Professor Mika LaVaque-Manty will describe recent trends and some of the exciting developments in higher education in general and at public research universities in particular.

U-M is among the leaders of academic innovations that combine the university’s 200-year commitment on accessible, public, and democratic education with new pedagogical and technological approaches. Instead of four intense years for late teens and young adults, the “college experience” of the future may begin as early as middle school and involve periods of residential activity in classrooms and labs and continue throughout the rest of one's life.

Originally from Finland, our keynote speaker for this Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (age 50+) Kickoff Event, Dr. LaVaque-Manty received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Southern California and his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Michigan. He is currently the Director of Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the University of Michigan as well as a Professor of Political Science since 2001.

This event is free and open to the public of all ages.