SPRING 2026
Learning programs for adults age 50 and better at the University of Pittsburgh
REGISTRATION OPENS WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10, 2025
SPRING 2026 TERM
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
University of Pittsburgh
Clicking on an item in the table of contents will take you to its corresponding page in the catalog.
DATES AND DEADLINES
OLLI Spring term financial assistance application period NOV. 24
OLLI course registration opens DEC. 10, 9 A.M.
OLLI Open House (in person) DEC. 17, 1:30 – 2:30 P.M. University Spring classes begin (for audit courses) JAN. 12
OLLI Open House (online) JAN. 15, 3 – 4 P.M.
16
OLLI session 1 begins JAN. 26
OLLI session 1 ends FEB. 27
OLLI session 2 begins MARCH 16
OLLI session 2 ends APRIL 17
ABOUT OLLI
Established in 2005 at the University of Pittsburgh, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is one of over 120 OLLI programs located on college campuses throughout the United States. OLLI at Pitt seeks to create a dedicated intellectual environment for learners aged 50 and better by offering non-credit and engaging college-level courses, providing opportunities for social interaction, and maintaining connections to the vibrant University community. OLLI at Pitt’s instructors include current and retired faculty from the University of Pittsburgh and others from the diverse and talentfilled Pittsburgh area and beyond. The OLLI at Pitt program nurtures a passion for learning and contributes to the health and engagement of the older adult community.
CONTACT US
Phone: 412-624-7308 | Email: osher@pitt.edu | Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. 4227 Fifth Avenue, 710 Alumni Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
MAKE A GIFT TODAY TO SUPPORT OLLI’S CLASSROOM OF THE FUTURE
OLLI has embarked on an exciting effort to renovate and reimagine a 3,000-square-foot space in the lower level of the iconic Alumni Hall on the University of Pittsburgh’s main campus.
This state-of-the-art space will be designed with OLLI members in mind: making the learning experience as welcoming, comfortable, and inclusive as possible.
The space includes a 46-seat classroom, a fullyequipped conference room, a lounge area for members, a welcoming reception area, and the most up-to-date computer stations.
MAKE A DONATION TODAY TO TURN OLLI’S FUTURE OF POSSIBILITIES INTO A REALITY .
Your gift makes a difference in ensuring that the space is fully equipped and maintained so members can continue to stay engaged, both intellectually and socially. Donations may be made directly online or in person. Other donation methods include distribution from funds, appreciated assets, or IRAs. Gifts of $5,000 and above will be recognized within the renovated space.
MEMBERSHIP AND REGISTRATION
An active OLLI membership is required to register for courses.
WHAT DOES MEMBERSHIP INCLUDE?
• Unlimited access to in-person and online OLLI at Pitt courses
• Admission to in-person and online onetime lectures and special events
• Ability to join local tours, day trips, and travel opportunities
• University of Pittsburgh privileges (Wi-Fi, campus shuttles, library)
• Discount tickets to Pittsburgh cultural events through the Pitt Arts Cheap Seats program
• Ability to audit up to two undergraduate Pitt courses each term without additional costs
Spring and Summer 2026 memberships (two terms) available for $175
Term memberships cover just one term for $150.
Scholarships based on financial need are available per term.
COURSE TYPE
What can you expect from your OLLI at Pitt course? Our course type categories will help you understand the structure of the class and instructor expectations of participation:
LECTURE —These courses are primarily oral presentations where information, history, theories, or ideas are presented by instructors with occasional contributions from participants through questions and answers.
DISCUSSION —These courses can be on academic, cultural, or enrichment topics where participants are welcome to talk and contribute to class dialogue through open class discussions.
For more information on membership, course registration, auditing classes, and scholarships, visit the website:
ACTIVE LEARNING —These courses require a high degree of participants' active involvement and practice (language, painting, exercise, etc.).
SPRING 2026: SESSION 1 SCH EDULE AT-A-GLANCE
Jan. 26 – Feb. 27, 2026
The courses below are current as of November 25, 2025. For the most up-to-date course information, always consult the OLLI at Pitt website at olli.pitt.edu. Clicking on each course title will take you to its course description in the catalog.
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Yourself Through Creative Writing
in Nature: Watercolors and Colored Pencil
of Church and State
WEDNESDAY
Aging: Purpose, Growth, and Legacy in Later Life
You're Not Dead Yet: What are You Going to Do About That?
and Hitler: Armageddon Dawns
in the Third Reich
SPRING 2026: SESSION 1 SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
Jan. 26 – Feb. 27, 2026
WEDNESDAY
Introduction to Using Generative AI
American Foreign Policy: From Independence to the 21st Century
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: Artistic Visions
American Inventors: Life and Times
THURSDAY
Between the Wars, 1919–1939
Spanish
History and Debunking Myths of Caribbean Carnival
U.S. History & The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Danger and Deception: The Best of Alfred Hitchcock
Advanced Conversational Spanish
Big Bang and Expansion of the Universe
Cults and Conspiracies: Persuasion, Media, and Identity
Representing Reality: Issues and Concepts in Documentary
On the Move: Group Exercise for Improved Mobility in Older Adults®
Amazing Sound and Legacy of the Brill Building
Explorers, Warriors, and Empires
FRIDAY
Chakra Yoga
Franco de Gómez
Franco de Gómez
Shivaun Corry
Rizzi
Donnette Clary
Experiencing the Grateful Dead 1970–1977 Jeff Hunter
Intermediate Level French: Grammar Cathleen Sendek-Sapp
Stars and the History of the Movie Musical, Part 1
George Eliot and George Sand
Sam and Candy Caponegro
Daniel Vitaglione
Survey of 100 Years of the Nationality Rooms Michael Walter
Healing Qigong & Tai Chi for Strength and Balance
Wang
SPRING 2026: SESSION 2 SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
March 16 – April 17, 2026
The courses below are current as of November 25, 2025. For the most up-to-date course information, always consult the OLLI at Pitt website at olli.pitt.edu. Clicking on each course title will take you to its course description in the catalog.
MONDAY
Gentle Yoga A (continued)
and the Holocaust
The Bill of Rights: Is it Relevant Anymore?
Chair Yoga (continued)
The Erie Canal
Professional Ethics in Medicine: How Physicians Decide and How it Affects You
and Times of Literary Favorites
Germany's Last Chance in the East: The 1943 Summer Offensive
Spring Textures in Nature: Watercolors and Colored Pencil (cont.)
Shakespeare's Measure for Measure: Interpretations
Discovering Real Africa: Debunking Myths and Stereotypes
Conventional Wisdom: The Struggle to Establish a New Nation
TUESDAY
"Tell all the Truth but Tell it Slant": Adventures in Memoir
You Know Your Heart?
The Rom-Com, Part 1: Screwball
History of England According to William Shakespeare
on Barbie: Macroeconomics in an Age of Uncertainty
Level French (continued)
Against American Communism
Online course In-person course
Hybrid course (classes that meet in person and are also streamed online)
SPRING 2026: SESSION 2 SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
March 16 – April 17, 2026
WEDNESDAY
Gentle Yoga B (continued)
Poetry of Food and Drink
Racism in America
Andrew Jackson: Hero of Democracy?
World Mythology in the Modern World
Animal Behavior: Companion Animals
Makes a Great President
Gulliver's Travels: The Greatest Satire in English
Art and Science of Wine Tasting and Terroir
THURSDAY
Encore Career Blueprint: Reinventing Work and Purpose
Spanish (continued)
Structure and Function of the U.S. Court System
From Lyres to Synths: Evolution of Western Classical Music
Beginning Spanish (continued)
How to Die Well: Practical Steps for the Living
Advanced Conversational Spanish (continued)
Divas' Duet: An Examination of Women in Opera
Yiddish Voices, Soviet Shadows: Stories by Shira Gorshman
On the Move: Group Exercise for Improved Mobility in Older Adults® (continued)
How Can You Contribute to Sustainable Development?
History of Photography:
Intermediate Level French: Grammar (continued)
Stars and the History of the Movie Musical, Part 2
Freud on Memory: Suffering from Reminiscences
Brief Tour of Asian Thought
Healing Qigong & Tai Chi for Strength and Balance (continued)
Spies Like Us: Exploring Espionage in Five Popular Films
Franco de Gómez
SPRING 2026 COURSES
HISTORY, CLASSICS, AND PHILOSOPHY
SPRING 2026 COURSES BY
PERFORMING ARTS
SPRING 2026: SESSIONS 1 & 2
COURSES LISTED ALPHABETICALLY
A Century of Fiction in The NewYorker, Part 2
David Walton
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Advanced
Conversational Spanish
María Franco de Gómez
THURSDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
Advanced Improv Comedy
Connor McCanlus
WEDNESDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Album Cover Design: A Brief History
Jane Dudley
MONDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
We will read a selection from the 100th anniversary collection of The New Yorker short fiction, discussing two or three stories each week. We will read a few familiar stories, but most will be less familiar, promoting freer discussion. Stories discussed will be different from the Fall 2025 class on this anthology.
This 10-week course is appropriate for participants who are comfortable and successful at communicating in Spanish and want to further develop their reading and conversational skills. Participants are expected to be able to use present, past, and future tenses, and have significant vocabulary and understanding of syntax (or have successfully completed Intermediate Spanish). The course is taught in Spanish and focuses on analyzing and discussing reading material. Weekly class material is provided.
Note: This course is often taken several times. This is a versatile course that includes different class material under the same goals and objectives every term. Members may only take one Spanish course at a time.
Have you already taken an introductory improv course and are looking for even more fun? Through focused scene work and in-the-moment coaching, members will learn how to improvise comedic scenes and create a compelling full-length narrative together known as "The Harold."
Album covers are much more than just packaging. An album cover design can be as much a part of the identity of a record as its sound. This course will explore the history of album cover design from its beginning in the 30s through the cool jazz of the 50s; rock and roll and psychedelia in the 60s; the golden age of the album cover in the 70s; the rise of punk, new wave, and hip hop in the 80s; to the demise of vinyl records in the 90s, and the rise of digital art today. We will listen to some of the music while we examine some of the great album cover artists and photographers.
Amazing Sound and Legacy of the Brill Building
Emanuel Abramovits
THURSDAYS, 3 – 4:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
American Foreign Policy:
From Independence to the 21st Century
Paul Adams
WEDNESDAYS, 3:30 – 5 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
American Inventors: Life and Times
Kenneth Koncerak
WEDNESDAYS, 6 – 7:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
America's First Citizen:
Ben Franklin and His Times
Jared Day
WEDNESDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Andrew Jackson: Hero of Democracy?
Jared Day
WEDNESDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
The Brill Building era is that fantastic period in the 50s and 60s when the best popular music was mass-produced by a young generation of great talents like Phil Spector, Carole King, Neil Sedaka, Burt Bacharach, Neil Diamond, and more. This course will explore the great stories behind famous songs of the era. Our virtual journey will be full of anecdotes and audiovisuals about this unique moment of the music industry.
