The mission statement of Washington and Lee University suggests that upon matriculation, each student begins to prepare for “lifelong learning, personal achievement, responsible leadership, service to others, and engaged citizenship in a global and diverse society.” That is, four years of undergraduate work or three years of law study are just the beginning of a W&L education. That is why W&L’s Lifelong Learning program extends education beyond graduation, offering rich educational experiences for everyone connected to W&L. This catalog showcases the programs available to all of you and represents a tradition of lifelong learning that is the envy of colleges across the nation.
The best way to grasp this tradition is by joining our on-campus seminars, online educational adventures, or travel experiences. The Lifelong Learning staff cherishes our connections with many of you, and we are eager for more friends. As the new director, I can honestly say that my curiosity is as much about all of you — as potential participants and friends — as it is toward the subjects, cultures, and ideas that we explore.
We look forward to having you participate in many of our programs this year, and, until we meet, let’s continue to lead lives of sociality, curiosity,
and consequence. Explore our offerings, contact us with questions at lifelong@wlu.edu, and visit our website regularly for updates. Our catalog does not capture everything, so let’s stay in touch.
Sincerely,
James Lambert, Director
Lisa D’Amelio, Associate Director
Danielle Taylor, Office Manager
www.wlu.edu/alumni/ lifelong-learning
Washington and Lee University provides a liberal arts education that develops students’ capacity to think freely, critically, and humanely and to conduct themselves with honor, integrity, and civility. Graduates will be prepared for lifelong learning, personal achievement, responsible leadership, service to others, and engaged citizenship in a global and diverse society.
Campus and Virtual Programs 2026
W&L After Class Podcast
Season 7: “What is Beauty?”
January 2026
Webinar Series I
Can Business be a Force of Good?
January 20, 2026: Megan Hess
January 27, 2026: Jay Margalus
February 3, 2026: Joel Adams and Emily Landry
Webinar Series II
Transformative Thinkers, Transformational Lives
February 24, 2026: Nathaniel Goldberg
March 10, 2026: Angela Sun
Institute for Honor Symposium
Business as a Force for Good
Featuring Jay Coen Gilbert
March 20-21, 2026
Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar
”Vigil” featuring author George Saunders
April 17-18, 2026
Summer College I
The Founding of an Independent Nation at 250
June 11-16, 2026
Summer College II
From Stone to Smartphone:
“Books” and the Materiality of Reading
June 17-20, 2026
Summer College III
Family Adventure in Theater: Puppetry and Performance
June 21-24, 2026
Law and Literature Weekend
“The Roundhouse” by Louise Erdrich
October 9-10, 2026
W&L After Class: The Lifelong Learning Podcast (Season
7: “What is Beauty?”)
Conversations With W&L’s Resident Experts
“W&L After Class” invites you to engage in lively conversations with faculty who share their insights and expertise across diverse fields. For six seasons, this one-of-a-kind podcast has introduced you to the faculty and staff that has helped to create the unique, rigorous, and engaged culture on campus, and, as former host Ruth Candler used to say, the podcast offers a “stroll along the Colonnade.”
to faculty that offer a perspective beyond my own. I want to know, for example, how an art historian, mathematician, marketer, and philosopher would answer the same big question. This season, I will be asking our guests: “What is beauty?”
The podcast team includes Laura Lemon, Kelsey Goodwin, James Lambert, Jessica Luck, Jim Goodwin, and Eric Owsley.
After six seasons of getting to know those who work here, I felt it was time to start asking our faculty the big questions: Who are we? Where did we come from? What is reality? Where are we going? In Season 7 of “W&L After Class,” I (your host, James Lambert) set out to answer a big question by talking
Is something beautiful because a culture agrees on the criteria to make it so? Is something beautiful because it makes us feel a certain way or react in a socially recognizable manner? Can beauty be defined, quantified, or systematized? Join me as I seek answers to this question by pulling together the greatest minds W&L has to offer. Each month, we will hear a new voice on the podcast, and each month you will be reminded of the rich conversations heard at W&L in the classroom and, well, after class.
The W&L Virtual Book Club: Yearlong Reading Opportunities
Wayne Booth was right: Our books are friends. Lifelong Learning wants to celebrate our friends, make new friends, and introduce others to our friends by hosting the quarterly W&L Virtual Book Club. We chose books that have a place in the broader W&L ecosystem so that we can create larger conversations about the things that matter and the books that get us there. Come join our deep friendship. This year we will be reading the following:
January-February 2026
“The Blue Sweater” by Jacqueline Novogratz (2009). In preparation for the Institute for Honor Symposium and alongside our “Can Business Be a Force for Good?” webinars, we wanted to choose a book that has been instrumental in describing why and how the conscious capitalism
movement was created. This nonfiction narrative book tells the story of how a banker’s brutal awakening on the state of the world leads her to eventually spend her career fighting global poverty and advocating for environmental sustainability through establishing businesses.
February-April 2026
“Vigil” by George Saunders (2026).
After the global success and the Man Booker Prize for his first novel, “Lincoln in the Bardo,” the literary world has been greatly anticipating the next book from George Saunders, the famed cultural critic and short-story writer. In his new novel, “Vigil,” Saunders has given us the story of an oil tycoon on the passage from life to death, visited
by an otherworldly figure to go over the philosophical ideas of regret, lived ethics, and community. This will also be the focus of our Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar.
