Nov. 11, 2025

Flannery O’Connor remains one of America’s greatest short story writers, a pioneer of “Southern grotesque,” and a profoundly Catholic writer. Come to a 2-hour workshop over dinner to get introduced to O’Connor’s work, with a leading expert on her writings and free copies of her collection of short stories.

Led by: Christina Lake, a retired professor of English at Wheaton College.

How will AI change the way lawyers work? What legal and governance issues does AI raise?

Led by: UVA Law Professor Thomas Nachbar.

Co-sponsored with the Virginia Undergraduate Law Review

Sept. 10, 2025

Wendell Berry is one of modern America's most original and creative thinkers about rural life, farming, environmentalism, and literature. In his essays, novels, and poems, he has profoundly affected many others. This one-evening workshop showcased experts who were inspired to “live out” Berry’s writings in different ways.

Led by: Robert Mosalgo, a software engineer who also runs a small dairy, raises chickens, and does timber-framing, and Sam Heath, who has a background in community organizing and justice initiatives, informed by Berry's holistic attention to place, history, and culture.

The workshop was moderated by Drew Masterson, the Christian Study Center's director of Undergraduate Ministries.

April 3rd, 2025

Join us for an expert-led worksop: "Strategic Competition with China," led by Aaron MacLean, a preeminent voice on national security, senior fellow at Hudson Institute, and host of the "School of War" podcast. We will be discussing a selection of readings on China policy and competition strategy over Roots dinner on Thursday, April 3rd, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at The Blue Ridge Center.

November 25, 2024

Jane Jacobs had profound influence on how we think about urban planning—all from someone who didn't have a college degree and never worked as a planner. Her book The Death and Life of Great American Cities challenged dominant thinking about city planning and major urban projects, by placing individual residents and their community lives at the center of things. This workshop samples her major statements and landmarks in her life.

October 8th, 2024

Learn how to spot red flags, avoid common pitfalls, and protect your rights as a renter. Whether you're renting for the first time or just need a refresher, this workshop will give you the tools to make confident, informed decisions. Don’t sign on the dotted line without the knowledge you need! Sign up today and rent smarter!

Cosponsored by Student Legal Services

October 8th, 2024

Classical liberalism is one of the great traditions in political thought. But in 30 years, it's gone from winning "history" to being under siege from all sides. What are its basic principles, implications, and weaknesses?

Led by: Ryan Yonk, a political scientist, former professor, and director of programs at a think tank.

Most talk about artificial intelligence focuses on what it can do. But if past technological revolutions tell us anything, it's that we also have to ask what we should do. What are the ethical implications of applying AI in different areas? Does AI have prejudices—or could it make some worse? Could it be very moral or a moral danger?

Led by: Jim van Dyke, a computer engineer and PhD in philosophy, and Catherine Moon, a theologian and fellow at UVA's Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture.

This workshop explored the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard is both profoundly relevant and highly contested. The Court held that the U.S. Constitution, specifically the Equal Rights Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, along with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, do not allow Universities to decide admissions based— in part or in whole— on race. What exactly are the implications of Harvard? Where do University admissions committees and aspiring college applicants go from here? Was the Court right or wrong in its ruling?

Led by: Bryan Weir and Scott Ballenger

The U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization is one of the most controversial in SCOTUS history. It overturned the Court’s landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade, declaring that the U.S. Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. What exactly are the implications of Dobbs? Where do pro-choice and pro-life activists go from here? Was the Court right or wrong in its ruling? This workshop was a balanced overview of the decision by two prominent law professors.

Led by: Naomi Cahn and Helen Alvaré