DU / 2023 FALL / MEET THE STAFF

Maria Elena Garcia, OLLI at DU Curriculum Manager and On Campus Manager

Maria Elena Garcia has over 30 years’ educational leadership experience in schools, school districts, universities, and state departments of education. She was a managing consultant, program designer, and trainer with an international, educational research and development organization. Her focus areas are systems improvement and organizational development.

She enjoys working for OLLI at DU and thinks she saved the best workplace for last!

Faye Hastings, OLLI at DU Technology Coordinator

Prior to being involved with OLLI, Faye Hasting’s background was in office administration, HR and local IT support. She started at the OLLI at DU South site over 10 years ago. While there, she performed many volunteer positions as a facilitator, history chair for the curriculum committee, facilitator trainer, and program developer. She moved into an administrator position for OLLI at DU and came back in her current position as Technology Coordinator.

Dave Johnson, OLLI at DU Support Specialist

Dave Johnson has been employed as Support Specialist by OLLI at DU since June of 2022. He is semi-retired with a background in theater. He has worked for the Denver Center for Performing Arts, Chicken Lips Comedy Theater, Town Hall Arts Center and was a co-owner of the Avenue Theater in downtown Denver. He’s worked in all areas of theater including box office, administration, marketing, performing, maintenance and cleaning.

Mary Ann Laurich, OLLI at DU Central Campus Assistant Manager and Program Coordinator

Mary Ann Laurich, Central Campus Assistant Manager, comes from a history of working with lifelong learning and has an ongoing passion for education at all levels. Her past experiences include working in social work and the court system with children, adolescents & families. She takes great pride in being a part of the healing process of abuse, neglect and at risk, spending time with family, gardening, reading, hiking, and horses.

Christine Liptak, OLLI at DU Marketing and Communications Assistant and Zoom Support

Christine Liptak has an undergraduate degree in Psychology, a Master’s of Business Administration and over 30 years of experience in business administration consulting with start-ups, training and analysis for the telecommunications industry, retail management and office administration.

Kim Penoyer, OLLI at DU Program and Operations Coordinator

When Kim Penoyer retired from the University of Colorado, a friend introduced her to OLLI at DU. She decided that OLLI was a wonderful way to ease into retirement. While working for CU Kim was Manager of the Online Program Development for CU Online/Office of Digital Education, Director of CU at Interlocken and Executive Director of the Continuing Engineering Education Program. Her CU experience has proven helpful with her work at OLLI. Kim earned her MBA from the University of Colorado Denver and her BS in Education from Michigan State University.

Sherilee Selby, OLLI at DU South Campus Program Coordinator and Curriculum Assistant

Sherilee Selby joined OLLI in 2009 after retiring, first from her role as a child and family therapist, then from retail management. She holds a Masters in Social Work from Indiana University. She has traveled to Sudan while a Board Member for Nuba Water Project, a non-profit focused on clean water. Sherilee accepted the OLLI South Program Assistant role in 2017 and now also serves as Curriculum Assistant. Sherilee and her husband live in the Denver area and treasure time with their adult grandchildren and son. Connection with OLLI members has enriched her life.

Paul Simon, OLLI at DU Community Outreach Manager

Paul Simon is a retired journalist and manager who worked many years for the Associated Press as well as the Denver Post. He is a Master Facilitator and has held several management positions for OLLI at DU, including site manager. He continues to work for OLLI as the manager for OLLI on the Move and as Community Outreach Manager.

Darcey VanWagner, OLLI at DU South Campus Manager

Darcey VanWagner, South Campus Manager, joined OLLI at DU in 2016. Prior to working at OLLI at DU she worked in the financial industry and has been actively involved in public education. She is a Colorado native and graduate of Colorado State University. She is married and parent to two great kids. She enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, gardening and exploring Colorado. She is honored to be part of OLLI and getting to know and work with a wonderful diverse group of people.

Mitra Verma, OLLI at DU On Campus Program Coordinator, Graphic Designer, and Zoom Support

Mitra Verma joined OLLI in December 2021 and has more than 20 years of expertise in the fields of art, design, and education. She holds a master’s degree in handicraft designing and was assigned empanelment as a Handicraft Designer by Development Commissioner Handicraft (DCHC) India. She worked as a design faculty teaching art, design fundamentals, and handicraft-related research and documentation. She also teaches art to OLLI members, and her diverse cultural background is reflected in that work.

Jacqueline Wyant, OLLI at DU Executive Director

Jacqueline (Jackie) Wyant has served as Executive Director of the OLLI at DU program since May of 2022. She served as Manager for the OLLI on Campus program from 201822 and has been a member since 2012.

During Jackie’s career in education, she held teaching and administrative positions in public schools and at the university level. As a program designer and project manager, she has designed comprehensive organizationaland state-wide leadership development programs.

Jackie’s passion is strategic planning and during the past year, Jackie formed teams to design a new website, registration system, pricing plan, and membership program. Other key initiatives this year included OLLI on the Move to bring programming to senior living communities and public libraries and OLLI at DU Fit offering free fitness courses online and in-person.