Welcome to the March edition of the OLLI Insider - your monthly update designed to inform, invite, and inspire.

This four-week introductory watercolor course is designed for learners who want to build strong fundamentals while exploring a more expressive, loose painting style. Emphasis is placed on core design principles such as value, color, form, and space, along with practical techniques that support confident painting.

Participants will learn about brushes, paper, and water control; work with a limited color palette; practice wet-in-wet and layering techniques; and develop compositions using sketches and photos. The course encourages thoughtful simplification, strong focal points, and growing confidence at the easel. All supplies are included.

The instructor, Paula Watson-Lakamp, is a native of northern Colorado with a Fine Art degree from Colorado State University, with an emphasis in Graphic Design and Art Education.

Across today’s social and political landscape, claims of absolute power are reemerging with renewed urgency—and from unexpected directions. In this timely lecture, we’ll examine how appeals to unquestioned authority are appearing across the political spectrum, within institutions and personal beliefs alike.

We’ll explore the key characteristics these power claims share, as well as the important differences among them. Drawing on political theory, historical context, and contemporary relevance, the lecture encourages critical thinking about authority, legitimacy, and the forces shaping public life today.

The lecture is presented by Bob Hoffert, Dean and Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University. A distinguished political theorist, Dr. Hoffert specializes in the evolution of Anglo-American liberalism and the political founding of the United States, bringing enduring ideas into sharp focus for today’s world.

Curious about Artificial Intelligence and what it really means for our world? This engaging, accessible course offers a clear and compelling introduction to AI—what it is, how it works, and why it matters. Designed especially for a non-technical audience, the class explores AI’s core ideas, real-world applications, and growing influence across industries and everyday life.

Participants will trace AI’s evolution from early breakthroughs to today’s rapidly advancing technologies, while also considering ethical questions and future possibilities. By connecting past milestones with emerging trends, this course brings clarity and context to one of the most transformative forces of our time.

The class is led by Richard Waal, a technology veteran with over 40 years of industry experience, spanning innovative startups to Fortune 500 companies. His practical insights and broad perspective make complex ideas approachable and relevant.

Savor the tastes, traditions, and stories of the Iberian Peninsula in this lively food‑tainment course devoted to the iconic cuisines of Spain and Portugal. Like a well‑crafted recipe, the class blends history, geography, and culture to reveal the essential ingredients that define these neighboring culinary traditions—distinct in flavor, yet beautifully intertwined.

Larry will introduce the regional specialties that give Spanish and Portuguese cuisine their character, exploring how local landscapes, historical influences, and cultural exchange have seasoned their dishes and shaped global food culture. From rustic staples to celebrated classics, these foods serve as delicious expressions of national identity and have helped set the table for cuisines around the world.

Your guide is Chef Larry P. Canepa, Certified Culinary Educator and Le Cordon Bleu chef, as well as an author, researcher, and noted food historian. Known for his dynamic and engaging teaching style, Chef Larry expertly folds together culinary arts, history, and storytelling—serving up an experience that is as informative as it is entertaining.

Each week explores a new breath practice and key yogic concept, along with safe, adaptable postures appropriate for all mobility levels. Emphasizing balance, relaxation, and self‑awareness, the class supports a holistic approach to physical and emotional well‑being. Whether you are new to yoga or revisiting the basics, you’ll gain practical tools to build strength, flexibility, and calm—on and off the mat.

Caroline Denison is a certified yoga instructor specializing in adaptive and private yoga for adults of all ages. Her warm, accessible teaching style emphasizes alignment, mindfulness, and listening to the body as part of a personal yoga journey.

Join us for a hands-on culinary experience led by skilled professional chefs. In this engaging class, you’ll build confidence in the kitchen as you learn essential techniques and collaborate to prepare a flavorful, chef-curated menu. Best of all, you can relax and enjoy the meal knowing the cleanup is taken care of.

The menu includes a refreshing citrus and fennel salad, a classic paella featuring chicken, chorizo, shrimp, and mussels, and a Spanish almond cake served with honey citrus whipped cream.

Facing an empty page can be one of the most intimidating moments in a writer’s life. Writer’s block is a common challenge—but it can also open the door to new approaches. In this two-hour workshop, participants will explore a creative and effective method for regaining momentum: writing with constraints.

