You won’t leave this class as a different person. You’ll leave as a more dangerous version of yourself. Whether you use your powers for good, evil, or just to get a better table at brunch—that’s your final, ungraded assignment.

Dr. Elena Voss, former hostage negotiator and recovering Silicon Valley pitch coach. Office hours: By intimidation (or appointment).

Charisma isn’t magic. It’s a protocol. In this hands-on lab, students will deconstruct the world’s most magnetic figures—from Oprah to Casanova, from MLK to that one annoying colleague who always gets the promotion—and reverse-engineer their emotional influence. Using biometric sensors, linguistics algorithms, and live “charisma cages” (improvised social pressure tests), students will learn to turn presence into a weapon of mass connection.

“Dr. Voss made me cry on Day 2. But it was a strategic cry. I learned so much.” — Anonymous

The Philosophy Department has twice tried to have the course banned, arguing that “instrumentalizing presence” undermines authentic human connection. Dr. Voss’s response: “Authenticity is just charisma for people who haven’t learned the shortcuts.” Enrollment has tripled.

Here’s an interesting, slightly satirical yet thought-provoking piece about a fictional—but eerily plausible—university course on charisma. “Turning Social Butterflies into Social Architects”

“I took it ironically. Now I’m accidentally running for city council. Send help.” — Priya K., political science major