Class dates: Fridays, March 27, April 10, 17, 24, May 1 (5 weeks)

Class time: 10:00 am to 11:30 am

Location: Online (via Zoom)

On October 1, 2025, Dr. Jane Goodall, renowned ethologist and conservationist, died while on a speaking tour in Los Angeles. From her childhood in Bournemouth, England until her death at 91, Dr. Goodall possessed an irrepressible energy and curiosity about the world. Her studies of chimpanzees in East Africa have been called “one of the Western world’s great scientific achievements.” Groundbreaking in its methods, the research redefined the uniqueness of human beings and our place in the natural world. Goodall translated that data into stories of nature’s resilience, beauty, and spiritual awe and shared them with millions as a message of hope. In this course we’ll examine the legacy of her life as a pioneering scientist, an environmental advocate, a moral optimist, a tireless humanitarian, and a spiritual visionary – a steady, quiet voice of hope in troubling times.

Recommended Reading: The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times , Celadon Books, 2021 Available in multiple formats on Amazon

Instructor: Kathleen Fisher  has taught in WISE since 2019, offering courses in religion and spirituality through a variety of poets, philosophers, religious figures, and historical texts. She holds a Ph.D. in Medieval History and Religion from Boston University. She first included Jane Goodall in the “WISE Elders” course and is pleased now to offer a full course on her life and legacy. After a long teaching career in Theology at Assumption University, Kathleen now lives in Chapel Hill, NC.