April-August 2026
First-year W&L students traditionally read a selected book before their first semester and engage in discussions with fellow students, faculty, and staff during Orientation Week, and our Virtual Book Club members are invited to read the book alongside them. This shared experience offers a unique opportunity to learn, discuss, and reflect on important ideas together. Parent and friends can share their thoughts and experiences with the book, fostering meaningful connections
with their students as they embark on their college journey. It’s a wonderful way to support and accompany the students as they begin this exciting new chapter. Selected book TBD.
September-November 2026
“The Round House” by Louise Erdrich (2012). In this National Book Award-winning novel, a 13-year-old boy takes on the investigation of his mother’s attack when he feels police work has fallen short. Now considered a 21st-century classic, the novel takes place on the Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota and grippingly narrates the experience of a youth navigating law systems and worlds that often clash.
To register for our book club, please visit our webpage go.wlu.edu/LLbookclub or send us an email at lifelong@wlu.edu.
Assistant Professor of Business Administration
and Accounting
Jay Margalus
Assistant Professor of Business
Administration
Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and director of the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship
Webinar Series I • January 20, 2026 • 7:30 p.m.
January 27, 2026 • 7:30 p.m. | February 3, 2026 • 7:30 p.m.
Can Business be a Force of Good?
The Williams School of Commerce, Economics, and Politics is a unique offering that sets Washington and Lee University apart from its peers, and it produces students (over half major in one of its disciplines) who can navigate the world of business and politics with a clear grounding in ethics, responsibility, and generosity.
Despite the ample evidence of corporate corruption in the world today, a growing movement of entrepreneurs and business leaders want to change the narrative and prove that business can be a force for good. These innovators have shown that using the market as a listening device to design products and services that generate positive financial, social, and environmental impacts simultaneously can be a winning business strategy.
In this series of webinars, four dynamic faculty from the Williams School will explore the larger questions about business and goodness. Megan Hess, Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics and Accounting, will
introduce us to the ideas behind the conscious capitalism, while Jay Margalus, Johnson Professor of Entrepreneurship and Leadership and director of the Connolly Center for Entrepreneurship, will take on entrepreneurship as a force for good. Finally, assistant professors of business administration Joel Adams and Emily Landry will debate the primary premise that business can have priorities that include sustainability and the public well-being. These webinars will be leading up to our Institute for Honor Symposium and are co-sponsored by the 2026 Entrepreneurship Summit.
Joel Adams
Megan Hess Class of 1960 Professor of Ethics
Emily Landry
Webinar Series II • February 24, 2026 • 7:30 p.m. | March 10, 2026 • 7:30 p.m.
Transformative Thinkers, Transformational Lives
The adage that one good idea can change the world has always been troubling, primarily because it focuses on the results of the idea rather than its genesis, which is arguably more interesting and applicable. Where does a powerful idea come from? To answer that question in the most literal manner: a person. The Office of Lifelong Learning would like to start examining this notion — that there is a life behind every powerful idea.
In this new series of webinars, we will examine the lives of two individuals that produced some of the most consequential ideas in history, for better, worse, and everything in between.
Nathaniel Goldberg, professor of philosophy, will introduce us to the life of Immanuel Kant, whose philosophical work redefined the limits of human knowledge and reason. Perhaps the most influential thinker of the late 18th century, Kant advanced the idea that reality — or the nature of things — is perhaps no more than the result of human perception and intuition. This idea, that our own minds create the reality of things, has redefined how we think of natural law, morality, and aesthetics. Goldberg will bring to life the man that pushed that idea forward.
Nathaniel Goldberg Professor of Philosophy
Angela Sun Assistant Professor of Philosophy
webinars. Karl Marx, much like Kant, was so influential that a whole strain of philosophy — even a whole strain of political, philosophical, and cultural identity — carries his name. Angela Sun, assistant professor of philosophy, will make sense of Marx’s tremendous life, career, and ideas. Sun will allow us a greater understanding of Karl Marx’s own trajectory toward his transformational ideas.
Kant’s work profoundly altered the intellectual trajectory of the 19th century and ultimately influenced our other subject in this series of
Each year, we hope to continue providing webinars that detail transformative ideas, consequential lives, and influential careers. Please join us in inaugurating this group of webinars with representatives of the excellent liberal arts tradition of Washington and Lee.
Institute for Honor • March 20–21, 2026
Business as a Force for Good
The 2026 Institute for Honor Symposium will consider how business can be a force for good for society. The conscious capitalism movement has spurred the development of innovations and business models that foster ethical and profitable business growth.
Symposium participants will learn about the key principles of this movement, what it takes to do well while doing good, and how entrepreneurs and other business leaders are using markets to bring positive social impact to scale.
Our keynote speaker will be Jay Coen Gilbert, entrepreneur and co-founder of B Lab, a nonprofit network that seeks to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet.
certification allows business owners to signal their genuine commitment to ethical business practices and for buyers to cut through the greenwashing and align their spending with their values.
Jay Coen Gilbert Entrepreneur and co-founder of B Lab
Among its many positive impacts, B Lab is best known for empowering participating organizations to advertise themselves as certified B Corps after they meet high standards for social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency. This
W&L’s weekend seminars offer a getaway in Lexington coupled with unique lifelong learning and social networking opportunities. Participants stay in local inns and hotels, while the program, receptions, dinner, and lunch are on the W&L campus. Programs begin on Friday afternoon and conclude after lunch on Saturday.
