Happy 20th Birthday, OLLI! 

Twenty years ago on July 10, 2006, the Bernard Osher Foundation signed a one-million-dollar endowment creating the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Colorado State University.  In doing so, CSU joined a dynamic network of now more than 120 institutes dedicated to serving adults aged 50 and better.  As we celebrate this milestone 20th anniversary year, you'll see new opportunities throughout the year to honor OLLI's past while looking ahead to its future.
 
There could be no better way to begin celebrating our 20th anniversary than by sharing some of the remarkable milestones achieved during the past year:

 Fall:

• 1,354 individual memberships
• 184 total course sections offered
• 4,879 course registrations

• 1,727 individual memberships
• 259 total course sections offered (including June)
• 6,701 total course registrations

Thanks to your generosity, OLLI received $47,665 in direct donations and established a new endowed fund to support emerging scholar presentations. Your financial contributions also allowed us to provide $2,200 in tuition assistance to members, continue improving classroom technologies, and keep tuition and membership rates accessible.

Twenty years after OLLI's founding, our momentum has never been stronger. Thank you for helping build a community where lifelong learning flourishes. We look forward to seeing you again soon as we begin OLLI's next twenty years together.

Sincerely,
Meredith  

With a few minor changes

The 2026-27 the OLLI Open House is moving to a new location:

Fall 26 Registration will open AFTER the Open House this year (on September 1 and 2)! 

This change will give members an opportunity to meet the instructors before signing up for classes. 

Don't worry, some things never change

Fantastic Fall Term

• Begins September 21
• Over 200 classes
• 128 instructors
• 7 categories
• 7 bonus classes
• Online, Offsite, and Drake Hall locations

Please join us in warmly welcoming our newest instructors, an exceptionally distinguished group whose expertise, experience, and passion will enrich our learning community. We are proud to have such accomplished voices joining us and look forward to the insight and inspiration they will bring.

He collaborates with stakeholders, faculty, staff, and students to implement high-impact sustainability projects, including energy efficiency programs, solar development, the CSU Green Labs program, building energy benchmarking, greenhouse gas inventory reporting, and climate action planning. Stacey plays a key role in STARS reporting and strategic sustainability efforts within Facilities Management. With a background in energy conservation since 2009 and at CSU since 2012, he brings deep expertise supported by an MSBA (GSSE) and undergraduate studies in philosophy and sociology from CSU.

Stacey's fall class: OSHR 3414 Sustainability at CSU – Hiding in Plain Sight

Drawing on more than 30 years of management consulting, along with extensive training in Eastern practices and professional ballroom dance, Julie integrates mindful movement with systems thinking to foster alignment, creativity, and purpose. Her work emphasizes co-creation from the inside out, guiding participants to realize their highest potential while strengthening connection and collaboration in both personal and professional contexts.

• OSHR 3405 The Nature of Connection: How to Move as One
• OSHR 3395 Activate Wise Change: Play the MOVES Game

Through Sewa Beats, Dee delivers experiential programs for organizations, using music as a framework for leadership, collaboration, communication, and team effectiveness. Dee maintains a clinical practice, serves on the faculty of the Cincinnati Psychoanalytic Institute, and performs as a drum set musician for musical theatre productions, uniting artistry and scholarship to foster connection and transformation.

Click here to learn more about Dee's Drum Club

Dee's fall classes:

• OSHR 3416 Did Freud Play the Djembe?
• OSHR 7073 Beginner West African Drumming Class

She created acclaimed museum films, including The Path to Nazi Genocide, and co-produced HBO’s One Survivor Remembers (Academy and Emmy Awards). Farr’s earlier work as an archival film researcher and producer includes major television series such as The World at War, Vietnam: A Television History, and The Struggles for Poland. She holds a B.A. in German from Oberlin College and brings decades of international experience documenting World War II history through film and exhibitions.
 
