"What Happens Next?"

JOIN US IN THE FRENCH ALPS FOR “WHAT MATTERS NOW?”

Whether you are in your 50s, 60s or 70s, many of us are considering what happens next in our lives. Join Tufts Rabbi Jeffrey Summit and Reverend Scotty McLennan of Stanford University (formerly the Tufts University Chaplain) in the French Alps at the Tufts University European Center in Talloires, France for their seminar, entitled "What Happens Next? on August 18 -24, 2026. A brand-new curriculum is open both to past participants and new participants. 

This intimate and thought-provoking program addresses questions to be considered as we decide how best to direct our time and energy to ensure that our lives are fulfilling and in balance. What lessons have we learned from the challenges of the past few years? How do we come to a deeper appreciation of the pleasures we find meaningful, the causes we consider worthwhile, our work, our relationships, our time?  Using literature, philosophy, and spiritual sources, we will explore these issues, and much more.

Situated on the banks of Lake Annecy in the foothills of the French Alps, the Tufts European Center in Talloires is the perfect place to embark on such a personal exploration. The extraordinary natural beauty of Talloires has inspired the likes of Paul Cezanne and Jean Jacques Rousseau—and it will inspire you too. We will be using our established morning pedagogy of reading, reflection, discussion, and writing. And then in the afternoon, there will be hiking, walking, swimming, and relaxing in one of the most beautiful small villages in the French Alps. And in the evenings, wonderful food, wine, and conversation.The program is limited to 20 participants.  

To receive registration information, please email Jeffrey.Summit@Tufts.edu.

What they’re saying about “What Happens Next??” in Talloires, France

“What Happens Next” was a unique and wonderful week – better than I could have imagined. I felt that doing this program was a gift I gave myself – a chance to remove myself from everyday life, work, demands and contacts and to think.  And not just to think… to engage with interesting, funny, open, warm and bright people, to be inspired by learned and sensitive teachers, and to do it all in a location that looked like a fairy tale post card.  Add to that the cheese, the wine and the French pastry! Eating melted raclette on potatoes on the top of a mountain, while watching the sunset, with this group of new friends is just one of the many memories I will treasure.  I will be building on and thinking about all I took from this journey for a long time to come.  I would tell anyone who is able to go to pack their bags and plan to head to Talloires next summer. It is a very special experience.  Jodi Landau Sieber and Joseph Sieber, Tufts University  

I believe we are no different than most people where (even) extraordinary experiences get over-shadowed by life's day-to-day tasks and get swamped by the shallow seas of today's social media driven world.  The extraordinary experience we had in Talloires seems to have survived these tests.   We think about that week often and the luxury it provided; a time to reflect on the important transitions that impact our lives and discuss them with a group of people who cared and did not judge.   Andrew Driesman and Amber Driesman, Tufts University 

My wife was excited about going to the Tufts European Center in Talloires for “What Happens Next??” but I went at best reluctantly wondering how a seminar during our vacation could be satisfying.  We both left absolutely delighted by our experience under the expert facilitation of Jeff and Scotty.   Most importantly, we left with new friends.  When you spend five days together discussing passages of great literature, reflecting on the implications for building a meaningful, purposeful next stage of life, and enjoying superb dinners in glorious settings in the French Alps, friendships form surprisingly easily.  We shared a special experience which will stay with me long after other vacations will have faded from view.   Paul Gilbert and Amy Ellis, Stanford University 

A diverse and like-minded group of 20 came from different parts of the world to discuss important questions like "What Happens Next?  What ultimately matters?” in Tufts’ European Center, a 1000-year-old Benedictory priory located in the small alpine village of Talloires, France. The beautiful Alps and idyllic Lake Annecy inspired an even deeper intellectual and spiritual exchange of thoughts and experiences. What a joyful setting to read literature, hike, make new friends, and have meaningful conversations. I’m grateful to Rabbi Jeffrey Summit from Tufts and Reverend Scotty McLennan from Stanford for creating such a thoughtful program.  Nora Wu, Stanford University