Established in 2000 with an endowment from the Class of 1960 and supplemented at its 50th reunion, Institute for Honor initiatives promote the understanding and practice of honor as an indispensable element of society and the core value in personal, professional, business, and community relations.
Program Cost: $75 per person
Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar • April 17–18, 2026
“Vigil” Featuring Author George Saunders
Sponsored by the Class of 1951 in honor of classmate Tom Wolfe ’51, the Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar continues to cement a rich tradition in its 21st year. Each year, the program invites a writer who exemplifies Wolfe’s tradition of careful elocution and observation of America, its people, its institutions, and its ideas. This year, the Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar will join forces with the Roger Mudd Center for Ethics, which was established through a gift by Wolfe’s contemporary Roger Mudd ’50. Every year, the Mudd Center picks a context and theme through which to examine ethics in public and professional life. This year, the theme is environmental ethics.
This considerable preamble is only fitting to introduce our novel and writer: George Saunders, generally known as America’s most influential short-story writer until he wrote his first novel, “Lincoln in the Bardo,” in 2017 and became the
second American ever to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize. Now he is known as simply one of America’s most influential, and most unique, writers. His highly anticipated second novel, “Vigil,” published in January 2026, has already garnered the kind of buzz that guarantees conversation and a wide audience. The novel relates the bedside conversation between a dying oil company CEO and his angelic guide as he is ushered from our world to the next. “Vigil” confronts the value of a life well-lived, the philosophical question of regret and the consequences, environmental and cultural, of a single individual. Praise in advance has noted that the novel is “wise, playful, and electric,” and it seemed an appropriate choice for the most storied book club on campus.
During the Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar, Saunders will address us on writing, responsibility, and ethics on Friday night and then will be with us for
a delightful reception and dinner. On Saturday morning, we will hear from professors handpicked by the faculty and the Mudd Center to discuss “Vigil” from different perspectives. We will then have a chance to hear Saunders respond to our W&L scholars in a Q&A, panel discussion, and lunch. The 2026 Tom Wolfe Weekend Seminar is sure to be one for the ages as we get to hear from one of the most exciting, forward-thinking, and brilliant writers of this generation.
Program Cost: $275 per person
Summer College I • June 11–16, 2026
The Founding of an Independent Nation at 250
Lucas Morel
The John K. Boardman Jr.
Professor
of Politics and
Provost Faculty Fellow
Cara
Rogers Stevens
Associate Professor of History, Ashland University
On June 11, 1776, the Continental Congress appointed a Committee of Five to draft a Declaration of Independence. This committee included Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. On June 11, 2026, 250 years later, Washington and Lee University will gather a collection of scholars, alumni, and friends to discuss the significance of what that Committee of Five started so long ago. This timely and celebratory Summer College experience will not only reflect on the events that led to that Declaration but its legacy in the lives of presidents, government institutions, and the American people.
There will be no better time or location to discuss the legacy of 1776 in America than at W&L with a group of our own incisive professors, led by Lucas Morel, John K. Boardman Jr. Professor of Politics and Provost Faculty Fellow. Morel will offer a perspective about
the founding that comes from his own much-cited work on Abraham Lincoln, his appointment as the Mellon Academic Leadership Fellow, and his long career in explicating the soul of American politics. We will also be joined by distinguished guest Cara Rogers Stevens, author of the award-winning “Thomas Jefferson and the Fight against Slavery” (University Press of Kansas P 2024) and associate professor of history at Ashland University.
The insightful series of lectures and discussions will be supplemented by lively Jeffersonian dinners and large evening lectures and receptions, activities in the community, and a trip to local historic sites with guides. Please join us for a week of enlightenment, conversation, food, and celebration for America at 250 years old.
Program Cost: $1,000 per person
On-campus Housing (private room in dormitory setting): $125 per person
From Stone to Smartphone: “Books” and the Materiality of Reading
Mackenzie Brooks
Associate Professor and Digital Humanities Librarian
Caleb Dance
Associate Professor of Classics
As one of humanity’s most enduring inventions, the book is defined not only by its form but also its function. It remains a physical repository for human expression, even as it has been continuously reinvented and reimagined for thousands of years. Yet beyond their contents, books also offer insight into the times and places of their creation, circulation, and preservation. Consider, for example, the networks of laborers that prepared papyrus from Egyptian plant stems, parchment from various animal hides, paper from hemp, linen, and cotton rags — to say nothing of the global resources necessary for the design, manufacture, and distribution of modern e-readers and smartphones.
Through presentations and hands-on exploration of our own collections, this program surveys the world of “book history,” illuminating the study of books through attention to the processes of
manufacture (medieval scriptoria and printing presses), the physical traces of previous readers (marginalia), and, of course, the aspirations of authors — like the first century B.C. Roman poet Horace, who claimed his poems would outlive the pyramids.
The program will also see the book through to the 21st century, a time when digital innovation — and AI — have changed reading experiences forever.
This program falls during the yearlong celebration of the 250th anniversary of the University Library. Participants will have opportunities to explore the treasures of Special Collections and Archives and learn more about the history of one of the oldest libraries in the country.
