September 9, 16, 23, 30 (Tuesdays) 9:30-11:30 amAttend in person at ISU’s Alumni Center, 1101 N. Main St., Normal            ORWatch Online via ZoomFEES:$35 for Senior Professional members (includes all four sessions)$45 for non-members (includes all four sessions)For in-person participation, pricing is per person.For Zoom participation, pricing is one registration per household.Price includes:Four 2-hour sessions (one Academy of Seniors class).$15 single-session option available for in-person attendance (pay at door).Register online at seniorprofessionals.illinoisstate.edu or call (309) 438-2160.Zoom participants will receive a Zoom link a week prior to the start of the class(es) and again on the day of each session.L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is considered to be the great American fairy tale. The children’s novel remains popular and is regularly revised and reinterpreted for contemporary audiences.September 9: L. Frank Baum and his Wonderful Wizard of OzThis session will provide an overview of the life and multi-faceted career of Baum as an actor, author, and early filmmaker as well as the Baum/Bloomington connection. The class will examine The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the first book in his popular Oz series for children.September 16: Over the Rainbow: MGM film version of The Wizard of OzWe will consider the various ways Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz modified Baum’s novel into a family film that made Judy Garland, as Dorothy, and Margaret Hamilton, as the Wicked Witch of the West, iconic movie characters.September 23: The Dark Versions of OzThis session will examine adaptations of Oz that are geared for adolescent and adult readers focusing on Philip José Farmer’s science fiction, A Barnstormer in Oz (1982), and Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), a dystopian representation of Oz.September 30: Defying Gravity: Two Adaptions of Gregory Maguire’s WickedLearn about Stephen Schwartz and Winnie Holzman’s Broadway musical, Wicked (2003), and the Jon Chu’s recent film adaptation (2024) of the long-running Broadway musical. Both versions of Oz are loosely based on Gregory Maguire’s Wicked and trace how Elphaba becomes the Wicked Witch of West, from her point-of-view.Jan Susina, Emeritus Professor of English, Illinois State University

The Illinois State University Alumni Association believes in lifelong learning and career development even after graduation. Take advantage of these free webinars and live streams as they fit into everyday life to continue to learn and grow together as Redbirds. Be sure to register in advance to gain access to the webinar.What if the career advice you’ve been following is fundamentally flawed? If you’re feeling stuck, unfulfilled, or uncertain about your professional direction, this groundbreaking webinar could be the catalyst you need. Please join Betsy Wills and Alex Ellison, co-authors of Your Hidden Genius, who will introduce Career Guidance 3.0—a revolutionary approach that utilizes science and data, rather than outdated assumptions, to unlock your true career potential. Traditional career guidance focuses on interests and personality traits that can shift over time. But what if there were a more reliable compass? Aptitude assessments reveal how your brain is naturally wired to solve problems, collaborate, innovate, and navigate complexity—uncovering talents you may not even realize have career value. Unlike popular tools like the Myers-Briggs, StrengthsFinder, or the Enneagram, which measure preferences, these assessments identify your innate abilities, pointing you toward work that energizes rather than drains you. Whether you’re just starting your career, feeling misaligned in your current role, or considering a complete career change, this session will guide you beyond surface-level preferences to uncover the work you’re naturally designed to excel at. The authors will introduce YouScience, the leading aptitude discovery platform, and share how their book provides 24/7 career guidance through exclusive access codes.

A discussion-based group exploring a book written by graduate student instructors for graduate students, to give wide-ranging concepts of building and sustaining a community to support graduate students navigating teaching at the college level. No registration is necessary—come as you can and leave when you must.

Do you find yourself putting things off to the very last possible second? Are you often scrambling to turn in quality work because you waited too long to start? Don’t know how to break your bad procrastination habits? Learn some strategies to help you prioritize, motivate yourself, and dominate procrastination! Call the Visor Center at 309-438-7100 or stop by to sign up!

I have NO idea what I just read! This is the third time I’ve reread this paragraph and I just don’t get it. When I try to answer the chapter questions it seems like they are asking questions about topics they didn’t even cover. It’s hard to stay focused on the material in the book. Do any of these sound familiar? Reading is not a passive activity. You have to be actively participating with the reading to get the most out of it—but how? This interactive workshop will teach you some helpful strategies to get the most out of your reading, helping you become an active reader. Not only will you learn how to read more efficiently but also how to apply that knowledge to the class discussions and lectures. Call 309-438-7100 or stop by the Visor Center to sign up!

Symphonic Band will perform works by Fillmore, LaPlante, Markowski, Piunno, and De Meij in a joint concert with the Symphonic Winds. Symphonic Winds will perform works by Gibson, Whitacre, Holst, Iannaccone, and Day. This will be a concert you won’t want to miss!!!For additional information contact the Band Office (309) 438-2166To purchase tickets