OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
WHERE LEARNING NEVER RETIRES
FALL 2026 PROGRAMMING BEGINS SEPTEMBER 8th olli-umich.org
Supporting the community where our clients live, work, play, and retire.
As an independent, locally owned firm for over 30 years, our commitment to the community is stronger than ever. Our team advocates and supports area non-profits, greenways, the arts, and athletic events, and we are honored to have a part in building a community that’s a wonderful place to live, work, play – and ultimately enjoy a fulfilling retirement. Located in Ann Arbor, we’re one of the top investment advisors in the area. We coordinate retirement strategies, assist with estate planning, select investments, and can manage your university TIAA, Fidelity, and other investment accounts without transferring assets. Learn about our team and strategies to help grow and preserve your wealth. 734-769-7727 | risadvisory.com
2301 Platt Road, Suite 300 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
© 2026 Advisory services offered through Retirement Income Solutions, Inc., an independent, registered Investment Advisor, not affiliated with TIAA, Fidelity or any university.
The OLLI Leadership Team Welcomes You Welcome to the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Michigan. If you have a passion for learning, the willingness to share your expertise, build friendships and be part of a vibrant community, you have found your home. If you are new, take your time to peruse our offerings and we hope you join us Sept. 2 for the OLLI Fall Kickoff. For our returning members, you know the impact OLLI programs have had on your life. Please share the catalog with a friend or neighbor and bring someone with you to the Fall Kickoff. You keep OLLI vital and a vibrant organization.
Angela A. Bingham, OLLI Director
Thank you for who you are and for all that you do!
Angela Bingham and Kathleen Ribbens Kathleen Ribbens, OLLI President
OLLI at U-M Who We Are OLLI is a volunteer-centered membership organization that offers programs for lifelong learners. It capitalizes on the skills, knowledge, and experience of our volunteers who plan and implement the learning programs for their peers. Our Mission OLLI fosters lifelong learning designed by member volunteers for a diverse community of older adults seeking stimulating discussion, fellowship, and wisdom.
OLLI Staff
The OLLI Way As members of OLLI-UM, we value free expression of ideas. In doing so, we agree to abide by these guidelines. ◆ I will be respectful of another’s point of view. ◆ I will demonstrate through words and actions that each colleague is a person of value to be respected. ◆ I will be accountable for my words and actions. ◆ I will be an ally, I will respond, and I will act with and for others in pursuit of an organization where inclusion is valued.
OLLI-UM staff herefor toyou! help! Contact us at 734-998-9351 or olli.info@umich.edu TheThe OLLI-UM staff areis here Contact the office at 734-998-9351 or email olli.info@umich.edu
ANGELA BINGHAM
MELANIE WILLIAMS-BOWERS
RYAN LUTTERMOSER
ELLIE STANLEY
OLLI Director anabi@umich.edu
OLLI Assistant Director lutterrj@umich.edu
WENDY ASCIONE-JUSKA Community Outreach wascione@umich.edu
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OLLI AT U-M & OLLI STAFF
Marketing/Communications melaniwi@umich.edu
Administrative Assistant Sr eharden@umich.edu
Registration and Membership REGISTRATION AND MEMBERSHIP Registration for study groups takes place in two phases to accommodate the frequent oversubscription of these programs equitably. OLLI Study Groups (SGs) are very popular with our members. Each volunteer SG leader determines the maximum number of participants for their group. When registrations exceed that limit, a lottery is held to fill the available spaces. Selection is completely random. Once the maximum enrollment is reached, all remaining registrants are placed on a waitlist, with their position determined by the lottery results. Please note that registration fees are not charged until the lottery process has been completed. If you pay for your course with a check prior to the lottery, do not pay for any Study Group or Shared Interest Group. After the lottery, you will receive an email either confirming your registration and requesting payment or notifying you that you have been placed on the waitlist. If you are enrolled in an SG and later find that you cannot participate, please notify the OLLI office as soon as possible. This allows a member on the waitlist to be offered your spot. Membership (annually effective August 1 – July 31)
BASIC MEMBERSHIP- $50/YR
With a Basic Membership, choose OLLI programs via ala carte. Each event has its own fee, which is listed in both the catalog and on the website. Pay for each event when you register. Some programs/events may charge an additional fee for books or materials.
ALL-INCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP-$375/YR This option includes access to all lectures, study groups, shared interest groups, virtual Out of Town and other events OLLI offers. Please note you’ll need to register for each offering you’d like to attend. (In-person Out of Town trips and OsherOnline courses are not included). Some programs may charge additional fees for books or materials.
SCHOLARSHIP MEMBERSHIP
To ensure that everyone can afford our programming, OLLI instituted scholarship assistance. Follow the instructions on the website during the payment process. This program is on the honor system. FALL REGISTRATION FOR ALL OFFERINGS OPENS August 19 at 10 am INITIAL REGISTRATION PERIOD August 19 – September 3 OVERSUBSCRIPTION LOTTERY FOR STUDY GROUPS September 3 CLASS LISTS FINALIZED AND NOTICES SENT OUT September 4 OFFERINGS BEGIN THE WEEK OF September 14
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REGISTRATION AND MEMBERSHIP
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Your Guide to OLLI-UM Join the OLLI-UM community of lifelong learners! We offer a wide range of learning and social opportunities to match your interests. For information about the committees below, call 734-998-9351 or email olli.info@umich.edu.
OLLI-UM COMMITTEES Lectures (Tuesday and Thursday) Academic and professional experts present diverse topics in social, political, scientific, technological, and artistic fields. Events include Thursday Lectures: Thoughtful Talks for Curious Minds, the Alfred Gourdji Distinguished Lectures Series. Conversations Each program features interviews with a range of guests who share real-world expertise on topics that directly affect us. Evenings with OLLI Explore Ann Arbor, Michigan, and beyond through monthly programs featuring local people, places, issues, and stories. PitchLine Project Offers OLLI members the opportunity to pitch an innovative idea for programming, events and other projects. Out of Town OLLI members can look forward to both in-person and virtual educational travel experiences. OLLI Reads A shared experience where we read and discuss a common book, then come together for a presentation by the author, followed by a discussion. Community Engagement Cultivates a welcoming and inclusive environment by fostering programs that celebrate the diversity of our members.
Study Groups Learn in a small group and connect with others who share your interests. Explore our diverse study groups and discover a topic you’ll enjoy. Shared Interest Groups (SIGs) People come together with a common interest for meetings or activities designed by group members. Social Interaction Connect with fellow lifelong learners and enrich your OLLI experience through meaningful social engagements. Finance Oversees OLLI’s financial health through budgeting, financial oversight, transparency, and compliance. Development Sets fundraising goals, builds donor relationships, and oversees efforts to secure resources that support OLLI’s mission. Strategic Communications Guides OLLI’s messaging and outreach to ensure clear, consistent, and effective member engagement. Leadership Council OLLI-UM’s 18-member Leadership Council, elected by members, sets priorities and policies for the organization. Serving in leadership offers opportunities to apply your skills, contribute to OLLI’s success, and build meaningful connections with fellow members.
YOUR GUIDE TO OLLI-UM
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Volunteers Make All the Difference! Thank you to our volunteers for sharing their time, talents, and expertise to support OLLI’s programs. Committees help shape speakers, policies, and decisions. To get involved, call 734-998-9351 or email olli.info@umich.edu. John Abraham Eileen Adler Terrance Albrecht Kathleen Alfonso Frank Ascione Faye Askew-King Rosemary Austgen Robin Axelrod Char Bacon Bernie Banet Karen Bantel Jeff Barnett Richard Barron Bernadette Beach Anne BenningtonHelber Ginny Bentz Raj Bhargava Jill Binkley Betty Bishop Ron Bogdasarian John Bohn Jim Boughton Lynn Boyer Joanne Brant Steve Bredernitz Derek Brereton Ronald Brown Justine Bykowski Jim Cameron Peter Caplan Alice Carter Ken Chavis Barb Cherem
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Donna Clack Judy Cohen Barbara Comai Gwendolyn Copeland Laurie Dean Jackie Deron Walter Di Mantova Kal Dutta Steven Dworkin Marilyn Edington Gloria Edwards Avi Eisbruch Emily Eisbruch Julie Endress Larry Engelhardt Martin Friedburg Bruce Friedman Ron Frisch Bonnie Gabowitz Jerry Gardner Richard Garrett Jeff Gaynor Steve Geiringer Savvas Giannakopoulos Becky Glesner Jacqueline Goodman Judy Gourdji Kathie Gourlay Kyle Grazier Elliott Greenberg Hank Greenspan Linda Grekin Joan Gumbel Gayle Harte
Will Hawk Sigrid Hermon Julie Herrada John Hill Jessie Hitt Joan Homyak Alice Horning Mary Ellen Hoy Gayle Hubbard Gregory Humbel Larry Imerman Emily Ingalls William Ingram Jerry Janusz Christine Johnson Jim Keen Wendy Scott Keeney John Kelly Freddi Kilburn Diane Knibbs Zoe Koosis Kate LaBore Deborah Lahdji Linda Lake Gerald Lapidus Barbara LaRose Liz Larwa George Lavoie David Lee Susan Lennon Chris Lerchen Tom Lerchen Carol Levin Tracey Lind
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION LIST
Molly Lindner Rudi Lindner Sue Linderman Eleanor Linn Ed Linz Robin Little Stuart Lockman Herb Loner Tom Longworth Jim MacBain Barbara MacKenzie Carolyn Madden Cathy Maher Soheyla Marzban Michelle McClellan Victoria McIntyre Barbara McLelland Juli McLoone Toni McNamara Meta Mendel-Reyes Bette Michael Dick Miller Jerry Miller Charles Monsma Deb Mukherjee Sally Mukherjee Claire Murray Mike Murray Dennis Muzzi Julie Jaffee Nagel Louis Nagle Liz Needleman Jim Nelson Jerry Newman
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Volunteers Make All the Difference! Joan Nuxoll Jerry Offen Marjorie Oliver Camille Orso Burcu Senyapili Ozcan Al Paas Priscilla Parker Louis Penner Lee Pizzimenti Carol Pollack-Rundle Pat Pooley Anne Preston Jan Price Sharon Quiroz Craig Ramsay Helaine Reid Kathleen Ribbens Tim Richards
Michele Roberge Bill Roberts Nancy Rocker Katrina Rosculet Carol Veldman Rudie Amy Seeto Mary Senter Marilyn Scott Michelle Scott Miriam Shaw Leo Sheddon Cliff Sheldon Mary Sherrill Jenny Shudow Frances Schultz Sylvia Shippey Carolyn Siebers Chris Siehl
Stu Simon Kathleen Singer Marta Skiba Terry Smith Jan Sockness Beth Spencer Jane Spinner Carol Standardi Dr. Paul Standley Craig Stephan Robert Stephans CarolynRose Stone Melanie Strodel Jon Swanson Charlie Taylor Ann Tomlanovich Linda Tompkins Debbie Torch
Claire Turcotte Debbie Upton Sara VanderVoort Janet VanValkenburg Mary Vardigan Lonnie Vitale Marie Vitale Terre Voegeli Tuffin Wagner Helen Weingarten Fran Weinstein Cyril White Terri Wilkerson Mike Wixom Katherine Woo Angela Yang Charlene Yudowin G Phil Zepeda
VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION LIST
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Welcome Letter
1
OLLI-UM Committees
5
OLLI at U-M / OLLI Staff
2
Volunteer List
6-7
Kick Off & Social Interaction
3
Table of Contents
8-15
Membership & Registration
4
LECTURE SERIES ALFRED GOURDJI DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
PAGE
Regulating Business in America: A Long-Term Perspective
16
America’s First Medical Experiments in the Wilds of Northern Michigan: A 19th Century Physician’s 33-Year Study of Digestion via a Fur Trader’s Abdominal Shotgun Wound
17
The U.S. Midterm Elections: What Happened Last Week
17
“Every Person for Themselves?” How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Reshape the American Economy and Impact the Quality of Life
18
Inaugural Fundraising Gala Save the Date
19
THURSDAY LECTURE SERIES: THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS: PROCESS, POLICY AND CONSEQUENCES
PAGE
How to Think About Midterm Elections Like an Expert
21
The Impact of Social Media on US Elections
21
Why Policymaking Success Leads to Electoral Failure
21
Presidential Power and Democratic Resilience: Institutional Change and the 2026 Midterms
22
The 2026 Midterms: What the Data Tells Us
22
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
THURSDAY LECTURE SERIES: WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE ARCTIC---AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
PAGE
The Arctic Region in the Context of European Geopolitics and Security
23
Four Ages of the North: The Broad Contours of Arctic History
23
The North American Arctic: Myths and Realities
24
Environmental Changes in the Arctic: Local and Global Impacts
24
Russian Arctic Policy, Security Strategy and International Cooperation
25
ARCTIC BUFFET LUNCH
25
UPCOMING WINTER/SPRING 2027 LECTURE SERIES
26 PAGE
CONVERSATIONS The Pursuit of Happiness
27
The Founders Warning: Did They Predict a Crisis?
28
Democracy in the Age of Algorithms
28 PAGE
EVENINGS WITH OLLI Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) to the Rescue
29
When Driving Changes: How Automation Keeps People Moving
30
An Evening with Professor Dennis Wilson and the U-M Jazz Trombone Ensemble
30
OLLI PITCHLINE PAGE
THE PITCHLINE: BRINGING YOUR IDEAS TO LIGHT Cooperate, Collaborate, or Sit by and Watch it Happen: Moving from Mass Deportation to Humane Immigration Policy
31
Braver Angels
32
When You Stop Learning, You Stop Having Fun
32
TABLE OF CONTENTS
9
BANNED BOOKS WEEK 2026
PAGE
Viewing of the film Banned Together
33
Banned Book Reading Circle: An Intergenerational Event
33
Community Silent Reading Groups
33
Protecting the Freedom to Read: A Community Response Panel Discussion
33
Panelists
34
Banned Book Groups
34
OLLI OUT OF TOWN OLLI OUT OF TOWN: IN-PERSON TRAVEL
PAGE
Henry Ford Factory Tour & Museum of American Innovation
35
Little Village & Pewabic Pottery Center
35
Charles H. Wright Museum & the Detroit Opera House
36
A Visit to the Encore Theatre
36
Other: Out of State & International In-Person Travel Opportunities
37
OLLI OUT OF TOWN: VIRTUAL TRAVEL
PAGE
Northern Spain and Southern France
37
1906: The Earthquake That Changed Everything
38
Route 66 at 100 Years Old: An End-to-End Exploration
38
Longwood Gardens: A Longwood Christmas
38
OLLI READS
PAGE
Midnight on the Potomac by Scott Ellsworth
10
TABLE OF CONTENTS
39
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING
PAGE
Antisemitism in Michigan: A Status Report
40-41
OLLI SHARED INTEREST GROUPS (SIGS)
PAGE
American Mah Jongg organized by Liz Needleman
43
The Supreme Court led by Stu Lockman
43
Advances in Health Care and Health Policy with Jeff Barnett and Steve Geiringer
43
The Schmoozery: At Our Age, In This Age led by Hank Greenspan
44
Current Events led by Tom Longworth
44
A Study of Ethics led by Stu Simon
44
A Group for Novel Writers led by Chris Siehl
44
Syd Kaufman Mystery Authors Book Club led by Tim Richards
45
Women Awakening HOPE led by Char Bacon and Bernadette Beach
45
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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STUDY GROUPS STUDY GROUP INDEXES
PAGE
Index: Study Groups in Alphabetical Order
46–47
Index: Study Groups by Day of Week
48–49
ART AND ARCHITECTURE
PAGE
OLLI Painters
51
The Marvels of Pre-historic Art
51
What Makes a Good Photograph?
52
CURRENT EVENTS, LAW, POLICY, AND POLITICS
PAGE
Language and Gender Beyond Bathrooms and Pronouns
52
Discussion of Current Events via Recent Podcasts
53
Pundits, Polls & Politics! The 2026 Mid-terms! (S)
53
Book bans in prisons: Working toward literacy justice (S)
53
How to Analyze Possible 2026 U.S. Midterm Election Results
54
Michigan Law: What Counts as a Sex Offense may Surprise You (S)
54
A Conversation on The Conversation
54
Current Issues and the Supreme Court: An Update on Recent Decisions
55
The 2026 Election: Preview and Summary (The Public Responds to the Trump Presidency)
55
Climate Chaos & Solutions: Social,Political, & Economic Aspects
55
The Changing United States Role in the World
56
Great Decisions 2026
56
FOREIGN LANGUAGE
PAGE
Chinese 7
57
Chinese 12
57
GROUP FACILITATION How To Lead An OLLI Study Group
12
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
57
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
HISTORY AND CULTURE
PAGE
Healthy Chinese Cooking 1 (S)
58
Healthy Chinese Cooking 2 (S)
58
Fundamentalism and Sectarian Nationalism
58
Lessons from The Great Depression
59
The Formation and Adventure of Islamic Culture
59
Constantinople and Istanbul: A Tale of Two Cities
59
The History of the Atlas: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum and Beyond (S)
60
Your Space Memories: Millions of Years on the Moon
60
Exhibit Tour | Cans, Cars, and Kitchenettes: Changing American Foodways in the 1920s (S)
60
Michigan Mapped: From Your Hand to the Bumper Sticker (S)
61
The Inside Story of the Ted Kaczynski Papers (S)
61
Black Detroit: A History of the Black Men and Women Who Built Detroit
61
The European Genocide: Perpetrators, Resisters, and Rescuers
62
City of Sedition - NYC and the Civil War
62
Ann Arbor’s Smart Walking Tours (Repeat)
62
Sunday Ann Arbor’s Smart Walking Tours (Repeat)
63
Depot Town Walking Tour (S)
63
Michigan Firehouse Museum Tour (S) (Repeat)
64
HOBBIES, GAMES, AND SPORTS
PAGE
Wine 101 (repeat) (S)
64
The Honey Bee Lady (repeat) (S)
64
Murder at the Pizzeria - Detective Game
65
2-Mile Hikes for Health and Wellbeing
65
INVESTING, ECONOMICS, AND FINANCE
PAGE
How to Retire (Part One)
66
Home Improvement Made Simple (S)
66
Personal Finance (S)
66
TABLE OF CONTENTS
13
STUDY GROUPS (CONTINUED) LITERATURE, POETRY, AND DRAMA
PAGE
Charles Baxter’s Essays on Literature
67
William Shakespeare - A Pseudonym?