Constraints are intentional guidelines that shape the writing process. They may include formal limits, such as working in rhyming couplets; practical boundaries, such as a fixed word count; or creative experiments, such as transforming poetry into prose and back again. Though adding restrictions may seem counterintuitive, these boundaries often spark ideas and provide structure when inspiration stalls.

Led by a new OLLI instructor, Cherie Nelson Senie, bringing fresh perspectives, this workshop will introduce examples of constraints used by various writers and offer hands-on practice applying them to your own work. Participants will leave with practical tools for generating material and approaching projects with renewed confidence.

Cherie Nelson Senie is a writer, editor, and educator from Kansas. She holds an MA in Literature and an MFA in Creative Writing from Colorado State University, where she taught in the English Department for six years.

Few plants grown in the United States have a history as complex as Cannabis sativa. Long valued for its fiber, seed, and medicinal potential, the crop was largely excluded from scientific research for more than seventy years due to regulatory restrictions. Policy changes beginning in 2012 opened the door to renewed study, including important insights into the insects associated with cannabis production.

This course explores the diverse insect community linked to cannabis and examines which species may affect the crop under different growing conditions and end uses. Instruction is provided by Whitney Cranshaw, Emeritus Professor of Entomology at Colorado State University.

A CSU faculty member since 1983, Dr. Whitney Cranshaw retired in 2020 but remains actively engaged in entomology through writing, public speaking, professional outreach, and ongoing research. His expertise provides an informed, accessible perspective on this evolving crop ecosystem.

Wildfire in Colorado: What’s Changed and Why It Matters
March 25 | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Presented by OLLI’s Spring 26 Emerging Scholar, Thomas Gifford

Wildfire is woven into Colorado’s natural history—but today’s fires are bigger, faster, and far more disruptive to the places we live and love. In this timely and engaging session, we’ll explore how wildfire activity across Colorado has shifted since 1990, with a close look at the implications for Northern Colorado communities.

Through clear maps, visuals, and guided discussion, we’ll examine where fires are happening, which counties have been hit hardest, and why a small number of mega‑fires now cause the majority of damage statewide. Beyond burned acreage, we’ll dig into the real-world consequences—how wildfires affect local economies, tourism, employment, housing, and community resources long after the flames are out.
This course is designed for anyone seeking a clearer picture of how wildfire is reshaping Colorado’s landscape and economy and what those trends signal for our region’s future.

This excellent course is offered by our Spring 26 Emerging Scholar, Thomas Gifford, who is a fifth-year PhD candidate in economics at Colorado State University. He has studied economics for nearly a decade, earning his BA from Colorado College in 2018 and a master’s degree from the University of Denver in 2021. His research focuses on understanding the economic impacts of environmental change, including wildfire.

These stories could be yours, or those of your family, friends, and neighbors.

Through vivid characters and intimate settings, Laura Pritchett reminds us that wildfire isn’t just a distant headline—it’s a reality shaping lives across Colorado and the West. This book invites us to reflect on what it means to live in a place where beauty and risk coexist, and how our communities respond when the flames come close.
Join us for a read that sparks conversation about resilience, responsibility, and the ties that bind us to the land—and to each other.

Read the book, then join us for an exclusive author event:

This excellent book can be purchased locally or online at *Firehouse Books,  *Bookstore on the Square, or online at Amazon or Barnes & Noble Books..

*Old Firehouse Books and The Bookstore on the Square in Fort Collins offer 20% discounts to OLLI members.

🌼 Great News—Spring Term Is Growing! 🌼
We’re excited to announce that we’re adding three more weeks of Spring Term classes in June! The full list of June courses will be published in the April newsletter, so stay tuned for all the details.

📅 Registration opens Monday, May 4 at 9 AM

📚 Classes will meet June 1–19

And don’t forget—fantastic classes are starting every week in the meantime, so there’s plenty to explore this spring!

Dear Campus Community,

The Office of International Programs is pleased to announce the 7th annual International Symposium will be held March 3-4, 2026. All sessions are free and open to the public and will be delivered virtually via Zoom. Registration is required.

The theme for the 2026 International Symposium is international development. Subthemes will focus on international development in a post-USAID environment: how governments and individuals can make a difference, and the role of emerging technologies, including AI, in advancing international development.
 
Register and view the full schedule at international.colostate.edu/symposium.
 
