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# F A L L I N T O L E A R N I N G

LIFELONG LEARNING

Fall Semester 2026

#FallIntoLearning Dear Residents, Family, and Guests, At RUI University, Fall is a season to reconnect, rediscover, and learn something new. This semester, Fall into Learning invites residents, families, friends, and members of the greater community to experience thought-provoking classes, cultural traditions, and signature events designed to inspire curiosity and connection. Our Fall curriculum brings lifelong learning to life through engaging discussions, expert perspectives, history, science, and shared experiences. Whether exploring a new subject, exchanging ideas, or simply enjoying the experience of learning together, RUI University offers something for every curious mind. In September, we celebrate National Assisted Living Week (NALW), honoring the vibrant lives, stories, and connections that make our communities special. October explores Forensics & Justice: Science, Society & Truth, examining cuttingedge forensic technologies and the evolving intersection of science and justice, alongside our signature Oktoberfest celebration. In November, Legacy of Service explores the history, impact, and stories of our nation’s veterans as we commemorate Veterans Day, gather for our signature Fall Festival, and celebrate the gratitude and togetherness of Thanksgiving. We warmly invite residents, families, friends, and members of the greater community to #FallIntoLearning with RUI University. Come for a class, discover a new perspective, and experience the connection that makes lifelong learning meaningful at every stage of life. Warmest regards, The RUI University Team

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ART HISTORY Norman Rockwell, America’s Favorite Illustrator September 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM Rockwell's artwork graced the covers of magazines, most notably the Saturday Evening Post, for five decades. Let’s look at the illustrations and paintings that captured American culture from Boy Scouting, to the Depression, Sporting activity, Hollywood glitz, World War II, and the Space Race.

Women at Work October 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM Let’s examine the professions of women in art over time. We see a range of livelihoods — from peasant women working as farm hands and midwives, to poets and writers, nurses and childcare providers, and suffragettes, and policy makers.

Food in French Art November 18, 2026 at 2:00 PM Above all, the French prize their culinary prowess. We start this lecture with the source of food in French art: animals, fish, fowl, and seafood. We also look at Still Life paintings from the oeuvres of French painters such as Chardin, Manet, Fantin-Latour, Monet, Renoir, and Vallotton. Finally, we feature paintings showing prepared food at the table — whether at home, or outdoors at a picnic, or at restaurants and other fine-dining establishments.

Roshna Kapadia has a BA from Tufts University, an MA in South Asian Studies from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MA in Art History from George Mason University. She has lived in the Washington DC area for 25 years.

BUSINESS The Trusted Voice Trap:

When Scammers Pretend to Be Someone You Know September 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM In this session, you will learn how impostor scams have become one of the most effective tools in a scammer’s arsenal. Participants will explore how fraudsters disguise themselves in order to gain trust and create a false sense of urgency. We’lll examine the tactics these impersonators use, and through real-world examples and discussion, attendees will learn how to recognize warning signs and develop simple habits that can stop them before they gain access to personal information, accounts, or hard-earned savings.

Inside the Scammer’s Playbook: How Fraudsters Think, Hook, and Win October 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM

In this engaging session, we’ll step deeper inside the mind of a scammer to understand how fraud schemes are designed and the psychological tactics scammers use to gain trust, create urgency, and manipulate emotions. Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of the scammer’s mindset, practical warning signs to recognize, and simple strategies to protect themselves, their families, and their finances from today’s most common fraud threats.

The Tax-Time Trap:

How Scammers Turn Filing Season Into Open Season October 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM Tax season should be a time for filing returns and collecting refunds, but for scammers it is one of the most profitable times of the year. In this session, we’ll learn how fraudsters exploit the confusion, urgency, and fear often associated with taxes to steal money and personal information. By the end of the session, attendees will be better prepared to recognize tax scams before they strike and confidently navigate tax season without becoming a victim.

Anthony Cantor is the Executive Director of Malfeasance Awareness for Retirees Capital. In his role, he combines more than four decades of experience in adult education, organizational behavior (including fraudulent operations), and technology‑driven human development, to the mission of protecting Seniors and Retirees from fraud.

Avoiding Common Healthcare Scams September 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM This class will cover the most common types of scams affecting seniors and will share ways to prevent, detect, and report those scams before it’s too late. Shawn Smith is the State Director of the Virginia Senior Medicare Patrol program. He leads a team of over 100 staff that educate seniors on fraud prevention. Shawn is also the author of “101 Fraud Tips”, a guide to help seniors protect their money and identify from scammers. In addition to being an author and speaker, Shawn is a life coach, ordained minister, and father, living in Richmond, VA.

