901Z Fall 2026 Monday Lecture Series

Sept. 21: From Surfer Girl to Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys and the Birth of the Sonic Layer. Mike Agron. In 1961, three brothers, a cousin, and a friend turned a garage band into a sonic revolution. Led by Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys fused doo-wop and jazz harmony, using voices as instruments to create the “sonic layer.” From the innocence of “Surfer Girl” to the innovation of “Good Vibrations,” hear how their sound evolved—and still shapes music today.  

A music aficionado raised in LA’s entertainment scene Mike Agron now lives in Sacramento, CA. He’s a former high-tech executive and entrepreneur turned storyteller. Mike creates engaging multimedia seminars on music and film and has led hundreds of seminars for the Sacramento Renaissance Society, multiple OLLIs nationwide, and Osher Online. He returns to OLLI Mason for his fifth Monday lecture. 

Sept. 28: The Mediterranean in a Post-Atlantic World. John Koenig. The Mediterranean is a powerful symbol, conjuring vivid images of historic battles, cultural monuments, and holiday revelry. The historian David Abulafia has called it “The Great Sea”. No body of water has so impressed itself on our minds. But what has the Mediterranean been as a geopolitical space? Historically, in that sense, the character of the Mediterranean has shifted dramatically over time, from center to periphery, from bridge to bulwark, and from battlefield to backwater. Since the end of the Cold War, the long era of Atlantic domination in world affairs has drawn to a close after more than three centuries. More recently, the broad Atlantic Alliance has faltered. What is the Mediterranean’s place in the emerging post-Atlantic world, as NATO and the broader Atlantic alliance stumble and even collapse? Will the Mediterranean develop as an integrated geopolitical space or remain a neglected backwater? Will it be characterized by regional and strategic confrontation or cooperation? How will Europe and the European Union regard the Sea—as a defensive moat and arena of “great power rivalry”, or a field for economic and security engagement and opportunity? In this lecture, the instructor will draw on more than three decades of professional and personal experience with the Mediterranean to review its history as a Geopolitical Space, consider recent developments, and sketch out alternative futures for what remains “The Great Sea”.  

John M. Koenig has taught at the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies since 2017 and has led the school’s program in Rome. An American diplomat for more than thirty years, Koenig was ambassador to Cyprus from 2012 to 2015. From 2006 to 2009, he was deputy chief of mission and charge d’Affaires in Berlin. He was deputy U.S. permanent representative to NATO in Brussels from 2003 to 2006, and, from 2009 to 2012, political advisor to NATO Joint Forces Command Naples. Earlier in his career, Koenig served six years in Greece (both Athens and Thessaloniki) and three more years in Cyprus. During the Cold War, Koenig was a political officer at the American embassy to East Germany. 

Oct. 5: Why is the Resurgence of Nuclear Power so Crucial? Can the Current Efforts Succeed? Shivaji (Shiv) Seth. The demand for energy is dramatically rising, driven by digital data centers, artificial intelligence, manufacturing, and electrification. It is placing a premium on carbon-free energy to prevent global warming and climate change. High-technology and many other industries prefer clean energy, despite the government denying climate change, encouraging fossil fuels, and removing support for solar and wind energy. The latter alone simply cannot meet such rising energy demands. Meanwhile, the nuclear industry is staging a resurgence of carbon-free nuclear power with small reactors, but those are 5-10 years away to be available commercially. Also, the historical cost over-runs and delays with large nuclear plant construction are serious concerns that stalled the growth of nuclear power. Can we meet both: the growing energy needs and climate challenges? This class will discuss the status and address the issue. 

Shivaji (Shiv) Seth was in the energy field throughout his 60-year career in industry and in senior advisory roles with government. He has lectured on energy and global warming. Dr. Seth has a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering from MIT, and is an emeritus member of the American Nuclear Society. 

Oct. 19: Body Farm. Mary Ellen O’Toole. This session will be an overview of George Mason University’s Forensic Science Research and Training Laboratory (FSRTL), otherwise known as the Body Farm. One of eight body farms in the United States, and the only one in the mid-Atlantic region, the instructor will discuss the importance and relevance of research conducted at the Body Farm, the incredible value of the training for GMU forensic students, and the global humanitarian impact of this work in the location and identification of human remains for reunification with their loved ones. The study of human remains and human decomposition can assist in homicide investigations and the instructor will discuss several major cases on which she worked while with the FBI.  

Mary Ellen O’Toole is currently a full professor and the director of the Forensic Science Program at George Mason University and has served in this position for over eleven years. Prior to arriving at Mason, Dr. O’Toole served as a supervisory special agent with the FBI for nearly 28 years and for 15 years as an FBI profiler. She worked on some of the Bureau’s most high profile cases including the Green River serial killer case, the Unabomber case, the Elizabeth Smart case, and the Natalie Holloway case. 

Oct. 26: Religious Beliefs of the Founders. Heather Dudley. This course explores the religious beliefs of a selection of America's Founding Fathers, including George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin. By examining the diverse spiritual views of these key figures, the course aims to provide a clearer understanding of the founders' intentions regarding the role of religion in the new nation. This exploration is especially relevant today, in light of the rise of Christian nationalism—a movement that claims the United States was established as a Christian nation and that its laws and government should reflect Christian principles.  

Heather Dudley taught at the high school and college level. She has an MA in History, an MA in Psychology, and a Doctorate from Georgetown University. She writes a blog—charactermattered.org—and is the author of a book on the founders, The Free and the Virtuous: Why the Founders Knew that Character Mattered. 

Nov. 2: Exploring Opera: Popular Paris. James Sokol. Such a beautiful, romantic, historic city, it's no wonder Paris is a popular setting for several operas! Embark on an operatic journey to Paris with the instructor, who will touch on an array of repertoire from beloved masterpieces (such as Puccini's La Boheme and Verdi's La Traviata) to rarely-staged gems (such as Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots and Donizetti's Ugo, Conte di Parigi) – each set in "The City of Light!" Audio and video performance clips bring the charm of Paris and the excitement of opera into the discussion! This is a fun and interesting exploration for both opera newcomers and long-time fans!  

James Sokol started in the opera world under Beverly Sills at New York City Opera. After working on projects with the Opera Company of Philadelphia while in graduate school, Sokol moved west to work at San Francisco Opera. He is a former executive director of Pocket Opera and a founding member of the Singers Development Foundation.