This course is designed to explore the historical and political development of American foreign policy in three distinct periods: from independence through the end of World War II, from 1945 through the end of the Cold War, and from the end of the Cold War to the present. The course will also focus on the ideals inherent in American foreign policy and the institutions and actors that are engaged in the foreign policymaking process, including the president, Congress, the bureaucracy, special interest groups, and citizens.
This course will examine the life and times of famous American inventors, including Franklin, Whitney, Westinghouse, Edison, Tesla, Ford, and the Wright brothers. It will be structured chronologically and will focus on each person's inventions and how they changed American history.
This course focuses on one of America’s most renowned statesmen and enlightenment figures of the colonial era. Ben Franklin was an international star through much of the 18th century, and, for many Europeans, he represented what it meant to be an American and what might be possible in the “new world.” This course explores Franklin’s extraordinary evolution from a powerful advocate for his king and the British Empire to one of its harshest critics and an extraordinary voice in support of America’s revolutionary cause.
This course will examine one of the most transformative and controversial presidents in U.S. history. Andrew Jackson was a politician and leader who became a political and social icon for a generation of Americans in the first half of the 19th century. We will explore Jackson's early life and military career along with the political rise of the "near west" as a distinct region and a force in American society. Jackson's presidential tenure represented a clear demarcation away from the patrician politics of the founding fathers’ era towards a democracy that was more inclusive, more populist, and more volatile.
Animal Behavior: Companion Animals
Lisa Ludvico
WEDNESDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Art and Science of Wine Tasting and Terroir
Ricardo Llovet
WEDNESDAYS, 6 – 7:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Art in the Third Reich
Barbara McCloskey
WEDNESDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
August Wilson on Film
Christopher Rawson
TUESDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Beginning Level French
Cathleen Sendek-Sapp
TUESDAYS, 3 – 4:30 P.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
The schools of animal behavior: ethology and behaviorism will be the lens of examining our companion animals. This course will allow us to observe the co-evolution of humans with animals. We will analyze the domestication process and phenotypes, both behavioral and physical. The domestication of dogs, horses, and cats will be emphasized. Strategies to humanely limit overpopulation of these animals, both nationally and internationally, will be explored.
This course will provide participants the knowledge necessary to obtain an enhanced experience from their usual wine drinking. We will review the key elements of terroir such as climate, geography, and soil, discuss their influence on the wine, and look at several wine regions. We will continue with descriptions of the visual, olfactive, tasting, and aftertaste phases covering the art and some elemental science for each of the phases. Finally, we will practice what we learned with two virtual wine tastings. The instructor will identify four affordable wines available at the store in advance.
The Nazi regime distinguished itself from other World War II dictatorships through its genocidal drive to establish an Aryan ideal of Germanness. This involved the quest to eliminate all others who did not conform to this ideal, including Jews, homosexuals, and the differently abled. What role did the arts and visual culture play in this despicable plan? This lecture course will explore these questions while also considering efforts inside and outside the regime to enlist art in resistance to Nazi atrocity.
August Wilson’s 10-play American Century Cycle (aka Pittsburgh Cycle) won unmatched awards on stage, but it took years before they began to appear on television and film. We will discuss why this happened and will then see the four movies made so far, on Netflix and other apps. Classes will be lecture with some discussion and will include some guest speakers.
In this course, designed for members with minimal prior knowledge of French, our focus will be on mastering phrases and set structures that may be useful for communicating across a variety of situations. Members will be encouraged to develop strategies to try to make themselves understood where language proficiency may be lacking. The material presented in this course will vary each term according to the needs of the participants.
Note: Members may only take one French course at a time.
COURSES LISTED ALPHABETICALLY
Beginning Spanish
Álvaro Bernal
THURSDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
The Bill of Rights: Is it Relevant Anymore?
Lynn O'Connor
MONDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Between the Wars, 1919–1939
John Burt
THURSDAYS, 9 – 10:30 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Big Bang and Expansion of the Universe
Don Ellison
THURSDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Brief Tour of Asian Thought
Joseph Givvin
FRIDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
This course is appropriate for beginners who have no or very little experience with Spanish language. The course will focus on basic vocabulary and themes (greeting others, numbers, days of the week, etc.), useful expressions for travel (making reservations, asking for directions, expressing likes and dislikes, etc.) and some grammar, primarily present tense verbs. Communication strategies will be emphasized. Students can expect to study words, phrases, simple sentences, and practice listening/reading. Weekly class material is provided.
Note: This course is often taken several times. Participants are invited to repeat this course for additional practice and to reinforce grammar and vocabulary. Members may only take one Spanish course at a time.
Recent court cases regarding the Bill of Rights and the 17 amendments have resulted in some surprising decisions. The tensions between the lower federal courts and the U.S. Supreme Court have at times caused some experts and scholars to question whether the rights set forth in the Bill of Rights and the 17 Amendments are even recognized and protected today. This class will take a detailed look at specific amendments, analyzing the policies and case laws surrounding each in order to draw conclusions about their relevance.
The period of 1919–1939 were the years of the League of Nations, the Jazz Age, the Harlem Renaissance, Prohibition, Lindbergh, women's suffrage, the Great Depression, the Dust Bowl, the Sacco and Vanzetti trial, advances in technology (medicine, airplanes, and weapons), and much more. This course will examine the unique period of history between two world wars.
This course covers the general ideas behind the Big Bang and the expansion of the universe. The course is for non-experts, and accurate descriptions will keep jargon and mathematics to a minimum. Some historical background for the discovery that the universe began about 13.8 billion years ago will be presented, followed by the evolution of the universe to the present time. Discoveries made in cosmology in the last half century rank with the greatest intellectual achievements in all of history. Despite the profound complexity, students should be able to gain a reasonable grasp of these majestic ideas.
We all ask ourselves the big questions of life. What is morally right? What is our ultimate purpose in life? What is a good society? This course will introduce you to the answers given in Indian, Chinese, and Japanese thought. The course emphasizes the role of these philosophies/religions in the socialpolitical life and on the artistic expressions (from calligraphy to film) of the peoples of Asia and how these philosophies/religions influence our world today.
Chair Yoga
Susan Gillis Kruman
MONDAYS, 11 A.M. – NOON
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
Chakra Yoga
Jill Donnette Clary
FRIDAYS, 9 – 10 A.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
Conventional Wisdom: The Struggle to Establish a New Nation
Rebecca Staton Reinstein
MONDAYS, 3:30 – 5 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Cults and Conspiracies: Persuasion, Media, and Identity
M Shivaun Corry
THURSDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
This gentle form of yoga is practiced using a chair as a prop/stabilizer for support during standing poses or adapted for sitting on a chair. It is especially beneficial for people concerned with balance or coordination issues or those who have felt they are unable to participate in other yoga experiences. The class includes poses for strength training, mobility in the joints, and more relaxing poses to help steady the mind. Modifications will be offered throughout the course so that participants learn to adapt to their personal situations and comfort as well as challenge themselves. The course is appropriate for all levels.
This course moves through traditional yoga poses (or asanas) that align each individual chakra, moving up the spine from the root chakra to the crown chakra. Chakras are energy centers located across different points on our spinal column. When energy becomes blocked in a chakra, it triggers imbalances that manifest in symptoms such as anxiety, lethargy, or poor digestion. This course is for members who like fluid, mindful practice that links alignment, movement, and breath. Participants should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and have a yoga mat. While still accessible to a beginning student, this class is more challenging than the Gentle Yoga classes.
Pundits claim our current ideological divisions are unprecedented. But cycles of cooperation and discord are part of U.S. history. Enlightenment-era ideas framed efforts to write the Constitution. U.S. founders' friendships and fights still affect us. When these antagonisms created two political parties, they led to the "dirtiest" election of 1800. The failure to resolve the contradictions between the rights of states, individuals, and federal authority created a constant source of turmoil. This course will encourage participants to critically deepen historical understanding, confront our past, and comprehend the present.
What makes a message feel "true?" Why do we believe some people and not others? This course explores the world of cults and conspiracy theories through the lens of communication and rhetorical studies. Members will learn how language, persuasion, media, and identity interact to shape belief. The course covers historical and contemporary case studies and analysis of real-world media to provide participants with tools to recognize persuasive strategies.
Danger and Deception: The Best of Alfred Hitchcock
Jay Sherwin
THURSDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Deconstructing Music
Flavio Chamis
MONDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Discovering Real Africa: Debunking Myths and Stereotypes
Shemsa Ndahiro Iribagiza
MONDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Divas' Duet: An Examination of Women in Opera
Jim Cassaro
THURSDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Do You Know Your Heart?
Sharon Ann George
TUESDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
In his legendary career as a director, Alfred Hitchcock created dense and suspenseful films filled with flawed heroes, charming villains, and moral ambiguity. In this course, we will consider ten of Hitchcock’s very best films, focusing on two films each week that share a common theme. Members will watch the films on their own; in class, we will look at brief film clips and discuss key elements and motifs. Join us to explore the surprising, entertaining, and disturbing world that Hitchcock created on film.
This course will concentrate on exploring specific aspects of musical composition, exploring how composers establish formal structures to build their masterworks. At the same time, it will provide a comparative study between examples of different approaches to the exact same musical score, and how different artists insert their creative insights into the relatively strict framework provided by the composer.
This course is designed to challenge long-held myths and stereotypes about Africa, offering a deeper, more accurate understanding of the continent. It uses an engaging, respectful, and interactive approach that challenges learners’ experiences while introducing new perspectives.
This course will engage with characters like the fiery and independent Carmen, Donizetti's vivacious Marie from La Fille du Régiment, and Puccini's enigmatic Princess Turandot, who wield immense power and agency. Conversely, we will delve into the lives of more submissive and sorrowful figures such as Donizetti's tragic Lucia from Lucia di Lammermoor, Mimì from La Bohème, and the betrayed Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly. The course will examine the historical and social contexts that influenced these representations, considering how the roles of women on stage reflected, challenged, or reinforced societal expectations of their time.
The heart is the most hardworking organ in your body. It starts beating a few days after conception and continues, without any breaks, for the entirety of one's life. Every heart beat is a complex orchestration of hundreds of different processes taking place simultaneously and in a precise manner. In this course, you will learn about what goes on in a single heart beat, how it is measured by doctors, and how the heart adapts to different stages of one's life.
Does Separation of Church and State Still Exist?
