Courses

American Writers, American Characters

Instructors: Jeff Engel and Shilo Brooks

The United States is a complex and ever-evolving nation – and it always has been. This course invites participants to explore how great American writers such as Mark Twain, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, Maya Angelou and Amanda Gorman interpreted the meaning of America, the American dream, and America’s national character.

This course is co-taught by Shilo Brooks, president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Center and professor of practice in political science at SMU, whose work explores politics, literature and American thought, and Jeffrey A. Engel, David Gergen Director of SMU’s Center for Presidential History and a leading scholar of the American presidency and foreign policy. Together, they bring a rich interdisciplinary perspective that connects classic literature to political leadership, civic values and the broader American experience.

Through optional reading and guided discussion, participants will examine how storytelling has shaped and continues to shape our understanding of American values, ambition and character. Students are encouraged to read selected works in advance to maximize engagement and foster meaningful, dynamic dialogue throughout the course.

Atoms for Peace: Reducing the Threat of Nuclear Weapons While Benefiting From Nuclear Energy

Instructor: Cas Milner

Surrounded by the quiet beauty of northern New Mexico, this course offers an accessible and thoughtful look at how nuclear technology has shaped our world. With Los Alamos just over the mountains from Taos, participants can explore these topics in a place closely connected to the beginnings of the nuclear age. During the one-day course, Adjunct SMU professor and physicist Cas Milner will introduce the key developments that have influenced global security and energy policy for decades, from early scientific milestones to today’s most promising innovations.

Explore the diplomacy and technology designed to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons while also examining the remarkable innovations in modern reactor design that promise cleaner and safer energy. This course offers a rare opportunity to reflect on both the peril and the promise of nuclear technology in a setting that invites contemplation, conversation and deeper understanding.

Note: This course does not include a field trip. Refer to our Wednesday add-on adventure for the opportunity to visit Los Alamos.

Economic Megatrends Shaping Our World

Instructor: Cullum Clark

The world is changing at remarkable speed, and the forces behind that change are larger than any single country, company or generation. Journey on a fast-paced and eye-opening exploration of the megatrends reshaping the global economy. From the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and its ecological impact to dramatic demographic shifts such as falling birth rates and aging societies, this course unpacks the transformations that will shape the decades ahead.

This session delivers clear insights, engaging explanations and lively conversation. Discover the powerful trends influencing tomorrow’s economy and gain a deeper understanding of what they mean for industries, communities and everyday life.

Cullum Clark, director of the George W. Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative, adjunct professor of economics at SMU, and coauthor of The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Power in the Global Economy, will return to lead participants through this new course.

Fly-Fishing in the Land of Enchantment

Instructor: The Solitary Angler

Note: This one-day class is only offered Friday, July 17.

Experience a uniquely crafted all-day fly-fishing trip with the well-trained staff of The Solitary Angler. Catch a native Rio Grande cutthroat trout in the Rio Costilla within the spectacular Valle Vidal mountain basin of the Carson National Forest or visit the Rio de los Pinos, a fly-fisher’s haven, and take in the stunning canyon views of the Toltec Gorge. Enjoy the best of Colorado and northern New Mexico along the way – magnificent scenery, beautiful weather and excellent year-round fly-fishing. For anglers seeking adventure far from the maddening crowd, your experienced guides are devoted to fishing and have trained anglers for all skill levels. They know when and where to cast a line and how to match your fishing skill level and aspirations with the right locations. Let them take you on a journey to reconnect with nature and enjoy an unforgettable experience.

Note: Travel times to fishing locations may involve van rides that exceed one hour. SMU will coordinate with you on how to secure the required fishing licenses after registering for the course.

Generative and Agentic AI: What’s Already Real, What Might Become Real and What Are the Limits?

Instructors: Venkatesh (Venky) Shankar and Helmuth Ludwig

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the world, and this course offers a clear, insightful look at what is already real, what is emerging, and what remains out of reach. Led by Harold M. Brierley Endowed Professor and Academic Director of Brierley Institute for Customer Engagement Venkatesh Shankar and SMU’s Cox School of Business Professor of Practice Helmuth Ludwig, two SMU experts in marketing, technology and global innovation, this session explores the most compelling developments in generative and agentic AI.