67
Virgil’s Aeneid
67
An Afternoon with Antigone (S)
68
The Banning of Dystopian Novels: Fahrenheit 451 & Parable of the Sower (S)
68
To Kill a Mockingbird as a Banned Book: Literature, Race, Memory, and Moral Unease (S)
68
Banned Mystery Novels, Social Anxiety and Freedom of Expression (S)
69
Young Adult Banned Books (S)
69
MUSIC, THEATER, AND FILM
PAGE
Beginner Recorder
70
Hayden and Mozart: Beauty and the Best
70
The Chant We LOVE to Sing
70
The Poetry of Song
71
Reclaiming Our Voices: Films about Women Fighting for Justice
71
Music Matters
71
POTPOURRI
PAGE
House Sitting: Travel the World and Your Lodging is Free
72
AYURVEDA - the Science and Knowledge of Life (S)
72
TED Talks
72
Planting New Roots in Ann Arbor
73
RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY, AND SPIRITUALITY
PAGE
Perennial Philosophy Reloaded: A Guide for the Mystically Inclined
73
You’re Not Listening
73
Social Intelligence and Human Relationships
74
Translating the Bible: History and Problems
74
Inquiry as a Spiritual Practice
74
Beginning Meditation
75
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
PAGE
SOCIAL SCIENCE Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging Book Discussion
75
Purpose, and Impact: Why Seniors Should Consider the Peace Corps (S)
76
Purposeful Retirement: Your Next Chapter
76
Thinking Fast and Slow
76
STEM
PAGE
Technology Through the Ages
77
The James Webb Telescope and what it has and may discover
77
Manual Medicine: Hoax, Science-Based, or Other?
77
Ethical Issues With Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) (S)
78
Saving the Monarch Butterfly (repeat) (S)
78
The Science behind the Use and Regulation of Drug Therapy
79
Unpacking the A.I. Headlines
79
WRITING
PAGE
Writers Unlimited
79
Poetry Writing Workshop
80
Writing Our Stories
80
Memoirs and Personal Essays
80
INDEXES AND MORE Community Partners
81
Senior Living Week
85
Ways You Can Support OLLI-UM
82
Osher Online Fall Courses
85
Big Hearts for Seniors
83
Notes
Geriatric Community Programs
84
86-88
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Alfred Gourdji DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES OLLI’s Distinguished Lecture Series has been renamed as the Alfred Gourdji Distinguished Lectures Series in memory of our friend and colleague who was the heart and soul of the series for many years.
The Alfred Gourdji Distinguished Lecture Series features prominent, engaging speakers from “town and gown.” Learn from well-known experts about an array of fascinating topics. Each lecture is followed by a stimulating question-and-answer period. The Series consists of eight lectures, four in the Fall session, and four in the Winter/Spring session. ◆ 2nd Tuesday of every month ◆ 10:00–11:30 am ◆ $15/day pass (members) ◆ $25/day pass (non-members) ◆ $55 for Fall 2026 series All programs will take place at: Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building 4800 E Huron River Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48105 All lectures will also be live streamed through Zoom. We welcome walk-ins at Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building day of the lecture. *The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of OLLI-UM or the University of Michigan
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Regulating Business in America: A Long-Term Perspective Tuesday, 9/15 from 10-11:30am Prof. William James (Jim) Adams In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member Washtenaw Community College | Morris Lawrence BLD. | Towsley Auditorium Since the Civil War, the United States has experienced periodic waves of regulatory and deregulatory fervor. The pro-regulation tendency is associated with the Progressive agendas of the two Roosevelts (Teddy and Franklin), while the anti-regulation tendency is associated with the Supreme Courts of the late-nineteenth and latetwentieth centuries. Drawing on the regulation of business in different types of markets (labor markets, industrial markets, public utilities) and different types of regulatory institution (legislatures, administrative agencies), this lecture will explore the economic and legal ideas, as well as the economic realities, that shaped these turns in American regulatory history. Dr. William James (Jim) Adams is Arthur F. Thurnau Professor Emeritus, Professor Emeritus of Economics, and the former Peterson Professor of Industrial Organization at the University of Michigan. His research has ranged broadly, from public policies toward business in the United States to economic integration in Europe. His
ALFRED GOURDJI DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
monograph, Restructuring the French Economy: Government and the Rise of Market Competition since World War II, has been called “one of the most penetrating [and] comprehensive analyses of French contemporary economic reality.” Adams has advised the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Ambassador to France, and several foreign policy departments of the U.S. government. He is a winner of a Golden Apple, awarded each year by students to the best teacher at the University of Michigan. This lecture is sponsored by Aetna
America’s First Medical Experiments in the Wilds of Northern Michigan: A 19th Century Physician’s 33-Year Study of Digestion via a Fur Trader’s Abdominal Shotgun Wound Tuesday, 10/13 from 10-11:30am Prof. Joel D. Howell In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member Washtenaw Community College | Morris Lawrence BLD. | Towsley Auditorium In 1822 the fur trader Alexis St. Martin suffered a shotgun wound on Mackinaw Island. He was attended by the physician William Beaumont. The blast left a hole in St. Martin’s abdomen, and for the next 33 years Beaumont did experiments through that opening. We will explore their travels together through the wilderness of the early republic, discuss how the experiments led to our current understanding of gastrointestinal physiology, and question the ethics of how Beaumont chose to experiment on St. Martin.
Dr. Joel D. Howell is the Elizabeth Farrand Professor Emeritus in the University of Michigan Departments of Internal Medicine and History. He obtained his MD at the University of Chicago and his PhD in History and Sociology of Science from the University of Pennsylvania. His career has included clinical care and studying medical history, trying to understand why (and when) we came to believe so strongly in the value of science for guiding patient care. Author of many books and articles, Howell’s publications have appeared widely in medical and historical literature. His research has been supported both by federal grants and by foundations. His awards include the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Investigator Award in Health Policy Research and the Burroughs Wellcome Award in the History of Medicine. Prof. Howell is a Master of the American College of Physicians and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. This lecture is sponsored by UM Victors Care
The U.S. Midterm Elections: What Happened Last Week Wednesday, 11/11 from 10-11:30am Prof. Josh Pasek NOTE DATE CHANGE; ONLINE ONLY $15 member | $25 non-member The November 3rd, 2026, U.S. midterm elections at once serve as a test of American democracy, a referendum on the Trump presidency, a decision point for the future of the country, and an opportunity to assess how the parties are jockeying for and perhaps cheating in their desire to lead the nation in very different directions. This talk will examine what we know so far about what happened in 2026 and what those results are likely to portend.
ALFRED GOURDJI DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
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Dr. Josh Pasek is Professor of Communication & Media and Political Science, Research Professor at the Center for Political Studies at I.S.R., and core faculty at the Michigan Institute for Data Science at U. of M. His research explores how social media and psychological processes shape political attitudes, public opinion, and political behaviors. He also studies ways to improve the predictive accuracy of public opinion surveys. Prof. Pasek’s current research explores how political information might influence public opinion and voter decisionmaking and evaluates how use of online social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter might be changing the political information environment. He is the author of two books about American elections, Words that Matter and Democracy Amid Crises. His work has been published in Public Opinion Quarterly, Political Communication, and Political Psychology, among other outlets. This lecture is sponsored by DTE Energy
“Every Person for Themselves?” How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Reshape the American Economy and Impact the Quality of Life Tuesday, 12/8 from 10-11:30am Prof. Jerry Davis In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member Washtenaw Community College | Morris Lawrence BLD. | Towsley Auditorium Every national economy has a distinct character — a mix of laws, norms, and habits that shape which kinds of businesses flourish. America’s tilt is toward markets:
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Outsourcing over in-house production, contractors over employees. AI will amplify these tendencies, using algorithms to set wages, negotiate contracts, and price goods. Left unguided, the result is an atomized economy where everyone fends for themselves, thus negatively impacting the quality of life. But smart public policy can change that. Dr. Jerry Davis is the Gilbert and Ruth Whitaker Professor of Business Administration and Professor of Sociology at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. He has spent his career studying the corporation as a social and economic force — how finance reshaped America, why large corporations are vanishing, and how to tame corporate power. His six books include Managed by the Markets and The Vanishing American Corporation. His current work examines how AI is transforming economic organization. Prof. Davis has received many awards for his research and teaching, including the George R. Terry Book Award for “Outstanding Contribution to the Advancement of Management Knowledge,” the Award for Teaching Excellence, Ross Business School, and Fellow in the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University. This lecture is sponsored by Michigan Medicine-UM-Geriatrics Center The Alfred Gourdji Distinguished Lecture Series was planned by Bernard Banet, Ron Bogdasarian, Ron Frisch, Judy Gourdji, Frances Schultz, Katherine Woo and cochairs Gerald Gardner and Marie Vitale.
ALFRED GOURDJI DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
ALFRED GOURDJI DISTINGUISHED LECTURE SERIES
THURSDAY LECTURES Thoughtful Talks for Curious Minds The views expressed are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of OLLI-UM or the University of Michigan.
Take an in-depth look at four different themed topics during OLLI’s Thursday Lectures: Thoughtful Talks for Curious Minds. The topic areas are Law and Politics, Country, Science and Technology, and Spring Lecture Series. Each topic area consists of 5 lectures with expert speakers who cover a wide range of aspects of the given theme. The new Spring Lecture Series is a non-thematic series of five lectures exploring a variety of topics. Programs are from 10–11:30 a.m. on Thursdays. Each 60-minute lecture is followed by a stimulating 30-minute Q&A.
THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS: PROCESS, POLICY AND CONSEQUENCES
Programs take place in-person at:
September 17- October 15 Join us in the search for the nature, meaning and consequences of the 2026 U.S. midterm elections across the nation and in Michigan. Learn about the historical patterns of midterm election results and how 2026 may or may not fit with them. Discover insights into the role consumption of information on social media impacts the perceptions and behaviors of voters in U.S. elections. Assess how the public perceptions of the policies adopted in the previous two years of a presidency impacts election outcomes. In turn, consider how to think about the consequences for Congress and the President in public policymaking after the 2026 midterms. A 2026 Midterm Elections Contest will be held this fall. Further details to follow.
Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building Towsley Auditorium 4800 E Huron River Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48105
This lecture series was planned by Richard Barron, Ron Bogdasarian, Donna Clack, Jeff Gaynor, Larry Imerman, Jerry Newman and Craig Ramsay, Chair
◆ 10:00–11:30 am ◆ $15/day pass (members) ◆ $25 day pass (non-members) ◆ $70 for the entire 5-week series
All lectures will also be live streamed through Zoom. We welcome walk-ins at Washtenaw Community College’s Morris Lawrence Building Day of the lecture.
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THURSDAY LECTURES: Thoughtful Talks for Curious Minds
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
How to Think About Midterm Elections Like an Expert Thursday, 9/17 from 10-11:30am Dr. Eric Gonzalez Juenke In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member We will introduce the midterms as a crucial U.S. election institution that provides a check on power. We will look at how these elections can alter the direction and makeup of the federal and state governments. We will discuss what polls, campaigns and other information can tell us about what will happen on Election Day. We will discuss how different voting blocs may affect the election results, both in terms of turnout and vote choice. Dr. Eric Gonzalez Juenke is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at Michigan State University. He specializes in racial and ethnic politics, U.S. federal, state, and local elections, legislative representation, and immigration politics. His recent book The Presidency and Immigration Policy: Rhetoric and Reality examines how U.S. Presidents talk about immigration. His current research focuses on the election of racial and ethnic minority candidates to state legislative office in the United States. The Impact of Social Media on U.S. Elections Thursday, 9/24 from 10-11:30am Prof. Yanna Krupnikov In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member This presentation will focus on the role of social media – and other sources – in the
way people understand campaigns and politics. In particular, the presentation will consider why people may turn to social media for information and the role of social media platforms in political expression. Ultimately, the presentation will consider what we gain and what we lose when we rely on social media for political information. Yanna Krupnikov is Professor of Communication and Media at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on political communication and political expression. She is the co-author of books, Independent Politics (2016), The Other Divide (2022) and Partisan Hostility and American Democracy (2024). Her current work focuses on the role of the news in people’s everyday lives. Why Policymaking Success Leads to Electoral Failure Thursday, 10/1 from 10-11:30am Matt Grossmann In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member Are policymakers rewarded in elections when they succeed in moving public policy in their ideological direction? Or do they face a thermostatic backlash, as citizens judge their policy moves as too hot or too cold? My analysis of Congressional election outcomes since 1948 adds information on Congressional policy actions to traditional election models emphasizing the surge and decline of presidential support and referendums based on presidential approval and the economy. I find that the electorate reacts against the ideological direction of policy, voting against parties
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that pushes policy further to the left or to the right in both midterm and presidential years. Even after accounting for policy and traditional explanations, however, there remains a large midterm penalty for the president’s party. Matt Grossmann is Director of the Institute for Public Policy and Social Research and Professor of Political Science at Michigan State University. He also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Niskanen Center and host of the Science of Politics podcast. He is an author of The Not-So-Special Interests, Artists of the Possible, Asymmetric Politics (with David Hopkins), Red State Blues, How Social Science Got Better, and Polarized by Degrees (also with David). He is co-owner of Hooked (a bookstore/cafe). His forthcoming book is Policymaking for Realists. This lecture is sponsored by United Health Care
Presidential Power and Democratic Resilience: Institutional Change and the 2026 Midterms Thursday, 10/8 from 10-11:30am Dr. Mitchel A. Sollenberger In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member Dr. Sollenberger examines how the expansion of presidential power is shaping American politics in ways that are increasingly visible in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections. Focusing on key governing norms, he looks at how changes in government institutions, law enforcement, media, and election rules affect what citizens see, believe, and
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ultimately how they vote. The lecture considers what these developments mean for the role of midterm elections as a check on presidential power in contemporary American democracy. Dr. Mitchel A. Sollenberger is a Professor of political science at the University of Michigan–Dearborn and a former analyst at the Congressional Research Service. His research centers on presidential power, constitutional law, and executive authority. He is the author or coauthor of several books, including The President Shall Nominate, Executive Privilege, and The Unitary Executive Theory, as well as numerous scholarly articles examining the modern presidency and separation of powers. The 2026 Midterms: What the Data Tells Us Thursday, 10/15 from 10-11:30am Professor David Dulio In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-members Dulio will examine the most recent data about what to expect in the 2026 election cycle. He will also examine the major races in Michigan including the U.S. Senate contest and the race for governor. Professor David Dulio is a Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Civic Engagement at Oakland University. He teaches courses on campaigns and elections, Congress, political parties, and interest groups. Dulio
THURSDAY LECTURES: Thoughtful Talks for Curious Minds
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
has published sixteen books, with two of his most recent being Congress and Religion: The Intersection of Faith and Politics and Campaigns and Elections American Style: The Changing Landscape of Political Campaigns, and has written extensively on U.S. elections, campaign finance, and political consultants. He also served as an APSA Congressional Fellow in the U.S. House.
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE ARCTIC—AND WHY SHOULD WE CARE?
Although it may seem as though the Arctic has just entered the collective consciousness with renewed American interest in Greenland, the region has long been of importance for climate scientists, military planners, and naturally individuals living in the Arctic region itself. This presentation will provide an overview of the region’s importance, stretching from Alaska, to Europe, to Russia – showing how changes in European geopolitics and security have direct implications for the future of the region.
October 22 - November 19 This series invites you to explore a region in rapid transition, where geopolitics, economic opportunity, and environmental challenges converge. Leading experts will examine the history, regional power dynamics, development in North America, Europe and Russia, and the profound local and global impacts of climate change on human, wildlife and plant ecosystems. Together, these perspectives offer a deeper understanding of why the Arctic matters— not only to those who live there, but to the future of the global community.
Dr. Gabriella Gricius is an Associate Professor of Strategy at the Norwegian Military Academy and a Fellow with the North American and Arctic Defense and Security Network (NAADSN). She is also a Senior Fellow at the Arctic Institute. She is currently working on a project covering Nordic security community formation and hybrid threats in the European Arctic region.
This lecture series was planned by Larry Imerman, Camille Orso, Anne Preston and co-chairs Frances Schultz and Katherine Woo.
Thursday, 10/29 from 10-11:30am Dr. John McCannon Speaker will be presenting live on Zoom $15 member | $25 non-member
The Arctic Region in the Context of European Geopolitics and Security Thursday, 10/22 from 10-11:30am Dr. Gabriella Gricius Speaker will be presenting live on Zoom $15 member | $25 non-member
Four Ages of the North: The Broad Contours of Arctic History
Often conceived of by outsiders as primordial and timeless, the Arctic in fact moves through history like any other region on earth. This presentation will examine key themes in Arctic history—both human and environmental—tracing change and continuity over four broad time periods: indigenous, colonial, industrial, and contemporary.
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Dr. John McCannon is a historian of Russia and the polar regions. He was educated at Yale University (BA) and the University of Chicago (MA/PhD). He taught history for 30 years, most recently at the University of Saskatchewan and Southern New Hampshire University. His publications include Red Arctic (1998); A History of the Arctic (2012); and Nicholas Roerich: The Artist Who Would Be King (2022). He currently works as a guide and lecturer for Viking Cruises.
Dr. Jennifer Spence is Director of Harvard’s Arctic Initiative at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. A specialist in Arctic governance and public policy, her work focuses on sustainable development, international cooperation, and the challenges facing Northern communities. She previously served as Executive Secretary of the Arctic Council’s Sustainable Development Working Group and has held senior roles with the Government of Canada.
The North American Arctic: Myths and Realities
Environmental Changes in the Arctic: Local and Global Impacts
Thursday, 11/5 from 10-11:30am Dr. Jennifer Spence Speaker will be presenting live on Zoom $15 member | $25 non-member The North American Arctic — spanning Alaska, Northern Canada, and Greenland — is often portrayed through simplified narratives: a frozen wilderness, a geopolitical battleground, or a region of untapped opportunity. The realities are far more complex. This talk explores common myths, examining how climate change, Indigenous leadership, geopolitics, science, and economic pressures are reshaping the region. Drawing on current events and policy experience, the presentation offers a more grounded understanding of a rapidly changing Arctic.
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Thursday, 11/12 from 10-11:30am Professor George Kling Speaker will be presenting in-person at WCC In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member Environmental changes are occurring rapidly throughout the Arctic region, including melting sea ice and glaciers, rising temperatures, loss of snow cover and absorption of solar heat, thawing permafrost and the release of greenhouse gases, and increases in severity of wildfires, precipitation, and storms. These changes and their interactions are disrupting the function of ecosystems as well as the livelihoods and cultures of resident populations. Additionally, the changes are now having impacts outside the Arctic and are altering global weather patterns and amplifying global warming.
THURSDAY LECTURES: Thoughtful Talks for Curious Minds
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Professor George Kling is a Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Michigan. A limnologist (the study of lakes) and Arctic researcher, he primarily studies ecosystem ecology and how water, nutrients, and greenhouse gases are transferred between land, surface waters, and the atmosphere. Professor Kling is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and has received numerous awards for his research on the impact of climate change on aquatic ecosystems from the Arctic to the tropics. Russian Arctic Policy, Security Strategy and International Cooperation Thursday, 11/19 from 10-11:30am Pavel Devyatkin Speaker will be presenting live on Zoom $15 member | $25 non-member What are Russia’s policy objectives in Arctic security, governance and international cooperation? How does Moscow perceive the current situation of ‘low engagement’ with the West in the Arctic, the volatility around President Trump’s rhetoric on Greenland, and the Russia-China relationship in the region? Pavel Devyatkin, a nonresident fellow of both the Quincy Institute in Washington, D.C. and The Arctic Institute, has published Arctic militarization, nuclear weapons and arms control, great power competition
and regional cooperation. His writing has been published by the U.S. Department of Defense, Strategic Analysis, Polar Journal, Italian Institute for International Political Studies, and other outlets. He provides consultations to academic institutions, diplomats and businesses on Arctic affairs. A graduate of the London School of Economics and University College London, Pavel is an American of Russian ancestry.
