OLLI Spring 2024 Catalog

Stay Curious.

Stay Connected.

Spring Term: March 11-May 3, 2024 Ringling College Continuing Studies

OLLI at Ringling College is the Place to Be If • You like meeting people.

• You are age “50 and better.”

• You enjoy intellectual discussions and the lively exchange of ideas.

• You realize that an important part of aging well is staying active mentally and physically.

• Your daily routine is flexible, giving you the freedom to choose your schedule.

If you identify with at least two of the above statements, you’re a perfect candidate for lifelong learning.

There are no tests or grades—ever.

We invite you to come and experience learning for the pure joy of learning!

Index

19-20 Literature

3-4 Index 5 Staff | Advisory Council | Academic Calendar 6-7 Program Information | Academic Policies and Procedures

OLLI Spring Book Club OLLI Mystery Book Club World’s Great Literature The New Yorker Magazine: Conversations

8 OLLI in Pictures

Short Story Collective

9 OLLI Membership 10-11 Registration Form and Grid

20-21 Music Appreciation Conversations With Beethoven About Going Deaf in 1814

12-13 Arts and Entertainment Movies in a New York State of Mind: A Film Discussion Class Contemporary Art Films from China— A Window to a Changing Nation Stephen J. Cannell: The Crime Drama Re-Imagined Brain Games Alfred Hitchcock’s San Francisco Tennessee Williams and The Glass Menagerie 13 Culture and Travel Greenland: Our Curious North American Neighbor 14 Current Events and Global Issues World in Transition 14 Economics and Finance Portfolio Management 14-15 Health and Lifestyles The Amazing Human Body: How Does it Really Work?

Your Destiny is In Your Closet

Pizza Pop and Ravioli Rock!

Was Music in the ’70s Really That Great?

Operetta: The Lighter Side of Opera Immigrants in America: Stories of Jazz, Blues, Rock, and Pop 22-23 Philosophy and Religion Walking the Yogic Path with Practical Feet: The 8 Limbs Demystifying Kabbalah and Mysticism Mending Gaps: Religion and Spirituality Dialogue with Death: An Introduction to the Katha Upanishad Introduction to Zen Meditation Spirituality and Your Identity 23-24 Psychology Aging as a Spiritual Journey Darkness and Dawn: How Emerson, Thoreau, and William James Recovered from the Greatest Losses of Their Lives Dreams: What Condition is your Condition In? 25-26 Science

Decluttering: 55+ A Roundtable Discussion

Control Systems and Artificial Intelligence

and Coaching Session

How AI Is Changing Work and Learning Experiences

Help! I Think I’m a Caregiver

Birthstones and Their Meanings

Triggers: Where Do They Come From,

Science Wednesdays

and Why Are They Important?

Holistic Health: The Healing Power of Humor

26 Writing Writers’ Workshop

16-18 History Intersection of African and European History: Science, Pseudoscience, and the Invention of Race This Was Their Lives: Celebrating Women in History America’s Story in Music Domina: Women in the Ancient World Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy History Thursdays The Gilded Age—1865-1910

Photography by Karen Arango ’13: www.karenarango.com, Daniel Perales, and Payton Adams

Index

27 CONNECTIONS: The Documentary Film Series

32 Making a Gift

American Symphony 28-29 Lectures

33 Thank You to Our Donors 34-38 Instructor Biographies

Toward a Better Constitution

39 About Sarasota Art Museum

Technology, the Individual and Society: What Do Advanced Technologies Such as Artificial Intelligence Portend for the Individual and for Society?

Plastics and Human Health A Generational Look at Election 2024 30 Presentations Laughter Yoga and Difficult Conversations Tidewell: Know Us Before You Need Us 31 Special Program Opera Is For Everyone!