James Sinwell
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Economic Realities, Myths, and Misunderstandings
William Van Lear
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Encore Career Blueprint: Reinventing Work and Purpose
Sharonda Hagans Jones
THURSDAYS, 9 – 10:30 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Endocrinology
Orin James
MONDAYS, 9 – 10:30 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
English Country Dance
Gaye Fifer
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
This course will explore the relationship between religion and government, how the Founders understood the concept, and how it has been tested in schools, politics, and public life. Our discussion will include U.S. Supreme Court decisions, federal law, and Pennsylvania's legal perspectives in an effort to connect them to today's debates about prayer in schools, religious displays, and more. We will conclude with whether separation still exists in the light of legal trends or if it has been rebuilt in new ways.
This course takes on common questions and confusions sometimes expressed from citizens, media sources, and government officials about economic realities and concepts. Such themes include how money is created, economic interdependency, tariffs and manufacturing jobs, how risk is different from uncertainty, why financial crises occur, why interest rates move opposite to bond prices, and explanation for the liquidity trap.
This course helps participants design meaningful second act careers— whether in consulting, entrepreneurship, or community work—by translating their expertise into purposeful action. Many adults approach midlife or retirement with the desire to stay engaged and work/volunteer with causes that reflect their values. However, the transition to an “encore career” can feel uncertain without a clear plan. This course helps members reflect on their experiences, identify passions and transferable skills, and create a personalized blueprint for moving confidently from intention to impact.
This course provides an introduction to the anatomical structures of the endocrine system and the various hormones they produce, along with their physiological mechanisms used to exert numerous forms of control over the human body and therapies to remedy various endocrine-related diseases. Members will learn to identify key concepts, principles, and responses related to endocrine processes related to diseases.
This course, appropriate for members of any level, begins by teaching the basic figures used in English country dancing and practices them in the context of beautiful historic and modern dance compositions. Members will explore the grace, elegance, and playfulness of this dance form (think of Pride & Prejudice). No partner or experience necessary. Participants will regularly switch partners in our dance sessions. Be prepared for physical, mental, and social stimulation! The focus will be on dancing and enjoying moving with the music.
The Erie Canal
William (Buck) Beasom
MONDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Exotic Revival Architecture
Eleanor Schrader
TUESDAYS, 6 – 7:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Experiencing the Grateful Dead 1970–1977
Jeff Hunter
FRIDAYS, 10 – 11:30 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Explore Operas Behind the Scenes
Marilyn Egan
WEDNESDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Explorers, Warriors, and Empires
Michael Rizzi
THURSDAYS, 6 – 7:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
The Erie Canal made the America we live in. By connecting the Hudson River to the Great Lakes, it created the greatest inland waterway in the world, and defined how the newly created nation would master the continent. We will start with the single quirk of geography that brought the Erie Canal from idea to reality. We will follow the halting start, the failures and the lessons, the triumphs and the tragedies, and the Canal's role in defining America's future. We will see America at the pinnacle of ingenuity, the depth of avarice, and the permanence of vision: 200 years later, there is still an Erie Canal!
The Exotic Revival Style marked America's interest in historical architecture, borrowing from Middle Eastern, Asian, Egyptian, Central American, and other influences. The 19th and 20th centuries were a heyday of Exotic Revival architecture, attributable to a number of factors, including archaeological discoveries, popular media, accessibility of travel, and Hollywood fantasy. This course explores how architects used these cultural influences to express their heritage or create a sense of community, embrace new aesthetics, and to push the boundaries of architectural creativity and exuberance.
1970–1977 was a period of great transition for the Grateful Dead. Through lecture, discussion, and streaming both studio and live music, this course will explore the band's body of work and discuss its music in the context of events of the times. In addition, we will examine the band's creative process and its uniquely American lyrics, including themes of nature. We will also discuss the evolution of the band's sound, both stylistically and technically. This course is suitable for longtime fans of the band or newcomers to its music.
When attending an opera, what production elements capture your attention? Beyond the music and story (which all operas contain) do you focus on the scenery, lighting, costumes, or makeup? This course will explore behind-thescenes elements of opera production by watching videos of beloved operas and will “pull back the curtain” for you to notice and enjoy more about the many elements that contribute to opera performance.
This course will discuss the movement of peoples and empires across the tide of human history. We will cover the Romans, Vikings, Mongols, Ottomans, Portuguese, Arab, Spanish, French, and British Empires, and highlight major figures including Genghis Khan, Vasco da Gama, Christopher Columbus, Ferdinand Magellan, Lewis and Clark, and others. We will also pay close attention to the role of the United States in this history and how it compares to previous world powers.
Exploring Movies from Around the World
Roger Rouse
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Freud on Memory: Suffering from Reminiscences
Vera Camden
FRIDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera: Artistic Visions
George Scheper
WEDNESDAYS, 3:30 – 5 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
From Lyres to Synths: Evolution of Western Classical Music
Lauretta Werner Merriman
THURSDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Gentle Yoga A
Jill Donnette Clary
MONDAYS, 9 – 10:00 A.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
How can we enhance our enjoyment of film by looking at movies made outside the U.S. mainstream? This course will focus on highly acclaimed films produced this century in five parts of the world: In the Mood for Love (Hong Kong), A Separation (Iran), Identifying Features (Mexico), This is Not a Burial, It’s a Resurrection (Lesotho), and Portrait of a Lady on Fire (France). Members will watch the films on their own and then use class time to consider why they have been so widely praised and, in particular, how their ways of telling stories extend what is commonly found in mainstream works.
In this course we will review key short essays by Sigmund Freud in which he explores the power and might of personal memory. We will consider not only his more famous essays but we will also look at his clinical essays on the power of traumatic memory and the replication of remembered relationships in his essays on the therapeutic uses. Freud famously said of his early patients: “Hysterics suffer mainly from reminiscences.” This class will acknowledge that they are not the only ones! We all do.
This course explores the artistic works and life stories of two interconnected visionaries: Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Beginning with Rivera's youth in Mexico and artistic coming of age in Paris, discussion will return to Mexico in the wake of the Revolution, and explore Diego Rivera's career as a socio-political muralist. We will also discuss the impassioned life and intensely personal artistic vision of Frida Kahlo. Kahlo and Rivera’s lives and complicated relationship are examined in the context of dramatic Mexican, European, and U.S. political and social movements.
This course surveys Western classical music from antiquity to the modern era, exploring the following historical periods: Antiquity, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern. Members will examine defining musical characteristics of each era and how they reflect cultural, political, and intellectual shifts in Western history. Emphasis is placed on critical listening and historical context to support a deeper appreciation of classical music’s influence and evolution. Members will be invited to listen to musical recordings outside of class.
This course is geared for those new to yoga, those interested in a slower and more gentle practice, or those recovering from illness or injury. It includes a combination of meditation, breath work, and flowing movement intended for all abilities. Participants will move from seated on the floor (or a chair) to standing and then will return to mats. Participants will experiment with balance, strength, flexibility, and stillness while practicing mindfulness and meditation techniques.
Note: The Gentle Yoga A and B classes are companion courses. Members can just register for both or just one.
Gentle Yoga B
Jill Donnette Clary
WEDNESDAYS, 9 – 10 A.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
George Eliot and George Sand
Daniel Vitaglione
FRIDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Germans and the Holocaust
Anette Isaacs
MONDAYS, 9 – 10:30 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Germany's Last Chance in the East: The 1943 Summer Offensive
Barry Fulks
MONDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Great Discoveries That Changed the World
Stephen Lindberg
MONDAYS, 6 – 7:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
See Gentle Yoga A
This course will compare two of the most famous female novelists of the 19th century. It will examine not only their concepts of art and the novel, but also social change, politics, and femininity. It will investigate the kind of influence that Sand exercised on Eliot. There will be no reading assignments.
Eight decades after World War II, Germany continues to wrestle with the lasting impact of its Nazi past, shaping both national identity and personal histories. This course examines how the nation has confronted its Holocaust legacy—through collective guilt, powerful memorials, and the complex relationships it has forged in the aftermath. Each session offers a deep dive into the country’s efforts to acknowledge, atone, and remember. This thought-provoking course provides a crucial look at how history is reckoned with—and why it must never be forgotten.
While total victory eluded the Germans in 1941, and while a limited victory had likewise not been achieved in 1942, even after Stalingrad, Hitler and Germany's military leadership were confident that a major defeat of the Red Army in 1943 would leave Germany in control of an invulnerable empire in the East. This course will trace the rationale for the 1943 offensive and military preparations for what eventuated in the Battle of the Kursk Salient, the largest battle in history. The outcome and significance of the battle will be analyzed, followed by a discussion of the Red Army's ensuing offensives through the end of the war.
Throughout human history, certain discoveries have completely transformed the way we live, think, and understand our world. For better or worse, these breakthroughs—whether in science, technology, medicine, or everyday life— have propelled civilization forward, often reshaping societies in the process. This course will explore some of these pivotal moments in human history, including heliocentric theory, gravity, atomic energy, quantum mechanics, the expanding universe, and examine how they shaped the modern world.
COURSES LISTED ALPHABETICALLY
Great Musical Conductors
Raymond Uy
MONDAYS, 6 – 7:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Gulliver'sTravels: The Greatest Satire in English
Clifford Johnson
WEDNESDAYS, 3:30 – 5 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Hard Ideas of the Bible
Sandra Collins
FRIDAYS, 10 – 11:30 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
HarryPotter and Philosophy
Sarah Rosenson
MONDAYS, 3:30 – 5 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Healing Qigong & Tai Chi for Strength and Balance
Mengjun Wang
FRIDAYS, 1 – 2 P.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
This course surveys many distinguished musical conductors. Participants will learn about the historical backgrounds, philosophies, rehearsal techniques, conducting styles, and musical impacts of legendary figures such as Toscanini, Bernstein, von Karajan, Davis, Dudamel, and more. Through video analysis, listening activities, and class discussions, participants will examine how each conductor shaped their orchestras, interpreted major works, and influenced the course of classical music.
Jonathan Swift's dystopian fantasy is not a children's tale about big people and little people, but rather an excoriating indictment of war, imperialism, political corruption, and consumerism. The grandiose Lilliputians find their counterparts today in Washington and Harrisburg. The obsessive-compulsive scientists of Laputa make us think of today's infatuation with AI. We will learn that Swift was no woman-hating misanthrope, but rather a prophet for our times.
Beyond simply serving as a spiritual or moral guide for believers, the Bible offers a panoply of concepts that smack up against the modern world. These ideas include: the problem of evil; doctrine of original sin; who or what was Jesus; what will the end times look like; and, theodicy, or the justice of God. This course intends to dissect each of these concepts by providing an overview of interpretations using historical, linguistic, and, when possible, religious contexts on the way to offering how each might be understood today.
This interactive online discussion course is perfect for those who love Harry Potter and are familiar with the plot and characters. Each week will examine a different topic in philosophy, first exploring the question in general, with reference to various ancient and modern philosophers, and then applying what we have discussed to the world of Harry Potter. Concepts covered will include ethics, leadership, education, feminism, and love. Whether you are a witch, a wizard, or a muggle, come join the conversation!
