Notre Dame College is reviving a 20-year tradition of faculty, fun, conference-like classes as part of its continuing Centennial celebration.
The College is hosting a Centennial Kaleidoscope Day, a collection of faculty and staff mini-seminar sessions for the extended Northeast Ohio community, on Saturday, April 22, beginning with check-in and a continental breakfast at 8:15 a.m. in the Administration Building foyer. The colloquia designed for those interested in continuing education, professional development or simply nurturing the mind, are scheduled to conclude at 11:30 a.m.
This “Beyond 100” symposium commemorates the past Notre Dame Kaleidoscope Day, or K-Day, tradition that took place on campus from 1977 to 1997. Kaleidoscopes are tools—and toys—offered for education. Notre Dame’s K-Day was designed to combine learning and fun with no papers or tests.
During this Centennial year, a total of 11 K-Day classes are available across two one-hour sessions. Conference-like tracks include finance, health and history along with presentations on reading, wellness and winemaking. The cost is only $20, which includes a continental breakfast.
Following K-Day, members of the extended community are invited to remain on campus for the Notre Dame Falcons’ Football Blue & White Spring Scrimmage at noon on Mueller Field.
Space is limited, so registration is required. Seminars are not appropriate for young children.
To learn more or to register, visit NotreDameCollege.edu/Centennial/Kaleidoscope-Day. Registration also is available via mail by contacting Karen Poelking at kpoelking@ndc.edu or 216.373.5252.
The list of kaleidoscope sessions, in alphabetical order by presenter, follows:
Not For Children Only: Children’s Books as Adults’ Guilty Pleasures
Sue Corbin, Ph.D. | Professor, Accreditation Chair & Division Chair, Professional Education
You don’t need to have a small child in your life to set yourself free in the children’s section of a library or bookstore. A good children’s book should have the same qualities that a highly acclaimed adult book possesses, including story elements that work together to create believable, relatable characters who experience the many complex conflicts of being a human being, no matter the age. This session will explore a selection of children’s books from the Notable Books for a Global Society Awards that are chosen every year by the Children’s Literature and Reading Special Interest Group of the International Literacy Association. Participants will enjoy an interactive read-aloud and will use a handout with selected books that will guide them through the process of reading a children’s book through an adult’s eyes. Book lists and helpful websites will be provided. Expect to connect with your inner child!
Doing Business with China: The Present and Future Outlook
Peter Corrigan, M.B.A. | Assistant Professor, Entrepreneurship
US-China relations are frequently in the news of late. Is China an enemy or a competitor? How has China risen to prominence and where are they going? How should the West continue to engage with China? This class will explore answers to these questions through the lens of first-person observation and experience and by looking at current events and emerging trends in China. The future outlook for US and China relations from a financial, cultural and political perspective will be included.
The Kennedy Assassination 60 Years Later
Debra Dacone, D. Min. | Assistant Professor of Theology
Some of us remember where we were on that fateful day, November 22, 1963, when President John Fitzgerald Kennedy was shot and killed while riding in a motorcade in Dallas, Texas. Others have learned about the tragedy through stories, books and in school. This one-hour class looks back at the fateful assassination, the immediate days that followed and the six decades since. Come and share memories, meaning and stories.
Obtaining Financial Freedom
Elizabeth Frey, M.B.A., C.P.A. | Assistant Professor of Accounting
Managing personal finances does not have to be overwhelming or complicated. This presentation will help you to become financially savvy. Learn about how your money mindset affects your ability to save, how much you should save and when, how to “pay yourself first” to maximize savings and how to evaluate your budget and debt.
The Human Face of History: The Story of a Holocaust Survivor
Greg Moore, Ph.D. | Professor, Public Service and Security Studies
This class tells the story of a Holocaust survivor who escaped the Holocaust by living as a “Hidden Person” in Amsterdam. At 15 years of age, Eva and her younger sister Ruth were sent to The Netherlands to escape Nazi persecution after Kristallnacht in Vienna. Their experiences make for a compelling story and are a testament to those who survived the Nazi persecutions before and during the Second World War.
Getting Control of Your Hypertension
Jackie Robinson, Ph.D, M.B.A., M.S.N., ACNS-BC, RN, CCRN, CHSE |Associate Professor and Director of the Shaughnessy Center for Nursing Innovation and Education
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, affects half of all Americans and many do not know they have it. Learn about non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic approaches to blood pressure control. Tour the college’s nursing lab, stop by to have your blood pressure checked by a Notre Dame nursing student and see the educational materials the Division of Nursing has created for patients.
Living Well in Today’s World
Roslyn Scheer-McLeod, M.A. | Associate Professor of Health Science/Psychology, Licensed Professional Counselor
In this session we will discuss a holistic approach to looking at one’s health and well-being, including the spiritual, social and emotional components that empower and enrich one’s life. Suggestions for reframing and managing stress and conflict will be offered.
The James Webb Telescope: Findings from the First Nine Months of Space Exploration
John J. Smetanka, Ph.D. | Provost and Dean of Faculty
NASA launched the largest optical telescope into space on December 25, 2021, to learn more about the universe. This presentation, for budding, experienced and enthusiastic astronomers, highlights the discoveries and awe-inspiring images taken by the groundbreaking James Webb Telescope through the first nine months of operation. The exciting promises of future observations will also be explored!
Investing and Wealth Management
Ovidiu Lucian Vatamanu, Ph. D. | Assistant Professor, Economics & Finance
Featuring: Gail Barber, Sales, Marketing and Negotiations Expert, Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, David Moss, Pedro Alves and David Kolar; Notre Dame College Finance Majors
Investments are a way of saving money for the long-term. This session will present investment objectives and financial strategies that lead to successful wealth management. Investment opportunities in the stock market and in real estate will be analyzed.
Winemaking
Ovidiu Lucian Vatamanu, Ph.D. | Assistant Professor, Economics & Finance
Vinification, or the production of wine, dates back to ancient times. The science of wine making varies, depending upon location, climate, season, type of grapes, soil and fermentation technique. Hear from a Notre Dame faculty member and experienced winemaker how these elements affect the final product. Enjoy samples from the instructor’s cellar as well as local and well-known favorites. You must be 21 years of age to sample the wine!
Compassion Meditation – Care for All Beings
Sister Carol Ziegler, SND., Ph.D. | Executive Director of the Abrahamic Center and Cochair Office of Institutional Effectiveness
Thomas Aquinas reminds us in his Summa that God is not confined to a supernatural heaven but “is present everywhere in everything.” God is not a being but being itself. Our call as Christians, then, is one of care and compassion for all beings, including our world. This interactive session first considers the value of mindfulness meditation and then moves into a 20-minute guided compassion meditation period.
Centennial Celebration
Notre Dame is celebrating 100 years of educational excellence in 2022-2023. The College opened in its current location on South Green Road in South Euclid in fall 1922, and its articles of incorporation were signed and filed with the State of Ohio on March 30, 1923.
The College honored the first graduates of its two-year teacher training program in 1925 and its first graduating class of four-year degree students in 1926.
Notre Dame continues to mark its Centennial with events throughout 2022-2023. Details of the celebration and Notre Dame beyond 100 are available online at NotreDameCollege.edu/Centennial.
March 2023
About Notre Dame College
Notre Dame College is a private, Catholic, liberal arts college in South Euclid, Ohio, committed to teaching students how to make a good living and live a good life. Founded by the Sisters of Notre Dame in 1922, the College offers bachelor’s degrees in 30 disciplines plus a variety of master’s degrees, certification programs and continuing and professional development programs for adult learners on campus and online. For more information, visit NotreDameCollege.edu.