The Retirement Association of Columbia Professionals

August 27, 2026

Beginning in the fall, Professor Emeritus of Law Peter Strauss will help launch the initiative. As Professor Strauss envisions it, the Book Club will be eclectic in its selections, embracing both fiction and nonfiction. Over time, members will help shape the character of the group, suggesting books, deciding how future selections are made, and volunteering to lead discussions.

For the inaugural selection, Professor Strauss recommends The Winter Soldier by Daniel Mason, a novel set during the First World War that combines history, romance, war, and medicine. The first meeting take place online at 3:30 pm on September 9, 2026.

We hope the Book Club will meet monthly and become a lively forum for conversation, discovery, community and intellectual exchange. Please send an email to EPIC if you would be interested in joining the club, and include any suggestions you have about how you would like to see the group evolve. If you would be interested in suggesting possible future titles, and/or leading a discussion, do not hesitate to let us know. Please send your thoughts to epic@columbia.edu.

12–1 pm: Opening Reception, Welcome to New Retirees, and Lunch

1–2 pm: “Flying High to Catch Neutrinos and Other Extreme Particles,” a talk by Provost Angela V. Olinto

What can neutrinos and cosmic rays teach us about the most powerful processes in the universe?

Researchers are flying ultra-fast cameras on NASA science balloons to help answer that question, observing extremely energetic subatomic particles, including neutrinos and cosmic rays, arriving from the deepest corners of the cosmos. Over the past decades, these scientific instruments have evolved to combine different types of observations, allowing researchers to learn more from these particles and better understand the extreme events that produce them.

In this talk, Angela V. Olinto, Provost and Rutherfurd Professor of Columbia University and a leading astrophysicist, will describe her work related to earlier balloon projects that helped develop this technology, and look ahead to a planned balloon flight in 2028, which promises to deepen our understanding of the powerful processes that shape our universe.

Angela V. Olinto, Rutherfurd Professor of Astronomy, Professor of Physics, and Provost of Columbia University, is the University’s chief academic officer, guiding strategic academic priorities including cross-school initiatives and the oversight of schools, institutes, and academic resources. A distinguished astrophysicist, she is renowned for her pioneering work on neutron stars, cosmic magnetic fields, cosmic inflation theory, and the origin of the highest energy cosmic particles, serving as Principal Investigator of major international space missions such as POEMMA and EUSO. Prior to joining Columbia in 2024, she was Dean of Physical Sciences and Albert A. Michelson Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Chicago, where she also chaired the department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Olinto is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences, and has received numerous honors, including the Brazilian Order of Rio Branco medal. She holds a BS in Physics from Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio de Janeiro and a PhD in Physics from MIT.

Unleash your inner thespian with the EPIC Drama Society! Whether you’re a theater enthusiast, a storytelling lover, or simply enjoy great company, our Drama Society is your stage. We’ll gather EPICureans to read plays aloud, taking on character roles for an intimate theatrical experience. Our next Drama Society play is Arsenic and Old Lace, Joseph Kesselring's classic 1939 American black comedy. Set in 1940s Brooklyn, the play follows the charming Brewster sisters, whose seemingly innocent acts of hospitality conceal a dark secret. Professor Emerita Connie Nathanson guides our journey. Thinking about joining? Newcomers always welcome. Contact epic@columbia.edu for more information. 

President Jennifer L. Mnookin has announced the membership and charge of Columbia’s Presidential Task Force on Shared Governance, co-chaired by Dean Daniel Abebe and Professor Adam Kosto. The task force includes faculty from six schools and colleges and will examine the duties and powers of the University Senate, consider how those responsibilities fit within Columbia’s broader governance structure, and recommend changes to strengthen University governance. The task force will seek community input and consider Columbia’s traditions, history, and institutional complexity. Its final report is expected in Spring 2027. Read President Mnookin’s full update on the Presidential Task Force on Shared Governance

A 55th reunion for Columbia’s Class of 1966 inspired the revival of a beloved political-science seminar led by Professor Emeritus of Government Mark Kesselman. After reconnecting on Zoom in 2021, alumni invited Professor Kesselman to discuss the Federalist Papers, and the conversation grew into an ongoing virtual seminar. Since 2022, participants have explored major issues in politics, history, public policy, and current events with Professor Kesselman and distinguished guest speakers. The seminar demonstrates the enduring impact of Professor Kesselman’s teaching and the lasting intellectual connections fostered by Columbia. Read the full article in Columbia Magazine

EPIC member Dr. Michael Weiner’s new novel, The Future Is Not Yet Written, follows four interconnected families from the September 11 attacks through the COVID-19 pandemic as they navigate life’s unpredictability, evolving relationships, and challenges involving illness, mental health, sexuality, and autism.

10–11 am Class practices breathing techniques and moves through some basic yoga poses, concentrating on alignment, balance, and flexibility.

11:15 am–12:15 pm Gentle/chair yoga, ideal for those of more limited mobility or flexibility.

Professor Emerita Ginny Papaioannou, a registered teacher with the Yoga Alliance, leads EPIC Yoga. No prior experience is required to join.

Renew securely online by making your annual

tax-deductible contribution to EPIC.

Or mail a check to:

Emeritus Professors in Columbia (EPIC)

202A Philosophy Hall, 1150 Amsterdam Avenue

Mail Code 9215

New York, NY 10027

Emeritus Professors in Columbia (EPIC) brings Columbia academic retirees together in professional and social fellowship with regular talks, fall and spring receptions, music performances, yoga, and sessions providing practical financial advice. It also sponsors the Douglas Chalmers Graduate Scholars Lectureship for young doctoral and post-doctoral scholars. EPIC is your powerful advocate for the retiree community.

Do you have questions about EPIC? Email us at epic@columbia.edu.