ARCTIC BUFFET LUNCH Nov 19, 2026, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Cost - $20 per person Celebrate the conclusion of the What’s Happening in the Arctic—and Why Should We Care? lecture series on November 19 with a special luncheon in the Pond Room. Savor a menu inspired by Arctic cuisine and traditions, expertly prepared by WCC’s catering staff, and continue the conversation over a memorable meal. ◆ Smoked Salmon Platter - Smoked Salmon with Shallots, Capers, Cucumber, Creme Fraiche, Hard Boiled Eggs served with Crostini ◆ Swedish Meatballs with Mashed Potatoes and Lingonberry Sauce ◆ Garden Salad served with Ranch and Balsamic ◆ Raw Vegetables Platter ◆ Dinner Rolls ◆ Tilslorte Bondepiker - Layers of Strawberry Compote, Biscoff Biscuit Mixture, Whipped Cream Garnished with Sliced Almonds and Fresh sliced Strawberry. ◆ Coffee and Water
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2027 THURSDAY LECTURES Thoughtful Talks for Curious Minds UPCOMING WINTER/SPRING 2027 LECTURE SERIES: The Impact of AI on Society January 28 - February 25 Explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the world around us in OLLI’s engaging five-lecture series, The Impact of AI on Society. From the promise and tradeoffs of massive data centers to AI’s influence on education, mental health, and the economy, expert speakers will bring clarity to today’s most pressing questions. Each lecture will offer practical insights and lively discussion. Join us in person or on Zoom for a thought-provoking journey into our AI-driven future. *NEW* Spring Lecture Series March 11 - April 8 Starting in the spring of 2027 OLLI will introduce a new approach for the fourth slate of the weekly Thursday lecture series. Rather than presenting five lectures on a united theme, the planning committee will use this series as an opportunity to present five different interesting speakers, address lighter topics, or expand beyond the traditional lecture/Q&A format. We invite you to join us for this novel series.
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March 11: Speaker Robin Brewer is an Assistant Professor in the School of Information at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on building and studying digital systems to better support older adults (ages 65+), disabled people (e.g., Blind, low vision, cognitive disability), and caregivers. Much of her current work focuses on designing conversational, voice, and AI-powered technologies for expression, search, and care with emphasis on their use by older people. April 1: Speaker Aaron Ahuvia, Ph.D., is the Richard E. Czarnecki Endowed Collegiate Professor of Marketing at the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business. Dr. Ahuvia is the world’s leading expert on brand love, a topic he pioneered and has worked on since 1990. He will speak about the nature of contemporary consumer culture with a special focus on how people can build successful lives within this environment. Other dates: 3/18, 3/25 & 4/8 Look for more information in the Winter/ Spring 2027 Catalog The new Spring Lecture Series is sponsored by the University of Michigan Alumni Association
THURSDAY LECTURES 2027: Thoughtful Talks for Curious Minds
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
CONVERSATIONS AMERICA AT 250: WILL THE EXPERIMENT LAST? “CONVERSATIONS” provides OLLIUM members with a reprieve from digital devices and the outside world, offering opportunities to explore edgy and occasionally controversial topics that broaden our horizons and deepen our understanding. We’ll interview distinguished faculty members who are captivating and sometimes controversial. They are all helping shape the future through their interaction with students, our future leaders. The interview will be one hour long with 30 minutes for audience Q & A. ◆ 10:00 – 11:30 am ◆ $15 Member ◆ $25 Non-Member Programs take place in-person only at: Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building Pond Room 4800 E Huron River Dr. Ann Arbor, MI 48105
In 1787, James Madison confronted a question that still haunts us: Can a republic survive itself? Two hundred and fifty years later, with money flooding politics and democratic institutions straining under pressures the founders both anticipated and feared, that question feels more urgent than ever. America at 250: Will the Experiment Last? is a series of conversations with University of Michigan scholars who have spent their careers examining democracy not as an ideal, but as a living, fragile, and contested experiment. The founders warned us. We’re still deciding whether we listened. The Pursuit of Happiness Tuesday, 9/22 from 10-11:30am In-person Only $15 member | $25 non-member John Locke wrote that people possess the rights of life, liberty, and property. Jefferson took that idea and changed a single word. In the Declaration of Independence, property became the pursuit of happiness, a deliberate shift meant to protect people from arbitrary domination, not guarantee personal success. Elizabeth Anderson applies that principle to the modern workplace. A boss who controls your speech, movement, and livelihood without accountability exercises the same kind of unchecked authority Jefferson opposed. Anderson isn’t putting words in his mouth; CONVERSATIONS
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she’s carrying his argument to its logical conclusion. Elizabeth Anderson, Ph.D., is a MacArthur Fellow, Fellow of the British Academy, and John Dewey Distinguished University Professor of Philosophy and Women’s Studies at the University of Michigan. One of America’s leading public philosophers, she has spent four decades examining equality, democracy, workplace power, and the conditions necessary for human flourishing. Her work explores the enduring gap between America’s democratic ideals and lived reality. The Founders Warning: Did They Predict a Crisis? Tuesday, 10/20 from 10-11:30am In-person Only $15 member | $25 non-member James Madison famously observed, “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.” His point was not cynicism, but a clear-eyed understanding of power, human nature, and the institutions required to preserve a republic. Two hundred and fifty years later, democratic institutions face mounting pressures that the Founders anticipated and sought to constrain. This conversation examines whether the challenges confronting American democracy today reflect the very vulnerabilities Madison warned could threaten the survival of self-government. Don Herzog, Ph.D., is the Edson R. Sunderland Professor of Law and Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan.
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A graduate of Cornell University and Harvard University, he has spent more than four decades studying the foundations of democratic government, political authority, and constitutional order. An awardwinning teacher and distinguished scholar, Herzog is the author of influential works on sovereignty, legitimacy, and republican government. His scholarship explores the enduring challenges the Founders recognized in preserving democratic selfgovernment. Democracy in the Age of Algorithms Tuesday, 11/17 from 10-11:30am In-person Only $15 member | $25 non-member Ben Green’s work sits at the intersection of technology, ethics, and democratic governance. As a scholar of government algorithms, he asks a deceptively simple question: when machines make decisions that affect people’s lives — in courtrooms, in city halls, in public institutions — who is actually in control? His research examines algorithmic fairness, the limits of human oversight, and what it means to regulate artificial intelligence in a democracy. Ben Green, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the School of Information and the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan and a Faculty Associate at Harvard University’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society. Trained as an applied mathematician, his research examines how algorithms and data-driven systems shape democratic institutions and public life. He is the author of The Smart Enough City, and his forthcoming MIT Press book, Algorithmic Realism, arrives this fall.
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
EVENINGS WITH OLLI Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) to the Rescue
Evenings with OLLI offers fascinating Wednesday evening programs. Attending Evenings with OLLI is a perfect way for preretirement friends or new folks to get to know OLLI, including meeting current OLLI members. As always, the first OLLI program is free to any non-member. These presentations are in-person only, with light refreshments and snacks provided prior to each program. Free parking available. ◆ Refreshments and Socializing: 5:30-6pm ◆ Program: 6-7pm ◆ Q&A: 7-7:30pm ◆ $15 Member ◆ $25 Non-Member Programs take place in-person at: Kellogg Eye Center Auditorium, 1000 Wall St., Ann Arbor, MI 48105.
Wednesday, September 16 Speaker: AAFD Chief Mike Kennedy 5:30-6pm - Refreshments and Socializing 6-7pm - Program, 7-7:30pm - Q&A $15 Members | $25 Non-Members Chief Mike Kennedy will provide an overview of the AAFD’s operations, capabilities, and service model. With increased density and vertical growth in our
community. As buildings grow taller and more complex, emergency response requires specialized training, equipment, and coordination. Chief Kennedy will discuss how these changes impact response times, access, fire suppression tactics, and life safety systems, as well as the importance of prevention, code compliance, and strategic planning to ensure we continue to deliver effective, reliable emergency services. AAFD Chief Mike Kennedy has 32 years of experience in the fire service and has been with the City of Ann Arbor since December 2017. He is a Center for Public Safety Excellence Chief Officer and graduate of Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security. EVENINGS WITH OLLI
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When Driving Changes: How Automation Keeps People Moving Wednesday, October 21 Speakers: Dr. Renée St. Louis & Dr. Arpan Kusari 5:30-6pm - Refreshments and Socializing 6-7pm - Program 7-7:30pm - Q&A $15 Members | $25 Non-Members How does our driving change as we age and how can automation benefit us? This presentation examines how technology, particularly advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and automated functions, can serve as a tool to support safe mobility in later life. We critically look at technologies and assess how they benefit drivers. Results highlight high availability of ADAS among older drivers but also gaps in training and understanding that may limit safety benefits. Dr. Renée St. Louis is the Head of UMTRI’s Behavioral Sciences Group, studying social and behavioral factors shaping transportation safety and mobility across the lifespan. She leads research with diverse participants and has co-authored a book on older adult mobility. Dr. Arpan Kusari is an UMTRI research faculty focused on robust challenges in vehicle automation. He partners with federal agencies and industry to assess sensing and perception, earning AAAI-2026 Best Poster among other awards.
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An Evening with Professor Dennis Wilson and the U-M Jazz Trombone Ensemble Wednesday, November 18 Speaker: Associate Professor, Dennis Wilson 5:30-6pm - Refreshments and Socializing 6-7pm - Program 7-7:30pm - Q&A $15 Members | $25 Non-Members Join acclaimed trombonist and educator Dennis Wilson of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, and his students, for an engaging evening. Wilson will reflect on his remarkable career, including years performing with the Count Basie Orchestra, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, and other big bands. He will share stories and insights from a lifetime in jazz, highlighted by a live trombone performance from members of the U-M Jazz Trombone Ensemble.
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
The PitchLine Bringing Your Unique Ideas to Light
Four exciting PitchLine-originated offerings are available for Fall 2026! The PitchLine offers OLLI members the potential to develop their unique programming ideas. While working with PitchLine guidance, your idea might become a single event, a series, a collaboration with community resources or an addition to a long-standing OLLI program. Examples of ideas brought to the PitchLine and developed in the last year include: ◆ A single event: Kaleidoscope of Music concert: Kerrytown Concert House ◆ A series: Gaining Control of the Dying Process ◆ A collaboration with Community Resources: Poetry Between Us – An Intergenerational Event: Ann Arbor’s Neutral Zone ◆ Development of an idea for transferring to Study Groups: Beginner Recorder Collaborate with the PitchLine to bring your own innovative idea to OLLI-UM! ◆ Send your idea to OLLI’s PitchLine at ollipitchline@umich.edu. ◆ Type “I have an idea” as the subject. ◆ Pitch your idea in the message section with 50 words or less. ◆ Include your name and contact info. ◆ Within three business days, a PitchLine volunteer guide will call you to discuss your idea and explore practical ways to bring it to fruition. Your volunteer guide will remain available as an ongoing resource throughout the development of your idea.
Cooperate, Collaborate, or Sit by and Watch it Happen: Moving from Mass Deportation to Humane Immigration Policy Friday, 9/11 from 10-11:30am In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member Washtenaw Community College | Morris Lawrence BLD. | Towsley Auditorium In collaboration with the Community Engagement Committee On the 25th anniversary of 9/11, I will share stories of my time documenting the harms of deportation on communities throughout the US. I will consider how events throughout U.S. history—including the attacks of 9/11—have shaped immigration policy and discuss the lessons in resiliency and organizing that immigrant communities have given to us. I will end by reflecting on how we can collectively develop a better, more humane immigration system. Dr. Lopez is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and author of Raiding the Heartland: An American Story of Deportation and Resistance, a follow-up to his awardwinning first book, Separated. In addition to his research on the health impacts of deportation, Dr. Lopez contributes to public discussions on deportation, diversity, and Latino culture in venues such as the Washington Post, CNN, TIME, and MSNBC. He is on the Boards of Health in Partnership and The Latino Newsletter.
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Braver Angels Monday, 10/12 from 10-11:30am In-person Only | $15 members Washtenaw Community College | Morris Lawrence BLD. | Room ML 111 Our country is more divided than ever, with too many of us isolated from those who hold different views. This division damages our communities, disrupts our families, and stops us from working together for the common good. We’re guided by the rule that red and blue leaders are equally represented at every level of organizational guidance. We inspire and equip Americans to practice courageous citizenship across political differences through skill-building, convening, and collaborative action. Emily Twanmo joined Braver Angels in 2023 after her book club read about a sociologist’s research study. Emily serves as co-chairperson of the Alliance of Washtenaw County, the first official Braver Angels Alliance in Michigan. Emily is a qualified moderator for Braver Angels workshops. She has over 20 years of experience leading meetings, facilitating discussions, and public speaking, as well as financial management, policy development, and team building. Dina Kurz joined Braver Angels in 2025 to learn about the motivations and stories of others who think and believe differently than her circle of friends and colleagues. Over the course of her career, she has partnered at the local, state, and national level with governmental and community-based
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organizations to strengthen the skills of those who work to promote and protect the quality of life in communities.
A Rocket Scientist Says, When You Stop Learning, You Stop Having Fun Wednesday, 10/21 from 1-2:30pm In-person and Online $15 member | $25 non-member Washtenaw Community College | Morris Lawrence BLD. | Towsley Auditorium Dr. Clark has a lot of formal education. But her real education took place through her willingness to jump into activities and jobs for which she wasn’t sure she was qualified. As a NASA Scientist, she kept waiting for someone to say, “The jig is up; we have figured out that you have no idea what you are doing. Get out!” She shares stories of her adventures, such as launching science experiments on the space shuttle and landing an F-18 on an aircraft carrier. Dr. Kathryn Clark is deeply passionate about space and education. She earned five advanced degrees from UM and recently retired from UM’s Aerospace Engineering department. Her work has focused on the health, safety, and efficiency of crews on long-duration space missions. As a former International Space Station Senior Scientist, she coordinated scientists from 16 countries. She later served as Chief Scientist for Human Spaceflight, helping plan missions to Mars and using the ISS to address the physiological challenges of long-term spaceflight.
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Banned Book Reading Circle: An Intergenerational Event Wednesday, 10/7 from 3-5pm In-person at Neutral Zone, 310 E. Washington St., Ann Arbor, 48104 $15 Members Only
BANNED BOOKS WEEK 2026 The PitchLine Project’s schedule of events for Banned Books Week has been developed in support of the American Library Association’s annual October focus on banned books. Our intention is to offer OLLI members and others various opportunities to consider together our nation’s guarantee of free speech and free press. We hope you find an event that interests you, is accessible for you and expands your knowledge of banned books themselves and the history and status of banning books in the United States.
Viewing of the film Banned Together Friday, 10/2 from 10-11:30am In-person Only Free for members | $10 non-members Washtenaw Community College | Morris Lawrence BLD. | Towsley Auditorium “Banned Together is a must-watch film. At once inspiring, illuminating, enraging, and terrifying, the film captures the true threats of book banning and the power of young people and authors in fighting for the freedom to read.” -Jonathan Friedman, PEN America. Sponsored by the OLLI Reads Committee
Join us for a book discussion with teens at the Neutral Zone (NZ), a youth-driven community in downtown Ann Arbor (see neutral-zone.org). OLLI and NZ members will read and discuss Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Lillian Li, a young adult coming-of-age novel set in 1950s San Francisco’s Chinatown. The novel follows 17-year-old Lily Hu as she comes to understand her attraction to women, a taboo for the times and culture, and learns of the dangers her community faces during McCarthyism. The novel, which won the National Book Award, has appeared on banned and challenged books lists primarily for its honest portrayal of a young woman’s queer identity. Community Silent Reading Groups Thursday, 10/8 from 2-4pm | Free AADL Pittsfield Branch, Community Room Additional silent reading groups are being planned for 10/8 at locations in and around Ann Arbor. Specific details will be sent to members via email early Fall 2026. Protecting the Freedom to Read: A Community Response Panel Discussion Friday, 10/9 from 10-11:30am In-person Only $15 members | $25 non-members Washtenaw Community College | Morris Lawrence BLD. | Towsley Auditorium
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The final offering for OLLI’s programing in support of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Banned Books Week is a panel discussion on the ALA’s broad topic for the year “Let Books Be: Protect the Freedom to Read.” A panel representing the community’s school and public libraries and an independent bookstore will address this topic. Panelists: Juli Darling is the author of several books including Little Hackers and SocialEmotional Learning Using Makerspaces and Passion Projects. She’s spent more than 20 years working in bookstores and both public and school libraries. Lucy Lawrence is the Events & Communications Coordinator at Serendipity Books in Chelsea, Michigan. Lucy is originally from Florida and recently earned her MSW at the University of Michigan with a concentration in policy and political social work. She contributes to the selection of books available for purchase and to the bookstore’s full schedule of community events for all ages. Jaclyn Martin is a middle school librarian in the Troy School District and Intellectual Freedom Chair for the Michigan Association of School Librarians. She recently finished the Law for Librarians training offered through the American Library Association. Julianne Smith has been a librarian for over 30 years and is currently the Assistant Director of the Ypsilanti Library where her responsibilities include chairing the Request for Reconsideration Committee (material challenges) and organizing the annual Banned Books Week exhibit at YDLWhittaker. 34
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The discussion will be moderated by Marjorie Oliver, a member of the Banned Books Week Committee, Chair of OLLI Reads, and former community college composition and literature faculty member. In collaboration with the OLLI Reads Committee
Banned Book Study Groups: ◆ Banned dystopian novels: Fahrenheit 451 & Parable of the Sower (10/5) ◆ Banned books in prisons: Working toward literacy justice (10/6) ◆ Banned books for race, memory, and moral unease: To Kill a Mockingbird (10/14) ◆ Banned mystery novels for social anxiety and freedom of expression Body of Evidence and Looking for Alaska (10/22) ◆ Banned books for young adults: The Perks of Being a Wallflower, All Boys Aren’t Blue and New Kid (10/26)
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
OLLI OUT OF TOWN IN-PERSON TRAVEL: Spend a day or even more with OLLI friends at noted sites
around Michigan, and even further afield to include both international & domestic travel. Trips vary in cost, duration and times. Henry Ford Factory Tour & Museum of American Innovation Wednesday, September 30th 8:00 am Bus boarding begins 8:30 am Bus departs Meijer Lot 4:00 pm Bus returns Meijer Lot (time approximate) Cost: $95.00 Member / $115.00 Nonmember Please note: Payment is due in full upon registration, but no later than Wednesday, September 9th. Price includes factory tour, museum entrance fee, motor coach transportation & the gratuity for our driver. Lunch is on your own while at museum. No refunds after September 9th. Location: Meet at Meijer Parking Lot, 3825 Carpenter Rd., Ypsilanti, MI 48197 Discover how American manufacturing made history at the Henry Ford Factory Tour and Museum. We begin with the fivepart multisensory experience at the Ford
Rouge Factory. The observation deck has views of the Rouge complex, and the F-150 assembly can be seen from an elevated walkway. After the tour, we travel to the Henry Ford Museum for lunch ‘on your own’ from the Plum Market Kitchen or Lamy’s Diner. In the afternoon, explore the Museum ‘at your own pace’ and visit any of the many highlighted collections. This trip is sponsored by Claire Turcotte.