Discover Ba Duan Jin, a classical form of Chinese Qigong, known for enhancing energy flow, improving posture, and calming the mind. The first five weeks will emphasize mindful movement, breath work, and body alignment—ideal for building strength, flexibility, and balance. Building on the foundation, the second five weeks introduces simplified Tai Chi movements designed for daily wellness. Participants will learn techniques for fluid motion, better joint mobility, and fall prevention. Both beginners and returning students are welcome, and no prior experience is needed.
History and Debunking Myths of Caribbean Carnival
Jervel Tobierre
THURSDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
The History of England According to William Shakespeare
Alan Irvine
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
History of Photography: The Landscape
Christine Lorenz
THURSDAYS, 6 – 7:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
How Can You Contribute to Sustainable Development?
Silvina Orsatti
THURSDAYS, 3:30 – 5 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
How to Die Well: Practical Steps for the Living
Joanne Spence
THURSDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
This course explores the origins, cultural evolution, and contemporary significance of Carnival across the Caribbean. Members will examine its African, European, and Indigenous influences, uncover the social and political movements shaped through Carnival, and critically analyze popular misconceptions surrounding its traditions. This course encourages deeper appreciation of Carnival as both a cultural celebration and a form of resistance, commercialism, creativity, and identity.
Shakespeare’s 10 history plays chronicle the history of England for the 200 years before Shakespeare’s own time. By looking at the plays in historical order we can get a sense of what Shakespeare and his contemporaries saw as the key elements of English history and development (which is rather different than how we view it today) as well as developing an appreciation for some of Shakespeare’s most beloved, and most obscure, plays. No prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s plays or of English history is needed for this class.
This course examines the genre of landscape photography as it has evolved from the earliest years of the medium to the 21st century. We will look at how the earliest media of photography were used by Europeans and Americans to solidify their perspective on the world through the 19th century. The middle part of our class finds guideposts in Deborah Bright’s landmark essay “The Machine in the Garden Revisited: American Environmentalism and Photographic Ethics.” The course will close with a selection of contemporary photographers whose work addresses advanced technology and the climate crisis.
The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth, all while tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests. This course will inform participants about the U.N. Goals as well as explore individual, local, and global efforts aimed to overcome the many challenges.
What if thinking about death could teach us how to live more fully? In this course, based on How to Die Well: A Workbook for the Living, we will explore mortality not with fear, but with curiosity and courage. Through stories, reflection, and practical steps, members will consider what gives life meaning, how to navigate choices around death and dying, and how to show up for yourself and others with compassion. This course offers a supportive space to laugh, grieve, and discover that preparing for death is really about embracing life.
Intermediate Level
French: Grammar
Cathleen Sendek-Sapp
FRIDAYS, 10 – 11:30 A.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
Intermediate Spanish
María Franco de Gómez
THURSDAYS, 9 – 10:30 A.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
Introduction to Using Generative AI
Joseph Reinwald
WEDNESDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Life and Times of Literary Favorites
Lauren Radick
MONDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
The Long War Against American Communism
Aaron Leonard
TUESDAYS, 3:30 – 5 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Each term, the focus of this course will be on studying the formation and uses of various French verb tenses. In addition to grammar-oriented textbook exercises, we will also explore material found online to deepen our understanding of many grammatical concepts. Participants will be encouraged to actively engage in both structured and free-form communicative activities. This course is geared to members who may still have difficulty in comfortably delivering simple sentences in French. Some prior knowledge of French is expected. Advanced speaking skills are not required.
Note: Members may only take one French course at a time.
This 10-week course is appropriate for participants who are comfortable with basic Spanish conversation using the present tense (or members who have successfully completed several cycles of the Beginning Spanish course). The course focuses on the use of the past and future tenses, more extensive vocabulary, and structures and syntax. At the end of the course, members are expected to feel comfortable with standard Spanish conversation.
Note: Members may only take one level of Spanish at a time.
This introductory course is designed to demystify generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) and provide practical skills for using AI applications in daily life. Members will learn to access and effectively use popular AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, and other platforms across various devices. Members will develop confidence in crafting prompts, understanding AI capabilities, and selecting the right AI tool for different tasks. This course is perfect for curious learners who want to explore the potential of AI technology in a supportive, non-intimidating environment.
The course provides a captivating exploration of the lives and works of literary giants including Agatha Christie, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Virginia Woolf, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Jane Austen, and Oscar Wilde. We will examine their friendships, loves, and rivalries, gaining insights into the complex characters and evocative settings they created. We will explore their most famous works, contextualizing them within their times and cultures. This promises to be an exciting journey into the lives of remarkable individuals in literary history.
Beginning at the turn of the century and ending only with communism’s collapse, the U.S. government and major elements in the wider society undertook an unrelenting effort to suppress and criminalize domestic communism. This course tracks those efforts, including the state laws of the 1920s that imprisoned the fledgling communist leadership; the efforts against communists as they fought for unions, racial equality, and the unemployed; the trials and imprisonment of communist leaders; and the extra-legal efforts in the 1960s. Using video footage, documents, and music, this course will illuminate this highly consequential historic period.
Mathematics of Modern Architecture
Richard Wertheimer
WEDNESDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Meaningful Aging: Purpose, Growth, and Legacy in Later Life
David Fetterman
WEDNESDAYS, 9 – 10:30 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
On the Move: Group Exercise for Improved Mobility in Older Adults®
Diane Markovitz
THURSDAYS, 1:30 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: In-person
Pittsburgh's Century of Steel
Christopher Briem
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Poetry of Food and Drink
Valerie Bacharach
WEDNESDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Modern architecture has been driven by the genius of forward-thinking architects and enabled by breakthroughs in both mathematics and technology. Starting in the 20th century with Frank Lloyd Wright, Phillip Johnson, Le Corbusier, and Mies van der Rohe, and moving into the 21st century with Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid, and Santiago Calatrava, modern architecture has become more fluid, organic and spectacular. This course will provide a basic understanding of the mathematics and technology that enabled modern structures to be built. No background in mathematics or architecture is required, just a thirst for beauty and science.
This course explores what it means to age meaningfully, drawing from philosophy, theology, psychology, and cultural studies. Members will engage with texts that challenge assumptions about aging, highlight its spiritual and existential dimensions, and offer frameworks for living purposefully in later life. The course will combine readings, reflective practice, lectures, and discussion.
Do you feel like you just don't walk like you used to? On the Move: Group Exercise for Improved Mobility in Older Adults® is a group-based exercise program for older adults designed to target the timing and coordination of walking. The program challenges the brain to match the timing and sequences of your movements with your posture to improve the smoothness and efficiency of walking. It uses music and props to add to the fun! On the Move is appropriate for members who have noticed a change in their walking and who are able to walk household distances independently with no more than a straight cane.
This course will trace the evolution of the steel industry in Pittsburgh. We will begin with covering why steel became the dominant industry in the region and how it enormously impacted and shaped the economy and demographics of southwestern Pennsylvania. The course concludes with the steel industry’s decline and the consequences for the region.
Members will read and discuss two to three poems (provided to members) each week, all taken from the anthology The Hungry Ear: Poems of Food and Drink edited by Kevin Young. The course will look at the myriad ways poets write these topics and how they nurture us and become remembrances of family and place. We will discuss how language evokes imagery and mood, as well as the craft of writing (sound, imagery, line breaks, rhyme, and form). The instructor will provide optional writing prompts each week for members.
Policing and Punishment Propaganda
Ralph Bangs
TUESDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Professional Ethics in Medicine: How Physicians Decide and How it Affects You
Dolores Gonthier
MONDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Racism in America
Ralph Bangs
WEDNESDAYS, 10:30 A.M. – NOON
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Hybrid
Reimagining Yourself Through Creative Writing
Laurie McMillan
MONDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Representing Reality: Issues and Concepts in Documentary
Daniel Singleton
THURSDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Do police, prosecutors, and news media use propaganda to stoke fear of crime by poor people, immigrants, unhoused people, and people of color while ignoring more serious offenses? Does the propaganda suggest that additional funding for police and prisons is the answer? Is our criminal justice system actually a bureaucracy of punishment? We will examine these and other issues through the book by Alec Karakatsanis, Copaganda: How Police and the Media Manipulate Our News (2025), and with the help of guest speakers, the instructor's writings, and other materials.
Medical professionals face ethical dilemmas on a daily basis. Their responses to some of these challenges may be defined for them by federal or state laws. Other actions are guided by ethical standards that exist within the health care community. This course will describe and discuss ethical dilemmas faced by medical professionals and the ethics that guide them. Topics that may be discussed include patient confidentiality (HIPAA), informed consent, end-oflife care, resource stewardship, and patient safety. This course is designed to be highly interactive, so come prepared to join in the discussion.
Racism has always impacted all aspects of life for Black, Latino, Asian, Indigenous, White, and other racialized groups in America and today is manifested in all U.S. institutions and systems. This course will focus on the newest edition of one of the best books ever written on this topic: Feagin and Ducey, Racist America: Roots, Current Realities, and Future Reparations, 5th ed., 2025. We will also learn from guest speakers, the instructor's writings, and other books and materials written in the last two years by racism experts. This course is hybrid, offering attendance both in the Homewood Community Engagement Center and online.
This creative writing course will help members refocus, reimagine, and reinvigorate their lives through writing from prompts and discussion designed to employ imagination and insight. Members can write in any genre they wish, and no writing experience is necessary. The course will give members the space and encouragement they need to enhance creativity. Writing tools and ideas to continue work in class and inspire further discovery will be offered.
This course offers an overview of documentary filmmaking. We will explore how numerous social issues are presented to the viewer by way of style, rhetoric, and narrative technique. Focusing on the importance of storytelling in documentaries, we will analyze how nonfiction narratives are created from the creative selection and organization of factual material.
The Rom-Com, Part 1: Screwball Comedies
Steven Cherry
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Roosevelt and Hitler: Armageddon Dawns
Barbara Burstin
WEDNESDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Shakespeare's Measure for Measure: Interpretations
Kathleen George
MONDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Skimp on Barbie: Macroeconomics in an Age of Uncertainty
Gautam Mukerjee
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Socio-Cultural Change: Anthropological Perspectives
Richard Feinberg
TUESDAYS, 11 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Within the broader genre of romantic comedies, certain films stand out for their zany premises and hairbrained plots. We call these screwball comedies, and they go back at least to the 1930s. Many people assume they did not outlive the 1940s. In fact, as this course will demonstrate, screwball comedies are still being made and enjoyed. We will look at two early screwball comedies, then jump forward to 1982, and end with two from 2010.
Franklin Roosevelt and Adolf Hitler come to power within five weeks of each other in 1933. The stage was set for high drama and asks, who will prevail, the democrat or the dictator? This course will look at the background of each man, his rise to power, the context of the times, and each man's actions as they begin a historic confrontation.