Raye's fall classes:

• OSHR 3396 The Erosion of Democracy in 1930s Germany: A Visual History
• OSHR 5113 Adventures in Making a History Museum: Memory, Truth & Politics

She holds an MFA in Theatre Performance Pedagogy from Virginia Commonwealth University and a master’s degree in musical theatre performance from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

In the UK, she collaborated with leading theatre artists, including Sir Cameron Mackintosh, Martin Lowe, and Grant Olding. In the U.S., she has toured nationally as a vocalist with Cirque Dreams and performed at regional theatres, including Midtown Arts Center. Hannah has taught acting and performance at Berry College, Elmira College, and Vermont State University at Castleton. Her teaching integrates theatre, storytelling, and journaling to create dynamic, engaging learning experiences.

Hannah's fall classes:

• OSHR 3385 Wait… This Was Real? Theatre That Shocks, Sells, and Persuades
• OSHR 7072 Unlocking the Play: Reading Between the Lines

A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, he served on four nuclear submarines and commanded USS Kamehameha (SSBN‑642). Following his naval career, Ed taught high school physics in Northern Virginia, where he also coached track and cross country.

He is the author of nine books, including works on the Great Depression and the Vietnam War, and has recently completed several children’s titles. Ed holds advanced degrees from Oxford University and George Mason University, bringing a depth of expertise to both his writing and teaching.

• Ed's fall class: OSHR 6177 Lessons from the Great Depression

Holding an M.B.A., she has led diverse healthcare initiatives, including managing a Medicare-certified home health agency serving six counties in the Chicago metro area, where she served as CEO for five years. Kathy’s expertise spans patient billing, pharmacy audits for a 1,100-bed medical center, and complex benefit coordination programs. A recognized advocate, she has served as a spokesperson to federal and state legislators on coverage and reimbursement issues. She also contributed to industry leadership through the Illinois Home Care Council, chairing key committees on fraud and abuse, legislative affairs, and Medicaid policy.

• Kathleen's fall class: OSHR 3409 Navigating Today's Healthcare System

A Colorado State University alumnus (B.A., 2020), he serves as Assistant Director of Communications for CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences, where he leads content development that highlights impactful programs, research, and community engagement across Colorado and beyond. Known for his versatility and collaborative approach, Avery helps individuals and teams strengthen their storytelling and build creative confidence through clear, compelling communication strategies.

• Avery's fall class: OSHR 2106 We're All Creators | Smartphone Photography and Videography Basics

Her career spans regulatory compliance, international trade, customer service, procurement, and operational leadership.

She has held roles from in-house counsel to program management and led the operations of United Airlines’ global network of premium clubs and lounges. Paige brings a strategic, systems-level perspective shaped by decades of work in complex, international environments. A frequent traveler since 2015, she combines professional expertise with extensive firsthand travel experience to offer practical insights into global mobility and cruising.

While class registration doesn't open until September, OLLI memberships are available for purchase beginning in July. Click this link to join. 

Signing in early allows you to confirm your account access and resolve any technical issues before registration begins—saving you time and reducing stress during registration.

Take the first step toward a healthier, more engaged mind. Join today and be ready to explore, learn, and connect this fall.

Celebrating the philanthropy and purpose that continue to shape a vibrant community of lifelong learners. 

The Institutes are named for Bernard Osher whose philanthropy, through The Bernard Osher Foundation (est. 1977), supports lifelong learning nationwide.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes: Learning for the Joy of It

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes (OLLI) grew from a simple but powerful idea: that many older adults seek learning not for degrees or credentials, but for the pure enjoyment of intellectual engagement and connection. In fall 2000, The Bernard Osher Foundation began exploring ways to serve this audience—individuals eager to stay mentally active, explore new ideas, and remain connected to the wider world without the pressure of exams or grades.

Drawing inspiration from successful models such as the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco and Senior College at the University of Southern Maine, the Foundation launched its first grants in 2001. An endowment to the University of Southern Maine expanded its program and introduced the name “Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.” Soon after, Sonoma State University joined the effort, marking the beginning of what would become a national movement.

By 2002, the Foundation initiated a broader expansion, offering grants to universities across California with the potential for long-term endowments. Today there are over 120 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes on campuses in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, along with a National Resource Center for Osher Institutes at Northwestern University.

