Godspeed John Glenn: A Personal Reflection
A firsthand look at John Glenn’s public life, legacy, and meaning in American history.

Cherry Trees and Blue Oxen: How Myths Made America
An entertaining exploration of the legends, stories, and symbols that shaped American identity.

Washington in the Gilded Age
A look at power, money, politics, and ambition in the capital during America’s age of rapid growth.

What the Future Holds: America in the Age of Your Grandchildren
A thoughtful and lively discussion of the trends likely to shape American life in the decades ahead.

From Shtetl to Kettle
A cultural and culinary journey through Jewish foodways from Europe and the Mediterranean to modern American kitchens.

Many more topics available or developed upon request

About Mark

Mark L. Goldstein, Ph.D., is an educator, author, and public lecturer who teaches college courses and presents lifelong learning programs throughout South Florida. His work brings together history, government, politics, public affairs, and storytelling for audiences who enjoy serious subjects presented in an engaging and accessible way.

Dr. Goldstein spent much of his career in public service, retiring as a career Senior Executive Service director at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the investigative and audit agency of Congress. He previously served in several senior federal roles, including deputy director and chief of staff of the District of Columbia Financial Control Board, legislative advisor to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, and senior staff member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs under Senator John Glenn. He also testified before congressional committees more than 75 times and appeared in major media outlets including CNN, C-SPAN, The Washington Post, The New York Times, National Public Radio, and ABC News.

He is the author of two books: America’s Hollow Government: How Washington Has Failed the People, an award-winning work used in college government courses, and Before the Gilded Age: W.W. Corcoran and the Rise of American Capital and Culture, published by Georgetown University Press in 2023. His professional and scholarly background includes honors from the American Library Association, the Associated Press, the American Society for Public Administration, and the Government Accountability Office.

Dr. Goldstein holds degrees in journalism, public administration, and U.S. history, including a Ph.D. from the University of Maryland at College Park. He is an elected fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and was awarded fellowships at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and Wolfson College, Cambridge University. As a teacher and lecturer, he has taught U.S. history, American government, politics, world civilizations, international relations, and public administration, and now offers programs designed for lifelong learners, 55-plus communities, civic audiences, and enrichment programs.