Nancy R. Chandler Lecture Series
Engaging conversations, ideas and lifelong discovery honoring the legacy of Nancy R. Chandler
The Nancy R. Chandler Lecture Series (CLS) of the COCC Foundation brings renowned speakers, lecturers and experts to the region to deliver broad-based programming on a diverse range of educational and topical subjects. The program was established in 1985 by the late Robert W. Chandler, Sr. to honor his wife Nancy.
For more information about the program or its upcoming events, or to be added to our
email list, please contact Charlotte Gilbride, coordinator of the Nancy R. Chandler
Lecture Series at cgilbride@cocc.edu or call
541-383-7257.
Like the Chandler Lecture Series on Facebook for speaker announcements and updates.
The Oregon Cascades: A Story Written in Ice
Nick Zentner – Professor of Geology, Central Washington University
Monday, October 5 - 6:30 p.m., Tower Theatre, Bend
Beneath the peaks of the Oregon Cascades lies a story written in ice. Geologist Nick Zentner has been investigating whether the Oregon Cascades experienced multiple major glaciations over the past 150,000 years. He will discuss how geologists piece together clues from ancient landscapes to uncover the region’s hidden Ice Age history.
Tickets: $12 - Reserve your in-person spot here
COCC students and staff are free. Email cgilbride@cocc.edu for promo code. Chandler Lecture Series Chandler Lecture Series believes that participation
in our programs should not be a privilege but accessible to all who want to participate.
Please email cgilbride@cocc.edu for complimentary tickets for community members.
Register here to receive access to the recorded event
You will receive a link to the recorded event several days after the event. This is
not a livestream.
BS in Geology, 1986, University of Wisconsin - Madison
MS in Geology, 1989, Idaho State University - Pocatello
1989-1992, taught geology at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio
1992-present, teaches geology at Central Washington University
In 2015 (GSA meeting in Baltimore), Nick received the prestigious James Shea Award, a national award recognizing exceptional delivery of Earth Science to the general public. Past recipients include John McPhee, Jack Horner, and Robert Ballard.
In 2021, the PBS-TV geology show ‘Nick On The Rocks’ won two Emmy awards from the Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences.
In 2023 (GSA meeting in Pittsburgh), Nick received the prestigious Geological Society of America Public Service Award, a national award recognizing contributions that have materially enhanced the public’s understanding of the earth sciences. Past recipients include Lucy Jones, Richard Alley, and Stephen Jay Gould.
In 2024, Nick received the prestigious the Neale Medal from the Geological Association of Canada at their Annual Meeting in Brandon, Manitoba. The Neale Medal, named after the legendary E.R. Ward Neale, is awarded to an individual for sustained outstanding efforts in sharing Earth science with Canadians.
In 2024, Nick received the Outstanding Achievement Award (Major Contribution to the Profession) from the American Institute of Professional Geologists at their National Conference in Durango, Colorado.
Seeing the Big Picture:
How the Brain Manipulates Our Visual World
Mark R. Pitzer, Ph.D. - Co-Director of Neuroscience, Department of Behavioral Sciences, University of Portland
Tuesday, October 20, 6:30 p.m., Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, COCC Bend Campus
When we open our eyes, are we really seeing reality? Why did people disagree about the color of “The Dress,” and why can a ticking clock’s second hand seem to freeze for a moment?
Neuroscience suggests the brain doesn’t create a perfect copy of the world—it makes rapid, informed guesses to help us navigate our environment. Through engaging stories and demonstrations, Dr. Mark Pitzer will explore how the brain highlights, filters and even alters what we consciously perceive.
Tickets: Sliding-Scale Pricing $0-$10 - Reserve your spot here
Mark Pitzer is a behavioral neuroscientist and teaches Sensation & Perception, Research Methods: Analysis, and Behavioral Neuroscience. His research has focused on surgical treatments for Parkinson’s disease and gene therapies for Huntington’s disease. More recently, he and his students are investigating the development of a newly discovered group of dopamine neurons that appear to be involved in social behaviors. He trained as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Brain Repair at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and worked as a Staff Scientist at the Oregon National Primate Research Center.
Education: Ph.D. University of Illinois | M.A. University of Illinois | B.A. University of Nebraska
The Energy Security Dilemma:
Fossil Fuels and Renewable Energy in a Time of War and Climate Change
David Bernell, Ph.D. – Professor, School of Public Policy, Oregon State University
Monday, November 9, 6:30 p.m., Wille Hall, Coats Campus Center, COCC Bend Campus
Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine disrupt oil supplies and raise prices, while countries seek to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy and nuclear power to combat climate change. Amid these crises, the security and economic fortunes of the United States and the world seem increasingly dependent on energy. Join us as David Bernell discusses the domestic and geopolitical implications of energy and how U.S. political choices impact the rest of the world.
Tickets: Sliding-Scale Pricing $0-$10 - Reserve your spot here
David Bernell is an Associate Professor of Political Science in the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University. His research and teaching focus on international relations and US energy policy. He is the author of the books Constructing US Foreign Policy: The Curious Case of Cuba, and The Energy Security Dilemma. He also is the author of the Substack newsletter Defending Democracy, which addresses American and global politics. Prior to coming to Oregon State University, he served in the Clinton Administration with the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of the Interior.
Education
- Ph.D., Political Science, Johns Hopkins University, 1997
- M.A., Political Science, Johns Hopkins University, 1994
- B.A., Political Science, University of New Mexico, 1988
Sponsors of The Nancy R. Chandler Lecture Series:
In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because
of a physical or mobility disability should contact campus services at 541-383-7775.
For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact
student accessibility services at sas@cocc.edu or 541-383-7583.