FINE ARTS Harvest Moon & Orchard: Autumn Painting Series September 1, 2026 at 2:00 PM Welcome in the feeling of fall as you're led through a step-by-step painting class to create a harvest moon and orchard featuring a large, glowing full moon hanging over rolling hills and distant apple trees.

Starlit Pumpkin Patch: Autumn Painting Series October 6, 2026 at 2:00 PM In this class we will be transported through art to a harvest night. Residents will get to paint brightly lit pumpkins sitting beneath a deep navy night sky filled with stars and a crescent moon.

The Gratitude Tree: Autumn Painting Series November 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM Leaves are falling and Autumn is calling. This class will be a step-by-step painting class to create a silhouette of a spreading oak tree featuring rich burgundy, amber, and gold leaf splatters across its branches. Heather Connole is a self-taught impressionist oil painter with 17 years of experience and is a member of the Baton Rouge and Manassas Art Guilds. Heather is currently represented at the Elizabethan Gallery in Baton Rouge, Art and Curious in Calabash, and Behold Custom Art Gallery in St. Louis. Her artwork has also been featured in various magazines. Heather has been an art instructor for 16+ years and is currently teaching paint and sip classes at wineries. Register for RUI University classes online at AshleighAtLansdowneByRUI.com/rui-university or by calling 703.828.9600 3

FINE ARTS Wake Up Your NeuroCreative Mind September 29, 2026 at 2:00 PM This engaging class introduces residents to the idea that creativity is not just for artists; it is a practical brain skill that can help support attention, curiosity, flexibility, and lifelong engagement. Through storytelling, humor, light movement, and audience participation, residents will explore simple ways to activate the mind and stay more mentally engaged in everyday life.

Break the Loop: Simple Ways to Spark Fresh Thinking October 20, 2026 at 2:00 PM This interactive session explores how small changes in routine can help open the door to fresh thinking, curiosity, and creative energy. Residents will learn how familiar patterns can sometimes keep the mind on autopilot, and how simple shifts in movement, attention, senses, and imagination can help stimulate new ideas and greater mental flexibility.

Creativity, Connection, and Your Next Chapter November 24, 2026 at 2:00 PM This uplifting class focuses on how creativity, connection, and purpose can continue to bring meaning and joy throughout life. Residents will explore simple ways to stay inspired, connected, and open to new experiences through storytelling, conversation, imagination, and small daily creative practices. Thomas C. Keller is a speaker, author, and professional artist who presents interactive programs on creativity, brain health, and lifelong learning. After more than 25 years as a professional artist, Thomas became interested in how creativity, movement, curiosity, and meaningful engagement help people stay mentally active, flexible, and connected at every age. He is the author of Your NeuroCreative Mind: Stay Sharp, Inspired, and Engaged, and his presentations combine practical neuroscience, storytelling, humor, movement, and audience participation. His programs are designed to be uplifting, accessible, and immediately useful for older adults.

HISTORY Seeds of Rebellion: America’s Revolutionaries September 10, 2026 at 2:00 PM Step back in time to meet the 56 bold delegates who risked everything—their fortunes, reputations, and lives—to sign America's ultimate breakup letter with the British Crown. From famous founders like Jefferson and Franklin to the forgotten revolutionaries who shaped history, this class reveals the stories, fierce debates, and immense risks behind the Declaration of Independence. Discover who they really were and what it truly took to birth a new nation!

Sparking Shay’s Rebellion October 8, 2026 at 2:00 PM What happens when the heroes of the American Revolution turn their weapons against their own new government? Join this gripping class to explore Shays' Rebellion—the violent 1786 uprising of desperate, debt-ridden Revolutionary War veterans that pushed a fragile young America to the brink of collapse. Discover how a backcountry revolt terrified founding fathers like George Washington and directly sparked the creation of the U.S. Constitution!

The Whiskey Rebellion November 12, 2026 at 2:00 PM What happens when the first tax levied by the new U.S. government triggers an armed insurrection against President George Washington? Join this fast-paced class to explore the Whiskey Rebellion—the 1794 frontier revolt where angry farmers tarred and feathered tax collectors, prompting Washington to personally lead 13,000 militiamen to enforce federal authority. Discover how a clash over liquid currency tested the power of the U.S. Constitution and defined the limits of American liberty! Ron Duquette is a native of Springfield, Massachusetts, and the lineal descendant of a French soldier who was in New France, in 1640. He is a graduate of Middlebury College with a Bachelors Degree in French Language and Literature, and has a Masters of Science Degree in Government from Campbell University. Entering the United States Army in 1974, he spent the next 20 years in assignments & schools across the U.S. and then in Europe between Germany and England. His theatrical experience is broad, starting in high school through his time in the Army, ranging from French classical and modern theater to Shakespeare to musical theater. Register for RUI University classes online at AshleighAtLansdowneByRUI.com/rui-university or by calling 703.828.9600 5

HISTORY Changing Cuba Series: President Theodore Roosevelt called Cuba “That infernal little Cuban Republic.” Relations between Cuba and the United States have been filled with tension, before and after the revolution of 1959. This three part series talks will look at the history of U.S. - Cuban relations, how Cuban society has evolved over the years, and the changing nature of Cuba’s place among the nations of the world.