Through vivid demonstrations, compelling real-world examples and thoughtful discussion, participants will learn how AI is reshaping business, personal productivity, the arts and even the nonprofit sector. The instructors also highlight where AI has succeeded, where it has failed, and how governance and guardrails will shape its future impact. This course is ideal for curious and forward-thinking learners who want a deeper understanding of the technology transforming modern life.

Note: This will be a fun, highly interactive class. Participants are asked to bring their own personal devices, including laptops or tablets, for use in interactive activities. If you are unable to provide your own personal device, we will have a limited number of devices available for use.

High Trails and Mountain Tales: Hiking Taos Ski Valley

Hiking

Note: This one-day class is only offered Saturday, July 18.

Nestled in the heart of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Taos Ski Valley offers a breathtaking blend of alpine beauty, outdoor adventure and rich cultural heritage. Participants will enjoy a guided hiking experience through pristine mountain trails, taking in sweeping vistas and the natural splendor of northern New Mexico. This hike is best suited for individuals with an intermediate fitness level, as it includes moderate elevation changes and sustained walking over varied terrain.

Following the morning’s activities, participants will gather for a relaxed and scenic lunch at Taos Ski Valley’s acclaimed on-mountain restaurant, where locally inspired cuisine is paired with stunning mountain views. During lunch, participants will be treated to a brief historical and cultural presentation highlighting the valley’s unique legacy, environmental stewardship, and role in the region’s development.

In the afternoon, guests will continue their adventure with an exhilarating UTV ride through the surrounding terrain, offering an up-close perspective of the valley’s rugged landscape and hidden gems. This immersive experience combines recreation, education and connection, providing a memorable and enriching introduction to one of New Mexico’s most iconic destinations.

Hiking the Ancestral Southwest: A Guided Cultural Hike at Bandelier National Monument

Hiking

Note: This one-day class is only offered Friday, July 17.

Set within the dramatic canyons and mesas of northern New Mexico, Bandelier National Monument offers a rare opportunity to explore the rich history and enduring legacy of the Ancestral Pueblo people. This remarkable landscape preserves centuries-old cliff dwellings, ceremonial caves, and stone structures carved directly into volcanic rock.

Following a one-and-a-half-hour bus ride from Taos, participants will embark on a guided walking tour along well-maintained trails, featuring an intermediate-level hike of approximately 1.5 miles each way (3 miles round trip) leading to iconic sites such as the Frijoles Canyon cliff dwellings and ancient ladders that provide access to traditional cave homes. Along the way, expert interpreters will share insights into Indigenous culture, daily life, and the remarkable engineering achievements that shaped this thriving community.

Guests will gain a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural heritage, environmental stewardship, and archaeological preservation efforts that protect these sacred spaces today. Surrounded by striking canyon views and quiet natural beauty, this active hiking adventure invites reflection, discovery and meaningful connection to the history of the Southwest.

This enriching visit to Bandelier National Monument blends education, exploration and inspiration – offering participants a profound appreciation for one of New Mexico’s most treasured cultural landmarks.

Note: This course is only offered on Friday due to the travel time between Taos and Bandelier National Monument.

Le Mariage Exquis: Coq au Vin and New Mexico Chiles and Gruet

Instructors: Georges Badoux and Keven Ann Willey

Explore the fusion of French elegance and New Mexico’s vibrant flavors in this immersive culinary experience with Taos Cultural Institute veteran, chef Georges Badoux. This year, learn to prepare a Southwestern-inspired Coq au Vin, featuring tender chicken braised in red wine with New Mexican hatch chiles. A delicious Gruet sparkling wine, Methode Champenoise from New Mexico, will be served to welcome our guests. Alongside the centerpiece dish, you will create complementary sides that highlight the rich culinary traditions of both regions. Designed for home chefs of all levels, this class blends hands-on learning with gourmet refinement. Best of all, you will savor the extraordinary meal you’ve crafted at the end of this one-day course.

