Elaine Leeder MSW, MPH, PhD
Destination Speaker: Travel social activities and cultures
Elaine Leeder MSW, MPH, PhD is a Dean Emerita of Social Sciences and Professor Emerita of Sociology at Sonoma State University.
She has taught three times on Semester at Sea; in her second voyage she orchestrated and spoke daily to 700 college students on the various ports about to be visited. Her specialty is culture, history and family in global perspective. Her book, THE FAMILY IN GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE: A GENDERED JOURNEY is in its third edition from Cognella Press.
Leeder is listed in Who’s Who of America Women, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who of American Teachers. Her awards include a National Endowment of the Humanities Fellowship, outstanding teaching awards, research and travel grants and numerous awards from student and community agencies. She was also a visiting scholar at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC. Since retirement she has taught at numerous Lifelong Learning Programs around the country, having been invited back because of her dynamic and charismatic presentation style.
Please visit her at www.elaineleeder.com
Mediterranean region
Madeira Portugal: The majestic archipelago is a remarkable place with flora, fauna and a fascinating culture. The food, wine and gardens are worthy of full engagement. Hear why it is a place of delightful experiences and worthy of a deep experience.
Food, Wine and Fun on the Iberian Peninsula: Who are the Iberians and what is the history of the peninsula? Hear about the Moors and their enormous influence, as well as its geography, art, language, wine and gastronomical pleasures of the region
Gaudi: A Visionary and Iconic Architect: Learn more about this Barcelona born eccentric and innovative artist who combined mosaic, flowing organic forms and natural elements to create spiritual entities that draw thousands of visitors yearly.
Picasso: Strange and Contradictory Man: Many know Picasso’s work, but few know of the many women who inspired him and the various eras of his artistry. His eccentricities and difficult personality were notorious, all while earning a name for himself in the Cubist form that he popularized.
The Religions of the Iberian Peninsula and Italy: Although many think of these places as primarily Roman Catholic, various religions have impacted the belief systems. The Visigoths, Moors, Jews, later Muslims and Catholicism have all left their marks in this region. Hear how the syncretic nature of religion has created a polyglot of peoples and cultures.
South America
Brazil: A land of contradictions
Brazil boasts a thriving economy and the biodiverse Amazon, yet faces stark poverty, inequality, and deforestation. São Paulo and Rio blend modernity with sprawling favelas, revealing a complex, captivating nation. Leeder unveils its beauty and contradictions.
Vietnam’s rich history spans imperial dynasties, French colonization, and Ho Chi Minh’s independence fight. Split by the Geneva Accords, it unified post-1975. Đổi Mới reforms spurred growth, making it a dynamic “little tiger.” Elaine explores its past and family life.
Asia
Cambodia, scarred by Pol Pot’s 1975-1979 genocide, thrives today with a young population driving tech, tourism, and agriculture. Discover its rich history, culture, religions, and real stories from its resilient people.
The Philippines fuses Spanish, American, and Asian influences, with stunning beaches, volcanoes like Mayon and Taal, vibrant fiestas, jeepneys, and delicious food. Its kind, generous people shape a captivating, layered culture.
General Interest
The Family in Global Perspective: What was the family like over history and time? In this lively presentation Leeder describes the four historical eras: family based, family wage and family consumer and family technology that family life has evolved through. She examines family life in the West, Africa, Asia, and Latin America from the perspective of globalism and its influence on daily life.
Presentation Media