Cuba and the United States September 22, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Cuban Society: Before and After the Revolution October 27, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Cuba and the World November 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM

Dr. James Baer is an emeritus professor of history at Northern Virginia Community College. Holding a Ph.D. in Latin American History from Rutgers, he has published extensively on Argentine social history and Cuban Protestants. His books include Anarchist Immigrants in Spain and Argentina and A Social History of Cuba’s Protestants: God and the Nation.

WELLNESS Movement Confidence & The Protection Pathway September 2, 2026 at 2:00 PM Residents will learn the foundations of fall protection, including balance awareness, safer movement strategies, and how confidence shapes our daily navigation. This class will focus on and body awareness and safe movement habits while incorporating stances and postures.

Strength, Stability & Safer Movement October 7, 2026 at 2:00 PM This session focuses on building the physical tools that support independence. Residents will practice movements designed to improve strength, coordination, posture, and stability. Residents will learn that while we cannot always prevent every fall, we can train how we move, react, and protect ourselves.

Real-Life Fall Protection Skills November 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM Residents will explore practical strategies inspired by the principles of Ukemi — learning how to manage unexpected movement, safely recover, and protect themselves. Some of the key takeaways from this class include protection pathway concepts, reaction skills, getting back up after a fall, and confidence for everyday life.

Bryan DePhillip is the founder of Ukemi Health Partners, a movement education company focused on helping individuals build confidence, reduce their fear of falling, and learn practical fall-protection skills. Bryan combines his background as a USA Judo Black Belt (Shodan), NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and NASM Senior Fitness Specialist, with CDC Heads Up Concussion Safety certification, to bring martial arts-inspired movement concepts into safe, accessible programs for everyday life.

HUMANITIES Royal Tea Experience: A Steeped in Tradition Series September 16, 2026 at 3:00 PM Enjoy two teas with roots in British tea history and royal tradition. We’ll uncover the origins, stories, and legends of High Tea, plus share delightful trivia—including a few surprising “rules of royalty” the royal family is expected to follow.

World Travels: A Steeped in Tradition Series October 7, 2026 at 3:00 PM Sip your way around the world with teas inspired by the flavors of Italy and India. As we taste, we’ll journey through fascinating history and fun facts—featuring iconic landmarks like the Roman Colosseum and the Taj Mahal.

Harvest Moon: A Steeped in Tradition Series November 4, 2026 at 3:00 PM This class will serve teas blended with flavors and spices of fall and present Harvest celebration stories from around the world, including various folklore tales about the full moon and other Autumnal stories.

Annamarie Mariani-Huehn is a senior living executive and engaging presenter known for bringing warmth, storytelling, and connection into every room. With 20+ years in senior living leadership, she also shares interactive tea experiences as a Tea Guide and Storyteller—blending culture, legends, and specialty teas into a memorable program.

WILDLIFE Animals of Nobility September 23, 2026 at 2:00 PM Animals have played various roles in history and especially in nobility. Let’s take a look at some of them and how they play a part in history.

Animals in Space October 28, 2026 at 2:00 PM AWhat animals have been in space? Why did they go and how did they help us learn more about space? Meet some of the types of animals that have traveled beyond our world.

Animals Around the World November 19, 2026 at 2:00 PM “Travel” around the world and see up close animals from different continents. Where have you traveled for fun or work? Let’s take a look at some ambassadors from different continents.

Echoes Of Nature (EON) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to environmental education to help people of all ages better understand, appreciate, and care for wildlife and the natural environment. Through multisensory teaching techniques, EON aims to connect communities to nature and to give individuals of all ages the information and skills needed to become better stewards of natural resources.

RUINFORMED Calling All Weather Geeks Age Well Series September 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM Explore the fascinating science behind the weather that shapes our everyday lives. Calling All Weather Geeks features Nicholas Fillo and Amanda Sava of NOAA’s National Weather Service, who will take residents and families behind the forecast to discover how weather is observed, predicted, and communicated. From changing conditions to severe-weather awareness, this engaging conversation offers a closer look at the science, technology, and expertise that help us better understand the atmosphere around us.