Little Village & Pewabic Pottery Center Wednesday, October 28th 9:00 am Bus boarding begins 9:30 am Bus departs Meijer Lot 4:30 pm Bus returns Meijer Lot (time approximate) Cost: $143 Member / $163 Nonmember Please note: Payment is due in full at registration, but no later than Friday, September 25th. Price includes art center entrance, the Pewabic workshop, lunch, motorcoach transportation, & gratuity for driver. No refunds after September 28th. Location: Meet at Meijer Parking Lot, 3825 Carpenter Rd., Ypsilanti Little Village is a vibrant new art campus in Detroit. The heart of Little Village is ‘the Shepherd’, a 110-year-old Romanesque-
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style church. We start with a tour of the Shepherd, now an art center. The church, redesigned by Peterson Rich Office, includes gallery spaces, and a public library curated by Asmaa Walton of Black Art Library. Located nearby is Pewabic Pottery, a century-old cultural anchor. Pewabic is an active working pottery, architectural tile studio, and ceramic arts education center. After lunch at the Marrow restaurant, OLLI members will take advantage of a tile workshop, tour & shopping.
Location: Meet at Meijer Parking Lot, 3825 Carpenter Rd., Ypsilanti Join us for a guided cultural & educational experience at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. ‘The Wright’ is the home of the Tuskegee Airmen, and select exhibitions including, ‘And Still We Rise’. We’ll dine at the Detroit Beer Company near the Detroit Opera House. The Opera House opened in 1922, reopened in 1988 after a fire. Refurbished, it hosts opera, dance, and a variety of musical & comedy productions. Our afternoon will be spent at the Detroit Opera House for a docent-led ‘Sip and Stroll’. We’ll embark on a tour of the front and back of house spaces including the Skydeck with beautiful views of Detroit. Once you have your souvenir gift, we will depart for Ann Arbor. A Visit to the Encore Theatre
Charles H. Wright Museum & the Detroit Opera House Thursday, November 19 8:15 am Bus boarding begins 8:45 am Bus departs Meijer Lot 4:30 pm Bus returns Meijer Lot (time approximate) Cost: $155 Member / $175 Nonmember th
Please note: Payment is due in full upon registration, but no later than Friday, October 16th. Price includes museum docentled tour, lunch, opera house sip & stroll, motorcoach transportation, and gratuity for driver. No refunds after October 16th.
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OLLI OUT OF TOWN
Thursday, December 10th 12:00 pm Lunch at Aubree’s 2:00 pm Matinee Begins Cost: $70.00 Member / $90 Non-member Please note: Payment is due in full upon registration, but no later than Friday, November 6th. No refunds within 30 days of theater date. Price includes a buffet lunch and theater admission. Location: Meet at Aubree’s Pizzeria & Grill, 8031 Main Street, Dexter, MI. Ample parking behind restaurant or at Encore Theatre lot. Encore Theatre located at 7714 Ann Arbor St., Dexter. We begin with lunch with our OLLI friends at Aubree’s Pizzeria & Grill in Dexter enjoying good conversation and food. After
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
lunch, we will walk a short distance to the Encore Theatre for a matinee performance of the Christmas classic musical, ‘The Holiday Inn.’ This updated off Broadway production is based on the 1942 film and features Irving Berlin’s music and lyrics featuring classic songs like “White Christmas,” “Cheek to Cheek,” and “Steppin’ Out with My Baby”. Other: Out of State & International In-Person Travel Opportunities Three Michigan OLLIs (University of Michigan, Western Michigan University, and Aquinas College) have again partnered with Premier World Discovery Travel to bring exciting travel opportunities for OLLI members. Contact Premier at bookings@ pwd.travel or 877-953-8687 for details on the following 2027 trips: ◆ Holland Windmills, Waterways & Tulips River Cruise – April 22 (9 days) ◆ Majestic Canadian Rockies August 8 (6 days) ◆ Normandy, Paris & The Seine River Cruise October 12 (9 days)
VIRTUAL TRAVEL:
Spend an educational 60 to 90 minutes online as you visit varied geographic locations. Your virtual tour presentation will be followed by Q&A. This programming is intended to foster interest in travel and venturing outside of Michigan to varied geographic locations & points of interest. The member cost for one event is $20, or $70 for all four virtual events.
Northern Spain and Southern France Friday, September 18th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm $20 Member / $25 Nonmember / Online Our presenter, George Jabol, shares his experience on a 13-day tour through northern Spain and southern France. Beginning in Barcelona, the tour focused on the architecture of Antoni Gaudi, including Park Guell and the masterpiece, the La Sagrada Familia church. At Figueres, we visited the Salvador Dali TheatreMuseum, which showcases his Surrealist art. Our tour group proceeded into southern France for a walking tour of one of the world’s wine capitals, the cosmopolitan city of Bordeaux. A highlight of this trip was our visit to architect Frank O. Gehry’s gleaming Guggenheim Museum in the Basque city of Bilbao. In Madrid, we toured the city and visited the Prado Museum. We concluded our journey exploring the hilltop city of Toledo, culminating with a visit to its renowned El Greco painting at the St. Tome Church.
OLLI OUT OF TOWN
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1906: The Earthquake That Changed Everything Friday, October 16th, 2:00 – 3:30 pm $20 Member / $25 Nonmember / Online Some novels simply report history. Some novels change history, as did James Dalessandro’s ‘1906: A Novel.’ Our presenter is San Franscisco’s bestselling author and film maker James Dalessandro. His publication of the 1906 historical event changed the belief that the Army maintained order during the 3 days of fires that followed the San Francisco earthquake and that the destruction was unavoidable. In 2005, city officials passed his resolution to dismiss the 100-year-old death count of 478 replacing the death count to more than 3,000 – forever changing history about this San Francisco tragic event. Interested in California geography and history, then this is a lecture not to be missed! Route 66 at 100 Years Old: An End-to-End Exploration Friday, November 6th, 2:00 – 3:30 pm $20 Member / $25 Nonmember / Online Commissioned November 11, 1926, Route 66 stretched 2,448 miles, acting as a crucial link for transportation and economic growth. Later becoming a cultural icon of American travel and is often referenced as the ‘Mother Road’. This premier diagonal highway celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. John Deikis, a favorite OLLI presenter and motorcyclist, returns to share another of his many travel adventures. Traveling by motorcycle, John shares the many quirky roadside attractions and historic sites he explored on Route 66 between downtown Chicago to the Santa Monica pier in California.
38
OLLI OUT OF TOWN
John caught the travel bug in the 1960’s. He spent much of his youth & early adulthood exploring the world to include Europe, South & North America, and Africa. When he retired, he returned to his love of travel. His preferred mode now is by motorcycle and John has ridden in every state and Canadian province, most European countries, Latin America and Egypt. Longwood Gardens: A Longwood Christmas Friday, December 4th, 2:00 – 3:30 pm $20 Member / $25 Nonmember / Online Back by popular request, OLLI will again explore the Longwood Gardens holiday spectacular that transforms the gardens into a festive wonderland. Our virtual stroll will be led by Jim Sutton, Associate Director of Display Design. Jim will guide our group through many decorated spaces (inside and outside) in their holiday display of thousands of poinsettias, festive flora, twinkling lights and decorated trees. Timothy Gould, Director of Continuing Education, Longwood Gardens, will facilitate our discussion and Q&A. A living and expanding expression of the 1920’s founder, Pierre S. duPont, Longwood Gardens is a public garden that consists of more than 1,100 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows in the Brandywine Creek Valley in Kennett Square about an hour west of Philadelphia. It is one of the premier horticultural display gardens and fountains in the United States welcoming visitors year-round to enjoy native and exotic plants and horticulture (both indoor and outdoor), events and performances, seasonal and themed attractions, as well as educational lectures, courses, and workshops.
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
OLLI READS Midnight on the Potomac by Scott Ellsworth Friday, 11/6 from 1011:30am Members Only | $15 Washtenaw Community College | Morris Lawrence BLD. | Pond Room OLLI Reads is once again delighted to present Scott Ellsworth to discuss his newest book. Deeply researched yet captivatingly written, Midnight on the Potomac is a new kind of book about the Civil War. It is a riveting saga of the war’s last year and a revealing new account of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Ellsworth re-examines that final year of the Civil War, arguing the Lincoln assassination was part of a larger Confederate plot, not the act of a lone gunman, and he highlights the crucial roles of Black Americans, women (including a journalist from Michigan), and a diverse coalition of Americans in securing the Union’s victory. In describing an age of deep political division worse than our own, Scott Ellsworth’s book is an eloquent and gripping testament to the courage, grit, and greatness of the American people.
Ellsworth was born and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Educated in the Tulsa public schools, he studied history at Reed College, and earned his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from Duke University where he was also a member of the Duke Oral History Program. Formerly a historian with the Smithsonian Institution, he has written about American history for the New York Times, the Washington Post, and others, and he has appeared on National Public Radio, the Today Show, PBS’s The American Experience, the History Channel and in both film and broadcast documentaries. Scott Ellsworth joined University of Michigan’s Department of Afroamerican and African Studies faculty in 2007 and teaches courses on African American history, Southern literature, and crime and social justice in contemporary U.S. society. He has been described as a historian with the soul of a poet, and he is also such a fascinating speaker. Midnight on the Potomac will be on sale at the Fall Open House and again on the day of the event.
OLLI Reads Collaborations: Banned Together, an award winning documentary. See page 33 for events during Banned Books Week
OLLI READS
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Wednesday, October 14, 2026 3-5pm Online Only $15 members | $25 nonmembers Antisemitism in Michigan: A Status Report
PRESENTERS: Judy Cohen Ann Arbor Jewish community member and activist Laura Rosenberg Associate Director – ADL Michigan
Across the United States and throughout Michigan, in communities and on campuses, Jewish people are experiencing a ‘new normal’ of elevated antisemitism. Historically, hatred focusing on the Jewish community spreads throughout society.
Rabbi Davey Rosen Executive Director University of Michigan Hillel
This presentation will define traditional antisemitism and its modern manifestations; the campus situation; and work currently being done to counter these worrisome trends. Participants will learn tangible responses and ways to create allyship as a collective response to this communal threat.
TOPICS:
Elyssa Schmier Regional Director – ADL Michigan
◆ Judy Cohen - eyewitness experience and testimonial ◆ Laura Rosenbeg - What is antisemitism? Traditional tropes and how is it evolving up to the modern age. current Manifestations; online and in the real world; generational divide of who holds antisemitic views. ◆ Rabbi Davey Rosen – The View from Campus ◆ Elyssa Schmier – Michigan specific data and incidents (Temple Israel). The cost to secure the Jewish community. Solutions that work or can be scaled.
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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Elyssa Schmier recently joined the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as the Michigan Regional Director. She is a seasoned professional with a history of advancing justice, equity, and combating hate. Before joining ADL, she served as Vice President of Government Relations and National Budget for MomsRising, a national advocacy organization dedicated to achieving economic security for moms, women, and families. Laura Rosenberg is the ADL Michigan Associate Director. Her focus includes university partnerships to improve campus policies, law enforcement relationships and advocacy to make communities safer and more inclusive. Laura previously taught middle school English for 12 years.
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Judy Cohen has been a community activist and held leadership roles in many organizations in Ann Arbor since 1968. Her two major careers were owning a Kosher catering service after which she was one of this area’s top producing Realtors for almost 20 years. Rabbi Davey Rosen is the Chief Executive Officer of the University of Michigan Hillel. Davey served as Associate Director of U-M Hillel from 2011-2018. He received Rabbinic Ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion and holds a master’s degree in education from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has served as Assistant Director of Camp Ramah New England, Regional Supervisor with Young Judaea, Family Educator at Congregation B’nai Jeshurun in New York, and provided spiritual care as a hospice chaplain.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
41
OLLI SHARED INTEREST GROUPS Shared Interested Groups (SIGs) provide their members with long-term opportunities for pursuing common interests and activities. SIGs foster a sense of community, friendship and enjoyment among its members, while supporting increased skills and knowledge. Group members decide the structure of meetings and activities, which continue through the year. Membership in a Shared Interest Group is ongoing. Members may continue with their group until they decide to leave. If you find a SIG full, please call the office to be placed on a waiting list for openings at 734-998-9351. Have your own idea? We encourage you to start a new Shared Interest Group! Contact Assistant Director Ryan Luttermoser at lutterj@med.mich.edu. Interested in joining a SIG? Please contact the office at 734-998-9351 or olli.info@umich.edu to register.
42
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
American Mah Jongg organized by Liz Needleman Meets every Tuesday, 9:30–11:30am, beginning 9/15 $80 | Turner Senior Resource Center (Lobby) Mah Jongg is a fun, challenging, tile-based game for 3 or 4 players. Popular worldwide, it originated in China and came to the U.S. in the early 20th century. These weekly Mah Jongg sessions will utilize the standards and rules of play for “American” Mah Jongg and the annual card issued by the National Mah Jongg League Inc. Members will be expected to know the rules of the game, possess the current (2026) National Mah Jongg card, and have some experience playing with a group or online. No instruction will be provided. All time will be devoted to play. Game boards are not provided. The Supreme Court led by Stu Lockman Meets 2nd Tuesday of the month, 1–2:30pm, beginning 10/13 $80 | Online only
Please be prepared to lead a discussion at least once per year. Advances in Health Care and Health Policy with Jeff Barnett and Steve Geiringer Meets 1st Wednesday of the month, 1–2:30pm, beginning 10/7 $80 | Online only Health care and health policy are changing rapidly. This SIG has recently considered topical issues including telemedicine, long Covid, the aging brain, chronic pain and addiction, bone health and therapeutic marijuana. Other recent discussions include controversies regarding Medicare Advantage plans, direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising and the use of AI in clinical medicine. Members in this SIG will consider one issue each month with a lecture/discussion led by an outside expert or a SIG member. While medical topics are discussed, you need not be a health practitioner to join and contribute to this SIG.
Most of us have a visceral reaction to Supreme Court decisions that affect us, but few of us take the time to delve into the issues presented and the various views of the Justices. This SIG examines primarily current cases pending or recently decided by the Court, although we have examined such issues as term limits and a comparison to supreme courts of other countries. We seek to gain a better understanding of the issues presented and the different viewpoints on those issues. Non-lawyers are especially welcome.
OLLI SHARED INTEREST GROUPS (SIGS)
43
A Study of Ethics led by Stu Simon Meets the third Wednesday of the month, 1:00 – 3:00pm, beginning 9/16 $80 | Hybrid Location: Turner Senior Resource Center
The Schmoozery: At Our Age, In This Age led by Hank Greenspan Meets every Wednesday 1:00 – 2:00pm, beginning 9/16 $95 | Online only A free-flowing discussion that develops organically. There are no set topics, but we often schmooze about family, work and school memories, family and friends, aging, generations, optimism and pessimism about the future, etc. We avoid cliches and, as comfortable, candidly share our thinking, resources strategies, questions, curiosities. Beyond good talk, many of us have become good friends. We warmly welcome others to join us The Schmoozery began early in the pandemic and has kept going. Current Events led by Tom Longworth Meets every Tuesday, 3:00 – 5:00pm, beginning 9/15 $95 | Online only On a weekly basis, this group will discuss all contemporary events that are of interest, including but not limited to domestic, international, political and academic developments that are of current and historical significance. What is discussed depends on the group’s members. Our conversations are civil, and no topic or perspective is off limits.
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The Ethics SIG has been meeting monthly since 2020. Our discussions, facilitated by SIG members, focus on contemporary issues that pose ethical questions. Research for our topics is drawn primarily from internet-based resources. The SIG members choose future topics by vote. All new members are provided with background material on major ethical theories, as well as guidelines for facilitating discussions. Interested? Contact Stu Simon at stuart341@gmail.com. A Group for Novel Writers led by Chris Siehl Meets every other Friday, 3–5pm, beginning 9/18 $85 | Online only Have you ever thought about writing a novel or novella? Perhaps you’ve even jotted down notes for one. If so, this group may be for you. We are a small group, focused on writing novels. We are different from memoir-writing groups; also, from creative writing groups. Most writers working on novels will benefit from being part of a small writing community, regardless of where they are in the writing process or what genre they prefer. We critique each other’s work in a supportive and constructive manner. The group is kept small, with a limit of eight members.
OLLI SHARED INTEREST GROUPS (SIGS)
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Syd Kaufman Mystery Authors Book Club led by Tim Richards Meets the second Wednesday of the month, 1:00 – 3:00pm, beginning 10/14 $80 | Hybrid Location: Turner Senior Resource Center The Syd Kaufman Mystery Authors Special Interest Group offers those who share an interest in mystery novels an opportunity to explore the work of mystery writers who may be new to them. We select a different mystery author to read and to discuss each month. Our discussions focus on the work of an author, not on a specific mystery novel. Our discussions typically revolve around the selected author’s approach to themes, descriptive detail, character development, plot development and crime solving techniques. While we may disagree in our assessments of authors, our discussions are informative, lively, friendly and often accompanied by laughter.
of resources, guests, texts, videos, movies, local events, exhibits and talks to shape our explorations and active discussions relevant to the group. There will be opportunities for shared leadership from within the group by interested participants. As a cohesive supportive group, we experience increased hopefulness in these challenging times.
Women Awakening HOPE led by Char Bacon and Bernadette Beach (CURRENTLY FULL) Meets 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month, 1–3pm, beginning 9/22 $80 | In-person only Location: University Commons A woman’s group centered on building an accepting community with a shared belief in the universal capacities for compassion, generosity and creativity, as described by Margaret Wheatley in her book Restoring Sanity. We meet twice monthly, striving for regular attendance, using a combination
OLLI SHARED INTEREST GROUPS (SIGS)
45
STUDY GROUPS IN ALPHA ORDER A–E
PAGE
F–O
PAGE
2-Mile Hikes for Health and Wellbeing
65
A Conversation on The Conversation
54
Fundamentalism and Sectarian Nationalism
58
Unpacking the A.I. Headlines
79
Great Decisions 2026
56
An Afternoon with Antigone (S)
68
70
Ann Arbor’s Smart Walking Tours (Repeat)
Hayden and Mozart: Beauty and the Best
62
Healthy Chinese Cooking 1 (S)
58
AYURVEDA - the Science and Knowledge of Life (S)
72
Healthy Chinese Cooking 2 (S)
58
Home Improvement Made Simple (S)
66
Banned Mystery Novels, Social Anxiety and Freedom of Expression (S)
69
House Sitting: Travel the World and Your Lodging is Free
72
Beginner Recorder
70
Beginning Meditation
75
How to Analyze Possible 2026 U.S. Midterm Election Results
54
Black Detroit: A History of the Black Men and Women Who Built Detroit
61
How To Lead An OLLI Study Group
57
How to Retire (Part One)
66
Book bans in prisons: Working toward literacy justice (S)
53
Inquiry as a Spiritual Practice
74
Charles Baxter’s Essays on Literature
67
52
Chinese 12
57
Language and Gender Beyond Bathrooms and Pronouns
Chinese 7
57
Lessons from The Great Depression
59
City of Sedition- NYC and the Civil War
62
Manual Medicine: Hoax, Science-Based, or Other?
