The SAGE Lecture Series
Senior Adults Gaining Enrichment
The Senior Adults Gaining Enrichment (SAGE) program is one designed for adults over 55 years of age who are interested in expanding life's experiences. SAGE offers an opportunity to enrich one's life through learning in a relaxed and accepting environment among peers. We cover a wide range of subjects in our college level lectures including social and cultural trends, evolving technologies, the arts, food and wine, politics, religion, economics, health and wellness, and many more!
All SAGE lectures are held in room 135 at Penn State Lehigh Valley located at 2809 Saucon Valley Road in Center Valley.
Registration is REQUIRED for all of these lifetime learning opportunities. Register and pay by check by emailing Sara Roth at [email protected]. Make check payable to Penn State for the amount of $22.50 (price includes lunch). Payment by check may be made the day of the event.
For all lectures, we invite our participants to arrive at Penn State Lehigh Valley at 10:30 am for coffee and tea. The lectures will take place between 11:00 am and noon, after which lunch will be served.
Spring and Summer 2026
March 13: Ann Baum – Prior Authorization Process for Patients
Medical prior authorization is a process where healthcare providers must obtain approval from an insurance company before certain treatments, medications, or procedures are covered. Today's presentation will highlight the use of prior authorizations in healthcare. Reasons why prior authorization is required by providers will be explained, along with the cost impact and burden on providers to complete prior authorizations. New and pending State and National legislation and other improvement ideas to improve the prior authorization process will be reviewed.
April 9: Biker films, Counterculture, and the Rise in Organized Crime in Motorcycle Gangs
From the 1950s to the early 1970s, Hollywood filmmakers created a movie genre that burned hot, died out and influenced subsequent film and television content. This genre was also used as a recruiting tool by the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club, one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world. The lecture will illustrate America’s fascination with historic gangs - from the Revolutionary War period to post WWII. We will examine five early biker films - the companies that produced the films, production information, critical assessment, how they captured the attention of the movie going public, financial success and influence. They are: The Wild One starring Marlon Brando, The Wild Angels starring Peter Fonda, Nancy Sinatra, Bruce Dern and Dianne Ladd, Hell's Angels on Wheels starring Jack Nicholson, The Born Losers starring Tom Laughlin, Elizabeth James and Jeremy Slate and Easy Rider starring Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson.
If you have time, please watch at least one of the titles. They can be found on streaming platforms MGM+, Prime, YouTube and Tubi.
April 17: Maggie Schmidt – The Mob and the Movies
From silent films to present day cinema, organized crime has been portrayed in major and independent American narrative movies and television. From The Black Hand in 1906 to The Godfather and The Valachi Papers in 1972, this lecture will examine the differences in how organized crime had been dramatized, production stories, business practices around mob films, the critical analysis of those titles and how The Godfather changed cinema forever.
May 15: Michael Jesberger – The Revolutionary War in Bucks and Montgomery County
We may remember the 1776 crossing of the Delaware and the Valley Forge encampment as events that tested the endurance of the patriot forces, but the continental soldiers triumphed over scores of other hardships at places lesser known. In the fall of 1777, the Continental Army fought two key battles and marched hundreds of miles through all types of terrain and in all sorts of weather. Often deprived of food, sleep, and comfort, the soldiers deserve recognition for what they endured during this campaign for the cause of liberty. Join historical reenactor, lecturer and tour guide, Michael Jesberger for this course which will include Images of Philadelphia area historic sites, maps, and eyewitness accounts of the participants which will bring these seldom-celebrated events to life.
Schedule
Lectures will be held from 10:30 a.m.–noon
Lunch will be served from noon–1:00 p.m.
All SAGE lectures will be held in room 135,
Penn State Lehigh Valley, 2809 Saucon Valley Road, Center Valley, PA 18034.
Contact Sara Roth at 610-285-5000 | [email protected]