W&L After Class, the Lifelong Learning Podcast Washington and Lee University

George Bent, the Sidney Gause Childress Professor of the Arts at W&L, talks about what inspired his love of art history, why he loves teaching it, and how he has engaged students in a remarkable digital history project, "Florence As It Was," that is reconstructing the Italian city the way it appeared at the end of the 15th century.

Nadia Ayoub, associate professor of biology at W&L, weaves a fascinating lesson about her research into the genetics of black widow spider silk – and explains the wide-reaching implications of understanding these amazing arachnids. 

Tyler Lorig, professor emeritus of cognitive and behavioral science at Washington and Lee University, has spent decades studying the olfactory system and its impact on everyday life. After listening to him explain this crucial sense, you'll never think about odor the same way again. 

Elizabeth Knapp '90, professor of geology and director of the Johnson Program in Leadership and Integrity, discusses falling in love with rocks, the landscape of Rockbridge County and how the Johnson Program transforms campus and student lives.

W&L’s first female Athletic Director discusses the important distinction between an athlete and student-athlete, the changes to make W&L’s renowned swim test more equitable, and what it’s like to be a woman in a male-dominated profession.

The director of the Lenfest Center for the Arts shares his infectious love of musical theater and how musicals have been reinvented over time to correct their flaws. We’ll also discuss his time spent in Alumni Engagement and the joy in connecting current students with alumni.