton, Buried Secrets in Paradise
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
Buried Secrets in Paradise is inspired by Holly’s challenging journey as a descendant of America’s largest slave-trading family business out of Rhode Island. This story is featured in a groundbreaking documentary film called Traces of the Trade. Holly recounts various stories highlighting personal encounters and discoveries as well as invites you to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue.
March 13, 2025 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM MT
Briony Catlow, Ph.D., Rewiring the brain: The Power of Neuroplasticity in Aging
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
As people age, their brains undergo physical and chemical changes that can lead to cognitive decline, such as memory loss, decreased concentration, and comprehension. However, some individuals demonstrate remarkable cognitive resilience to these effects of aging, thanks to their greater capacity to adapt to change. In this talk, Dr. Catlow will explore the concept of neuroplasticity in aging, highlighting how the brain can rewire itself in later years. She will delve into the lifestyle interventions that can help build cognitive reserve, offering practical advice on how to enhance brain health and maintain cognitive function as we age. Join us to discover the transformative power of neuroplasticity and learn how to keep your brain vibrant and resilient throughout your life.
April 10, 2025 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM MT
Professor Francisco Rodriguez, The Collapse of Venezuela: Scorched Earth Politics and Economic Decline, 2012-2020
Anderson Academic Commons, 290
Between 2012 and 2020, Venezuela suffered the largest economic contraction ever documented outside of wartime. This collapse was caused not just by the failure of an economic model, but also results from the deeper failure of its political system to manage the conflicts inherent to a polarized society. In his new book, DU Professor Francisco Rodríguez argues that when the stakes of power are high, politicians have an incentive to adopt political strategies that directly harm the economy. He describes how politicians used these strategies to target the Venezuelan economy in their fight for power. Ultimately, he argues, the sides to the country’s political conflict have trapped the economy in a catastrophic stalemate that has destroyed the country’s living standards and turned the economy into a political battlefield. By charting Venezuela’s experience with scorched earth politics, Rodríguez reveals an essential cautionary tale for other democracies around the globe.