In this course, we will first examine the text and a traditional production before delving into recent productions and “inspired by” adaptations. How does this uniquely toned and difficult play continue to attract and challenge audiences? Content includes teleplays, filmed productions, and films.
This course evaluates the potential impact of current U.S. policies in conventional macroeconomic terms. As the “America First” mixture of tariffs, immigration, tax cuts, deregulation, and privatization works its way through the economic system, there is a growing sense of unease, often billed as “strategic uncertainty." While significant overhauls in the structural framework of allocation, production, and distribution may be expected, this also raises important questions concerning distributional equity, fiscal soundness, monetary acuity, and economic stability.
This course explores anthropological approaches to understanding cultural and social change, augmented by a number of ethnographic case studies from Navajo and Polynesian communities. Readings will include portions of a book manuscript and a number of articles, all of which will be made available by the instructor. The course will review basic principles of cultural evolutionism and cultural ecology, but members with some basic understanding of cultural anthropology are likely to get the most out of this course.
Spies Like Us: Exploring Espionage in Five Popular Films
David Shifren
FRIDAYS, 1 – 4 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Spring Textures in
Nature: Watercolors and Colored Pencil
Elaine Bergstrom
MONDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
Stars and the History of the Movie Musical, Part 1
Sam and Candy Caponegro
FRIDAYS, 10 – 11:30 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Stars and the History of the Movie Musical, Part 2
Sam and Candy Caponegro
FRIDAYS, 10 – 11:30 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Structure and Function of the U.S. Court System
Kevin Fanning
THURSDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
What makes spy films such a mainstay of popular cinema? Someone assumes a secret identity, masquerades as someone else in a high-stakes battle between good and evil, and whips audiences into a frenzy of suspense. What is not to like? We will screen and discuss films about Cold War spycraft, reality inspired political capers, and clever, often hilarious send-ups of the genre. Movies will include Goldfinger, Marathon Man, True Lies, The Lives of Others, and Argo
Discover spring textures and subjects. In this 10-week course we will explore different textures and subjects that are soft, fuzzy, shiny, and rough by building skills with watercolors and wax colored pencils. This course is for all levels.
Mae West, Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, Judy Garland are some of the stars we will watch and discuss as we travel through the first part of the history of film musicals. Our lectures will include Al Jolson’s The Jazz Singer, Busby Berkeley’s musicals during the Great Depression, World War II Good Neighbor musicals, and musicals from the 1950s. Join us and explore one of America’s true art forms.
Lena Horne, Marilyn Monroe, Barbra Streisand, and Hugh Jackman are some of the stars we will watch and discuss as we travel through the history of movie musicals. Our lectures will include the great musical Broadway adaptations of the 1950s, the lavish Roadshow musicals of the 1960s and 1970s, and conclude with the movie musicals of today.
This course will explore the structure and function of state and federal courts within the United States Court System. Legal concepts such as standing, jurisdiction, venue, due process, remedies, and appeals will be explored. The course will analyze landmark court cases that have shaped the legal landscape together with contemporary legal issues and their implications for the courts. The impact of courtroom and courthouse technology will be discussed. Members will learn about alternative dispute resolution concepts and how they differ from traditional court cases.
Survey
of
100 Years of the Nationality Rooms
Michael Walter
FRIDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
"Tell all the Truth but Tell it Slant": Adventures in Memoir
Molly Frounfelter
TUESDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
U.S. History & TheWonderful Wizard ofOz
Mark Macedonia
THURSDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Virtual Hands-On Indian Cooking
Jay Iyengar
TUESDAYS, 5 – 6:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Visionary Fiction: Imagining Social Justice
Kenneth Boas
TUESDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
This course will examine major themes behind the creation of the program that is now the Nationality & Heritage Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Program. Spring 2026 marks the conclusion and summation of a half year of programming around the Centennial of the Nationality Rooms. Visits to several of the Nationality & Heritage Rooms (availability determined by undergraduate class use) will be mixed with presentations about the themes and history of these truly unique learning spaces.
This course offers supportive space and inspiration aplenty to dabble and "dazzle gradually" in the processes of explorative memoir writing. Together we will try out and try on various approaches to memory, place, detail, image, and creative autobiography. In each class session, we will read short pieces of writing that showcase various memoir forms, structures, and styles, which will serve as diving boards into our own adventures on the page.
It has been suggested that author L. Frank Baum wrote his popular children’s book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as an allegory of late 19th century U.S. history. This course offers a fascinating study that explores the possibility that Baum had another motive in writing his popular book. This course offers a thought-provoking examination of the background of Baum, the events of U.S. history, and the characters and scenes featured in the writer’s famous work. Somewhere over the rainbow lies the answer.
This active, hands-on course will cover Indian cooking basics, introduction to Indian breads, South Indian dishes, North Indian dishes, and Indian festival dishes. Upon successful completion of the course, members will become familiar with ingredients used in Indian cooking, comfortably shop at Indian grocery stores, prepare dishes taught in class on their own, and understand differences in Indian regional cooking and dishes.
"Those concerned with justice and liberation must always persuade the mass of people that a better world is possible," states author Jeff Chang. As we face the reality of deep repression and corporate control and watch helplessly as our free speech and the rule of law are rapidly eroding, the visionary, speculative fiction we will read and discuss in this course will present imaginary alternatives to this reality. Through a novel and a wonderful collection of short stories, we will discuss questions that challenge what is possible for the human community, how we resist dystopian visions, and how imaginary visionary fiction serves to nourish us.
What Makes a Great President
Louise Mayo
WEDNESDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
World Mythology in the Modern World
Marcie Persyn
WEDNESDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
World War II War Crimes Trials
Tom Allen
TUESDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In Person
TUESDAYS, 9 – 10:30 A.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: Online
Yiddish Voices, Soviet Shadows: Stories by Shira Gorshman
Lois Rubin
THURSDAYS, 1 – 2:50 P.M.
Session: 2 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
This course will be a discussion of the characteristics that make a great president. We will examine those presidents that history has judged to be exceptional. We will also look at those who have failed or have not quite succeeded and why they did not make the grade. We will consider interesting facts that explore why the status of some presidents like Woodrow Wilson and Andrew Jackson has fallen recently.
From Madeline Miller's Circe to Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Gods of Jade and Shadow, re-imaginings and re-tellings of world mythology have taken root within the context of modern readership. The variation of genres, authors, and audiences indicates the resonance that mythology from across time and cultures still holds. But why do we come back to these old tales? And what were they, once upon a time? In this course, we will study ancient myths and modern fiction side by side to determine how myth continues to have a hold on us, and ask how much of myth we, in turn, hold onto and perpetuate.
Following World War II, the victorious Allied powers convened international tribunals to conduct criminal trials in Nuremberg and Tokyo. This course will examine these proceedings, with a focus on some of the unusual legal issues raised by the unprecedented trials. Did the principal charge made against most of the defendants of "waging aggressive war" even constitute a crime under international law prior to these trials? We will also discuss some war crimes trials in Germany and Israel that occurred after the completion of the tribunals' trials.
Note: This course will be offered twice, once in-person and once online. It is the same course.
As their feminist sisters in the 1970s did with American women’s writing, so Jewish feminists in the 1990s recovered the stories of forgotten Yiddish women writers. Among them was Shira Gorshman, a dynamo who moved from a Lithuanian shtetl to the central Asian hinterlands during the war, to privation of the city and the hard life of communes in Palestine and Crimea. Following this trajectory, her characters in Meant To Be and Other Stories survive fear, loss, poverty, arduous work, and challenges of daily life in the Soviet world. The stories show how these women endure and build relationships in the face of hardship.
You're Not Dead Yet: What are You Going to Do About That?
Frank Lehner
WEDNESDAYS, 10 – 11:50 A.M.
Session: 1 (5 classes)
Modality: In-person
Zentangle™ Around the World
Sue Schneider
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:30 P.M.
Session: 1 and 2 (10 classes)
Modality: Online
You have a story worth telling. When that story goes untold, we leave life and wonder on the table. This course combines upbeat lectures with practical reflection, guiding you to create an aspirational 60-second story, perfect for identifying and embracing new goals and opportunities. You will also develop a series of “I Will” statements to keep you motivated as you activate your future. Course participants find the class practical, affirming, and often transformative. Join us in a refreshing and safe space peppered with a bit of philosophy, psychology, and spirit.
Grab your pen, pencil, and papers for an adventure with Zentangle around the world! Using Zentangle’s meditative drawing techniques and patterns, we will explore design projects inspired by world cultures, ranging from Japan and India to Europe and even indigenous cultures of North America. No previous experience is required.
MINI-COURSE
The Dinosaur Renaissance
Stephen Lindberg
WEDNESDAYS, JAN. 7, 14, and 21, 2026
Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Modality: Online
Discoveries in the 1960s have changed our perception of some dinosaurs from slow moving, swamp dwelling reptiles to active, fast moving, pack hunters. These discoveries included evidence that directly links modern birds to dinosaurs: a lineage that began 160 million years ago.
This three-night course will explore the amazing world of the dinosaurs, and the evidence that links them to the development of flight and modern birds.
Stephen Lindberg, MA, has been teaching since 1978 and has been an adjunct professor in geology in the Department of Energy and Earth Resources at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown since 1997. He teaches courses on principles of astronomy, prehistoric life, earthquakes and volcanoes, meteorology, and geologic field methods.
EVENT
Earth Day Hike in Settler's Cabin Park
Melissa Sokulski
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Meet : Mingo Shelter, Settler's Cabin Park, 608 Ridge Road, 15205
Pack a lunch and meet OLLI hiking instructor Melissa Sokulski at Mingo Shelter in Settler's Cabin Park. We'll welcome spring with a beautiful 2+ mile hike loop where we'll see a waterfall. Afterwards, we can all have lunch together outdoors, so bring your lunch and dress accordingly! This will be a moderate level hike with a few steep inclines (up and down) at about a 30-minute per mile pace. Hiking poles are helpful but not required.
Melissa Sokulski, MAC, is an herbalist, wild food educator, avid hiker, and licensed acupuncturist with a master's degree from the New England School of Acupuncture. She writes personal essays and has won grants and residencies for memoir writing. She has taught many popular classes for OLLI at Pitt, including a variety of hiking classes, Wild Edibles Walks, and Fantastic and Ferocious Fungi.
WHAT'S NEXT?
Course registration opens Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025. After that date, paid members can register for classes and events. After registration, members will immediately receive email confirmation of classes and whether they are registered or waitlisted.
One week before classes start, members will receive the Zoom link (for online classes) or the room location (for in-person classes). This information will be sent again the first two weeks of the course.
Waitlists are monitored and if we can create openings, members will be notified. We do our best to eliminate waitlists.
Members will receive our weekly updates via email. Newsletters include membership information, new event details, information about OLLI at Pitt benefits, and opportunities for activities at Pitt and beyond.