Program Cost: $500 per person
On-campus Housing (private room in dormitory setting): $75 per person
Summer College III • June 21–24, 2026
Family Adventure in Theater: Puppetry & Performance
How might we translate all the performance and drama of young family life to a more appropriate place so that the public can enjoy it? The theater! With some creativity, practice, and perhaps puppetry, we can take all the dramatic energy of family life and move it towards a more structured performance. Join us for a Washington and Lee theater experience that will bring to life performance, craft, and creativity. Created for the whole family to work together, this theater experience will teach the basics of puppetry, acting, and directing through games and exercises that build confidence and performance skills for everyone. We will make characters come alive through improvisation, and we will be laughing along the way as we explore how to express ourselves onstage.
Owen Collins Professor of Theater
Theater is perhaps the oldest social artform, and it has been connecting with audiences for thousands of years. Of course, this fun and supportive environment is also designed to help youth and adults become comfortable on stage and in front of others. If there is a more practical skill for young people as they go forward in their lives, I cannot think of what it is. Under the direction of Owen Collins, professor of theater and faculty member since 2002, this Family Adventure in Theater will be as lively as it will be useful.
This is a Family Adventure program, so all youth must be accompanied by a registered family member or guardian for the duration of the program. Space is limited — register today! Program Cost: $400 per person
On-campus Housing (private room in dormitory setting): $75 per person
Law and Literature Weekend Seminar • October 9–10, 2026
“The Round House” by Louise Erdrich
The Law and Literature Weekend Seminar showcases the strong connection between two major components of a Washington and Lee education by bringing W&L School of Law scholars together with the undergraduate faculty in the service of understanding a work of literature. Not just for lawyers, the Law and Literature Weekend has been called a “book club on steroids,” but let’s not endorse the connotation that a book club would be enhanced by artificial substances, so I will just refer to it as a “naturally robust book club.” Examining a work of literature from ethical, legal, and literary perspectives, the seminar promises to be a wonderfully rich experience for readers, lawyers, and everyone in between.
“The Round House” has been recognized as one of the best novels of the 21st century. The novel is told from the perspective of a 13-year-old boy, who takes on the investigation of his mother’s attack when he feels police work has fallen short. The novel’s setting is the Ojibwe reservation in North Dakota, and the story grippingly follows the experience of a young man navigating law systems and worlds that often clash in the tribal and state jurisdiction.
Allison Weiss Professor of Practice, W&L School of Law
For our 33rd annual program, we will read Louise Erdrich’s National Book Award-winning novel, “The Round House.” Erdrich, a citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota, has written close to 30 works of fiction and nonfiction and won the Pulitzer Prize for her 2020 novel, “The Night Watchman.” Widely considered to be among her most powerful novels,
“The Round House” promises to conjure a rich conversation about justice, the legal rights of children, and local enforcement. Allison Weiss, professor of practice at W&L School of Law, will lead a team of experts and scholars to discuss the legal and literary implications of Erdrich’s masterpiece. Apart from the stimulating book club, we will also offer two hours of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) ethics credits for participation.
Program Cost: $275 per person
Travel Programs
June 2026–July 2027
Catalonia: Food, Wine, and Bike
in the Empordà and Costa Brava
June 10-17, 2026
Hiking the Border Triangle of Italy, Austria, and Slovenia
June 20-27, 2026
Polar Bears and Beluga Whales in Northern Canada
July 26-August 1, 2026
Exploring Southern France and the Italian Riviera by Sea
September 21-October 1, 2026
Discover Egypt and the Nile Valley
October 11-23, 2026 (first departure)
November 8-20, 2026 (second departure)
SPAIN
EGYPT
AUSTRALIA
TURKEY AZORES
Christkindlmärkte of Austria & Germany Along the Danube
November 27-December 5, 2026
Southern Australia Sojourn
March 8-22, 2027
Rome in the Uncrowded Season
March 13-20, 2027
Legendary Turkey:
From Istanbul to the Turquoise Coast
April 23-May 7, 2027
Flavors of Tuscany
May 13-21, 2027 (first departure)
May 20-28, 2027 (second departure)
Treasures of Albion: London and the Cotswolds
May 26-June 3, 2027
Medieval and Renaissance Paris
June 5-12, 2027
Islands of the Azores:
Basalt Peaks to Volcanic Vineyards
July 21-28, 2027
When you think of educational travel, think of Washington and Lee.
After seeing the increasing demand for active educational trips the last two years, we could not help but offer two options for trips that include active walking or biking through some of the most beautiful locations in Europe. These trips will be led by James Dick, director of Outdoor Education at W&L and perhaps the most beloved of campus adventure enthusiasts.
The first program, a biking tour through the autonomous region of Catalonia in northern Spain, will be a six-day ride north from the historic city of Girona to Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dalí. Dalí very much enjoyed a good bike, so it would only be appropriate to finish at his birthplace after several days of a leisurely ride along green hinterlands and Mediterranean bays.
Not only did Dalí enjoy a bicycle (and the sheer beauty of that marriage of the human body and technology), he also loved good food and wine, even publishing a book on wine in his later years. It makes sense, then, that along the way, cyclists will encounter the culinary delights of Catalonia and inspiring regional wines as charming as the countryside. The path follows beaches, fishing
villages, markets, ruins, marshlands, and wineries. Each day, bikers will be able to stop and enjoy all these treasures.
