UCLA CONVERSATIONS

UCLA Conversations were introduced in September 2023 as a joint program of the Retirees Association and the Emeriti. Stuart Wolpert, a retiree from UCLA's strategic communications office, invites faculty members (and occasionally other guests) to discuss current interests and topics. Typically he schedules his interviews for weekday afternoons at the Faculty Club.

On this page we feature videos of the UCLA Conversations as recorded by UCLARA's Michael Heafey. Special thanks to the Emeriti/Retiree Relations Center for hosting these videos on their YouTube channel. 

UCLA Conversations is the successor to the After Lunch Program. 

Events Section

Past Events

UCLA Conversations

After Lunch Program

Holiday Parties

Implications of Artificial Intelligence with Christopher Kelly and Daniel Snelson, May 2024. Kelty holds appointments in the departments of Information Studies and Anthropology, and is active in the Institute for Society and Genetics. He is director of the Livescu Initiative on Neuro, Narrative and AI. Snelson, a UCLA assistant professor of English and Design Media Arts, is a writer, editor and archivist. The topics they discuss with moderator Stuart Wolpert include how AI may impact creativity, art, culture, education, jobs and more. 

Aging and the Brain with Ming Guo, April 2024. Ming Guo holds UCLA’s Laurie and Steven C. Gordon Chair in Neurosciences and is a professor of Neurology, Molecular & Medical Pharmacology at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine as well as Director of UCLA’s Aging Center. Her research focuses on the molecular basis of diseases including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. She studies the nervous system of fruit flies as a model for studying the basis of human disease.

Mindfulness with Sara Melzer, March 2024.  Professor Sara Melzer is currently writing two books, one about mindfulness and photography, and a second on mindfulness and tango. She is a professor emeritus of French and Francophone Studies whose research expertise includes French colonialism in the Classical age and understanding contemporary France through the Classical age. She integrated mindfulness techniques into her teaching of several courses in the Humanities. Professor Melzer is a certified mindfulness coach and has wise insights on topics including how mindfulness can improve not only our focus, but also our relationships and our health.

Travel with UCLA Alumni and UCLA Retirees Association, March 2024. Christel Aragon is director of Alumni Travel at the UCLA Alumni Association, with more than 30 years of experience in the travel industry. Dolores Dyer is director of travel for the UCLA Retirees Association, often accompanying UC travelers to Europe, South Africa, and other destinations. Here they talk with Stuart Wolpert about their respective travel programs and upcoming trips. 

Piano Concert and Memoir with Inna Faliks, January 2024. Inna Faliks, professor and head of the piano department in the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, performs a piano concert on the Faculty Club's Steinway B. Interspersed among the musical selections are readings from her memoir, Weight in the Fingertips: A Musical Odyssey from Soviet Ukraine to the World Stage. The memoir details her exploration of Bach’s brilliant music as she grew up in Odessa and became a child prodigy.

The Importance of the Humanities with David Schaberg, October 2023. David Schaberg, professor of Asian Languages and Cultures, served as Dean of Humanities from 2011 to 2022. An eloquent advocate for the humanities, Schaberg brings perspective on the role of the humanities in the training of students and the making of societies His research is distinguished by his mastery of Chinese, Greek and Latin, his knowledge of the primary historical texts from each culture, and his ability to examine those works through the prism of the latest literary and critical theories. His research serves as a window into our understanding of early China, and helps us to understand Chinese ideas today.