SAN JOSE, California (January 30, 2014) — The San Jose Museum of Art’s spring Lunchtime Lecture series will begin on Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 12 noon. The first speaker of the series will be Carin Jacobs, director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, California.  In her lecture, Jacobs will explore the intersection of food, faith, and museums. Jacobs was formerly the director of the Center for the Arts, Religion, and Education, an affiliate of the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California. She has published  “A Matter of Taste: A Triangulated Exploration of Food, Faith, and Museums” in the Museums and Social Issues Journal, Spring 2012. Jacobs has also taught courses in Museum Studies and “The Flavors of Faith” (on the intersection of food, religion, and culture) at the Graduate Theological Union.  

The second lecture of the series will take place on Wednesday, March 5, 2014, and will feature Mia Farber, vice chair of Slow Food Santa Cruz. Farber will discuss the history of the slow food movement from its origins in Rome to its growth internationally, as well as its local impact. She will explore how our daily food choices determine the future of the environment, economy, and society. Slow Food Santa Cruz is part of the global Slow Food network of over 150,000 members in more than 150 countries. It is an international grassroots membership organization with a vast volunteer network of local chapters, youth and food communities that work to promote good, clean, and fair food for all. 

The spring lecture series concludes on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, with a case study of the global coffee industry led by Renee Brown, assistant professor of economics at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California. Looking through the lens of the global coffee industry, Brown will examine how companies often view value creation narrowly, optimizing short-term financial performance while overlooking social, economic, and environmental considerations. While some industries have found that the principle of shared value not only leads to social progress, but also economic success, Brown will explore this theory and the challenges faced in creating shared value.  Brown teaches The International Economy: Policies and Theory at Stanford University. She has been a consultant at the World Bank working on international trade policy for Sub-Saharan Africa, and was an Investment Banking Analyst at J.P. Morgan Securities working with emerging markets. 

Lunchtime Lectures take place on the first Wednesday of the month at noon in the Museum’s Charlotte Wendel Education Center. Visitors are welcome to bring food and beverages or purchase their lunch at Café Too. The lectures are included with Museum admission of $8 ($5 for seniors and students, free to members).