LECTURES
Only Hope: My Mother and the Holocaust Brought to Light
Irv Lubliner
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2025
Time: 1 – 3 p.m.
Modality: Online
Before she passed away in 1974, Felicia Bornstein Lubliner wrote about her internment in ghettos and concentration camps (Auschwitz and Gross-Rosen) in Nazi-occupied Poland. Her powerful stories have been published by her son, Irv Lubliner, an emeritus Southern Oregon University professor. He will share excerpts from Only Hope: A Survivor’s Stories of the Holocaust, shedding light on his mother’s experiences and indomitable spirit, as well as his experience as a child of Holocaust survivors and his process in bringing the book to fruition.
Irv Lubliner, Professor Emeritus at Southern Oregon University, taught math for 40 years, led seminars for teachers in 39 states, and gave 350 conference presentations, including several keynote addresses. Irv has dedicated himself to speaking about his mother's experiences to groups of teens and adults nationwide, including 86 other OLLI programs.
The Beat Goes On: Woodstock’s Enduring Legacy
Multiple Panelists
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2025
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Modality: Online
What was it really like to be a participant in one of the greatest and most iconic cultural events of the 20th century? Get ready for a fascinating discussion on the legendary Woodstock Music and Art Fair. This special panel features three people who were there and will share their first-hand accounts of the music, the atmosphere, and the communion. Alongside them, two OLLI instructors who are rock and cultural historians will provide context, offering deeper insights into Woodstock's monumental impact on music and culture. The discussion will cover the festival's chaotic and unforgettable atmosphere, its legendary performances, and how its enduring legacy of peace and music continues to resonate today. Bring your memories and questions for a fantastic retrospective on the event that defined a generation and beyond.
Andy Warhol and Drawing
Grace Marston
MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2026
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Modality: Online
Although Andy Warhol’s silkscreen prints are his most famous artworks, drawing was arguably the first art form he ever attempted. This lecture will feature drawings that Warhol made throughout his life, beginning with sketches from his student years in Pittsburgh. His blotted-line drawings from his commercial illustration period earned him wealth and accolades, while his studies of male nudes served as an outlet for his personal desires. Later in his career, Warhol merged drawings with his silkscreen printing practice. The presentation will feature artworks from the permanent collection of The Andy Warhol Museum, including pieces rarely on public display.
Grace Marston is an arts educator at the Andy Warhol Museum. She has worked at the museum for over 14 years and aspires to become the preeminent Warhol scholar of her generation. She has conducted gallery talks, tours, and workshops for audiences of all ages and backgrounds. She specializes in LGBTQ+ education, senior education, and research projects.
Walking The Camino de Santiago in Spain at Any Age
Melissa Sokulski
THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2026
Time: 10 - 11:30 a.m.
Modality: Online
The Camino de Santiago was historically a religious pilgrimage to the burial site of St James in Spain. All types of people now experience the walk for various reasons including religious, spiritual, emotional, physical, and personal. At age 57, OLLI instructor Melissa Sokulski was hardly the oldest out there. Starting in France, Melissa hiked over the Pyrenees and into Spain. Then she went to Portugal to walk the coastal route, watching the sun set over the Atlantic. Hear how she navigated, where she stayed, what she ate, and who she met. There will be slides, stories, and time to answer questions.
Melissa Sokulski, MAC, is an herbalist, wild food educator, avid hiker, and licensed acupuncturist with a master's degree from the New England School of Acupuncture. She writes personal essays and has won grants and residencies for memoir writing. She has taught many popular classes for OLLI at Pitt, including a variety of hiking classes, Wild Edibles Walks, and Fantastic and Ferocious Fungi.
Islam 101
Sabeeha and Khalid Rehman
MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. - noon
Modality: Online
This lecture will introduce learners to the Islamic faith in both foundational ideas and modern practice. Topics will include the Quran and what it says about other faiths, family life and the status of women in Islam, the ShiaSunni Islamic divide and religious hierarchy, Shariah, and American Muslim identity.
Sabeeha and Khalid Rehman have given over 250 talks on Islam in over 100 cities, including last summer at the Chautauqua Institute. Sabeeha is an author, playwright, blogger, podcaster, and speaker on the American Muslim experience.
TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Ireland and Northern Ireland — The Road to Peace
APRIL 24 – MAY 2, 2026
The Emerald Isle is both warm of heart and beauty. This customized journey will explore this beautiful country in a unique and meaningful way. Travelers will be immersed in culture and will explore iconic sites while also learning about Ireland's "Troubles" and the Good Friday Agreement signed in 1998. Travelers will learn about the origins of the issues, subsequent turbulent years, the peace agreement, and how life is today in Ireland. This journey will give OLLI at Pitt members (and their friends) the opportunity to truly connect with the people, history, culture, and heritage of Ireland.
Discover Philadelphia
MAY 13 – 15, 2026
Join OLLI at Pitt for a three-day cultural escape to Philadelphia! Explore the world-renowned Barnes Foundation and Philadelphia Art Museum, walk in the footsteps of the Founding Fathers in Philadelphia's Historic District, the "most historic square mile in America", and savor the vibrant flavors of Reading Terminal Market. Cap off the trip with a visit to the breathtaking Longwood Gardens. With comfortable coach bus travel, centrally located lodging, and a mix of guided and flexible experiences, this trip offers the perfect blend of enrichment and enjoyment.
Porto, Fatima, Lisbon: A Journey to Portugal!
OCTOBER 9 – 17, 2026
Charming cities perched on peaceful riverbanks. Elegant Old Towns laced with cobblestone lanes. Too many opulent churches, palaces, and architectural gems to count. As you spend a week exploring the country, from Porto in the north to colorful Lisbon, you’ll be accompanied by favorite OLLI instructor Michael Rizzi, who will be sharing his knowledge of Portugal's rich history.
INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES
EMANUEL ABRAMOVITS has been a concert promoter since 2000 and is directly involved in many events by international artists. He designed and staged many original orchestral events and several world premieres. He was cultural director at Union Israelita De Caracas from 2008 to 2019, releasing books and organizing film cycles, concerts and art exhibits. He has been consistently teaching online and in person across the United States since 2020.
PAUL ADAMS, PhD, is associate professor of political science at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. His research and courses focus on comparative politics and international relations, especially in Europe with specializations in Irish, Northern Irish, German, and Swiss politics as well as the European Union. He earned a doctorate in political science from the University of Massachusetts in 2008.
TOM ALLEN, JD, is a lawyer who practiced with a large global law firm for over 40 years before his retirement from the firm at the end of 2021. Early in his career, Allen was a trial attorney with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Justice Department. Allen has appeared in courts throughout the United States. Allen obtained a BA from the University of Michigan and a JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
VALERIE BACHARACH, MFA, is a proud member of Carlow University’s Madwomen in the Attic workshops. She received her MFA from Carlow University in 2020. Her book, Last Glimpse, was published by Broadstone Books in August 2024. Her poem “Birthday Portrait, Son,” published by the Ilanot Review, was selected for inclusion in 2023 Best Small Fictions.
RALPH BANGS, PHD, MPA, is the retired associate director of the Center on Race and Social Problems at the University of Pittsburgh. His most recent book is Race and Social Problems: Restructuring Inequality. He has received racial justice and leadership awards and has taught courses on race for several decades.
WILLIAM (BUCK) BEASOM, MBA, teaches courses for OLLI chapters across the country. He has a two-track career that includes four decades in data management and applications development while also teaching courses in business, accounting and economics. He spent five years teaching history at the middle and high school levels. He holds a BS in management science, with additional majors in history and economics and an MBA in accounting.
ELAINE BERGSTROM, BA, earned her degree from the University of Illinois in design, a certification in art education from Carlow University, and a botanical illustration certification from The Morton Arboretum in Illinois. She specializes in oriental, watercolor, acrylic, pen/ink, drawing, colored pencils, and pastels.
ÁLVARO BERNAL, PhD, is a professor of Spanish and Latin American literature at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He received his PhD from the University of Iowa.
KENNETH BOAS, PhD, was formerly an instructor in the University of Pittsburgh Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences Department of English. He has been a long-time board member of the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (ICAHD-USA). He is an avid hiker.
CHRISTOPHER BRIEM is a regional economist at the University of Pittsburgh’s University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR). For the last 25 years, his work at the UCSUR’s program in Urban and Regional Analysis has focused on economic and demographic forecasting, industry analysis, and regional economic competitiveness of the Pittsburgh region.
BARBARA BURSTIN, PhD, is on the history faculty of both the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University and is the author of several books including Steel City Jews, Volumes I and II, and a biography of Sophie Masloff. With degrees from Vassar College, Columbia University, and the University of Pittsburgh, she has been teaching for over 25 years.
JOHN BURT, JD, is a retired history teacher and lawyer. He served as a featured speaker in Safe Harbor, a public television awardwinning documentary on the Underground Railroad in Western Pennsylvania. Since 1986, he has lectured on the history of American reform movements, especially the abolitionist movement, and he has conducted tours connected with Underground Railroad activities.
VERA CAMDEN, PhD, is professor emerita at Kent State University. She is an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University. She is co-editor of American Imago and American Editor for The Journal of Graphic Novels and Comics. She specializes in 17th century British literature, psychoanalysis, and comics. She has a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, and a PhD from the University of Virginia.
SAM AND CANDY CAPONEGRO have worked in all aspects of theater for over 30 years. Their goal is to keep the classic movie musicals and the golden age of Broadway alive through their lectures.
JIM CASSARO, MA, is professor emeritus at the University of Pittsburgh. He retired as the head of the Theodore M. Finney Music Library at Pitt after twenty-four years. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music and a master’s degree in library science from the University at Buffalo, and a master’s degree in musicology from Cornell University.
FLAVIO CHAMIS is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil and is an acclaimed music conductor and composer throughout the world, winning many awards and honors. In the 1980s, Chamis was a conducting assistant to Leonard Bernstein for several tours. A frequent guest lecturer, he has given presentations on Brazilian and classical music at universities and other cultural and educational organizations across the country.
STEVEN CHERRY, MFA, is a writer and editor, now based in New York’s Hudson Valley. He has taught writing, journalism, and film at the University of Pittsburgh and previously at New York University. He has a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York Geneseo College and a master’s degree in creative writing from the New School.
JILL DONNETTE CLARY has been practicing yoga since 2003, has completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training program, and is registered with Yoga Alliance. Her classes are a blend of different yoga styles, but all focus on a slow flow with longer holds.
SANDRA COLLINS, PhD, focuses on women in the Old Testament in her courses at the University of Pittsburgh. She has also taught for Carnegie Mellon University, Duquesne University, and, currently, the Byzantine Catholic Seminary as well as online for the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California.