77
Climate Chaos & Solutions: Social, Political, & Economic Aspects
55
Memoirs and Personal Essays
80
Constantinople and Istanbul: A Tale of Two Cities
59
Michigan Firehouse Museum Tour (S) (Repeat)
64
Current Issues and the Supreme Court: An Update on Recent Decisions
55
Michigan Law: What Counts as a Sex Offense may Surprise You (S)
54
Depot Town Walking Tour (S)
63
Michigan Mapped: From Your Hand to the Bumper Sticker (S)
61
Discussion of Current Events via Recent Podcasts
53
Murder at the Pizzeria - Detective Game
65
Ethical Issues With Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) (S)
78
Music Matters
71
OLLI Painters
51
Exhibit Tour | Cans, Cars, and Kitchenettes: Changing American Foodways in the 1920s (S)
60
46
INDEX TABLE OF CONTENTS STUDY GROUPS BY ALPHA ORDER
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
P–T
PAGE
T–Y
PAGE
Perennial Philosophy Reloaded: A Guide for the Mystically Inclined
73
The Formation and Adventure of Islamic Culture
59
Personal Finance (S)
66
Planting New Roots in Ann Arbor
73
The History of the Atlas: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum and Beyond (S)
60
Poetry Writing Workshop
80
The Honey Bee Lady (repeat) (S)
64
Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging Book Discussion
75
The Inside Story of the Ted Kaczynski Papers (S)
61
Pundits, Polls & Politics! The 2026 Mid-terms! (S)
53
The James Webb Telescope and what it has and may discover
77
Purpose, and Impact: Why Seniors Should Consider the Peace Corps (S)
76
The Marvels of Pre-historic Art
51
The Poetry of Song
71
Purposeful Retirement: Your Next Chapter
76
The Science behind the Use and Regulation of Drug Therapy
79
Reclaiming Our Voices: Films about Women Fighting for Justice
71
Thinking Fast and Slow
76
Saving the Monarch Butterfly (repeat) (S)
78
To Kill a Mockingbird as a Banned Book: Literature, Race, Memory, and Moral Unease (S)
68
Social Intelligence and Human Relationships
74
Translating the Bible: History and Problems
74
Sunday Ann Arbor’s Smart Walking Tours (Repeat)
63
Virgil’s Aeneid
67
Technology Through the Ages
77
What Makes a Good Photograph?
52
TED Talks
72
William Shakespeare - A Pseudonym?
67
The 2026 Election: Preview and Summary (The Public Responds to the Trump Presidency)
Wine 101 (repeat) (S)
64
55
Writers Unlimited
79
Writing Our Stories
80
You’re Not Listening
73
Young Adult Banned Books (S)
69
Your Space Memories: Millions of Years on the Moon
60
The Banning of Dystopian Novels: Fahrenheit 451 & Parable of the Sower (S)
68
The Changing United States Role in the World
56
The Chant We LOVE to Sing
70
The European Genocide: Perpetrators, Resisters, and Rescuers
62
INDEX TABLE OF CONTENTS STUDY GROUPS BY ALPHA ORDER
47
STUDY GROUPS BY DAY OF THE WEEK SUNDAY
DATE
PAGE
TUESDAY
DATE
PAGE
Sunday Ann Arbor’s Smart Walking Tours (Repeat)
9/27
63
Your Space Memories: Millions of Years on the Moon
9/15
60
MONDAY
DATE
PAGE
Hayden and Mozart: Beauty and the Best
9/15
70
2-Mile Hikes for Health and Wellbeing
9/14
65
Chinese 12
9/15
57
Charles Baxter’s Essays on Literature
9/14
67
What Makes a Good Photograph?
9/15
52
TED Talks
9/21
72
Ann Arbor’s Smart Walking Tours (Repeat)
9/22
62
William Shakespeare - A Pseudonym?
10/5
67
A Conversation on The Conversation
9/22
54
Perennial Philosophy Reloaded: A Guide for the Mystically Inclined
10/5
73
Inquiry as a Spiritual Practice
9/22
74
9/22
The Banning of Dystopian Novels: Fahrenheit 451 & Parable of the Sower (S)
The Science behind the Use and Regulation of Drug Therapy
79
10/5
68
9/29
76
Technology Through the Ages
10/12
77
Purpose, and Impact: Why Seniors Should Consider the Peace Corps (S)
How to Analyze Possible 2026 U.S. Midterm Election Results
10/19
54
Book bans in prisons: Working toward literacy justice (S)
10/6
53
Healthy Chinese Cooking 1 (S)
10/19
58
The Marvels of Pre-historic Art
10/6
51
Fundamentalism and Sectarian Nationalism
10/13
58
Pundits, Polls & Politics! The 2026 Mid-terms! (S)
10/20
53
Home Improvement Made Simple (S)
10/20
66
Personal Finance (S)
11/3
66
Wine 101 (repeat) (S)
11/10
64
WEDNESDAY
DATE
PAGE
You’re Not Listening
9/9
73
The History of the Atlas: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum and Beyond (S)
10/19
Thinking Fast and Slow
10/26
76
Michigan Law: What Counts as a 10/26 Sex Offense may Surprise You (S)
54
Healthy Chinese Cooking 2 (S)
10/26
58
Young Adult Banned Books (S)
10/26
69
Translating the Bible: History and Problems
11/2
74
AYURVEDA - the Science and Knowledge of Life (S)
11/9
72
Great Decisions 2026
9/9
56
An Afternoon with Antigone (S)
11/16
68
9/16
78
City of Sedition- NYC and the Civil War
Saving the Monarch Butterfly (repeat) (S)
11/30
62
House Sitting: Travel the World and Your Lodging is Free
9/16
62
11/30
72
The European Genocide: Perpetrators, Resisters, and Rescuers
48
60
INDEX TABLE OF CONTENTS STUDY GROUPS BY DAY OF THE WEEK
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Current Issues and the Supreme Court: An Update on Recent Decisions
Michigan Firehouse Museum Tour (S) (Repeat)
9/16
55
10/15
64
Chinese 7
9/16
57
Banned Mystery Novels, Social Anxiety and Freedom of Expression (S)
10/22
69
The Honey Bee Lady (repeat) (S)
9/30
64
Ethical Issues With Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) (S)
9/30
78
Manual Medicine: Hoax, Science10/22 Based, or Other?
77
Planting New Roots in Ann Arbor
9/30
73
Reclaiming Our Voices: Films about Women Fighting for Justice
10/29
71
The Changing United States Role in the World
9/30
56
11/5
65
Language and Gender Beyond Bathrooms and Pronouns
Murder at the Pizzeria Detective Game
10/7
52
Poetry Writing Workshop
10/7
80
Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging Book Discussion
12/3
75
To Kill a Mockingbird as a Banned Book: Literature, Race, Memory, and Moral Unease (S)
10/14
68
FRIDAY
DATE
PAGE
How To Lead An OLLI Study Group
8/28
57
OLLI Painters, 9/14 online 1st choice, 9/18 in-person 2nd choice
9/18
51
The Chant We LOVE to Sing
9/18
70
The James Webb Telescope and what it has and may discover
9/18
77
Beginner Recorder
9/18
70
Writers Unlimited
9/18
79
Writing Our Stories
9/18
80
Beginning Meditation
9/25
75
Virgil’s Aeneid
9/25
67
The Inside Story of the Ted Kaczynski Papers (S)
10/2
61
The Poetry of Song
10/2
71
Exhibit Tour | Cans, Cars, and Kitchenettes: Changing American Foodways in the 1920s (S)
10/9
60
The Formation and Adventure of 10/14 Islamic Culture
59
The 2026 Election: Preview and Summary (The Public Responds to the Trump Presidency)
10/21
55
Black Detroit: A History of the Black Men and Women Who Built Detroit
10/28
61
Unpacking the A.I. Headlines
11/4
79
Social Intelligence and Human Relationships
11/11
74
Constantinople and Istanbul: A Tale of Two Cities
11/18
59
THURSDAY
DATE
PAGE
Memoirs and Personal Essays
9/17
80
Purposeful Retirement: Your Next Chapter
9/17
76
Climate Chaos & Solutions: Social, Political, & Economic Aspects
9/24
55
10/23
53
Michigan Mapped: From Your Hand to the Bumper Sticker (S)
Discussion of Current Events via Recent Podcasts
10/1
61
11/6
59
Depot Town Walking Tour (S)
10/8
63
Lessons from The Great Depression
Music Matters
10/8
71
SATURDAY
DATE
PAGE
How to Retire (Part One)
10/24
66
INDEX TABLE OF CONTENTS STUDY GROUPS BY DAY OF THE WEEK
49
OLLI O STUDY GROUPS Across a world of topics, Study Groups offer wonderful learning and discussion possibilities that may promote new knowledge, greater insights and better understanding. This season, you may choose from some eighty Study Groups in thirteen different categories, brought to you by OLLI volunteers! Study Groups may differ in their formats. In many study groups, the invited presenter introduces material and facilitates discussion afterward. Some groups engage in ongoing discussions throughout the session, with the presenter serving as a moderator. In certain cases, both the presenter and group members take turns introducing material and leading discussions. Your volunteer facilitators work very hard to present interesting and informative classes. If you know you cannot attend a study group you're registered for, please be considerate and inform OLLI at olli. info@umich.edu before classes begin.
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STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
ART AND ARCHITECTURE OLLI Painters Come find a community of artists to share and enjoy your art. We are made up of welltrained artists to beginners. Fridays, In-person Painting Sessions (1st & 3rd weeks) 12-3 pm, Turner Senior Resource Center. Friday, Monthly Community Outing (2nd) with an optional meal. Friday, Plein Air Outing (4th), as weather allows. Mondays, Online Meetings (2nd & 4th), 1-3 pm, Zoom with YouTube Videos, inspiration, instruction, and art history. Kathleen Alfonso, the facilitator, has shown in galleries. Her practice has encompassed pastel, acrylics, watercolor, figurative, floral, and abstract art. Her current artwork is an expressionistic abstract acrylic painting style. Day/Time: Monday & Friday Date: September 14 online 1st choice, September 18 in-person 2nd choice (18 Sessions) Instructor: Kathleen Alfonso Location: Online & In-person Cost: $65
The Marvels of Pre-historic Art In past study groups on the Paleolithic period (ca. 40,000–10,000 BCE), many questions arise that cannot be answered with certainty. Humanity’s earliest art and architecture are especially compelling, revealing both the creativity and ingenuity of Homo sapiens, even as their meanings remain open to interpretation. Through describing and discussing these paintings and sculptures, you will develop a more critical and attentive way of looking at them. Dr. Molly Lindner received the Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. Her book, Portraits of the Vestal Virgins: Priestesses of Ancient Rome, was published by the University of Michigan Press in 2015. Day/Time: Tuesday, 2:30-4pm Date: 10/6-11/10 (6 Sessions) Instructor: Molly Lindner Location: Online Cost: $65
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CURRENT EVENTS, LAW, POLICY, AND POLITICS Language and Gender Beyond Bathrooms and Pronouns
What Makes a Good Photograph? Surrounded by images today, this is our question. The creative process starts with the reality in front of us and we press the shutter. What is important to us? To the viewer? Is there a mystery, puzzle, or emotion? What is the effect of composition? The material will include famous photographs: historic, modern, and now artistically edited with photoshop. Together we will discuss their merits. Time permitting, we will consider class members’ images. George Lavoie has been an amateur photographer since high school. He has had a long-time interest in photography, cameras, images, and art. He is a member of the Ann Arbor Camera Club and served on the board for several years.
Language reflects changing norms of gender identity, in pronouns and elsewhere. This study group will explore the history of gender terms in various languages along with the ways that social change is reflected in language features. Topics include the transformation of the pronoun system over time, expansion of our lexicon through gender terms, close analysis of style differences among different genders as well as the semantic implications of language choices with respect to gender. Alice Horning retired from the faculty at Oakland University in 2016 after 34 years of teaching writing and linguistics. She has been teaching for OLLI since 2020. Day/Time: Wednesday, 10am-12pm Date: 10/7-10/28 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Alice Horning Location: Online Cost: $45
Day/Time: Tuesday, 6-7:30pm Date: 9/15-9/29 (3 Sessions) Instructor: George Lavoie Location: Washtenaw Community College Cost: $35
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STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS ART AND ARCHITECTURE | CURRENT EVENTS, LAW, POLICY AND POLITICS
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Discussion of Current Events via Recent Podcasts Do you listen to podcasts? Do you have opportunities for discussion of these chockfilled meaning-makers? Ezra Klein, Kara Swisher, On Being, Hidden Brain? I’m not sure what might catch our fancy around Nov. ‘26, but let’s plan to discuss some particularly salient podcasts related to the mid-terms. Barb Cherem, Ph.D. spent five decades teaching in P-12 and higher education. A passionate history enthusiast, she has facilitated many OLLI book studies and other topics of interest to older adults. Day/Time: Friday, 1:30-3:30pm Date: 10/23-11/6 (3 Sessions) Instructor: Barbara Cherem Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $35
Pundits, Polls & Politics! The 2026 Mid-terms! (S) On November 3, all 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 in the Senate will be up for re-election. This midterm may be more consequential than any recent election. So, let’s dig into all the national issues, looking at how they rank – by party affiliation, generation and region. We’ll look at some of the better forecasts of results and we’ll conduct our own online, in-class polls of issues/results. Doug Stowell is a consumer and political polling veteran in both U.S. and EU markets. His career includes Director of Market Research for the Xerox Corp., Director – U.S. Clients for the U.K. research
firm NOP, Ltd. in London, UK and Sr. Polling Executive for Wirthlin Worldwide in D.C. He opened his own firm, Market Resource Associates, in 2008 and continues conducting opinion research on global issues. Day/Time: Tuesday, 10-11:30am Date: 10/20 Instructor: Doug Stowell Location: Online Cost: $15
Book bans in prisons: Working toward literacy justice (S) Renewed access to Pell grants for incarcerated people has opened educational opportunities. However, access to banned materials (books and others) is difficult or impossible for these students. Various organizations are working to address this censorship. This study group will offer a presentation on the challenges faced by the incarcerated seeking education and rehabilitation; efforts of the ACLU and others will make clear why literacy justice is for them an essential and potentially achievable goal. *Collaboration with OLLI’s Banned Books Week Alice Horning retired from Oakland University after more than 30 years of teaching linguistics and writing and has been teaching for OLLI for five years. Day/Time: Tuesday, 10am-12pm Date: 10/6 (1 Session) Instructor: Alice Horning Location:Online Cost: $15
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How to Analyze Possible 2026 U.S. Midterm Election Results
about future consequences. The most common age to commit a sex offense is 14.
This group will focus on the possible U.S. midterm election results for the U.S. House and Senate contests through the perspectives of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter. Everyone will be able to subscribe to the free newsletter with election campaign analysis online by that professional, independent and nonpartisan election campaign service. The fourth and last session after Election Day on November 3 will assess the accuracy of the final predictions by the service.
Kathie Gourlay has an MBA from the University of Michigan, is a retired Washtenaw Community College instructor, and is passionate about criminal justice reform. Carolyn Madden has an MA in Philosophy, Graduate Center, NY and a JD from Wayne State University. She volunteers at the Women’s Huron Valley Incarceration Facility. Both women are members of Friends of Restorative Justice, a local group that seeks to promote an alternative to our current punitive criminal legal system.