As a cyclist, you are welcome to ride an oldfashioned petal-and-grit bicycle or partake in the wonder of an e-bike. The full trip is 244 kilometers and will be on slightly hilly terrain, with an average of 40 kilometers (about 25 miles) per day. Previous bike experience is strongly preferred, but this is an ideal trip for a first cycling holiday. Space for this trip is limited to 18, and it will fill much quicker than the cycling pace. Reserve your space now.
June 10-17, 2026
From $2,500 from Girona, Spain
or Hiking Three Countries
If you prefer your feet on the ground as opposed to pedaling to Dalí’s hometown, the aforementioned James Dick is also offering to lead Lifelong Learners on the ever-popular Outdoor Club outing, the Tri-
Border Hike on the Alpe-Adria-Trail through the mountainous bits of Austria, Slovenia, and Italy.
The trek through three countries does not require intense hiking skills but does require the capacity to enjoy the most impressive mountain landscapes and villages in Europe, starting in Austria, looping through Italy, as one does, and then cornering Slovenia.
The trip begins in Villach, Austria, and we will start by walking over the landmark Dobratsch Mountain and into Carinthia’s lake landscape. From Villach, we will move from untouched natural beauty into the Gailtal Valley in Italy and down to the church of Camporosso.
After walking into the glaciers of the White Lakes at the foot of Mount Mangart in Italy, we will cross into Slovenia to the ski resort of Kranjska Gora, which is not only a chic place to
relax, eat, and chill, but it is also a wonderful center for side hikes into the Triglav National Park. From the Kranjska Gora, often called the Kitzbühel of Slovenia, we will move down to the Faaker See of Austria, a lake that caps off an astonishing walk through the scenic highlights of three countries.
This lovely seven-day walking experience caps at 18 people, so run, don’t walk, to book a spot on the James Dick-led outdoor expedition. We rate this as a 3 out of 5 on the activity scale, with a few moderate climbs but nothing that requires four on the floor.
June 20-27, 2026
From $2,300 from Villach, Austria
Polar Bears and Beluga Whales in Northern Canada
Hearken to the high-pitched call of the northern beluga whale! The whales are beckoning us north to the wildlife-rich mouth of the Churchill River on the Hudson Bay. There we will partake in one of the most unique nature and wildlife experiences in North America, where polar bears search the shores and the belugas show off within feet of boaters and kayakers. Washington and Lee Lifelong Learners will now have the opportunity to experience an utterly underexplored and unique area in the heart of summer.
This trip includes round-trip fare from Winnipeg to the northern coastal town of Churchill in Manitoba. In the wilderness surrounding this gorgeously forested locale, we will stay in the handcrafted Lazy Bear Lodge, built over the last 100 years from Douglas firs, reclaimed from railway warehouses and from 19th-
century trading posts. The Lazy Bear Lodge is a rustic wilderness retreat with character rivaling that of the old fur trades, only with the addition of all the modern amenities. The staff at Lazy Bear Lodge provides hearty Northern Canadian cuisine and the kind of comfort that only comes with being in a cozy cabin in the heart of the northern woods.
Each day in this remote location, we will experience boat tours, dog mushing, polar bears, Indigenous museums, and heritage sites with renowned ecologist Bill Hamilton, John T. Perry Professor of Biology. The lodge and location have limited space and time before the wintry months make this area less accessible.
July 26-August 1, 2026
From $7,995 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Each day in this remote location, we will experience boat tours, dog mushing, polar bears, Indigenous museums, and heritage sites with renowned ecologist Bill Hamilton, John T. Perry Professor of Biology.
Exploring Southern France and the Italian Riveria by Sea
An unforgettable nine-day cruise along the dazzling French and Italian rivieras — designed exclusively for those of us who crave culture and history along with breathtaking views and delightful cuisine.
What happens when you combine intensely blue water, sunshiny days, and colorful coastal hill towns? If you have not already surmised, I will give you a hint: The answer is either the French or Italian rivieras. Or maybe the answer is both. Now add the luxury five-star cruise ship Le Champlain to the equation, and you get a W&L Lifelong Learning travel experience of striking beauty and luxury. Enjoy accompanying us, with Smithsonian Journeys and Ponant, for an unforgettable nine-day cruise along the dazzling French and Italian rivieras — designed exclusively for those of us who crave culture and history along with breathtaking views and delightful cuisine.
We begin in Barcelona, Spain, a museum of a city, and then sail toward the fortified city of Carcassonne, France, a medieval UNESCO World Heritage site. From there, we will travel to France’s oldest city of Marseille, where we can choose
between the elegance of Aix-en-Provence or follow in Van Gogh’s footsteps through the Julius Caesarfounded Arles to Avignon. Before we get to Italy, we will set anchor to spend some time in Monte Carlo and Nice.
Of course, France is nice, but we will then move to the colorful cliffside villages of Cinque Terre and Tuscan Lucca in Italy. We’ll wrap up in the dramatic cliffs of Bonifacio, Corsica, before disembarking to Rome with your camera full, your memories fuller, and your heart fullest.
Throughout the voyage, Smithsonian Journeys
Experts — including bestselling author Ross King — and our own faculty from W&L will engage in talks that bring French and Italian history to the cliffside shores of your mind.
September 21–October 1, 2026
From $8,890 from Barcelona, Spain
Discover Egypt and the Nile Valley
The Nile is not just a river in Egypt; it is also among the most enchanting locations to experience culture, nature, ancient civilization, and beauty. In the perfect Middle Eastern climate of late fall, we will arrive for a momentous voyage through Egypt. From the rich history of Alexandria to the tranquil flow of the Nile, this journey offers a rare chance to experience the grandeur, and the nuance, of one of the world’s most captivating civilizations. Go ahead, stand before the Great Pyramid and Sphinx in this “antique land.”