The Art of Science and Culinary Cuisine Age Well Series October 21, 2026 at 4:00 PM Discover where creativity, chemistry, and cuisine meet in The Art of Science and Culinary Cuisine, featuring Matthew Deacon, RUI Corporate Director of Culinary Operations. This engaging session explores the science behind the foods we enjoy—from how ingredients interact and cooking techniques transform flavor and texture to the artistry that turns a meal into an experience. Residents and families will gain a fresh perspective on the fascinating relationship between culinary innovation, science, and the senses.

Resilience and Renewal Age Well Series November 18, 2026 at 4:00 PM What helps us remain strong, adaptable, and engaged as we age? Resilience and Renewal, featuring Mark Cifarelli, PT, Director of Clinical Practice for Legacy Healthcare Services, explores the connection between physical resilience, movement, recovery, and maintaining independence throughout the aging journey. Residents and families will discover practical insights for supporting mobility, confidence, and overall well-being while embracing renewal as an important part of aging well.

CULINARY Heirloom Recipes & Culinary Heritage September 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM Celebrate the stories, traditions, and memories preserved through food. Residents will explore how treasured family recipes connect generations, reflect cultural heritage, and strengthen identity while sharing personal recipes and contributing to a community cookbook.

Soups, Stews & Seasonal Roots October 19, 2026 at 3:00 PM Explore the comforting flavors of autumn through Butternut Squash Soup, Hungarian Goulash, and Braised Leeks. Residents will discover how seasonal ingredients, slow-cooking traditions, and warming foods support nourishment and wellness while sharing memories of favorite fall dishes.

Gratitude & Gathering: Celebrating Together November 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM Discover how food, gratitude, and tradition bring people together around the table. Featuring elevated holiday classics such as Sage Stuffing and Cranberry Chutney, residents will explore the connection between shared meals, emotional wellness, and meaningful traditions while reflecting on the foods and gatherings they cherish most.

CULINARY:UNCORKED Lobsters, Wineries & Foods of New England: Coastal Wines & Harvest Stories September 5, 2026 at 2:00 PM Journey through New England’s emerging wine country, where cool coastal climates, local agriculture, and harvest traditions shape distinctive wines. Residents will explore cold-climate winemaking, discover regional grape varieties, and consider how seafood, seasonal foods, and storytelling connect wine to a sense of place.

Germany & Austria: Rieslings and Fall Gold — Harvest Traditions & Noble Grapes October 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM Travel through the celebrated vineyards of Germany and Austria to discover the remarkable range of Riesling and Grüner Veltliner. Residents will explore how cool climates, vineyard slopes, acidity, and harvest timing influence wines from crisp and dry to beautifully balanced sweet styles while discovering the autumn traditions that surround the European wine harvest.

France: Burgundy & Beaujolais — Gratitude in the Glass November 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM Experience two distinctive expressions of French wine culture through Burgundy and neighboring Beaujolais. Residents will compare elegant Pinot Noir and expressive Gamay while exploring terroir, centuries-old winemaking traditions, and the connection between wine, food, and place. A seasonal focus on gratitude invites reflection on the people, traditions, and shared experiences behind every glass.

HEALTH Breath of Life: Lung Vitality & Calm September 9, 2026 at 3:00 PM Discover the powerful connection between breath, movement, and well-being. Breath of Life: Lung Vitality & Calm explores how healthy breathing supports energy, endurance, posture, and relaxation. Residents will learn how mindful breathing, gentle movement, and everyday habits can support lung health while using the breath as a practical tool for greater calm, focus, and vitality.

From the Ground Up: Foot & Balance Elegance October 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM Confident movement begins with a strong foundation. From the Ground Up: Foot & Balance Elegance explores the important role our feet, ankles, posture, and senses play in balance and mobility. Residents will discover practical strategies for supporting foot health, improving stability, choosing supportive footwear, and strengthening balance to promote safer, more confident movement in everyday life.

Grace in Motion: Joyful Rhythms of Dance November 18, 2026 at 3:00 PM Experience the joy of movement while discovering why dance is a powerful form of wholeperson fitness. Grace in Motion: Joyful Rhythms of Dance explores how music and rhythmic movement can support cardiovascular health, balance, coordination, memory, and emotional well-being. Residents will discover how dance—whether seated, standing, or simply moving to a favorite song—can encourage self-expression, social connection, and a joyful approach to lifelong wellness.

LIFELONG LEARNING

#FallIntoLearning

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