Cockefaire Courses offer continuing education opportunities taught by members of the university’s talented faculty. Patrons enjoy the professors’ insights on topics within history, science, literature, music, politics, and more. Each course meets three or four times in 90-minute sessions.
Fall 2023 Course Line Up
The Power of Persuasion: From Aristotle to TED Talks, featuring Dr. Steven Melling
In this course, Professor Melling, Associate Teaching Professor in the UMKC Department of Communication and Journalism, will provide a brief overview of how the practice and power of public speaking has evolved, from Aristotle’s classical principles to their transformation into some of the newer persuasive forms of public address today, such as TED Talks. Dr. Melling will also explore how technology has presented both opportunities and challenges, such as the use of “deep fakes” and the rapid spread of misinformation.
- September 27 and October 4 and 11
- 5:30 – 7:00
- UMKC Administrative Center (5115 Oak Street, Plaza Room
- Zoom option also available
- $40 ($55 with parking permit)
Poetic Themes and the Poet’s Process, featuring Dr. Hadara Bar-Nadav
In this course, Professor Bar-Nadav, a Professor in the UMKC Department of Engish, will give a series of combined talks and poetic readings on various themes, including poetry and medicine, poetry and loss, and poetry and the other arts. Dr. Bar-Nadav will also explore the craft and process of writing poetry and discuss recent works by other writers, along with presenting some of her own poems from her various books. In addition, the last meeting may include a generative writing class using prompts that grow out of the different themes explored.
- October 19 and 26 and November 2
- 1:00-2:30 PM
- UMKC Administrative Center(5115 Oak Street), Brookside Room
- $40 ($55 with parking permit)
Energy Transitions: From Fossil Fuels to Alternatives, featuring Dr. Brian Frehner
In this course, Brian Frhner, Professor and Chair of the UMKC Department of History, will draw upon the history of energy transitions to consider the challenges society faces transitioning from fossil fuels to other forms of energy such as nuclear, wind, and solar. The presentation will emphasize the transition from coal to oil as a way to identify the challenges of transitioning away from fossil fuels in the future. The course will also include some discussion of climate change as a byproduct of our global energy consumption.
- November 7, 14, and 21
- 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM
- UMKC Administrative Center(5115 Oak Street), Brookside Room
- Zoom option also available
- $40 ($55 with parking permit)