The first half of this experience will be visiting Cairo and Luxor, seeing the Coptic churches and the Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hassan as well as the ancient capital of the New Kingdom. We will stay at the legendary Sofitel Winter Palace Luxor, overlooking the Nile, and explore Karnak, Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings, including the magnificent Temple of Hatshepsut, honoring one of Egypt’s few female pharaohs.
Midway through our journey, we will board private dahabiyas, which hold 14 passengers each and are unlike any kind of boat outside of this region. A dahabiya is an intimate sailing vessel, which we will stay on for four serene days along the Nile. This is the best way to experience sites such as El Kab, Edfu, Gebel el-Silsila, and Kom Ombo, and will include insights and explanations from the expert Egyptologists on board. I have heard from countless lifelong learners who have visited Egypt that this trip is truly transformative, and I hope to see many of you floating along with me into the beauty of the present and wonders of the past.
October 11-23, 2026 and November 8-20, 2026
From $7,495 from Cairo, Egypt
Christkindlmärkte of Austria & Germany Along the Danube
Every time I see a model Christmas village at the local Christmas shop, I wonder what it would be like to stand within these idyllic towns of light and snow. After all, does it look the same to be among the timber-framed Fachwerk homes alight with Christmas spirit in their natural habitat? This heartwarming Christmas markets tour includes a seven-night cruise along the Danube River, from Vienna to Nuremberg, Germany, aboard an exclusively chartered, first-class river boat. Join the festivity both on the boat and in the towns as we celebrate the upcoming holidays through market stalls that showcase handmade glass ornaments, finely crafted wooden toys, and irresistible seasonal treats.
have beautiful singing, delightful cuisine, and unparalleled local architecture. We will also visit noteworthy landmarks as we travel, including Vienna’s Habsburg monuments and the 900-year-old Melk Abbey.
The Christmas journey also includes a private Mozart concert at Mirabell Palace in Salzburg and a rare chance to attend the morning exercises of the Lipizzaner horses at Vienna’s Spanish Riding School.
Paul ’87, ’27P and Kristen Youngman P’21
Dean of the College and Professor of German
These centuries-old markets in Vienna and the German towns of Passau, Regensburg, and Nuremberg not only have the Christmas kitsch of yesteryear and tomorrow, but they also
Dean of the College and professor of German Paul Youngman ’87, P’27 will host the tour and provide context to the location and history.
For those seeking more, optional extensions in Vienna and Munich provide an enriching beginning or end to the adventure.
November 27–December 5, 2026
From $2,995 (with early booking and paid in full discounts) from Vienna, Austria
Southern Australia Sojourn
We recognize that one land-based trip will never be enough to get a sense of the continent/country of Australia, but we have put together as much unique Australian nature and culture in this trip as we possibly can, and it promises to be a Down Under education of Outback proportions.
We are going to begin our journey in Sydney, where the harbor crests reflect the sails of the Opera House. After all, Sydney cornered the market of a large city that blends natural splendor with cultural vibrancy into aesthetic coherence. Sydney reveals another facet of its character through masterworks at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Aboriginal Heritage walk in its famed Royal Botanic Gardens, and cruising Sydney Harbor to Manly Beach for scenic coastal walks, ocean views and a relaxed Australian barbecue.
From Sydney, we will move on to Tasmania, where Hobart offers cool-climate wines, bold works at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), and the color and character of Salamanca Market. Encounters with native
wildlife, the haunting history of Port Arthur, and dramatic coastal scenery highlight Tasmania’s raw, unspoiled character. South Australia brings cosmopolitan Adelaide and the celebrated vineyards of McLaren Vale before ferrying us to Kangaroo Island, a sanctuary of beaches, sea lions, seals, and nocturnal wildlife. We conclude in Melbourne, Australia’s cultural capital, savoring its gardens, laneways, art, and cuisine — an elegant finale to a journey rich in nature, culture, and unforgettable flavor.
Imagine a trip hitting Sydney, Tasmania, Adelaide, Kangaroo Island, and Melbourne, and you might be able to understand what it means to see in full measure Australia’s detailed beauty amid its vast geography.
March 8-22, 2027
From $11,990 per person from Sydney, Australia*
Additional $1,450 for economy air for four on-tour flights*
*Pricing is approximate and subject to change.
Rome in the Uncrowded Season
When in Rome, arrive at a moment where lines are shorter, palazzos more open, and vistas wider. Because Rome remains the center of Italian, European, and Mediterranean culture, the city attracts people from across the globe, but we planned this trip just outside the busy season. Rome has always attracted the world, for it is the “world’s biggest museum” as director Federico Fellini reportedly said. This tour, specially tailored for us, was created to take full advantage of Rome’s ancient and modern splendor just outside of the heavy tourist tide, so we can enjoy a larger slice of Rome to ourselves, during the Ides of March no less. Although the Ides of March gave Caesar a fright, they will be perfect days for us as we visit his ancient city, starting with the Colosseum, moving toward the Roman Forums, and ending where it all began with Romulus and Remus in the Capitoline Museum. Not only will we celebrate Rome’s mythic founding and ancient achievements, we will also move over to the Vatican, where
Michelangelo’s frescoes appear from the heavens and St. Peter’s Basilica tries to get us there.