M SHIVAUN CORRY, PhD, received her PhD from Duquesne University. Personal experience with a conspiracy-theorist family member helped her identify how media, identity, and stories shape reality. Using her degree in Communication and Rhetorical Studies, Corry helps others better understand the persuasive power of cults and conspiracy theories.
JARED DAY, PhD, taught American history at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh for 16 years. His areas of specialization are U.S. political, urban, and cultural history as well as world history from the late 18th century to the present. He is the author of several books along with numerous other popular and peer-reviewed articles.
JANE DUDLEY, BFA, earned her degree in graphic design from Carnegie Mellon University. She is an accomplished, award-winning professional with more than 40 years’ experience as an assistant creative director, art director, and communication manager.
MARILYN EGAN, PhD, is director of education at the Pittsburgh Opera. She enjoys opening new doors to opera for students of all ages. Staff members and opera artists who will share their specific areas of expertise about opera will join some sessions.
DON ELLISON, PhD, is professor emeritus in physics at North Carolina State University. He obtained a PhD from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He has taught physics and astrophysics at the university level, and since 2019, has taught OLLI classes at NCSU, Duke University, and the University of Pittsburgh.
KEVIN FANNING, JD, is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law representing corporate clients in high-stakes litigation across the United States and internationally. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® every year since 2020, and has spoken at numerous national conferences and published writings in many legal publications.
RICHARD FEINBERG, PhD, earned his PhD from the University of Chicago. He taught at Kent State University until retirement in 2018. He has conducted research with the Navajo (Diné) of Native North America and several Polynesian communities in the Southwestern Pacific. In 2019, he served as a Fulbright scholar in the Czech Republic and currently is president-elect of the Association of Senior Anthropologists.
DAVID FETTERMAN, MEd, MDiv, has degrees in history, theology, and education. He has served as a pastor and spiritual counselor/chaplain in the Pittsburgh area, as director of education and community outreach in the Center for Healthy Aging at Pitt's Graduate School of Public Health, and as a member of the C.D.C. Healthy Aging Research Network, focusing primarily on the brain.
GAYE FIFER, MA, is the current president of the Country Dance and Song Society. After receiving an undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and a master's degree in counseling from the University of Missouri, she spent 30 years teaching elementary school. She has been leading English country dance for 12 years both locally and at many dance weekends and weeklong camps across the country.
MARÍA FRANCO DE GÓMEZ, MA, is a retired instructor of Spanish at Penn State New Kensington, where she served as Spanish coordinator. Her career as a faculty member includes a substantial record of academic service, solid scholarly activity, and very strong evidence of outstanding teaching.
MOLLY BAIN FROUNFELTER, MFA, is a writer and teacher. She has taught over 20 collegiate writing courses and has written librettos, monologues, and one-woman shows. Her essayistic work has appeared in Jezebel’s FlyGirl and Creative Nonfiction. She holds an MA from Carnegie Mellon University in literary and cultural studies and an MFA from the University of Pittsburgh in nonfiction.
BARRY FULKS, PhD, earned his PhD in modern European cultural history at the University of WisconsinMadison. He has taught at both the secondary and post-secondary levels, most recently at St. Vincent College, where for over a decade he taught a course on the European Theater of World War II.
KATHLEEN GEORGE, PhD, has directed Shakespeare for the Three Rivers Festival. She teaches playwriting and story structure. She is also a fiction writer with 10 novels published. She earned her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and PhD from the University of Pittsburgh.
SHARON ANN GEORGE, PhD, is a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh studying the link between heart disease and cancer. She obtained her bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from Anna University, India, her PhD in bioengineering from Virginia Tech, and did her postdoctoral training at The George Washington University.
SUSAN GILLIS KRUMAN is emeritus faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, was the first to introduce yoga as a credit class at Pitt, where she taught for over 20 years. She has her 200- and 300hour Yoga Alliance certifications and a Kundalini prenatal yoga certification with over 1,000 hours of in-class instruction.
JOSEPH GIVVIN, PhD, holds his doctorate in philosophy from St. John’s University, and has been teaching for over 37 years. He enjoys the opportunity to teach for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Pittsburgh and engage with curious minds in thoughtful conversation about the great questions of ethics and human life.
DOLORES GONTHIER, MD, completed medical school and residency in internal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and is an internal medicine physician. She contributes medical content to a company that develops physician board certification preparation materials and has previously consulted with local and regional groups to address healthcare system challenges.
SHARONDA HAGANS JONES, EdD, has over 18 years of experience in instructional leadership and workforce development. As the founder and principal consultant of Hagans-Jones Consulting LLC, she specializes in helping individuals and organizations design training solutions, and entrepreneurial pathways. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Southern University and her EdD in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University.
JEFF HUNTER saw the Grateful Dead live dozens of times from 1978–1995. He credits the band with introducing him to activism, which in 2003 resulted in him leaving the telecommunications industry for a career in conservation. He has taught five courses at the University of North Carolina Asheville's OLLI program.
ALAN IRVINE, PhD, is a professional storyteller with a life-long fascination with Arthurian tales. His CD, The Red Dragon: Tales of King Arthur, won a Storytelling World Honors award. He has a doctorate degree in sociology and teaches many courses at area universities.
ANETTE ISAACS is a historian and public educator who has been presenting hundreds of programs on more than 45 different topics (all pertaining to her native Germany's history, politics, and culture) throughout the United States. She holds master's degrees in American studies, political science, and history and is currently serving as the director of OLLI at Florida International University.
JAY IYENGAR is the owner of Popping Mustard Seeds, Indian Cooking Classes and More. She specializes in teaching Indian vegetarian cuisine. She grew up in Chennai, India before she moved to the United States more than four decades ago. She is an experienced chef and has taught several cooking classes in the Pittsburgh area, including classes at Phipps, Chatham University, private lessons and OLLI at Pitt.
ORIN JAMES, MS, is an assistant professor of biology at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. He is also chair of the Austria Nationality Room in the Cathedral of Learning. In addition to biology, he teaches courses that include discussions of social philosophy, determinism, colonialism, race, sex, and gender to individuals of all ages.
CLIFFORD JOHNSON, PhD, received his doctorate in English and American literature from the University of Virginia. His major publication deals with the 18th-century English novel, and he taught at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Kassel, Germany, and Concord University in West Virginia. He retired after over 25 years as a certified financial planner.
KEN KONCERAK, MA, earned his bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a history minor from Penn State University and his master’s degree in history from the California University of Pennsylvania. In addition to teaching high school U.S. history and social studies, he taught U.S. history at the Community College of Allegheny County. He also served as an award-winning high school librarian for 13 years.
FRANK LEHNER, MA, is an executive coach, facilitator, educator, and designer with a long-standing interest in organizational effectiveness and individual engagement in life and work. His passion focuses on practical applications of storytelling, narrative, and creativity in business, educational, and nonprofit settings. Lehner holds a master's degree in psychology from Duquesne University.
AARON LEONARD, BA, is an author and historian with a particular focus on the interplay of radicalism and repression. He is author, w/ Conor Gallagher of Heavy Radicals: The FBI's Secret War on America's Maoists, and The Folk Singers & the Bureau, among others. He has a bachelor’s degree in social sciences and history from New York University. He lives in Sacramento.
STEPHEN LINDBERG, MA, has been teaching since 1978 and has been an adjunct professor in geology in the Department of Energy and Earth Resources at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown since 1997. He teaches courses on principles of astronomy, prehistoric life, earthquakes and volcanoes, meteorology, and geologic field methods.
RICARDO LLOVET is a biochemist who has built his wine knowledge through extensive reading, tasting, and traveling. He has harvested grapes, made wines, and visited winemakers around the world. He has conducted wine tastings for 41 years and taught 15 wine courses at OLLI programs. Recently, Ricardo earned a Certified Wine Judge status at the Annual American Wine Society Conference. He founded the American Wine Society City of Pittsburgh chapter and posts wine reviews at wineandfriends.net.
CHRISTINE LORENZ, MFA, earned her MFA at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and BA at Ohio State University. She is an actively exhibiting artist. She teaches the history of photography and visual culture at Duquesne University and Point Park University, and is a regular speaker at the Pittsburgh Photography Club.
LISA LUDVICO, PhD, has taught courses in animal behavior for over 25 years. She conducted field work on wild horses for over two years for her PhD dissertation. She has worked with domesticated, as well as feral populations of cats for the majority of her life. She is currently on the board of a non-profit cat charity that seeks to humanely limit overpopulation of feral cats.
MARK MACEDONIA, MA, is a retired social studies teacher from the Seneca Valley School District. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from St. Bonaventure University, and a master’s degree in education from the University of Pittsburgh. He is also a published author of historical fiction.
DIANE MARKOVITZ, PT, is a licensed physical therapist with a degree from Marquette University She started developing and teaching community-based exercise classes for older adults in 2020 and found it to be a great way to use her physical therapy experience to reach more people. She is also adjunct faculty at the University of Pittsburgh and part of a research team studying the effects of the course On the Move: Group Exercise for Improved Mobility in Older Adults® in the community.
LOUISE MAYO, PhD, is professor emerita at the County College of Morris, New Jersey, with over 30 years of college teaching experience in American history and American government. She is the author of James K. Polk: The Dark Horse President, among other books.
CONNOR MCCANLUS is a Pittsburgh native and proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild. He is a local comedy performer and producer whose work has been featured in Chicago (Second City, The iO Theater, MCL Chicago, Athenaeum) and New York City (Upright Citizens Brigade, The Magnet Theater, The People's Improv Theater), and serves as the academy director at Arcade Comedy Theater.
BARBARA MCCLOSKEY is professor emerita of art history from the University of Pittsburgh. She taught the history of modern German art to graduate and undergraduate students for thirty-five years before her retirement. She has published widely on German art from World War I through the Cold War era.
LAURIE MCMILLAN, MFA, has been writing and teaching all genres for years. She earned an MFA in fiction from Concordia University. She was the co-founder of the Pittsburgh Writers Studio and Pittsburgh Memoir Project. She leads therapeutic writing circles.
GAUTAM MUKERJEE, PhD, is an associate professor emeritus in economics. For nearly 40 years he taught courses at the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford in the areas of macroeconomics, statistics, monetary economics, and poverty. His current research interest is in institutional economics, and he actively searches for attractive topics in that field to develop into new course offerings.
SHEMSA NDAHIRO IRIBAGIZA, MEd, holds a master’s degree in education from the University of Arkansas and a bachelor’s degree in integrated sciences from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. She has extensive experience working in residence life, international student support, and multicultural programming.
LYNN O'CONNOR, JD, is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She has practiced in both the private and public sectors, including as a Magistrate Judge in the Court of Common Pleas of Cincinnati, Ohio. She has taught law and law-related classes for almost a decade.