While each OLLI operates independently and reflects the character of its host institution and community, all share defining features. Programs offer diverse, intellectually stimulating, non-credit courses designed for adults age 50 and better. Membership-based, they encourage active participation, volunteer engagement, and leadership through institutional support and a commitment to quality and sustainability.

OLLIs are not centralized or franchised; each is unique. Offerings may include lectures, study groups, educational travel, and community events. There are no tests and no grades—only opportunities to learn, explore, and connect. Today, more than 130,000 members participate nationwide, with programs reaching 300+ cities and towns.

At the heart of this vision is Bernard Osher, a businessman and philanthropist who founded The Bernard Osher Foundation in 1977 to support higher education and the arts. A native of Maine and a graduate of Bowdoin College, Osher built a successful career spanning finance and the arts, including leadership roles with World Savings and ownership of Butterfield & Butterfield auction house. His longstanding commitment to philanthropy, shared with his wife Barbro Osher, reflects a belief in education as a lifelong pursuit.

Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes embody that belief—fulfilling the promise of education at its best: to develop the mind and spirit for a lifetime of purpose and human flourishing.

Click this LINK to learn more about Bernard and Barbro Osher.

Reserve your seat for an inspiring festival of world-class and rising pianists—or even better, join the ensemble behind the scenes by volunteering to help bring this inforgettable experience to life. 

Contact Cecilia Dagg, the volunteer coordinator at  ceciliandagg@gmail.com or 734.474.2250

How to find more information about the concerts:

Click odyssiad.com

Important details about concert tickets:

Tickets are no longer sold through CSU's Box Office. 
They are sold through Eventbrite. To purchase tickets use this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/co--fort-collins/odyssiad/
 
There are 3 concerts that require tickets:  Monday night (August 3), Wednesday night (August 5), and Saturday night (August 8).  All other events are free.
 
OLLI members get a discount with the promotion code OLLI. The cost per ticket for Osher members is $30.
 
Tickets will also be sold at the Registration / Will Call table on the first floor of UCA one hour (6:30 pm) before the concert begins.

Join the celebration crew—lend a hand, share the joy, and help us strike the perfect chord as we mark 20 years of OLLI and beyond!

Terry Nolan, Volunteer Coordinator, will help you find the right fit. Click this LINK to share your interests—there’s a place for everyone to grow with OLLI.

2027 opportunities to take lifelong learning to new levels—See our website for more information!

EF Go Ahead & OLLI Tour April 15-29, 2027

Double occupancy price of $6,614 for 13 nights

Travel with OLLI instructor and sommelier Chris Hensey

Double occupancy price of $5,719 for 8 nights

Travel with OLLI instructor and award-winning landscape architect Susan Atkinson

Double occupancy price of $2,599 for 6 nights

Travel with popular OLLI instructor Margaret Sharkoffmadrid

 If you need assistance, we are happy to help. Please email us at OLLI@colostate.edu or call 970.491.7753. Have your credit card ready, and we will assist you in preparing for the fall term.

Please ensure the phone number you provide is current and has an active voicemail. We will only use this number in the event of a last-minute class cancellation. Our primary method of communication is email, so if you receive a phone call from us, it is important and likely time-sensitive.

Please add the OLLI phone number (970-491-7753) and email address (OLLI@colostate.edu) to your contacts to ensure our communications are not filtered as spam when we reach out to you.

Office Hours

Please note that Drake Hall will be closed during the month of July. If you plan to visit or need in-person assistance, please call or email in advance to confirm that Drake Hall is open and that a staff member will be available to assist you.
 
Contact Information

(970) 491-7753.
OLLI@colostate.edu

Celebrating 20 Years of Lifelong Learning by Giving

One meaningful way to honor this milestone is through giving. Supporting OLLI helps sustain the diverse courses and programs that make this community so special, ensuring that future members can enjoy the same opportunities to learn and connect.

A gift to OLLI is a powerful way to celebrate 20 years of learning—and to invest in the years ahead. Together, we continue to nurture a community where minds stay active, friendships flourish, and learning truly lasts a lifetime.

Click here to support OLLI at CSU  

or call Thea Barela-Rounsaville at 720.327.0132 for more information.

Until Next Month,
Your OLLI Staff