Georges spent nearly two decades running restaurants in Belgium before moving to the U.S. as a chef saucier and later launching Tucson’s acclaimed Le Bistro. He will be joined by his wife, Keven Ann Willey, former vice president and editorial page editor of The Dallas Morning News and a past member of the Pulitzer Prize board and Tate Lecture Series board. Space for this one-day class is extremely limited.

Managing Change in the Ancestral Pueblo

Instructor: Michael Adler

Experience New Mexico as few ever do. This immersive course invites you into the heart of Pueblo history through exclusive, on-site field experiences led by chair and associate professor of Anthropology at SMU, Michael Adler. As you participate in a field trip to explore Picuris Pueblo with a community guide and walk the ancestral landscape of Pot Creek Pueblo on the SMU-in-Taos campus, you will encounter the remarkable ways Pueblo peoples responded to drought, conflict and spiritual crisis. These “transilient acts,” which include the purposeful closing of homes, the burial of sacred objects and ritual offerings, reveal a sophisticated and deeply spiritual blueprint for resilience.

Paired with engaging discussions and insights into Indigenous worldviews, this course offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from the land and from contemporary Pueblo perspectives. Set amid the serene beauty of Taos, it promises a rich, meaningful and unforgettable cultural journey.

Mozart and Opera as a Genre in the 21st Century America

Instructor: Andreas Mitisek

Join an exclusive one-day course led by Andreas Mitisek, SMU’s artistic director and director of Opera Theatre, an internationally recognized opera director known for bold, imaginative storytelling and innovative reinterpretations of classic works. With a career spanning major opera houses and festivals in the United States and abroad, Mitisek has earned acclaim for productions that make opera immediate, human and deeply resonant for contemporary audiences. Drawing on his leadership of The Magic Flute, he will offer rare, behind-the-scenes insight into Mozart’s music, narrative symbolism and creative vision – illuminating opera’s enduring magic for both longtime opera lovers and those experiencing it for the first time.

Supported by Samuel S. Holland, Algur H. Meadows Dean of the Meadows School of the Arts, this engaging course blends artistic perspective with thoughtful musical context, inviting lively discussion and deeper listening. The experience is designed to enhance participants’ appreciation of the student performances during Saturday night’s Ima Leete Hutchison Concert, open to all participants on Saturday evening. Additionally, consider participating in the Wednesday add-on experience in Santa Fe – creating a rich continuum of learning, performance and connection through music.

Religion and Horror Cinema

Instructor: Bryan Stone

For more than a century, horror cinema has drawn its depth and power from the same storytelling traditions that shape religion: symbols, myth, moral tension, and the mysteries that sit just beyond human understanding. In this fascinating and immersive course, SMU’s Leighton K. Farrell Endowed Dean of Perkins School of Theology Bryan Stone will guide participants in exploring how Christianity and other global faiths have influenced some of the most iconic ghosts, witches, demons, vampires and psychological terrors in film. Uncover how horror challenges long-held beliefs, exposes cultural anxieties, and sparks conversations about meaning, fear and the sacred.

Through curated film clips, thoughtful discussion and accessible scholarly insight, participants will come to see horror cinema as a sophisticated art form rather than simple shock entertainment. Surrounded by the creative spirit of Taos, this course offers an unforgettable experience that blends culture, film, spirituality and lively conversation in a way that is both intellectually rewarding and surprisingly fun.

Whitefeather Cultural Tour

Instructors: Kevin Whitefeather

Join Kevin Whitefeather, a respected Taos Pueblo community member, cultural educator and storyteller, and the founder and owner of Whitefeather Cultural Tours for an intimate and immersive cultural experience at Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in North America. Participants will stroll through historic adobe architecture, visit local artisan shops, and engage in meaningful conversations with community members who share their stories, traditions and perspectives.

Guests will then visit a privately owned buffalo herd on Pueblo land to learn about its cultural and spiritual significance and deepen their understanding of the Pueblo relationship with the land. The experience continues with a shared light lunch and storytelling on Whitefeather family land, offering insight into the history, values and resilience of the Red Willow people.

The journey concludes with a reflective closing ceremony centered on gratitude, connection and intention. Guests depart with lasting memories and a deeper appreciation for the living culture and heritage of Taos Pueblo.