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Staff | Advisory Council | Academic Calendar

Staff Dr. Phyllis C. Brown Director

Sheila Reed Assistant Director

Renee G. Simon Volunteer Coordinator

pbrown3@ringling.edu

sreed@ringling.edu

rsimon@ringling.edu

Meghan Burrows Registration & Operations Assistant mburrows@ringling.edu

Advisory Council Holly Freedman Co-Chair Jeff Ryder Co-Chair & Chair Curriculum Committee

Julie Cotton Louise Gallagher Bev Harms (Emeritus) Colleen Lundwall Tom Miller, Chair, Membership Committee

OLLI 2024 Academic Calendar Term Dates

Closings and No Classes

Spring: March 11-May 3* Summer: May 13-June 28

• May 27 (Memorial Day) • June 19 (Juneteenth) • July 4 (Independence Day)

* Notes: A one-week break between terms

OLLI Advisory Council members and staff from Ringling College Office for Advancement.

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Mark Moulin Marilyn Pinsky Marion Richter Sam Samelson (Emeritus) Jack Sukin Patricia van der Vorm

Program Information | Academic Policies and Procedures

About OLLI at Ringling College The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College is a program of Ringling College of Art and Design. OLLI at Ringling College operates year-round and is supported through memberships, student registrations, and private contributions. OLLI courses are non-credit and primarily based on a liberal arts curriculum. Tuition varies depending on course length. There are no grades and no tests. Courses are offered purely for the joy of learning.

Instructor Responsibility If a student disrupts a class, the instructor has a responsibility to ask the student to refrain from class disruptions. If the disruptive behavior persists, the instructor has a responsibility to ask the student to leave class.

The definition of disruptive behavior includes not complying with the Student Code of Conduct. It may also include any behaviors or actions considered threatening, abusive, or inconsiderate of other students.

A student may return to class only if they refrain from disruptive behavior. If the student refuses to comply, security will be called and the student will be escorted from the classroom.

Mission The mission of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College is to enrich the lives of mature adults in Sarasota and Manatee counties. We provide affordable and outstanding educational programs and social interaction that covers a broad spectrum of topics that are rich in intellectual stimulation, interactive in scope, and worthy of academic consideration.

The director and the assistant director of OLLI at Ringling College must be notified if an incident occurs where a student is asked to leave the classroom.

Membership A Gold ($85) or Silver ($25) Membership is required to register for a multi-session course. You do not need a membership to register for lectures, workshops, programs, or presentations. Membership in OLLI is not transferable. Spouses or partners must have their own individual memberships. Gold and Silver memberships are non-refundable.

Learning Environment Above all else, our ultimate goal is to provide a stimulating and thoughtful learning experience.

We are committed to creating an intellectually nurturing environment that encourages a collegial exchange of ideas and concepts and enables us to broaden our perspectives and hone our opinions. Sometimes we agree with others’ viewpoints; sometimes we question them and feel the need to present an alternative view. This honest give and take of scholastic discourse, tempered with mutual respect and an open mind, makes for a rare and memorable learning experience.

Registration Options Online: Visit www.rcad.augusoft.net and browse courses.

If you have more than one address, remember to use the address that is associated with the credit card you are using.

Mail or in Person: Fill out the mail-in form. Enclose it with your check or credit card information. You can also drop off your form in Room 105 (Fran Mann Reception Area) on the Ringling College Museum Campus.

Student Code of Conduct We all play a role in maintaining this balance of civility and academic freedom. Here’s how you can do your part.

• Allow others to have their say.

• Respect the rights of others to express their views.

• Listen quietly while the instructor or other

Phone: 941-309-5111 Cancellations If a class is canceled due to under-enrollment, students will receive a full refund.

students are speaking.

• Refrain from quarrelsome interruptions to an instructor’s presentation.

• Ensure cell phones are switched off or muted during the class.

• Comply with OLLI staff and instructor requests.

Students will also receive a full refund if an instructor cancels a class prior to the first scheduled session.

Once a class has started, and the instructor cancels a class for medical or personal reasons, students will receive a prorated refund based on the number of classes held prior to cancellation. Students are expected to pay for course sessions they attend.