Craig Ramsay is an Emeritus Professor of Politics and Government at Ohio Wesleyan University. He taught a range of courses on American Politics and government for nearly forty years including a Parties and Elections course each fall. He received his PhD. in political science from the University of Michigan. Day/Time: Monday, 10-11:30am Date: 10/19-11/9 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Craig Ramsay Location: Online Cost: $45
Michigan Law: What Counts as a Sex Offense may Surprise You (S) The words “pedophile” and “sex offender” are easily thrown around. But what is a pedophile, and who commits a sex offense? Learning the law is important, not least so you can avoid violating it and prevent others from doing so. Michigan’s sex offense law is more encompassing than you think. Young people especially don’t know what’s illegal and often don’t think
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Day/Time: Monday, 10am-12pm Date: 10/26 (1 Sessions) Instructor: Kathie Gourlay & Carolyn Madden Location: Online Cost: $15
A Conversation on The Conversation The Conversation is an online resource combining “academic rigor and journalistic flair.” Writing as journalists, experts summarize the results of their research for the intellectually curious. Current topics available on The Conversation include how writing builds resilience, the role of early women Christian prophets and the enduring legacy of slavery. At each class meeting we will read and discuss three articles from one or more areas of research. Richard Garrett has led several discussion groups dealing with public affairs, the intersection of science and society, and the history of the black working class. Prior
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS CURRENT EVENTS, LAW, POLICY AND POLITICS
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
to moving to Ann Arbor, Richard taught economics at Marymount Manhattan College and was a consultant to labor unions on corporate campaigns. Day/Time: Tuesday, 10am-12pm Date:9/22-11/10 (8 Sessions) Instructor:Richard Garrett Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC) Cost: $65
Current Issues and the Supreme Court: An Update on Recent Decisions Recent Supreme Court decisions have placed the Court at the forefront of today’s highly polarized political climate. This group will explore the legal and political contexts of recent Court rulings. Focus will be on presidential powers, given the myriad cases and procedural issues arising from the actions of the Trump administration. Other issues include voting rights, racial gerrymandering, money in politics, and LGBTQ, reproductive, religious, and gun rights. Returning participants and newcomers to Constitutional study groups are welcome. Charles Monsma is Professor of Political Science, Emeritus, at Eastern Michigan University, where he served as the Director of the Institute for Community and Regional Development. He received his M.P.A. in Public Administration and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Michigan. Day/Time: Wednesday, 1-3pm Date: 9/16-10/7 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Charles Monsma Location: Washtenaw Community College - Fitness Center Cost: $45
The 2026 Election: Preview and Summary (The Public Responds to the Trump Presidency) This study group will present a preview and summary of the 2026 U.S. elections. Two sessions will be held before the election, and two sessions will follow it. Discussions will focus on both federal offices and state and local elections. Public reaction to the Trump presidency will be gauged, as will the responses and strategies of Democratic and Republican party leaders and candidates. The impact of election issues and outcomes will be considered, particularly as they relate to the state of American democracy. Charles Monsma is Professor of Political Science, Emeritus, at Eastern Michigan University, where he served as the Director of the Institute for Community and Regional Development. He received his M.P.A. in Public Administration and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Michigan. Day/Time: Wednesday, 1-3pm Date: 10/21-11/11 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Charles Monsma Location: Washtenaw Community College - Fitness Center Cost: $45
Climate Chaos & Solutions: Social,Political, & Economic Aspects This group will address causes, solutions, & personal experience with climate change. Students will read and present on topics/ chapters from Bill McKibben’s (2025) Here Comes the Sun: A Last Chance for Climate
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and a Fresh Chance for Civilization; WW Norton & Co. Topics will include Climate on Food; Politics and Economics of Renewable vs Fossil Fuel Energy; AI, Data Centers and Energy; Climate Disinformation; De-Growth versus Abundance policies; Climate Communication; and more. Jacqueline Goodman, PhD is a Professor Emerita of Sociology; State University of New York Potsdam College; retired Dept. Head & Professor, WGST Dept, Eastern Michigan University. She is former CoFacilitator, Third Act Educators, (Bill McKibben’s environmental organization); Climate Reality Project Leader- member, Washtenaw County Day/Time: Thursday, 4-5:30pm Date: 9/24-11/12 (8 Sessions) Instructor: Jacqueline Goodman Location: Online Cost: $65
The Changing United States Role in the World For 250 years, the U.S. has vacillated between taking an active role in the world and focusing on “taking care of our own.” Neo-liberalism vs. “America First”; global leadership vs. isolationism. Our world role is being reshaped by new forces, including asymmetric warfare and artificial intelligence. In the seventh study group in the Bridging Divisions series, we seek to reduce inflammatory rhetoric, with a safe atmosphere for constructive, open dialog. There will be weekly readings. Dennis Muzzi, MSW, is a retired clinical and community social worker and part-time social work faculty. He is an active member
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of Braver Angels; a national organization committed to reducing political polarization. Day/Time: Wednesday, 10am-12pm Date: 9/30-11/11 (no class on 10/14) (6 Sessions) Instructor: Dennis Muzzi Location: Washtenaw Community College Cost: $65
Great Decisions 2026 Great Decisions, produced by the Foreign Policy Association, is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs, and has been encouraging nonpartisan discussion on U.S. foreign policy for over 100 years. Each week we will read the Briefing Book entry, watch the related video, and discuss one of the most critical global issues facing America today. Upon registering, please obtain a free copy of the Great Decisions Briefing Book at the OLLI office. (Look for more info in the online catalog). Linda Tompkins is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer (Ukraine, 2006-2008), retired educator, and reference librarian. She has been an active OLLI member and participant for several years. Day/Time: Wednesday, 9:30-11:30am Date: 9/9-12/16 (every other week) (8 Sessions) Instructor: Linda Tompkins Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC) Cost:$65
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS CURRENT EVENTS, LAW, POLICY AND POLITICS
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
FOREIGN LANGUAGE Chinese 7 In this study group students will continue their study of the Chinese language with a focus on conversation, while also exploring aspects of Chinese culture and history. Angela Yang retired from a career in medical research at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Life Sciences Institute at the University of Michigan. Day/Time: Wednesday, 10am-12pm Date: 9/16-11/4 (8 Sessions) Instructor: Angela Yang Location: Online Cost: $65
Chinese 12 This Chinese study group will focus on studying the Chinese language, culture, and history, with an emphasis on developing conversational skills. Angela Yang retired from a career in medical research at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Life Sciences Institute at the University of Michigan. Day/Time: Tuesday, 11am-1pm Date: 9/15-11/3, (8 Sessions) Instructor: Angela Yang Location: Online Cost: $65
How To Lead An OLLI Study Group Will you be leading a multi-session Study Group this year, or sometime in the future? This seminar is designed to build your confidence. Topics to be covered include planning, creating a participative atmosphere, handling group dynamics, and facilitating virtually. The seminar will model all techniques taught. All class material will be provided. This free seminar is IN PERSON only. Stu Simon, former chair of the Study Group Committee, has offered this seminar to OLLI members for many years. Day/Time: Friday, 9-11:45am Date: 8/28 (1 Session) Instructor: Stu Simon Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: Free
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Healthy Chinese Cooking 2 (S) Come join us for an engaging class where you’ll discover how to prepare healthy Chinese meals! Participants will enjoy a delicious lunch and take home colorful recipes, including fried rice noodles with chicken and veggies, ma-Pa tofu, and sesame chicken with veggies. These recipes focus on fresh, nutritious ingredients for a balanced and flavorful meal.
HISTORY AND CULTURE Healthy Chinese Cooking 1 (S) Join us for a fun and informative class where you’ll learn to prepare delicious and nutritious Chinese meals! You’ll get to enjoy a tasty lunch and take home vibrant recipes, including a flavorful tofu dip, a savory tofu casserole, and a cashew chicken with veggies. These recipes, provided by the Confucius Institute at UM, emphasize fresh ingredients and balanced nutrition. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to enhance your cooking skills and enjoy healthy, flavorful Chinese dishes! Angela Yang retired from a career in medical research at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Life Sciences Institute at the University of Michigan. Day/Time: Monday, 11am - 1pm Date: 10/19 (1 Session) Instructor: Angela Yang Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $25.00 (includes price of food)
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Angela Yang retired from a career in medical research at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the Life Sciences Institute at the University of Michigan. Day/Time: Monday, 11am - 1pm Date: 10/26 (1 Sessions) Instructor: Angela Yang Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $25.00 (includes price of food)
Fundamentalism and Sectarian Nationalism Fundamentalist and sectarian nationalist ideologies are flourishing in the world today among Christians, Muslims, Jews, and Hindus. Is this a positive development or a threat? The bases and implications of this phenomenon will be examined using as a guide Malise Ruthven’s book, Fundamentalism: A Very Short Introduction. Students are asked to purchase this book (New $13) and will be invited to participate in jointly exploring these trends with their own research and insights.
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Jon Swanson, MSW, Ph.D. is a retired anthropologist, social worker, community organizer and union activist who lived and worked in the Middle East, Southeast Dearborn, and Detroit for many years. Day/Time: Tuesday, 1-3pm Date: 10/13-11/17 (6 Sessions) Instructor: Jon Swanson Location: Trinity Lutheran Church Cost: $60
Lessons from The Great Depression Sessions cover events in the 1920’s leading up to The Great Depression, including ominous parallels between the 1920’s and the 2020’s. We will discuss political and economic conditions during the 1920’s, 1930’s and the early years of WW II with detailed examination of the lives of a diverse group of Americans who lived during this tumultuous period of American life. There will be a discussion of lessons learned with questions and comments solicited. Ed Linz, a 1965 graduate of the Naval Academy, and former Commanding Officer of a nuclear submarine, is the author of nine books, including a novel, works on the Great Depression and the Vietnam War, and most recently, four children’s books. He holds advanced degrees from Oxford University and George Mason University and lives in Maine and Virginia. Day/Time: Friday, 1:30-3pm Date: 11/6 & 11/13 (2 Sessions) Instructor: Ed Linz Location: Online Cost: $25
The Formation and Adventure of Islamic Culture Islamic culture is central to large parts of our world. In this group we will examine aspects of the origins and nature of that culture: the arts, the Qur’an, law, the Eurasian contributions, and Shi’ism in Iran and Iraq. We will also examine traditions of governance and science. Rudi Lindner has taught Islamic history for fifty years at the university level. Day/Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30pm Date: 10/14-11/11 (5 Sessions) Instructor: Rudi Lindner Location: Online Cost: $55
Constantinople and Istanbul: A Tale of Two Cities Constantinople/Istanbul is the San Francisco of Eurasia. In this study group we will examine the history of the site, the cosmopolitan culture, the artistic and architectural legacies, and the fascinating social history of this storied city. Rudi Lindner has taught Byzantine and Turkish history for fifty years at the university level. Day/Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30pm Date: 11/18, 12/2 & 12/9 (3 Sessions) Instructor: Rudi Lindner Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $35
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The History of the Atlas: Theatrum Orbis Terrarum and Beyond (S) Clark library recently acquired a first edition of the first modern atlas: Abraham Ortelius’s “Theatrum Orbis Terrarum”, published in Antwerp in 1570. Learn how this volume changed the way that the western world encountered knowledge about distant places; how U-M’s Conservation Lab is bringing our copy back to life; and how atlases have continued to shape and be shaped by history up to the present. Tim Utter is the Director of Social Sciences and the Clark Library, where he works with a collection of over 440,000 maps and atlases. Trina Parks-Matthews is the Assistant Book and Paper Conservator at U-M Library. Anna Rohl is Map Curator at Clark Library. Day/Time: Monday, 2-4pm Date: 10/19 (1 Session) Instructors: Tim Utter, Trina Parks-Matthews, Anna Rohl Location: Clark Library, on the 2nd floor of Hatcher Graduate Library South on University of Michigan’s Campus. Cost: $15
Your Space Memories: Millions of Years on the Moon The Interstellar Foundation, a nonprofit, collects information (e.g. images, music, languages, literature), digitizes them, puts them into data artifacts and then helps land them on the lunar surface where they will last millions of years. This program explores how we decide what should be placed on the Moon and what aspects of
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you and your family’s life experiences you would choose to record. Participants will write a message which will be landed on the Moon in 2027. Walter Di Mantova is the Executive Director of the Interstellar Foundation. He is an educational and technology entrepreneur, an anticipatory anthropologist advising on future technologies, a pioneer in workforce development for over 30 years, and the University’s Consultant on the History of Quantum Physics. Day/Time: Tuesday, 10-11:30am Date: 9/15 & 9/22 (2 Sessions) Instructor: Walter Di Mantova Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $25
Exhibit Tour | Cans, Cars, and Kitchenettes: Changing American Foodways in the 1920s (S) Join curator Juli McLoone for coffee, conversation, and an exhibit tour of “Cans, Cars, and Kitchenettes: Changing American Foodways in the 1920s.” This exhibit explores technological and social changes in the 1920s through cookbooks, periodicals, and advertising ephemera from the Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive, a world class collection documenting the history of food and drink in America. Juli McLoone is a Curator in the University of Michigan Library’s Special Collections Research Center, where she builds collections and provides instruction & outreach for 18th to 20th century materials, including the Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive. She holds an MA in Library
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
and Information Science and an MA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Iowa. Day/Time: Friday, 10-11:30am Date: 10/9 (1 Session) Instructor: Juli McLoone Location: Special Collections Research Center, 913 S. University Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48109 Cost: $15
Michigan Mapped: From Your Hand to the Bumper Sticker (S) A map of Michigan is easy to describe for most people, whether it’s on their cell phone or by holding up their left hand. It wasn’t always that simple as the shape of the state took centuries to be fully realized on a map. Join Sierra Laddusaw, Curator of Maps & Graphics, and Mary Pedley, Assistant Curator of Maps, from the William L. Clements Library to learn more about the mapping of “the Mitten.” Day/Time: Thursday, 4-5pm Date: 10/1 (1 Session) Instructor: Anne Bennington-Helber Location: First Presbyterian Church Cost: $15
The Inside Story of the Ted Kaczynski Papers (S) University archives often spotlight famous alumni, but what about infamous ones? Theodore Kaczynski, the “Unabomber,” was once a mathematical prodigy and academic rising star before living off the grid and carrying out a 17-year bombing campaign that killed three people, leading to his 1996 arrest and conviction. This workshop traces how his papers entered the University of Michigan Library, how researchers use them, what’s included and even allows participants to review and discuss some of the actual documents. Julie Herrada is the curator of the Joseph A. Labadie Collection which is part of the Special Collections Research Center at the University of Michigan. The Center collects holdings related to social protest movements, curates exhibits and assists researchers from all over the world. She holds a MLS degree with a Certificate in Archival Administration from Wayne State University. Day/Time: Friday, 1-3pm Date: 10/2 (1 Session) Instructor: Julie Herrada Location: Hatcher Graduate Library Cost: $15
Black Detroit: A History of the Black Men and Women Who Built Detroit Detroit is less than an hour away for most of us, but how much do we know about the history of the proud, Blackest city in the country? Participants will read and discuss Black Detroit: A History of the Black Men STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS HISTORY AND CULTURE
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and Women Who Built Detroit, by Herb Boyd. It’s informative, readable about the contributions of Black Detroiters to the history and culture of the city and to the rest of the country. Meta Mendel-Reyes is a former labor organizer and professor, who has taught several courses for OLLI. She has led many workshops on anti-racism. Day/Time: Wednesday, 1-3pm Date: 10/28-11/11 (3 Session) Instructor: Meta Mendal-Reyes Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC) Cost: $35
The European Genocide: Perpetrators, Resisters, and Rescuers One means to better understand the recent increase of ethnic/racial hate crimes is to examine the WWII genocides of the Roma and Jews. However, with the passage of time, many aspects of the holocaust have become less accessible, less understood, or forgotten. We will reexamine factual aspects of the holocaust, using contemporary communication science and personality/social psychology to explain acceptance and rejection of the kinds of racial hatred that existed then and persist today. Terrance Albrecht, Ph.D is Professor Emerita, Wayne State University. She has taught a groundbreaking, nationally recognized holocaust course, that drew heavily on the social and behavioral research literature. Louis Penner, Ph.D is Professor Emeritus, Wayne State University. He has conducted extensive research on social psychological 62
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variables underling acceptance and rejection of authoritarian ideologies. Day/Time: Wednesday, 2:30-4:30pm Date: 9/16-10/28 (7 Sessions) Instructors: Terrance Albrecht, Ph.D & Louis Penner, Ph.D Location: Online Cost: $65
City of Sedition - NYC and the Civil War City of Sedition (Strausbaugh, 2016) explores New York City’s conflicted role in the Civil War. No city contributed more men, money, and materiel to the Union cause, yet none resisted the war more fiercely through antiwar protest, draft riots, and political sedition. The city produced patriots, war heroes, and abolitionists while also fostering strong opposition to Abraham Lincoln and his policies. Barb Cherem, Ph.D. spent five decades teaching in P-12 and higher education. A passionate history enthusiast, she has facilitated many OLLI book studies and other topics of interest to older adults. Day/Time: Monday, 10am-12pm Date: 11/30-12/14 (3 Sessions) Instructor: Barbara Cherem Location: urner Senior Resource Center Cost: $35
Ann Arbor’s Smart Walking Tours (Repeat) Join me in exploring Ann Arbor’s SmartTours, created to celebrate the city’s bicentennial and showcase its rich history. Featuring numerous walking tours and historic sites, SmartTours highlights the
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
people, places, and events that shaped Ann Arbor. We will experience three of these tours together, with stories and historical context shared along the way rather than reading from smartphones. Participants should be comfortable walking at least two miles while discovering the city’s landmarks and hidden historical treasures. Will Hawk retired from the information technology industry after 35 years. He is currently a dedicated volunteer with OLLI and enjoys using his tech expertise to help seniors with everyday tasks. A lifelong learner, Will has a wide range of interests, including hiking and yoga. Day/Time: Tuesday, 1:30-3:30pm Date: 9/22-10/6 (3 Sessions) Instructor: Will Hawk Location: Meeting location shared in class email Cost: $35
Sunday Ann Arbor’s Smart Walking Tours (Repeat) Join me in exploring Ann Arbor’s SmartTours, created to celebrate the city’s bicentennial and showcase its rich history. Featuring numerous walking tours and historic sites, SmartTours highlights the people, places, and events that shaped Ann Arbor. We will experience three of these tours together, with stories and historical context shared along the way rather than reading from smartphones. Participants should be comfortable walking at least two miles while discovering the city’s landmarks and hidden historical treasures. Will Hawk retired from the information technology industry after 35 years. He is currently a dedicated volunteer with OLLI
and enjoys using his tech expertise to help seniors with everyday tasks. A lifelong learner, Will has a wide range of interests, including hiking and yoga. Day/Time: Sunday, 1:30-3:30pm Date: 9/27-10/11 (3 Sessions) Instructor: Will Hawk Location: Meeting location shared in class email Cost: $35
Depot Town Walking Tour (S) Welcome to Depot Town, one of Ypsilanti’s three historic commercial districts. Emerging in the mid-nineteenth century, the neighborhood became a hub of industry and transportation after the Michigan Central Railroad reached Ypsilanti in 1838. A depot built near the Huron River spurred commercial growth between the railroad and nearby mills. Today, Depot Town preserves its historic character while celebrating the city’s rich railroad heritage and the role transportation played in shaping Ypsilanti’s development. Will Hawk retired from the information technology industry after 35 years. He is currently a dedicated volunteer with OLLI and enjoys using his tech expertise to help seniors with everyday tasks. A lifelong learner, Will has a wide range of interests, including hiking and yoga. Day/Time: Thursday, 1:30-3:30pm Date: 10/8 (1 Session) Instructor: Will Hawk Location: Meeting location shared in class email Cost: $20 (includes ticket)
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HOBBIES, GAMES, AND SPORTS Wine 101 (repeat) (S)
Michigan Firehouse Museum Tour (S) (Repeat) Encompassing more than 26,000 square feet, this museum combines a restored 1898 firehouse with a modern, multilevel exhibit hall. Visitors can explore historic fire engine steamers, antique fire trucks, and early firefighting rigs while learning about the evolution of fire service. The museum also features rotating exhibits, collections of tools, equipment, and memorabilia, and houses the nation’s largest collection of fire truck bells, offering an engaging and educational look at firefighting history.
This study group is for anyone who enjoys wine but feels unsure about the details. You’ll learn practical tips on everything from how wine is made and how to read a label, to opening champagne safely, tasting wine, pairing it with food, shopping smartly, and proper storage. Martin Friedburg, whose 25-year wine career includes roles as Sales Manager at two Michigan wineries, owner of an Ann Arbor wine importing and distribution company, and wine judge. Please note that no wine will be tasted during this event. Day/Time: Tuesday, 1:30-3:30pm Date: 11/10 (1 Session) Instructor: Martin Friedberg Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
Will Hawk retired from the information technology industry after 35 years. He is currently a dedicated volunteer with OLLI and enjoys using his tech expertise to help seniors with everyday tasks. A lifelong learner, Will has a wide range of interests, including hiking and yoga. Day/Time: Thursday, 1-3pm Date: 10/15 (1 Session) Instructor: Will Hawk Location: Meeting location shared in class email Cost: $30 (includes ticket)
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The Honey Bee Lady (repeat) (S) Join us as we explore the fascinating life of the honeybee, both inside and outside the hive. Learn how 50,000 bees work together harmoniously to achieve one common goal and discover the vital role they play
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS HISTORY AND CULTURE | HOBBIES, GAMES, AND SPORTS
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
in our ecosystem. This session will give you a deeper appreciation of the world of honeybees and their remarkable abilities. Known as ‘The Bee Lady,’ Victoria McIntyre has travelled around southeastern Michigan giving talks to schools, garden clubs and civic groups. Day/Time: Wednesday, 10:30am-12pm Date: 9/30 (1 Session) Instructor: Victoria McIntyre Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
Murder at the Pizzeria - Detective Game It’s opening night at Bella Morte, but before anyone can say mamma mia, rival chef Karl Ickbread is found dead in the pantry! This tongue-in-cheek mystery challenges amateur detectives to uncover the culprit. Each participant receives a scripted role, and after the game everyone will make their best guess about who committed the crime. The first session covers ground rules, role assignments, and costume planning. The second session is devoted to playing the mystery game. Will Hawk retired from the information technology industry after 35 years. He is currently a dedicated volunteer with OLLI and enjoys using his tech expertise to help seniors with everyday tasks. A lifelong learner, Will has a wide range of interests, including hiking and yoga.
