An educational program developed by a Washington University professor to expose senior learners to international cultural and social issues has evolved into a 26-city national program offering older adults the opportunity to interact with some of the world's most respected Russian and Chinese scholars.
Max J. Okenfuss, Ph.D., associate professor of history in Arts & Sciences, is director of the program, which is titled "The Peoples of Russia and China: Facing the Dawn of a New Century." The program was given its premiere in St. Louis last year and is being launched nationally this month.
Okenfuss also conceived, developed and directed a similar 20-city national program called "Reemerging Russia: Search for Identity," which opened in 1996 with an Assembly Series lecture in Graham Chapel.
Both programs have been funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and administered through OASIS (Older Adult Service Information System), a national education organization designed to enhance the quality of life for mature adults. OASIS offers challenging programs in the arts, humanities, wellness and volunteer service. Its goal is to help older adults continue their personal growth and provide meaningful service to the community.
In St. Louis, OASIS has teamed with BJC Plus, a cooperative sponsored by the BJC Health System, Famous-Barr, Mercantile Bank, Advantra and Emerson Electric Co. to provide services to more than 109,000 local seniors 55 and older. Local educational programs range from the arts to wellness, practical living and travel.
St. Louis seniors who wish to participate in the "Peoples of Russia and China" program at local OASIS facilities may request a complete course catalog by calling OASIS at 539-4555.
HEC, the St. Louis higher education cable channel, produced the video component for the program, which it plans to air locally. A similar HEC series produced for "Re-emerging Russia" was shown around the country on the HEC television network.
Brainstorming for the Russia-China program began in 1997 when Okenfuss and other humanities scholars joined an OASIS team to begin planning course content and organization. The result is a 10-week discussion series that includes lectures, films and other events. The curriculum explores the rich culture, history, values and beliefs of the Russian and Chinese peoples, while inviting participants to consider the influence they have on the future of these peoples.
The program includes contributions from nearly a dozen leading Russian and Chinese scholars, including several faculty with ties to the University.
William C. Kirby, Ph.D., a former dean and professor here and now a professor of history at Harvard University, is the program's lead Chinese scholar.
Robert E. Hegel, Ph.D., professor of Chinese language and literature and chair of the Department of Comparative Literature in Arts & Sciences, served as discussion leader for the Chinese component of the program's St. Louis premiere last fall. This year he is leading discussions for an international film festival related to the program and co-sponsored by the Saint Louis Art Museum (see related story).
Okenfuss served as discussion leader for the Russian component last year, a role assumed on the local level this year by Charles Byrd, Ph.D., assistant professor of Russian in Arts & Sciences. Byrd and a Chinese scholar are offering the program beginning this month at an OASIS center in Alton, Ill.
Like many of the scholars involved in the program, Okenfuss has contributed an original essay for use in the program's national curriculum, dealing with the current crises in modern Russia, a topic he explores in his teaching and research.
Michele Shoresman, Ph.D., director of joint degree and graduate programs in the School of Law and an adjunct associate professor in East Asian studies in Arts & Sciences, also contributed an essay on educational issues in China.