SILVINA ORSATTI, EdD, teaches Spanish language and culture, and foreign language pedagogy at the University of Pittsburgh in Greensburg. Her research interests include digital storytelling, game-based learning, and sustainability projects in the foreign language classroom. She has a master’s degree in education from Boise State University and doctorate in education from the University of Pittsburgh. She received the PSMLA Educator of the Year Award in 2014 and became a Pitt Green Ambassador in 2024.
MARCIE PERSYN, PhD, earned her PhD at the University of Pennsylvania and is assistant instructor in the Department of Classics at the University of Pittsburgh. She endeavors to teach classics to all, but ancient mythology is one of her favorite courses to teach because the impact of mythology shapes human lives every day, as these stories continue to withstand the test of time.
LAUREN RADICK, MEd, is currently teaching for OLLI at Florida International University. Her background as an early childhood administrator inspires her passion for learning and her lifelong love of reading. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and literature from Emerson College and a master's degree in education from The George Washington University.
CHRISTOPHER RAWSON, PhD, is an emeritus member of the University of Pittsburgh's Department of English. Additionally, he is the longtime senior theater critic at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and KDKATV. Rawson has written extensively about August Wilson, taught undergraduate courses about him, and is co-author of August Wilson: Pittsburgh Places in his Life and Plays.
JOSEPH REINWALD, BS, earned his degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Pittsburgh. He started as a certified mathematics teacher in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, and went on to teach at several technical colleges in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. For the last 25 years he has been involved with corporate technical training at IBM and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
MICHAEL RIZZI, EdD, has taught international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh for over a decade. He is the author of one book and over 20 articles on history, international affairs, and education. He holds master's and doctoral degrees from Pitt and an undergraduate degree in foreign service from Georgetown University.
SARAH ROSENSON, JD, has a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in Jewish studies from the Spertus Institute. She practiced law for a decade; taught ethics, philosophy, and religious courses at a private high school; and currently teaches adults both online and in person for various institutions.
ROGER ROUSE retired after five decades teaching anthropology, cultural studies, and global studies. He has discussed documentary and fiction films in many of his courses, has organized film series to accompany several of them, and has written and given invited talks about the cultural significance of quite a few mainstream movies and their themes.
LOIS RUBIN, DA, is associate professor emerita of English at Penn State New Kensington where she taught composition and literature for more than 30 years. During her career, she published numerous articles on composition research and women's literature. She earned a doctorate of arts from Carnegie Mellon University.
GEORGE SCHEPER, PhD, received his PhD in English literature from Princeton University. He has been director of the Odyssey Program and is currently senior lecturer in the Master of Liberal Arts Program, both of Johns Hopkins University. He is also emeritus professor of Humanities at the Community College of Baltimore County. He is recipient of many Excellence in Teaching Awards.
SUE SCHNEIDER is a Certified Zentangle™ Teacher (CZT) and an award-winning artist in watercolor, fiber arts, and bookmaking. She brings her broad knowledge and playful teaching style to her Zentangle™ classes. She has been teaching for OLLI at Pitt for many years.
LEANOR SCHRADER is an awardwinning educator, lecturer, and author on the history of architecture, interiors, and decorative arts. She has been named a distinguished instructor of design history at the University of California Los Angeles Extension and is professor emeritus of art and architectural history at Santa Monica College. She has done graduate work at Sotheby's Institute in London and New York.
CATHLEEN SENDEK-SAPP, MFA, earned her master’s degree in French language and literature. She has taught French at the University of Pittsburgh as a teaching fellow and part-time instructor as well as for noncredit lifelong learning.
JAY SHERWIN is a writer and consultant who has been watching, studying, and enjoying Hitchcock films for decades. He created a walking tour of Alfred Hitchcock’s San Francisco that attracts Hitchcock fans from around the world, and he has taught this online “Best of Hitchcock” course for more than a dozen OLLI programs nationwide.
DAVID SHIFREN, MFA, wrote film reviews for The Film Journal Magazine and CBS/Fox Video in New York City. He earned an MFA degree in fiction writing at the University of Pittsburgh, and has been teaching OLLI film classes for more than 20 years.
DANIEL SINGLETON, PhD, is a writer, educator, and media storyteller. He has a PhD in film studies from the University of Rochester and has taught at the University of Iowa, the University of Rochester, and the George Eastman Museum. He currently works as communications coordinator for Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh, a nonprofit dedicated to making our region a better place for people of all ages to grow up and grow old.
JAMES SINWELL, LLM, has been a Pennsylvania licensed attorney since 1980, with a bachelor’s and law degree from the University of Pittsburgh, and an advanced law degree from The George Washington University. He spent 22 years as an active duty Air Force attorney and 10 years as a supervisory United States Veterans Affairs attorney. In these two positions, he supervised the defense of approximately 1,000 medical malpractice claims, litigation, and appeals.
JOANNE SPENCE, D.Min., C-IAYT, is a yoga therapist, spiritual director, and author who integrates theology, contemplative practice, and embodied well-being. A graduate of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, she has taught in schools, hospitals, prisons, and faith communities. Her forthcoming book, How to Die Well: A Workbook for the Living, explores facing mortality with courage and compassion.
REBECCA STATON REINSTEIN, PhD, had parents who were history buffs, taking her to every Virginia historic home and battlefield. She has a bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary, a master’s degree from Indiana University, and a PhD from Union Institute and University. She was a costumed interpreter for Colonial Williamsburg. The 18th century has been her lifelong avocation. She taught at several universities and teaches in five OLLI programs.
JERVEL TOBIERRE is a Saint Lucian educator who grew up a in culturally immersed household. His father was a former Calypsonian, in a culturally immersed part of the country. Tobierre has been involved in lectures and podcasts discussing the importance of preserving the national cultural events of the Caribbean, while realizing the importance of commercialization.
RAYMOND UY, DMA, is an author, performer, conductor, and awardwinning music educator. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Boston University, a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree from Westminster Choir College.
WILLIAM VAN LEAR, PhD, is professor emeritus of the economics department at Belmont Abbey College. He received his doctorate in economics from the University of Pittsburgh. He was a tenured professor of economics at Belmont Abbey College where his teaching specialized in macroeconomics, political economy, corporate governance, behavior, and finance, and international financial economics.
DANIEL VITAGLIONE, PhD, graduated from the University of Aix-Marseille (FR) in English and psychology, obtained a master’s degree in comparative philosophy from the University of Hawaii and a PhD in English from St Andrews (UK). He is the author of several books, has taught literature in the United States and France, and since 2014 has been teaching philosophy at Miami Dade College and several OLLIs.
MICHAEL WALTER, MFA, has 16 years of experience with the educational outreach of the Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Program. He has trained guides, spoken publicly about the Nationality Rooms, and has created all the online content of online Nationality Rooms tours during COVID. His background is as an artist, with an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of Art, and he has experience in exhibitions, curating, auctions, and historical interpretation.
DAVID WALTON, MFA, is retired from the University of Pittsburgh Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of English, where he taught a variety of literature and writing courses. He is a regular book reviewer for several national newspapers, a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship in literature, and the author of two collections of short stories and a novel.
MENGJUN (KATE) WANG is an international Tai Chi champion and deputy secretary-general of the Chinese Tai Chi Association. With over a decade of teaching experience and a research background, she brings both tradition and innovation to her classes.
LAURETTA WERNER MERRIMAN, DMA, is a violinist and educator. She taught at Longwood University as assistant professor of violin/viola, at West Virginia University as a lecturer of violin, and at institutions such as the Pittsburgh Music Academy, Hope Academy of Music and the Arts, Camp Encore/Coda, and Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. She earned a master’s degree in music from Ithaca College and a doctor of musical arts from West Virginia University.
RICHARD WERTHEIMER, EdD, is a career Pittsburgh educator. He has served as a public school mathematics teacher and supervisor, a coordinator of instructional technology, and is the cofounder, CEO and principal of a successful Pittsburgh charter high school.
GENERAL OLLI INFORMATION/POLICIES
How to Drop a Course or Event
Please notify the OLLI office if you are unable to attend a course/class so that we can maintain accurate information on our programming and course evaluation efforts. Email us at osher@pitt.edu prior to the beginning of a class or at any time for courses that have multiple weeks. Let us know if you would like to enroll in an alternate course. Event refunds depend on each event and they are marked if the fees are refundable or not, and if they are, by what date.
Postponed, Canceled or Full Courses
Occasionally, courses are postponed or canceled, typically due to reasons beyond our control such as emergencies or illness of instructors, etc. If a class is postponed, you will be notified by email and informed of the rescheduled date, if it is known. If a course is canceled, you will receive email notice as soon as possible.
Course enrollment size varies for several reasons including size of physical classroom space or the nature of the course material (regardless of format). For these reasons, not all courses can be open to everyone who wishes to attend, including online courses. If a course or event is full, you will be given the opportunity to be added to the waiting list in case there are cancellations. People are added to the course or event from the waiting list in the order received.
Double-booking Courses
in a Time Period
During registration, be sure to select only one course during a given time frame. If you double-book your courses by accident, we will contact you by email and ask you to select the one you want to keep, and we will remove you from the other. If you do not reply in the time frame given in the email, we will remove you from both courses.
Refunds
Each catalog will indicate the date by which a membership may be refunded. There are no exceptions. Events or tours that require a fee will indicate if the fee is refundable, and if so, by what date you must request a refund.
Email Notifications
Make sure the OLLI office has your correct email address. The OLLI office sends emails to notify members of Zoom invites and course changes, course cancellations, upcoming events, as well as for our email newsletter. Instructors may also want to contact students regarding class information. Your information is always confidential.
Course Evaluations
During the last week of your courses, you will receive an email with a link to your course evaluations. Please try to respond and share information about your experience of the course. This information helps guide future programming. If you have an issue with your course evaluation, please contact us at osher@pitt.edu Do not contact the University Office of Measurement and Evaluation of Teaching (OMET).
Important Dates
Code of Conduct
In all courses, lectures, and events and in all formats, OLLI members are expected to follow the OLLI Code of Conduct. This Code of Conduct is signed (either electronically or on paper) every time a member purchases a membership. OLLI members are expected to respect the learning environment, instructors, staff, and other members and embrace the concept of a civil community as well as follow all OLLI and University policies, procedures, and conduct guidelines. Please visit Member Resources on the OLLI website to read the OLLI Code of Conduct.
Auditing Classes
OLLI at Pitt members may audit undergraduate courses. Members who audit do not receive credits nor grades and generally do not participate in exams or homework. Auditors learn side-by-side with undergraduate students, but they are guests in the course and participation can be limited or restricted by instructor or department. Full information about auditing and how to register is found on our website, olli.pitt.edu
Last day to purchase any type of Spring 2026 membership: March 27, 2026 NO REFUNDS ISSUED FOR MEMBERSHIP PAYMENTS AFTER JANUARY 16, 2026.
Contact us
Phone: 412-624-7308 | Email: osher@pitt.edu
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. 4227 Fifth Avenue, 710 Alumni Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260