2-Mile Hikes for Health and Wellbeing We will hike 5 different trails in Washtenaw County. Hikes are holistic in design promoting physical health, and mental wellbeing in a casual social setting. Hikes will expose participants to new locations and a starting point for their personal health and wellbeing. James Nelson is an avid hiker and trail guide for Take A Hike Adventures LLC, program creator for hiking at WCC and CPT. He adheres to the principles of Holistic Health and Fitness.
Day/Time: Thursday, 1-3pm Date: 11/5 & 11/12 (2 Sessions) Instructor: Will Hawk Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $25
Day/Time: Monday, 1-2:30pm Date: 9/14-10/12 (5 Sessions) Instructor: James Nelson Location: Trail Heads Cost: $55
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS HOBBIES, GAMES, AND SPORTS
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INVESTING, ECONOMICS, AND FINANCE How to Retire (Part One) What are the secrets to a healthy, happy, and wealthy retirement? Morningstar retirement columnist Christine Benz interviewed 20 thought leaders on 20 retirement topics for her recent book. Whether you are soon-to-retire or already retired, “How to Retire” delivers thoughtful questions and sage advice on financial and non-financial retirement issues. This study group will discuss the first 10 lessons (chapters) from the book in four meetings. (Part Two will cover the other 10 later.) Terry Smith is a lifelong learner, retiree, and member of the Retirement Researcher Academy. He has studied retirement issues for several decades, and seeks to discover and share retirement wisdom from the book and the class participants. Day/Time: Saturday, 10am-12pm Date: 10/24-11/14 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Terry Smith Location: Washtenaw Community College Cost: $45
Home Improvement Made Simple (S) Learn the nuts and bolts of home maintenance. You’ll learn how to assess a problem and determine if you have the skills to correct it, or if you need to interview contractors to complete the work. Other topics include seasonal checklists, safety issues, basic caulking techniques, plumbing, electrical, and exterior maintenance. You’ve insured your home, now ensure that it will continue to provide you shelter, comfort and enjoyment for years to come. Steve Bredernitz is a retired Licensed Builder and State Building Inspector. Day/Time: Tuesday, 10-11:30am Date: 10/20 (1 Session) Instructor: Steve Bredernitz Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
Personal Finance (S) Financial stability is something we all strive for. When we retire and live on our savings plus social security, understanding personal finance goes beyond monthly expenses. We need to make decisions about our investments, estate planning, and our financial security. This class will provide tips about how to make your money work for you as you transition from working and navigate the newest season of life. Steve Bredernitz is a retired Licensed Builder and State Building Inspector. Day/Time: Tuesday, 10-11:30am Date: 11/3 (1 Session) Instructor: Steve Bredernitz Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
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STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS INVESTING, ECONOMICS, AND FINANCE
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
the traditional man from Stratford as the author. We’ll see hints that contemporaries provided and evidence plainly embedded in the works themselves.
LITERATURE, POETRY, AND DRAMA Charles Baxter’s Essays on Literature We will read and discuss two of Baxter’s collections of essays: Burning Down the House, and Wonderlands. The first essay is often critical of the post-modernists, the second is more general. This group will meet for eight weeks so we can play some games with him. Sharon Quiroz has a Ph.D. in English and has taught many OLLI classes.
Michele Roberge has taught Shakespeare and drama courses for OLLI for more than twenty years. She worked at several Southern California theatres in many capacities over her forty-year career, retiring as executive director of the Carpenter Performing Arts Center at Cal State University, Long Beach. A graduate of Saint Mary’s College, she was a Trueblood Fellow at University of Michigan, holding a master’s degree in theatre. Day/Time: Monday, 11am-12:30pm Date: 10/5-11/9 (6 Sessions) Instructor: Michele Roberge Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $65
Virgil’s Aeneid
Day/Time: Monday, 10am-12pm Date: 9/14-11/16 (no class on 10/5 & 10/19) (8 Sessions) Instructor: Sharon Quiroz Location: Washtenaw Community College Cost: $65
We will explore Virgil’s epic masterpiece as it traces Aeneas’ journey from the ruins of Troy to a new homeland in Italy. It was intended to be Rome’s national epic, a rival to the Iliad and the Odyssey, and raises issues of destiny, duty, war and the heavy cost of empire.
William Shakespeare - A Pseudonym? The plays and poems of William Shakespeare have been treasured for centuries, translated into hundreds of languages, transformed into operas, ballets, films, and paintings. But who wrote them? This study group will look at historical, political, geographical, and social evidence pointing to someone other than
Marilyn Scott is a former lecturer in UM’s Great Books and Classical Studies programs, as well as a retired instructor in Latin and English at Community High School. Day/Time: Friday, 10am-12pm Date: 9/25-11/6 (7 Sessions) Instructor: Marilyn Scott Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $65
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS LITERATURE, POETRY, AND DRAMA
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An Afternoon with Antigone (S) After a brief introduction by Marilyn, participants will read aloud, then discuss Sophocles’ play, Antigone. The Penguin Classics edition, translated by Robert Fagles, is required so that we are all reading from the same version. Marilyn Scott is a former lecturer in UM’s Great Books and Classical Studies programs, as well as a retired instructor in Latin and English at Community High School. Day/Time: Monday, 1-4pm Date: 11/16 (1 Session) Instructor: Marilyn Scott Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
The Banning of Dystopian Novels: Fahrenheit 451 & Parable of the Sower (S) Many dystopian novels are on banned book lists. This study group will examine two very different books, evaluating parallels, differences, and what leads to challenges. Class members are asked to read one or both books: Fahrenheit 451 (1953), by Ray Bradbury, an often-banned novel about book banning in a totalitarian state; Parable of the Sower (1993), by Octavia Butler, a novel about a woman escaping a collapsing culture to found a new community. Discussion questions will be sent ahead. *Collaboration with OLLI’s Banned Books Week
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Beth Spencer has led many study groups over 10 years on a variety of topics. As a voracious reader, she is very concerned about book banning and a believer in a free press. Without the opportunity to read widely, where would we all be? Day/Time: Monday, 1-3pm Date: 10/5 (1 Session) Instructor: Beth Spencer Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
To Kill a Mockingbird as a Banned Book: Literature, Race, Memory, and Moral Unease (S) Why has Harper Lee’s beloved novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, been repeatedly challenged or banned in American schools? This seminar revisits the book as literature and as controversy: a courtroom drama, a childhood story, a racial reckoning, and a text now criticized for the very moral authority it once seemed to possess. We will examine contested passages, censorship debates, Atticus Finch, Harper Lee’s biography, and the unsettling shadow of Go Set a Watchman. *Collaboration with OLLI’s Banned Books Week Deb Mukherjee has been leading classes at OLLI for over a decade. Day/Time: Wednesday, 3-4:30pm Date: 10/14 (1 Session) Instructor: Deb Mukherjee Location: Online Cost: $15
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS LITERATURE, POETRY, AND DRAMA
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
recently retired from 32 years of teaching Constitutional law at Ohio Northern. She reads excessively. Day/Time: Thursday, 1-3pm Date: 10/22 (1 Session) Instructors: Joanne Brant & Tim Richards Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
Young Adult Banned Books (S)
Banned Mystery Novels, Social Anxiety and Freedom of Expression (S) Many mystery novels have appeared on banned or challenged lists, including works by Dashiell Hammett and Patricia Cornwell. During class we will discuss the importance of intellectual freedom and access to controversial literature and how crime fiction reflects social anxieties and debates about violence, morality and politics. Participants are asked to read one or both “banned” works: Body of Evidence, Patricia Cornwell (1991) and/or Looking for Alaska, John Green (Young adult novel) (2005). *Collaboration with OLLI’s Banned Books Week Tim Richards, a retired librarian, has been an OLLI member since 2011. He is co-facilitator of the Syd Kaufman Mystery Authors SIG. His widespread interests include cooking, nature, gardening, and reading diverse genres. Joanne Brant
Young adult books often have great literary merit. While the target audience is students, many are worthy reads for adults. Young adult books can make youth feel less alone and teach important truths about life. Attempts to ban them have significant implications for society. Read one of these books and be prepared to discuss their literary qualities and what aspects are causing them to be challenged: The Perks of Being a Wallflower; All Boys Aren’t Blue; or New Kid. *Collaboration with OLLI’s Banned Books Week Jeff Gaynor, B.A.Ed., U-M; MA. Ed. (English Language Arts) conducted dozens of book discussion groups as an elementary and middle school teacher. Now, along with volunteering with OLLI, he tutors for Washtenaw Literacy. Day/Time: Monday, 1:30-3:30pm Date: 10/26 (1 Session) Instructor: Jeff Gaynor Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS LITERATURE, POETRY, AND DRAMA
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MUSIC, THEATER, AND FILM Beginner Recorder Learn to play the recorder in a fun, handson way, while brushing up on your music skills! This will be a great way to socialize, learn something new, and be able to play music together. Please bring your own recorder. A plastic Yamaha Soprano recorder is recommended as a costeffective, high-quality option. You’ll need to have basic knowledge of reading music, understand time signatures, and note values. *Collaboration with OLLI’s Pitch Line and Study Group committees.
group is to present the glorious music of two of the greatest composers who were also great friends and admirers of each other. Louis Nagle was faculty for forty seven years at UM School of Music, Theatre and Dance (SMTD) and a concert pianist who has performed around the country and abroad. Day/Time: Tuesday, 1:30-3pm Date: 9/15-10/6 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Louis Nagel Location: First Presbyterian Church Cost: $45
The Chant We LOVE to Sing
The three instructors, Becky Glesner, Diane Knibbs and Barbara LaRose, have many years experience playing the recorder. Becky and Barbara are members of the American Recorder Society as well as the Ann Arbor Recorder Society (board members). Becky is the co-director of the Saline Area Senior Center Recorder Ensemble.
Gregorian Chant continues to mesmerize musicologists and lovers of ancient music. We will explore various iterations of this ancient form of mystical prayer: “One who sings once, Prays twice!” St. Augustine. Pick up gems of inspiration from Franciscan Tertiary, G. Phil Zepeda, a Spiritual Companion & long-time church choir director, guitarist & Liturgist.
Day/Time: Friday, 2-3:30pm Date: 9/18-11/6 (8 Sessions) Instructors: Becky Glesner, Diane Knibbs & Barbara LaRose Location: First Presbyterian Church Cost: $65
A First Order Franciscan for 10 years, Phil Zepeda served Native Americans in NM & AZ as well as the poor in the Basin Area (Over-the-Rhine) in Cincinnati & Inner-City Detroit where he taught High School, then on to teach at the college level: WSU, EMU, U-M and WCC.
Hayden and Mozart: Beauty and the Best
Day/Time: Friday, 1-2pm Date: 9/18 & 9/25 (2 Sessions) Instructor: G Phil Zepeda Location: Washtenaw Community College Cost: $25
I will be performing various piano compositions and show illustrated presentations (live and recorded) of music by Haydn and Mozart. The goal of this study
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STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS MUSIC, THEATER, AND FILM
OLLI UM | WINTER/SPRING OLLI UM | FALL 2026
The Poetry of Song Together, we will explore the intersection of poetry and song. Although they are distinct art forms, both use language to convey place, express emotion, and tell stories. We will examine key characteristics of poems and songs, then engage in close readings of popular songs chosen by instructors and class members. By uncovering the poetic elements within lyrics and listening to performances, we will consider how interpretation deepens appreciation of songs and how performance enriches the poetry of lyrics. Richard Garrett has led several discussion groups dealing with public affairs, the intersection of science and society, and the history of the black working class. Prior to moving to Ann Arbor, Richard taught economics at Marymount Manhattan College and was a consultant to labor unions on corporate campaigns. Day/Time: Friday, 10am-12pm Date: 10/2-11/6 (6 Sessions) Instructors: Richard Garrett & Tom Lerchan Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC) Cost: $65
Reclaiming Our Voices: Films about Women Fighting for Justice “We realize the importance of our voices only when they are silenced,” Malala Yusafzai. This group will focus on 4 films about women fighting for justice and who are united in the belief that reclaiming our voices is the first step toward empowerment. The films are: Iron-Jawed Angels, I’m Still Here, Hidden Figures, and
Dolores; the subjects include women’s suffrage, resistance to dictatorship, Black female mathematicians, and farm worker organizing. Meta Mendel-Reyes is a former labor organizer and professor, who has taught several courses for OLLI. She has led many workshops on anti-racism. Day/Time: Thursday, 1-3pm Date: 10/29-11/19 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Meta Mendal-Reyes Location: Jewish Community Center (JCC) Cost: $45
Music Matters “Music sounds the way emotions feel” (Pratt 1952). This course will take a closer look at how music works and explores multiple ways music speaks to us nonverbally. Various musical examples will illustrate the language of music. You do not need musical training to enjoy this class or our discussions. Julie Jaffee Nagel is a graduate of Julliard, U of M and Michigan Psychoanalytic Institute. She has authored: Melodies of the Mind, Managing Stage Fright, Career Choices in Music and a Conversation Between Mozart and Freud. She is fascinated with how music makes her feel what she cannot (at first) articulate with words. Day/Time: Thursday, 1-3pm Date: 10/8-10/29 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Julie Jaffee Nagel Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $45
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS MUSIC, THEATER, AND FILM
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AYURVEDA - the Science and Knowledge of Life (S)
POTPOURRI House Sitting: Travel the World and Your Lodging is Free Would you like to stay for weeks or months at a time in homes around the world? We’ll show you the nuts and bolts of this low-cost way to travel and how to step into the homeowner’s shoes by minding pets, tending the yard, and bringing in the mail. You pay nothing for lodging. We also offer inspiration with cultural stories and some of our mistakes that make us more savvy travelers. Conrad and Josie have spent the last sixteen years house sitting around the world. At first, the most compelling feature was no cost for lodging, but it didn’t take long to realize the larger benefit of cultural awareness that has helped us understand ourselves and our world in a valuable way. Day/Time: Monday, 3-4:30pm Date: 11/30 & 12/7 Instructors: Conrad and Josie Schneider Location: University Commons, Main Bld, Front Rm Cost: $25
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STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS POTPOURRI
Ayurveda means knowledge and wisdom of life. This 5000-yr old science provides time tested wisdom that helps us know and understand ourselves. When you start to understand yourself from the Ayurvedic perspective, it will help you; align with your “true” nature, honor and develop your innate strengths, locate your specific challenge areas- so you can redirect detrimental tendencies and maintain balance when challenges arise. Laurie Dean has been practicing and teaching Yoga for over 25 years and is a certified Ayurveda Practitioner with well over 3000 hours of study in both sciences. A lifelong learner, Laurie is passionate about sharing the wisdom of Yoga and Ayurveda to help people live fully and live well. Day/Time: Monday, 12-2pm Date: 11/9 Instructor: Laurie Dean Location: Turner Senior Resource Center, Debrodt Rm Cost: $15
TED Talks TED is a non-partisan organization recognizing “ideas change everything.” TED hosts remarkable speakers addressing a wide array of topics. In each session we will view two TED talks and discuss what we saw. I will choose the talks for the first day; class members will choose topics for later sessions from a list of several titles I have reviewed. I encourage class members to bring TED talk suggestions to our first session.
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Lee Pizzimenti is a Professor of Law Emerita at University of Toledo and has facilitated the TED Talks class several times. Day/Time: Monday, 1-3pm Date: 9/21-10/19 Instructor: Lee Pizzimenti Location: Turner Senior Resource Center, Debrodt Rm Cost: $55
Planting New Roots in Ann Arbor Relocation in retirement is exciting and disorienting. This interactive course helps recently transplanted seniors explore Ann Arbor, identify local resources, build social networks, and find meaningful ways to engage in their new community. Participants will learn how daily life works here (e.g., shopping, health/wellness, transportation, entertainment) while developing new friendships, sharing wisdom and practical knowledge, discovering opportunities for involvement, and creating a personal plan for belonging and purpose. Tracey Lind and Emily Ingalls are recent transplants to Ann Arbor. Tracey is a retired Episcopal priest, city planner and community organizer. Emily has a background in management, logistics, and operations. This course grows out of their belief that retirement is a distinct chapter of life, relocation to a new place is challenging, and belonging with purpose is built intentionally — through relationships, engagement and shared wisdom. Day/Time: Wednesday, 1-3pm Date: 9/30-10/28 Instructors: Tracey Lind & Emily Ingalls Location: First Presbyterian Church, Lewis Rm Cost: $55
RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY, AND SPIRITUALITY Perennial Philosophy Reloaded: A Guide for the Mystically Inclined This book study examines Dana Sawyer’s The Perennial Philosophy Reloaded: A Guide for the Mystically Inclined (2024), a modern reappraisal of the Perennial Philosophy tradition. Sawyer connects classic thinkers like Aldous Huxley and Alan Watts with contemporary spiritual teachers, exploring themes of consciousness, mysticism, and personal transformation. The book offers an accessible guide to perennialism ideas and their renewed relevance in today’s culture, including psychedelic research and modern spirituality. Barb Cherem, Ph.D. spent five decades teaching in P-12 and higher education. A passionate history enthusiast, she has facilitated many OLLI book studies and other topics of interest to older adults. Day/Time: Monday, 10:30am-12pm Date: 10/5-10/19 (3 Sessions) Instructor: Barbara Cherem Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $35
You’re Not Listening When was the last time you really listened to someone, or someone really listened to you? If you’re like most people, you don’t listen as often or as well as you’d like. Despite living in a world where technology allows constant digital communication and opportunities to connect, it seems no one is really listening or even knows how. And
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS POTPOURRI | RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY, AND SPIRITUALITY
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it’s making us lonelier, more isolated, and less tolerant than ever before. A listener by trade, New York Times contributor Kate Murphy wanted to know how we got here. A talented journalist, she introduces us to the right mindset and skillset, and this book, YOU’RE NOT LISTENING, does it with science and humor. Mike Murray is a Clinical Psychologist. He’s been teaching courses, for OLLI, for 19 years. Day/Time: Wednesday, 10-11:30am Date: 9/9-10/14 (6 Sessions) Instructor: Mike Murray Location: Online Cost: $65
Social Intelligence and Human Relationships In Social Intelligence, Daniel Goleman argues that our happiness and success in families, friendships, and peaceful living depend on our ability to attune to others— reading emotions, showing empathy, and managing interactions skillfully. These capacities rooted in social intelligence, shape trust, connection and cooperation, ultimately determining the quality of our relationships and collective well-being. How important is this for us as we get older? Mike Murray is a Clinical Psychologist. He’s been teaching courses, for OLLI, for 19 years. Day/Time: Wednesday, 10-11:30am Date: 11/11-12/16 (6 Sessions) Instructor: Mike Murray Location: Online Cost: $65
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Translating the Bible: History and Problems This study group will treat several topics relevant to the translation of the Bible. First, we’ll outline the history of Bible translation from the original Hebrew and Greek up to the King James Bible (1611). We will discuss selected socio-political and linguistic issues involved in Bible translation and examine some specific cases of controversial translations. Finally watch a presentation of recent attempts to produce in English a gender-neutral and inclusive rendering of the Bible considered to be divinely inspired. Steven Dworkin is a retired UM Professor of Romance Linguistics and Linguistics. His teaching repertoire included a course on Language and Religion. Day/Time: Monday, 1-2:30pm Date: 11/2-11/16 (3 Sessions) Instructor: Steven Dworkin Location: First Presbyterian Church Cost: $35
Inquiry as a Spiritual Practice Together, we’ll look at what it means to engage honestly and directly with our own inner truth. Inquiry serves as a powerful practice for self-discovery and is designed to deepen your connection with your authentic self. If you feel stymied by negative self-talk or overly influenced by what others think this practice helps liberate you. Inquiry is an open-ended, experiential exploration of your presentmoment experience. We will reference Diamond Heart Book One by A.H. Almaas.
