The JC Salon debuts this semester with talks by Dr. Frank Chong, Dr. Karen Frindell and Eric Thompson.

The term “salon” is derived from the French word describing an apartment or large central space where socialites regularly hosted discussions on intellectual and artistic matters.

Following this style, Santa Rosa Junior College’s English department introduces the Salon this spring with a series of talks from colleagues around campus.

First in the series is chemistry instructor Dr. Karen Frindell and her March 5 presentation on the sciences.

She will discuss chemistry as an aesthetic experience and her love for the periodic table of the elements.

Dr. Frindell hopes the Salon will attract students and faculty alike so that “they take advantage of the opportunity to listen to their instructors and colleagues speak about the disciplines they love in a more open and informal setting.”

Next in the line-up is SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong who will deliver a talk on administration April 11.

“I’m going to talk about leadership because administrators do things right and leaders do the right things,” Chong said.

Concluding the series is humanities instructor Eric Thompson who will present his lecture May 7 on humanities and religion.

“That’s a subject so important, central and crucial that greater knowledge of it is arguably an emergency in the world today. Most people in the world are religious, so they claim, and religion is at the bottom of a lot of violence, bigotry,” Thompson said.

More information on the JC Salon will be provided on santarosa.edu/insider as the dates approach.