FEATURED EVENT | A Bold Invitation: The Peace Corps at 65
Tuesday, March 3rd: 12 – 1 p.m.
Carol Spahn, 21st U.S. Peace Corps Director and Presidential Executive-in-Residence at CSU
REGISTER
 
KEYNOTE EVENT | The End of an Era? Rethinking Aid, Partnership, and Influence Beyond USAID
Wednesday, March 4th: 12 – 1 p.m.
Jeremy Konyndyk, President of Refugees International
REGISTER
 
Other sessions at the International Symposium:

• Youth at the Table: Engaging the Next Generation in Addressing Global Food Security Challenges
• Transatlantic Bridges in Humanitarian Engineering: Global Partnerships for Shared Futures
• Reframing Development in the Digital Era: How Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics Can Drive Transformation in Africa and the Caribbean Amid Shrinking Development Assistance
• Coaching Changemakers: Where Entrepreneurial Leadership Meets Global Impact
• In With the Old: Atoms for Peace and Soft Power Diplomacy
• When People Move: AI Tools and Systems Thinking for Understanding Human Migration

For more information about the International Symposium or to request accommodations, please contact Diana Galliano at diana.galliano@colostate.edu or (970) 491-3323.
 
We look forward to seeing you at the International Symposium!

Whether you welcome new members, assist instructors, or lend a hand behind the scenes, your time and talents make a meaningful difference in our community.

Terry Nolan, our Volunteer Coordinator, would be happy to help you find the role that’s right for you. Click this LINK  to share your interests. With opportunities for a wide range of schedules and skills, there’s a place for everyone to grow with OLLI.

• Download the itinerary HERE

• Watch the EF Launch Presentation HERE and see the PowerPoint HERE

• Call EF to register:  1-800-438-7672 & reference "OLLI CSU 2026 Portugal & Spain Trip"

• Click this LINK to watch the presentation for this trip.

• Starting price of $3,399

• See the ship details, itinerary, deck plans, and pricing options HERE

• Watch the Go Next trip launch presentation HERE

• Download a flyer HERE

• Call Go Next at 1-800-842-9023 for more information or to book

The newsletter is sent to all past and present members at the beginning of the month.  The newsletter can also be found on our WEBSITE by clicking the link and scrolling down until you see the list of recent newsletters. Details which can be found in each month’s publication:

Add OLLI to your phone contacts so that when we call, our number does not appear as spam.

• OLLI at Colorado State University

• 970.491.7753

• To notify class members of a last-minute class cancellation.

• To inform members that a spot has opened in a waitlisted class.

• We email receipts, course updates, invitations to register for newly added or waitlisted courses, and instructor notes/handouts.

• Occasionally, we email important information like registration, open house, or term dates.

• Watch for handouts and links from instructors included in your OLLI emails.  To be responsible with our resources, we opt to send long handouts through email rather than printing them.  If you are unable to print a handout needed for class, let us know.  We are happy to print a copy for you.

Important details about dropping a class:

Important details about being on a waiting list:

• If OLLI opens a new section of a class for which you are waitlisted, we will notify you by email. That message will include specific instructions and a limited window of time to call our office to register for the new section. Registration for new sections must be completed by phone, as we will need your credit card number to process enrollment. For security reasons, OLLI does not retain credit card information.

Your feedback matters!

The form includes 7 questions, several of which are multiple-choice. Instructors receive a cumulative report compiled from all responses, which helps them understand what worked well and what could be improved. These responses also guide OLLI in determining which courses to offer again.

To complete the form, simply check the appropriate boxes, fill in the text fields, and select the blue Submit button at the bottom of the page. All responses are anonymous and greatly appreciated.

Please do not email your comments to OLLI. We do not have the capacity to collect feedback manually; all comments must be submitted via the feedback form.

Office Hours
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
2545 Research Blvd. Fort Collins, CO 80526
 
Contact Information
(970) 491-7753.
OLLI@colostate.edu

While membership and tuition fees cover part of our programming costs, they do not cover the full cost of delivering the high-quality courses, speakers, and experiences our community enjoys. Donations help bridge that gap.

Every gift makes a difference. Contributions of any size support program development, learning resources, and efforts to keep OLLI accessible and engaging. Together, our collective generosity ensures that OLLI at CSU continues to thrive as a welcoming community dedicated to lifelong learning.

Join us in shaping the future of learning—because together, we can keep curiosity alive.

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