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Program Information | Academic Policies and Procedures

Course Refunds If a student drops a course before the first scheduled session, the student will receive a full refund.

If a student drops a course after the first scheduled session, the student will receive a refund minus a 25 percent administrative fee.

If a student drops a course after the second scheduled session, the student forfeits their entire tuition.

There are no refunds for lectures, workshops, or special programs.

Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design Photo: Ryan Gamma

Guest Policy Guests are welcome to visit two classes per semester on a space available basis. They must register prior to attending each class by calling the office 941-309-5111.

When classes are closed (all seats filled), guests cannot be accommodated. A guest cannot “bump” a registered student from any class.

Contact/Mail Information OLLI at Ringling College 1001 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236-9117 Office hours: 8 am to 4 pm • Monday-Friday

Building Evacuation Procedures Upon receipt of an evacuation order, all employees and students shall exit via the nearest unaffected exit. They shall proceed quickly and quietly to the designated evacuation relocation point for the area they were in at the time of the evacuation order.

If class is in session, it is the responsibility of the instructor to direct their students from their classroom to the appropriate egress route and relocation point.

Phone: 941-309-5111 Email: OLLI@ringling.edu Website: www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org

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OLLI in Pictures

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OLLI in Pictures Fall and Winter terms brought exciting times at OLLI, beginning with the 1. Embracing Our Differences exhibit at the Sarasota Art Museum in 2023; 2. Listening to Women (LTW) featuring a stellar speaker lineup including from left: Liz Walker, Charlayne Hunter-Gault, Melanie Custer, Rangsook Yoon, Linda Billings, Jasmin Graham, and Raven Harrison 3. Judith Schwartzbaum, left, Sr. Vice President, Schwartzbaum Urfer Group at Morgan Stanley and Mary Braxton Joseph, right, Member, Board of Directors, Canandaigua National Trust Company with LTW creator Holly Freedman; 4. Julie Cotton, left, creator of CONNECTIONS: The Documentary Film Series and Bev Harms, Harms Family Endowment; 5. Our term preview sessions continue to grow in popularity, and more than 70 people attended the event in November.

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OLLI Membership

Become a Member The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Ringling College is a member-based learning community serving adults aged 50 and older in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Join fellow lifelong learners virtually or on the Ringling College Museum Campus. Enjoy learning opportunities in a welcoming environment.

Our mission is to enrich the lives of our students by offering intellectually stimulating high-quality educational programs. Students get to interact with their peers and form new relationships.

Membership in OLLI is not transferable. Spouses or partners must have their own individual memberships.

Gold and Silver Memberships are non-refundable.

OLLI Offers Programs: Fall

Spring

Winter

Summer

Course Topics Include: • Art Appreciation

• Economics and Finance

• Literature

• Science

• Arts and Entertainment

• History

• Music Appreciation

• Technology

• Culture and Travel

• Health and Lifestyles

• Philosophy and Religion

• Writing

• Current Events and Global Affairs

• Languages

• Psychology

Why Join?

OLLI Member Benefits

200+ courses offered in our academic year

Participation in SIGs (Shared Interest Groups)

Engage with a community of dynamic lifelong learners

Listening to Women: The lecture series

Lectures with subject matter experts

Discount on course fees (Gold Members)

Monthly e-newsletters

CONNECTIONS: The documentary film series

Opportunities to make new friends

Tours of Ringling College Galleries

Volunteer opportunities

Discounted membership to Sarasota Art Museum

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$85 Gold

$25 Silver

Gold members get early registration privileges, a 10 percent discount on courses, lectures, and workshops, and $37.50 is tax-deductible Only members can register for multi-session courses Members enjoy a 10 percent discount at the Bistro

How to join OLLI at Ringling College: Call: 941-309-5111 Visit: www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org

Registration Form Student Information (Please Print Clearly) I am a new student Name (as it appears on credit card) _______________________________________________________ Billing Address _____________________________________________________________ City/State/ZIP _______________________________________ Phone Number ___________________________________________________ Email Address ________________________________________________ Return Completed Forms To

Course Information 8-Session Courses 6 & 7-Session Courses 5-Session Courses 4-Session Courses 3-Session Courses 2-Session Courses Half-Day Workshop

OLLI at Ringling College 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236 Photo Policy By registering for courses, I acknowledge that my photo may be taken while at the OLLI at Ringling College and utilized for purposes of promoting the OLLI. If I do not want my photo utilized, I will step aside when photos are being taken.

