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Collaborative workshop explores midlife transformation through literature, art, and the high-desert experience

Santa Fe, N.M. [June 6, 2025] – St. John’s College and the Modern Elder Academy (MEA) are partnering to present “Crossroads & Classics,” a five-day retreat exploring midlife transitions through the lens of classic literature, poetry, and art. The retreat will take place at MEA’s renowned 2,600-acre ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, offering a unique blend of intellectual exploration, natural beauty, and restorative experiences. 

Participants will engage with texts by Plato, Elizabeth Bishop, Viktor Frankl, and others in daily seminars led by St. John’s tutors David Carl and Claudia Hauer alongside MEA Santa Fe facilitator Mary Hofstedt. The experience is enriched by chef-prepared meals, wine tastings, and cultural outings—including a visit to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum.

“This collaboration with one of the intellectual gems of Santa Fe, St. John’s College, is a dream,” says MEA founder Chip Conley. “To quote D.H. Lawrence, ‘I think New Mexico was the greatest experience from the outside world that I have ever had. It certainly changed me forever.’ I hope this week invites new people into the world of MEA, St. John’s, and Santa Fe in a life-affirming way.”

Central to the week is Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl’s profound exploration of resilience and choice. “Between stimulus and response, there is a space,” Frankl writes. “In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

Phelosha Collaros, Vice President for Board Governance and Strategic Outcomes at St. John’s, adds: “Midlife is a time of reflection and renewal. It’s also a time to fulfill promises made to oneself—such as spending a week at a luxurious ranch under the wide-open skies of the West. We hope that the company of Georgia O’Keeffe, Plato, Robert Frost, and Viktor Frankl will offer participants a space for rejuvenating mind, body, and spirit—while savoring the best of Western hospitality.”

The cost of the retreat is $3,000 per person, including accommodation and all meals. Details and registration: ​â¶Ä‹

911±ŹÁÏÍű MODERN ELDER ACADEMY

Modern Elder Academy (MEA) was founded in 2018 as the world’s first midlife wisdom school. With more than 6,000 alumni across 60 countries, MEA offers workshops, online programs, and a vibrant global community that helps people navigate life transitions with purpose and curiosity. Named one of TIME’s World’s Greatest Places in 2024, MEA’s Santa Fe campus provides an immersive, high-desert setting for personal renewal and transformation. Learn more at .

911±ŹÁÏÍű ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE

St. John’s College is one of the oldest and most distinctive colleges in the United States. With campuses in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Annapolis, Maryland, St. John’s offers a unique, discussion-based education centered on more than 200 great books from 3,000 years of human thought. Students gain a rigorous, interdisciplinary foundation for careers in law, government, STEM, media, education, and more. Hailed as “the most forward-thinking, future-proof college in America” (Quartz), St. John’s continues to inspire lifelong learning. Learn more at sjc.edu/world-classics.