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY, AND SPIRITUALITY
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Julie Endress is a spiritual teacher in a modern path that pulls from depth psychology and ancient traditions. She has practiced inquiry for 20 years. Her life experience with meditation, loss, divorce, parenting, re-creating herself, career transition and her work as an executive coach bring a real-world perspective to her role as a teacher. Day/Time: Tuesday, 10am-12pm Date: 9/22-11/10 (8 Sessions) Instructor: Julie Endress Location: First Presbyterian Church Cost: $65
Beginning Meditation Together we will practice meditation. We will explore through discussion and exercises what makes it difficult and understand what draws us to want to devote ourselves to this practice. No previous meditation practice is necessary. Julie Endress is a spiritual teacher in a modern path that pulls from depth psychology and ancient traditions. She has practiced inquiry for 20 years. Her life experience with meditation, loss, divorce, parenting, re-creating herself, career transition and her work as an executive coach bring a real-world perspective to her role as a teacher. Day/Time: Friday, 10-11am Date: 9/25-10/30 (6 Sessions) Instructor: Julie Endress Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $65
SOCIAL SCIENCE Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging Book Discussion Researchers report psychedelics show great promise to support healthy aging. We’ll survey relevant geriatric research and legal issues and discuss these stories of older adults using psychedelics “to reconnect with purpose, heal old wounds, deepen relationships, and make peace with mortality.” For Abbie Rosner’s informants, aging becomes a time of insight, connection, and renewed aliveness. Why is this happening? This group is for anyone curious about psychedelics to support healthy aging. Kate LaBore is a cultural anthropologist, former educator, health consultant and independent researcher. She’s interested in countercultural practices, personal narratives and intentional communities. Abbie Rosner is a writer and baby boomer fascinated by her cohort’s explorations of the drugs of their youth. Her book, Psychedelics and the Counterculture of Aging, examines the growing trend of older adults using psychedelics to radically reimagine what it is to be an elder. Day/Time: Thursday, 3-4:30pm Date: 12/3-12/17 (3 Sessions) Instructor: Kate LaBore Location: Online Cost: $35
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY, AND SPIRITUALITY | SOCIAL SCIENCE
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Purpose, and Impact: Why Seniors Should Consider the Peace Corps (S) Retirement opens a remarkable chapter — one ripe for meaningful contribution. Seniors bring decades of professional expertise, life wisdom, and patience that communities around the world desperately need. The Peace Corps welcomes volunteers of all ages, offering older adults a chance to share their skills, experience personal growth, and forge deep crosscultural connections. Far from slowing down, joining the Peace Corps lets seniors prove that purpose knows no age limit. Wendy Scott Keeney is an archeologist/ anthropologist by training, a businesswoman in philanthropy and business development by profession for 40+ years. Wendy has lived and worked both internationally and across the US. She returned from 2.5 years of Peace Corps service in November 2025. While there, she taught HIV-AIDS education to high school students. Day/Time: Tuesday, 2-4pm Date: 9/29 (1 Session) Instructor: Wendy Scott Keeney Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
Purposeful Retirement: Your Next Chapter Drawing on behavioral science research, we explore meaning, purpose, resilience, mindset, and habits, and apply these ideas to your life. Through guided reflection, creative exercises, peer collaboration, and a simple online interactive workbook that supports iterative reflection, you will gain new perspectives, clarify what gives your life meaning in retirement, and define achievable goals.
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Raj Bhargava teaches design Your Next Life Chapter at Stanford Continuing Studies and has taught behavioral science at the Stanford Graduate School of Education. A Stanford Distinguished Careers Institute Fellow, he has been founder of Jaspersoft, CEO at Trade Inc, and executive at Oracle and Hewlett Packard. He holds an MBA from University of Michigan and an MS from Penn State. Day/Time: Thursday, 3:30-5pm Date: 9/17 & 9/21 (2 Sessions) Instructor: Raj Bhargava Location: Online Cost: $25
Thinking Fast and Slow We will read and discuss the title book by Daniel Kahneman, which describes our two types of thought processes. Thinking fast is automatic and unconscious: it recognizes faces, reacts to danger and makes most of our daily decisions without us noticing. Thinking slow is deliberate and analytical: it calculates, considers and checks. The problem is that thinking fast is lazy and does the work only when it genuinely must. Almost all our decisions are made by thinking fast, even when we believe we are thinking carefully. Gerry Lapidus has led more than 70 book discussions at OLLI. The classes are informal conversations based on passages in the book. He retired as a Product Manager at AT&T and Lucent Technologies. Day/Time: Monday, 1-3pm Date: 10/26-12/14 (8 Sessions) Instructor: Gerry Lapidus Location: Online Cost: $65
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
The James Webb Telescope and what it has and may discover
STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS) Technology Through the Ages Complex technology is one of the few things that distinguish humans from other animals. This class will highlight dozens of very old, kind of old and new technologies and discuss their key insights, timing, and impact on society. Some of these inventions are so widely used that we don’t often consider their impact (e.g., writing, language, toilets, radio, plumbing, electricity, the transistor). Please come and join the discussion! Charlie Taylor is a retired research scientist from Pfizer drug discovery in Ann Arbor. He earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience, studying the biology of insect vision. He has taught similar classes for Chelsea Adult Learners since 2008. Day/Time: Monday, 1-3pm Date: 10/12-11/2 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Charile Taylor Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $45
This course is based on the Great Courses video series by astrophysicist Sarah Rugheimer of the University of Edinburgh. Her lectures include the design, fabrication, and launch of the JWST, the discoveries it has made so far, its search for life on exoplanets, and what discoveries may lie in the future from it and succeeding telescopes. We will watch and discuss two half-hour lectures each week. See bit.ly/ OLLI_JWST for lecture summaries. Craig Stephan, Ph.D. is a retired physicist from Ford Motor Co. and Argonne National Lab. He has led many previous scienceoriented OLLI study groups including Cosmology, The Higgs Boson, Astrophysics, and The Science of Climate Change. Day/Time: Friday, 12:30-2:30pm Date: 9/18-10/30 (no class on 10/9) (6 Sessions) Instructor: Craig Stephan Location: Trinity Lutheran Church Cost: $65
Manual Medicine: Hoax, ScienceBased, or Other? Many manual medicine treatments (MMTs; osteopathic manipulation, chiropractic, others) are deemed to be non-effective and non-science based. Is this fair? We will explore laboratory-based inquiries related to MMTs efficacy. Such inquiries are critical from numerous perspectives: medical, financial, emotional, and philosophical. Discussion topics include 1) laboratory modeling of MMTs, 2) why MMTs are considered alternative or complementary, STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS STEM
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3) pitfalls of eponymous treatments, 4) lack of scientific approaches to proving efficacy and how to resolve this. Dr. Standley earned a PhD in medical physiology and has conducted research in cell biology, biomechanics, and gene expression for nearly 40 years. He has taught thousands of medical and graduate students at several universities and has served as a founding faculty member at three medical schools. He is a Professor Emeritus at The University of Arizona and currently lives in Michigan. Day/Time: Thursday, 10am-12pm Date: 10/22-11/12 (4 Sessions) Instructor: Dr. Paul Standley Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $45
Ethical Issues With Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI) (S) BCI - systems allow direct communication between the brain and external devices - promise transformative applications in medicine, communication, and workforce enhancement. But because they interact directly with the brain, they raise novel ethical challenges that go beyond typical digital technology concerns. Elon Musk’s ‘Neuralink’ is one example of BCI technology. The study group will be based on the 2025 book by Nita Farahany The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology. Reading of the book is not required; all resource material will be provided for your review before class. Katrina Rosculet has an MD from the University of Michigan, and a Masters in
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Bioethics from the Medical College of Wisconsin. Day/Time: Wednesday, 1-3pm Date: 9/30 (1 Session) Instructor: Katrina Rosculet Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
Saving the Monarch Butterfly (repeat) (S) Due to habitat loss from use of pesticides, climate change, and insufficient milkweed, the monarch population has declined 85% over the last 25 years. This class focuses on the amazing life cycle of the monarch butterfly and steps individuals can take to support monarch survival. The importance of milkweed and native habitat will be discussed. A session highlight is going outside to release monarchs to begin their amazing 2,000-mile journey to central Mexico for the winter. Retired educator Carolyn Siebers has been a nature lover with a fascination for butterflies and birds since childhood. During the summer months, Carolyn stalks patches of milkweed looking for monarch eggs to raise into butterflies for release into the wild. Day/Time: Wednesday, 2-4pm Date: 9/16 (1 Session)m Instructor: Carolyn Siebers Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $15
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
The Science behind the Use and Regulation of Drug Therapy The emphasis will be on understanding the scientific basis of drug therapy and how it is regulated/managed in the US. Topics will focus on the history of drug discovery and the science of drug therapeutics. This will be a group discussion format led by the course instructor. The sessions are expected to last for up to two hours. No prior reading materials are required. The intent is to give the participants a better understanding for the medications they take. Frank Ascione is a retired Professor from the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy. He taught courses on OTC therapeutics, patient medication counseling, scientific drug literature evaluation, and regulation of drug products. His research focused on the medication use process and consumer understanding/use of medications. Prior to academia, he practiced in hospital pharmacy and geriatrics. Day/Time: Tuesday, 10am-12pm Date: 9/22-11/3 (No class on 10/6) (6 Sessions) Instructor: Frank Ascione Location: Washtenaw Community College Cost: $65
Unpacking the A.I. Headlines Artificial Intelligence is transforming our world at an unprecedented pace, reshaping work, science, creativity, education, and human relationships while raising profound questions about safety, ethics, and the future of humanity. In this five-
session seminar, we will examine the most important AI Headlines, explore the underlining concepts, draw on insights from neuroscience, psychology, philosophy, and the social sciences, and discuss what these advances may mean for our future. Deb Mukherjee has been leading classes at OLLI for over a decade. Day/Time: Wednesday, 10-11:30am Date: 11/4-12/9 (no class 11/25) (5 Sessions) Instructor: Deb Mukherjee Location: Online Cost: $55
WRITING Writers Unlimited Participants read their original written compositions, essay, short story, novel or poem, to receive constructive criticism from the group. Comments may range from word choice, spelling and punctuation to style and themes. Parts of long compositions are read in consecutive weeks. New members are welcome!
STUDY GROUPS TABLE OF CONTENTS STEM | WRITING
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Jerry Janusz is a retired mathematician and has been part of this study group for more than fifteen years. Day/Time: Friday, 10am-12pm Date: 9/18-12/11 (14 Sessions) Instructor: Jerry Janusz Location: Online Cost: $65
Poetry Writing Workshop Please join us for a workshop on writing poems. We will consider what a poem is and where poets find topics as well as doing writing exercises to prepare for generating our own original poems. We’ll share our poems with each other, getting the benefit of a supportive audience. No prior experience is necessary. Each workshop takes on its own dimensions through those who take part. Ginny Bentz is a former adjunct lecturer at Gannon University and Mercyhurst University. She has a Ph.D. in English from Case Western Reserve University and won 3rd place in the Springfield Arts 2026 Poetry contest. Day/Time: Wednesday, 1-3pm Date: 10/7-11/11 (6 Sessions) Instructor: Ginny Bentz Location: University Commons Cost: $65
Writing Our Stories In this engaging study group, participants will learn how to tell the stories of their lives and those of their ancestors. We will meet weekly to share and reflect, and each participant should come prepared to read a story they have written. This is a supportive
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space for developing your voice and preserving meaningful memories through storytelling. Jan Price calls herself a “very amateur memoirist” who has written her story after being motivated by an OLLI class. She has taught memoir writing for over 10 years. Day/Time: Friday, 10am-12pm Date: 9/18-12/11 (no class on 11/27) (12 Sessions) Instructor: Jan Price Location: Online Cost: $65
Memoirs and Personal Essays This group meets every week from September to June, except for holidays. There are no specific assignments. Writers strive to find their own subject matter, genre, and stylistic voice. Each week, several of us read our work aloud and others respond thoughtfully to such things as the piece’s structure, clarity, and its ability to convey meaning and emotional content. Everyone is expected to read regularly and to provide constructive responses. Eleanor Linn joined this group in 2007 when it was led by Helen Hill, who originated its supportive format. She continues writing and reading her work in addition to leading the discussion. Before retiring from the UM, she published on sexual harassment, equity in mathematics and science, and feminist pedagogy. Day/Time: Thursday, 2:15-4:15pm Date: 9/17/26-6/10/27 (40 Sessions) Instructor: Eleanor Linn Location: Turner Senior Resource Center Cost: $65
OLLI UM | FALL 2026
COMMUNITY PARTNERS OLLI works with Community Partners to develop exclusive benefits for OLLI members. Community Partners participate in OLLI’s Fall Kickoff and Winter Open House and promote OLLI within their own organizations. Ann Arbor Art Center: https://annarborartcenter.org
Theatre Nova: https://theatrenova.org
Ann Arbor Civic Theatre: https://a2ct.org
The Health & Fitness Center at Washtenaw Community College: https://www.wccfitness.org/
Ann Arbor District Library: https://aadl.org
Kerrytown Concert House: https://kerrytownconcerthouse.com/
Michigan & State Theaters: https://marquee-arts.org
University of Michigan Museum of Art (UMMA): https://umma.umich.edu
Washtenaw Community College Emeritus Scholarship: https://www.wccnet. edu/afford/financial-aid/ scholarships/emeritus.php
PTD Productions: https://ptdproductions.com Ypsilanti District Library: https://www.ypsilibrary.org/ Senior Regional Collaborative: https://semisrc.org
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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DEVELOPMENT WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT OLLI-UM
The Annual Fund: A minimum donation of $100. Enrolls you as an OLLI Honor Roll Member. Donations of any size are welcomed!
Friends of OLLI Endowment: Ensure the future of OLLI.
Sponsor a Program: Honor Someone or a special event. Contact the OLLI office for details to sponsor an individual program or a program series, 734-998-9351 or olli.info@umich.edu. Although OLLI receives generous in-kind support from the University of Michigan, we receive no direct financial support. Our OLLI is funded by memberships and program revenue, an annual distribution from the Osher Foundation Endowment along with grants and donations from members and friends.
Scan to donate! or click the link here: https://shorturl.at/tvHQU
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OLLI UM | FALL 2026
Thank You
to our Big Hearts for Seniors Sponsors 2026 GOLD Aetna
SILVER DTE Energy Martin Family Foundation
Michigan Medicine- University of Michigan -Geriatrics Center Priority Health
United Healthcare Victors Care
BRONZE All Seasons Ann Arbor
Home Instead
Atria Park of Ann Arbor
Kiwanis Club of Ann Arbor Foundation
Barden Family Brookhaven Manor
Michigan G.R. and M.A, LLC
U-M Health -Community Health Services University Senior Living Visiting Angels Ann Arbor
St. Croix Hospice
COPPER Anita Clos & Dennis Crowley, MD
Bonnie and Rick Ohye
Jack and Monica Knowles
AsKevin Digital Coach
Care Pros at Home
John and Kathleen Beilein
Bank of Ann Arbor
Chalgian & Tripp Law Offices PLLC
Laurita Thomas
Bassett Murray Law Group PLLC Bill McPherson and Marcey Terrien
EHM Senior Solutions Evangelista & Associates
Nie Family Funeral Home Old National Bank
Exceptional Senior Care
BIG HEARTS FOR SENIORS SPONSORS 2026
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Senior Living Week Expo Saturday, October 10, 2026 9:00am – 1:00pm Washtenaw Community College Morris Lawrence Building Featured speaker, senior living service providers, and health screenings
Senior Living Week October 11 – 17, 2026 Workshops and Open Houses
Contact the Housing Bureau for Seniors
(734) 998-9338 michmed.org/seniorlivingweek
FOR ALL OLLI MEMBERS
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Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library One of Ann Arbor's great secondhand bookstores! • 265 Parkland Plaza SHOP
DONATE SHOP FAADL SHELVES at the Downtown Library and all branches!
FAADL BOOK SHOP OPEN SATURDAYS 10 AM – 4 PM • 10,000+ used books for kids and adults, most $2 or less • Puzzles, CDs, DVDs, games, and more • Summer Game and book-themed merchandise
SHOP ONLINE at faadl.org. Nearly new books, many are recent releases! Pick up your order at the Downtown Library or any branch.
Donate your gently used books and other materials. Tues: 10 am - 4 pm
Wed - Sat: 10 am - 4 pm Sunday: 1 pm - 4 pm
JOIN US Become a member at faadl.org and receive benefits, including free books
Funds raised by FAADL support Ann Arbor District Library programs and events.
KERRYTOWN CONCERT HOUSE
where exceptional music comes home E S T. 1 9 8 4 F E AT U R I N G
Jazz Classical World Cabaret
Avant-Garde and more!
415 N. Fourth Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48104 kerrytownconcerthouse.com (734) 769-2999
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Michigan 2401 Plymouth Road Suite C, Room 1163 Ann Arbor, MI 48105-2193
Compassionate Guidance for Life’s Next Chapter At Michigan G.R.and.M.A, we understand the challenges seniors and families face when making senior living decisions. Our mission is to empower you with the knowledge and support needed to navigate the complexities of aging care.
Michelle Miller, CDP, Owner & Family Advisor “I imagine a world where peace, balance, and a sense of normalcy can be restored while honoring what truly matters. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of assisting over 1,500 seniors in their transitions. In this journey, I have come to understand that many individuals benefit greatly from access to local education, professional support, and resources as they navigate the complexities of moving into senior living.”
Call now for your free consultation. (248) 794-9422 info@michigangrandma.com www.michigangrandma.com Serving Southeast Michigan: Washtenaw, Oakland, Wayne, Monroe, Lenawee, Livingston, and Macomb county.