Quantity: Quantity: Quantity: Quantity: Quantity: Quantity: Quantity:

x $95 x $90 x $85 x $70 x $60 x $45 x $55

=$ =$ =$ =$ =$ =$ =$

Subtotal = $ Gold Membership Discount (-10%) = $

Top Upper Portion Total = $

Programs (No Refunds) CONNECTIONS (The Documentary Film Series) American Symphony • Tuesday, March 12 • 2:30-4:30 pm

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TBA • Tuesday, April 9 • 2:30-4:30 pm

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Gold Member: $12 • Silver Member and General Admission: $15

Lectures (No Refunds) Toward a Better Constitution • Wednesday, April 3 • 2:30-3:30 pm Gold Member: $12 • Silver Member and General Admission: $15 Technology, the Individual and Society… • Friday, April 12 • 1-2:30 pm Gold Member: Free • Silver Member and General Admission: $15 Plastics and Human Health • Wednesday, April 17 • 1-2:30 pm Gold Member: $12 • Silver Member and General Admission: $15 A Generational Look at Election 2024 • Monday, April 29 • 2:30-3:30 pm Gold Member: Free (pre-registration required) • Silver Member and General Admission: $15

Presentations Laughter Yoga and Difficult Conversations • Thursday, March 21 • 2:30-3:30 pm Free to Gold and Silver Members and General Admission. Pre-registration required.

Tidewell: Know Us Before You Need Us • Tuesday, March 26 • 2:30-3:30 pm Free to Gold and Silver Members and General Admission. Pre-registration required.

Subtotal = $ Gold Member Benefits

• Early Registration • 10% Tuition Discount • Free Lectures • 10% Discount at the Bistro

Gold Membership Annual Fee: $85 = $ Silver Membership Annual Fee: $25 = $ Tax-Deductible Donation = $ Final Total = $

Method Of Payment Check (enclosed)

Credit Card (Full credit card number required. Registration system does not retain card number.)

Visa/MC/Discover/AMEX # _______________________________________ CVV Code ____________ Exp. Date ___________

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Registration Grid Gold Member registration begins Tuesday, Feb. 27 | Silver Member registration begins Tuesday, March 5 Please indicate your choice of course(s) from the list below, then complete all information on the registration form.

The number in parenthesis indicates the number of sessions.

Wednesday (cont.)

Monday

11 am-12:30 pm _____ Decluttering: 55+ A Roundtable Discussion and Coaching Session (1) HL124 _____ Short Story Collective (6) LI116

9 am-12 pm _____ Writers’ Workshop (8) WR100 11 am-12:20 pm _____ Intersection of African and European History: Science, Pseudoscience, and the Invention of Race (5) HS189 _____ Control Systems and Artificial Intelligence (5) SI128

1-2:20 pm _____ Domina: Women in the Ancient World (3) HS192 _____ Science Wednesdays Course (3) SI131 _____ (online) Birthstones and Their Meaning (3) SI130

1-2:20 pm _____ Movies in a New York State of Mind: A Film Discussion Class (6) AE154 _____ This Was Their Lives: Celebrating Women in History (7) HS190

Thursday 9-10:20 am _____ Help! I Think I'm a Caregiver (8) HL125 _____ (online) Immigrants in America: Stories of Jazz, Blues, Rock, and Pop (7) MA175 _____ Dialogue with Death: An Introduction to the Katha Upanishad (6) PL123