Besides the galleries, museums, masterpieces, and alleyways, we will also enjoy the richness of local market food stalls, learn to make regional specialties (with a focus on pasta, of course), and dine at the local restaurants that have seen as much history as flavors go through their doors. This shorter trip, a week of free and fabulous exploration, will give you as much culture and history as we can manage, all the while enjoying evenings free to explore the masterpieces that any side street will lead to. Friends, Romans, countrymen, let’s go to Rome together.
March 13-20, 2027
From $5,690 from Rome, Italy
Legendary Turkey: From Istanbul to the Turquoise Coast
Countries and lands create their identities by differentiating from those outside their borders, but Turkey contains its contrasts within: east and west; ancient and modern; spiritual and tangible. Turkey is as vivid a reminder of ideas in contrast as we will find in the contemporary world. And yet its beauty and power remain awe-inspiring. This Turkish trip, limited to just 24 travelers, will demonstrate all of that and perhaps reveal more.
The trip begins with four nights in Istanbul, where guides and excursions will reveal the city’s layered history through the high domes of Hagia Sophia, the intricate tiles of the Blue Mosque, and the treasures of Topkapi Palace. The Spice Bazaar and the Grand Bazaar also pulse with life, their scents and colors evoking cultural tradition and depth.
After Istanbul, history deepens further at the legendary ruins of Troy and a visit to the
Troy Museum. Along the Aegean Sea and the Turquoise Coast, crystal waters, tranquil harbors, and mountain-backed horizons are mixed among wineries, ancient streets, and the vibrant colors of Turkish art.
The journey goes through Kayaköy through Roman ruins, while nearby Demre tells the story of St. Nicholas, patron saint of sailing and toymaking — so, yes, that St. Nick. For those who venture farther, Cappadocia’s valleys and whirling dervishes offer quite the finale to this unforgettable passage through Turkey’s heart and soul. Extend your trip to experience more in this unbelievably rich region in Turkey.
April 23-May 7, 2027
From $7,392 total price from Boston or New York ($6,795 air and land inclusive plus $597 airline taxes and fees) or $6,295 land only
Flavors of Tuscany
I suppose you have wondered, as I have, about the taste of the Tuscan sun. Does it taste like olives, like biscotti, or perhaps like a juicy bistecca alla Fiorentina? All of those results sound delicious, but, either way, a group of us are fixing to find out by visiting the heart of the Italian countryside.
Our Tuscan travels begin in Florence, the jewel of the Renaissance. We will be staying at the Castello la Leccia, a centuries-old estate surrounded by vineyards and olive groves and characterized by the rhythms of slow mornings, long dinners, and views that drift toward Siena and San Gimignano. With a small group of just 22 travelers, there’s space to savor the beauty, balance, and ease that define this timeless region.
We will not only have a taste of Italian countryside cuisine; we will learn to create it in its native habitat. In village kitchens and local farms, chefs share the secrets of Tuscan cooking — fresh pasta, rich sauces,
and desserts born of tradition. We will visit Renaissance towns like Pienza and Cortona, where wine, architecture, and beauty cross streams. Midway through we will tour and lunch at Podere Il Casale, an organic farm rooted in the slow food movement, stealing from the generous flavor of the landscape.
The journey concludes in Siena, where lively piazzas intermix with lovely pizzas. A farewell dinner at Badia a Coltibuono, the storied winery dating to 1051, offers a final toast to la dolce vita — an elegant ending to a journey that lingers long after we leave the blessed Tuscan spirit.
Because this is a trip for only 22, we are booking at a faster pace than a typical Tuscan dinner. We are looking forward to tasting Tuscany with friends.
May 13-21, 2027 and May 20-28, 2027
From $6,595 from Florence, Italy
Treasures of Albion: London and the Cotswolds
Yes, England has the world’s richest history of literature, diplomacy, empire, and . . . flowers. The remarkable soil, temperate maritime climate, and a cultural inclination to garden has given the little isle an earned reputation of having the most beautiful public gardens, radiant flowers, and imitated landscape architecture. In my career as a professor of British Renaissance literature, I have focused more on Shakespeare’s language and less on the flowers with which Ophelia crowned herself, but I am now ready to bring many of you along to explore the mixture of nature and literature that has produced some of the most dynamic visual and written beauty in the world.
James Lambert Director of Lifelong Learning, Professor of English
During the optimum springtime of May, we start in London with an exclusive entrance into the famed Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show. This world-renowned experience showcases the most unique and splendiferous garden designs alongside minute artisan gardens.
We will intersperse our flower consumption with visits to St Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and other historical sites that will give way to discussions about the literary and historical legacy of England. I will be your host, overly eager to discuss British literature and to take in the sensation of the English garden. We will then relocate to the famed Cotswolds region just west of London, where every town is a shire (literally) and every garden a masterpiece. We will stay in the four-star Swan Hotel, a 25-room upscale country inn in Bibury. We will even stop by Stratford-upon-Avon to visit Shakespeare’s gorgeous hometown and take in a performance at the Swan Theatre. Please join me to learn about the Shakespearean history of London and to explore the seasonal English gardens. May 26-June 3, 2027
From $10,395 from London, England
Medieval and Renaissance Paris
Paris is a city of layers, whether those layers are buried beneath the buildings or hidden in plain sight — architectural, cultural, and historical. One layer beneath the gorgeous surface of Paris lies a medieval wonderland of rich artistic and historic wonder. This excursion, created exclusively for W&L travelers and curated by Sidney Gause Childress Professor of the Arts George Bent, takes us to the heart of modern Paris to see the medieval arteries that continue to give it life.
