Scholars for Life!
Speaker Series
& Virtual Movie Club!
Overview
CCSU faculty and guest speakers bring their passions and knowledge to our Scholars For Life! Speaker series! We are offering our talks on campus again, and if you are not ready to visit us in person we are also streaming the talks! We are offering a hot buffet lunch or dinner before the talk too. It’s a great way to visit with old friends and make new friends. Everyone is welcoming! Just let us know if it’s your first time here and we’ll take care of you!
How it Works
For our virtual talks, we will be using Zoom. When you register you will receive information on how to access the talk.
For our in-person talks, you will receive information on the location of our talks.
Previous Talks
Our Scholars For Life! Speaker Series sessions are recorded. The talks will stay on our website for 30 days, and you can request a link during that time to watch a talk you may have missed.
Contact
Upcoming Scholars For Life! Speaker Series
Virtual Movie Club- Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
Professor Steve Armstrong
09/09/2026
7:00 pm
Password:
Watch the movie in advance and then join us for a lively, casual conversation. Just like a book club, but only with movies! Movies can be found on Amazon and sometimes in libraries!
“Geographies of Coffee: From Jumping Beans to Devil’s Brew to Addiction with Dr. Cynthia Pope-Portelinha”
Dr. Cynthia Pope-Portelinha
09/16/2026
5:00 pm
Password:
Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages around the world. While it is a luxury good in the United States (although some of us think of it as a necessity!), cultivating coffee is a livelihood for millions of people around the world. This presentation will highlight how geographers view the coffee industry globally, with a focus on the lands and people who grow this commodity. This presentation features coffee tasting and food pairings, but you do not have to drink coffee to enjoy the talk.
New! Interactive Presentation: “1950’s TV Comedy Pioneers”
Mr. Waldemar Kostrzewa
10/05/2026
5:00 pm
Password:
How much do you know about your favorite 1950’s TV comedians? Follow their talented paths from vaudeville to television with movie roles and radio programs along the way. You’ll see how the Borscht Belt shaped TV comedy pioneers Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Sid Caesar, Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, and Jackie Gleason. Have fun with Waldemar “Wally” Kostrzewa to spotlight the comic characters who made us laugh each week. Hear those behind-the-scenes stories and test your memory about TV comedy trivia. Bring your funny bone and a friend to this 90-minute workshop you’ll talk about for days.
Virtual Movie Club- Nashville (1975)
Professor Steve Armstrong
10/14/2026
7:00 pm
Password:
Watch the movie in advance and then join us for a lively, casual conversation. Just like a book club, but only with movies! Movies can be found on Amazon and sometimes in libraries!
“Fall-ing into Astronomy: What’s Up This Fall (and Beyond) with Dr. Kristine Larsen”
Dr. Kristine Larsen
10/20/2026
5:00 pm
Password:
Fall is the perfect time to spend some time outdoors with the night sky. Join Central astronomy professor Dr. Kristine Larsen on a tour of what's up in the night sky currently, what's new in the world of astronomy and space exploration, and a sneak peak to some future events.
Virtual Movie Club- Killer of Sheep (1978)
Professor Steve Armstrong
11/11/2026
7:00 pm
Password:
Watch the movie in advance and then join us for a lively, casual conversation. Just like a book club, but only with movies! Movies can be found on Amazon and sometimes in libraries!
“Living in a Changing Climate with Dr. Shayne O’Brien”
Dr. Shayne O'Brien
11/16/2026
5:00 pm
Password:
Climate change is a complex issue that leaves many of us with questions. What is causing climate change? How do we know? Where will impacts benefit? Who is responsible? Dr. O'Brien will answer these questions and more as he reflects on the past, present, and future of our climate.
Virtual Movie Club- There Will Be Blood (2007)
Professor Steve Armstrong
12/09/2026
7:00 pm
Password:
Watch the movie in advance and then join us for a lively, casual conversation. Just like a book club, but only with movies! Movies can be found on Amazon and sometimes in libraries!
Virtual Movie Club- The Florida Project (2017)
Professor Steve Armstrong
01/13/2027
7:00 pm
Password:
Watch the movie in advance and then join us for a lively, casual conversation. Just like a book club, but only with movies! Movies can be found on Amazon and sometimes in libraries!
Virtual Movie Club- Nomadland (2020)
Professor Steve Armstrong
02/10/2027
7:00 pm
Password:
Watch the movie in advance and then join us for a lively, casual conversation. Just like a book club, but only with movies! Movies can be found on Amazon and sometimes in libraries!
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