Meet Our Experts
Road Scholar's expert lecturers and group leaders create exceptional educational opportunities for you by contributing their extensive knowledge about the culture, heritage and history of the places you're visiting. They are both authorities on your destination and lifelong learners themselves who are excited to answer your questions, hear your opinions and share your experience.
On our educational programs you will be led by people such as:
Kim Poovey
Beaufort, S.C., resident, popular storyteller, actress, and novelist, Kim Poovey brings local history to life through her characters from the past. Whether telling a ghost story in downtown Beaufort or appearing to as the inimitable Miss Emma Victoria Brown, she transports her listeners to the past and wraps them up in the stories she tells. After each of her programs, Kim steps out of character to answer questions and elaborate on some of the historical events that shaped her stories.
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Kayak the Lowcountry Russel Barsh
A graduate of Harvard University, Russel Barsh has devoted his career to educating and advising Native peoples on land and environmental issues. He has served as an adviser to United Nations agencies as an advocate for indigenous peoples in developing countries, and worked as the science adviser to indigenous organizations participating in the "Earth Summit," carrying out field missions in South Africa and Asia. Russel serves as the director of KWIAHT, a nonprofit laboratory in the Salish Sea.
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Northwest Currents: Seattle to Victoria, B.C. to San Juan IslandDr. Diane Van
Dr. Diane Van Wyngarden is the director of Iowa State University’s Road Scholar programs and is also community and economic development specialist for Iowa State University Extension. Her career and doctorate in adult education demonstrate her passion for teaching lifelong learners. Diane recently received statewide recognition from Iowa State University for outstanding teaching and a state award from Iowa's Governor's Office for her ongoing work with local communities.
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On the Road: Missouri River Reflections — Ribbon of Legends Through Four StatesDr. Helga Fulop
With a degree in history from the University of Vienna, Dr. Helga Fulop imparts her vast knowledge of Vienna on personalized city explorations by bicycle, tram, coach and on foot. She gives inspiring talks on Austrian history in German, English and French. Dr. Fulop has a high reputation for keen insight of European history, with an affinity to music, architecture, art and European post-war history.
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Great Composers of Europe Jon Landaw
Jon Landaw is an instructor of Buddhist meditation and an author of several books on the topic including “Buddhism for Dummies” and “Prince Siddhartha: The Story of Buddha.” From 1972 to 1977 he worked as an English editor for the translation bureau of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala, India. Jon has taught in numerous Dharma centers throughout the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand. He currently leads courses at the Land of Medicine Buddha retreat center in California.
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Achieving Harmony and Balance: Feng Shui, Meditation, Qiqong & Painting