Jewish Quarter, the Musée Carnavalet, and Saint-Germain-des-Prés, one of Paris’s oldest neighborhoods and most contemporary shopping districts. Bent will unlock all the medieval nooks and crannies of this palimpsest of a neighborhood.
George Bent
After a day of familiarizing ourselves with Paris, we will jump right into walking tours of Notre Dame, the Conciergerie, and Sainte-Chapelle, that gorgeous cathedral commissioned by Louis IX to house relics. Little did he know how long it would be preserved, and that Paris would perhaps be the greatest home of historical relics in its very construction. We will explore the beautiful and haunting
Sidney Gause Childress Professor of the Arts
We will finish with a day in Chartres to see the Gothic architecture of the Chartres Cathedral and then a day in Montmartre for the Abbey of Montmarte and for the Sacré Cœur Basilica, which will give you the ultimate panorama of the City of Light. This layered journey in the layered city of Paris is completely catered to our professor and his guests, and I assume you will do all you can to participate in this unmatched opportunity.
June 5-12, 2027
From $5,979 from Paris, France
Islands of the Azores: Basalt Peaks to Volcanic Vineyards
One might assume that nine volcanic islands surrounded by the North Atlantic Ocean would have the climate of Iceland, or at least Scotland. Behold, the Azores’ temperatures settle at 60 to 75 degrees all year and have remained one of the most unique and premiere locations for visitors in all of Europe. To explore the Azores, we will set sail aboard the elegant National Geographic Orion and discover this remote Portuguese archipelago of emerald peaks, sapphire seas, and centuries-old traditions. We will start on São Miguel, where we wander through calderas and crater lakes, keeping an eye out for dolphins and seabirds that thrive in these nutrient-rich waters. Each day of this trip will open up a new side of the islands’ wild beauty — shaped by fire, softened by mist, and steeped in maritime history.
We will stop by Pico Island, where vineyards thrive on black lava rock, and we will hear of fishermen’s tales from the days of whaling villages, which still stand. On Faial we will encounter the strange slopes of Capelinhos Volcano, and on São Jorge we will walk below its dramatic cliffs, across the fertile fajãs, and take in the creamy farmhouse cheeses. On Terceira, we will explore the ancient lava caves and spend some time in Angra do Heroísmo, a UNESCO World Heritage city of cobbled streets and pastel facades. Between onshore adventures, enjoy fine dining, engaging talks by naturalists, and breathtaking views from the deck of the Orion — a front-row seat to one of the Atlantic’s last great island frontiers.
July 21-28, 2027
From $8,645 from Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Know Before You Go
Travel Opportunities
Our programs are designed to provide enriching educational travel opportunities for W&L alumni, parents, and friends. All participants should enjoy traveling as part of a group and, as such, can anticipate the many advantages of group travel along with occasional delays or minor mishaps that occur with individual and group travel alike. Neither Washington and Lee University nor the Office of Lifelong Learning will be held liable for any failure by tour operators to uphold contracted services or to meet the expectations of our travelers.
Check Details — Dates, schedules, program details, and costs (based on information available and in force by January 1, 2026) are subject to change and revision.
Pricing — Please note that all tour prices are per person based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted. Single occupancy, when available, is limited and typically will include a supplemental fee.
Deposits and Refunds — Deposits are requested at the time of tour reservation and indicate your acceptance of the final terms of the tour package.
Balance of payment is due upon receipt of the final invoice. Payment due dates, cancellation, and refund policies are set by individual tour operators. Refer to the tour brochure or website terms and conditions for specific information about each tour. Refunds are not available for unused meals, accommodations, or other included features. Travel insurance is recommended for all travelers, and trip cancellation insurance should be considered.
Campus Programs
On-campus program fees include instructional costs, meals, and program materials. Lodging is not included in the program fee. We encourage seminar and virtual book club participants to purchase their books from local booksellers or borrow from your local library.
On-Campus Lodging Options
— For summer programs, W&L has reserved rooms on campus. These accommodations provide semi-private lodging with shared bathrooms, kitchens, laundry facilities, and sitting rooms. All on-campus lodging is equipped with Wi-Fi and is a short walk to free parking. These accommodations are on campus, where most programming will occur. Residents must provide their
own linens and towels. On-campus accommodations are not available during the academic year. The Office of Lifelong Learning will attempt to reserve space in Belfield and/or Morris House as well, but potential lodgers will need to check availability with the Office of Lifelong Learning as those limited spaces fill quickly.
Off-Campus Lodging Options — For information about off-campus lodging options, please consult the Visitor Center of Lexington website: www. lexingtonvirginia.com. There are many private Airbnb options as well that are within walking distance of the main campus.
Meals — On-campus programs include meals along with special receptions. Dietary restrictions and preferences will be accommodated whenever possible.
Registration and Additional Information —
Registrations for all Lifelong Learning programs are honored in the order of receipt. To register, visit our website at wlu.edu/lifelong and select the program you want to attend. For assistance or additional information about any of our programs, contact us at (540) 458-8723 or lifelong@wlu.edu.
