This class is available both in-person and live on Zoom.

Water is life. In this course, we explore where our water comes from, how water gets to people, and water challenges facing communities across northern Arizona. Topics include hydrology, groundwater, springs, watersheds, and the scientific processes that influence water availability in the arid southwest. Through a scientific lens, participants will examine how climate variability, drought, and changing water demands affect the water systems that sustain communities, ecosystems, and economies. Science communications and citizen science are included. The course blends short lectures, guest speakers, interactive discussions, and optional field experiences to explore physical systems delivering water to homes. By the end of the class, participants will understand the water systems in which they are a part of, the natural and human factors that influence water availability, and will develop new tools to support their active civic engagement in community water conversations and decision making.

Co-instructors Michellsey Benally and Chris Kuzdas have combined decades of experience working with communities across the landscapes of the West and beyond.

Michellsey serves as the Grand Canyon Trust's Water Advocacy Manager, working alongside tribal and rural communities to safeguard groundwater in the Grand Canyon and Little Colorado River regions. Prior to that she worked at the Arizona Department of Water Resources managing groundwater regulation across the state.

Chris earned a PhD from Arizona State University. He currently serves as the Arizona Water Program Director for the Environmental Defense Fund. He serves on the Governor's Water Policy Council and spends his time collaborating with local communities to shape water policy discussions and decisions that impact them.

• This class meets 10/27, 10/29, 11/03, 11/5 from 5:30 to 6:45 p.m.
• In addition to the four meeting times in the classroom/zoom, there will be an optional field trip that will be in-person only, as well as an optional community service opportunity. Details on these meetings are still to-be-determined.

This Fall 2026 Water & Society class pairs with a governance and policy focused Water & Society offered in the Spring semester.

Social media doesn't have to mean posting every day, chasing trends, or trying to go viral. In this practical, hands-on course, small-business owners, entrepreneurs, and local service providers will learn how to build a simple, sustainable social media presence that supports real business goals.

Participants will learn how to choose the right platforms for their audience, develop an easy-to-follow content strategy, create engaging posts and short-form videos, write effective captions and calls to action, and turn social media engagement into meaningful business opportunities. The course will introduce five essential content pillars: education, showcasing, behind-the-scenes, community, and social proof.

Through guided exercises, participants will identify their primary social media platform, develop content ideas, and create a simple first-week posting plan they can put into action immediately. The course also covers engagement strategies, meaningful social media metrics, and ways to build a repeatable content system.

Participants will leave with a practical social media framework, content ideas, and a plan for building a consistent and purposeful online presence. 

Instructor Rachel Starke is a freelance marketing professional with experience leading marketing initiatives for both small businesses and larger organizations. Her background includes working as a Digital Marketing Specialist, Social Media Manager, and Marketing Manager. She has experience in social media strategy, content creation, digital communications, analytics, and campaign development across multiple industries. She now brings that experience to her freelance work, helping small businesses build practical, effective marketing systems.

Rachel also holds a Master of Education, giving her a strong foundation in communication, audience engagement, and making complex concepts approachable. Her combination of professional marketing experience and an educator’s perspective allows her to teach business owners how to create a social media presence that is strategic, sustainable, and connected to real business goals.

Aging is not simply a process of growing older—it is an opportunity to reflect, redefine, and discover new possibilities. This class offers a supportive space to examine both the challenges and gifts of aging while imagining new directions for the years ahead in order to live a more meaningful and engaged life.

Topics include: Living and Aging Consciously, Life Review and Harvesting, Finding Meaning and Purpose, Discovering Paths for Creativity and Connection, and Leaving a Legacy. It features lectures, readings, small group activities and large group discussions.

The goal is not to define one “right” way to age, but to explore the many ways we can continue to grow, contribute, connect, and create a life of purpose and potential.

Instructor Barbara Shovers, M.A., is a life coach, gerontologist, and community college instructor. She is a certified Seminar Leader for Sage-ing International and has given classes and workshops on Conscious Aging since 2002.

The class meets Monday, Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

On Beaches and Birthrates: Reflections on Migration, Demographics, and a Heckuva Summer Vacation

Join Dr. Matthew Hernando as he provides an entertaining retrospective on his 2026 summer vacation, and incidentally discusses the nexus between immigration, fertility rates, and international demographic trends.

Matthew Hernando is an instructor in History and Humanities at Coconino Community College. He earned his Ph.D. in history at Louisiana State University, and he has taught history at the collegiate level for over 14 years.