2:30-4 pm _____ Opera is for Everyone! (3) LC193 Tuesday

11 am-12:20 pm _____ Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy (8) HS193 _____ Darkness and Dawn: How Emerson, Thoreau, and William James Recovered from the Greatest Losses of Their Lives (3) PY148

9-10:20 am _____ Portfolio Management (8) EC109 _____ Walking the Yogic Path with Practical Feet: The 8 Limbs (8) PL119 11 am-12:20 pm _____ World in Transition (4) CV127 _____ The Amazing Human Body: How Does it Really Work? (4) HL122 _____ Your Destiny is In Your Closet (4) HL123 _____ America’s Story in Music (6) HS191 _____ World’s Great Literature (8) LI145 _____ The New Yorker Magazine: Conversations (8) LI125 _____ (online) Pizza Pop and Ravioli Rock! (8) MA172

1-2:20 pm _____ (online) Stephen J. Cannell: The Crime Drama Re-Imagined (7) AE156 _____ Triggers: Where Do They Come From, and Why Are They Important? (4) HL126 _____ History Thursdays (6) HS194 _____ Operetta: The Lighter Side of Opera (7) MA174 Friday

1-2:20 pm _____ Conversations With Beethoven About Going Deaf in 1814 (8) MA171 _____ Demystifying Kabbalah and Mysticism (1) PL121 _____ Mending Gaps: Religion and Spirituality (1) PL122

10 am-1 pm _____ Brain Games (1) AE157 _____ Greenland: Our Curious North American Neighbor (1) TV111 _____ Introduction to Zen Meditation (1) PL124 _____ Spirituality and Your Identity (1) PL112

1-2:30 pm _____ OLLI Spring Book Club (4) LI102 _____ OLLI Mystery Book Club (4) LI135

11:30 am-1 pm _____ The Gilded Age—1865-1910 (2) HS179

Wednesday

1-2:30 pm _____ (online) Alfred Hitchcock's San Francisco (1) AE158

9-10:20 am _____ How AI Is Changing Work and Learning Experiences (4) SI129

1-4 pm _____ Holistic Health: The Healing Power of Humor (1) HL127 _____ Dreams: What Condition is your Condition In? (1) PY149

11 am-12:20 pm _____ (online) Contemporary Art Films from China— A Window to a Changing Nation (6) AE155 _____ Was Music in the ’70s Really That Great? (8) MA173 _____ Aging as a Spiritual Journey (3) PY147

2-3:30 pm _____ Tennessee Williams and The Glass Menagerie (1) AE159

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Arts and Entertainment

Arts and Entertainment

New: Movies in a New York State of Mind: A Film Discussion Class

New: Stephen J. Cannell: The Crime Drama Re-Imagined

Course #AE154 Roxanne Baker Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #AE156 Diane Walsh Online

Mondays: 1-2:20 pm 6 Sessions: March 11-April 15

Thursdays: 1-2:20 pm 7 Sessions: March 14-April 25

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

The Big Apple has been the backdrop and topic of many a great film. From Scorsese to Spike Lee, you will watch or re-watch an assigned film prior to class and help generate our in-person critique and conversation. Films will be both well-known and hidden gems including Gangs of New York (Scorsese, 2002) and 25th Hour (Lee, 2003).

Immerse yourself in the masterful artistry of a true television pioneer, Stephen J. Cannell, whose impact on the television industry can still be felt today. In-class screenings and discussions will focus on six TV series pilots (The Rockford Files, Barretta, The Commish, The Greatest American Hero, The A-Team, and the serialized Wiseguy) from the writer/ producer who changed the face of the action-adventure.

Through in-depth analysis, students will discover how he creatively melded B-movie plots, 1940s-Westerns’ values, and post-Watergate film cynicism with rebellious morality, juvenile wit, and intelligent sarcasm to successfully update the crime drama and secure himself a revered place among TV royalty.

New: Contemporary Art Films from China—A Window to a Changing Nation Course #AE155 Karen Ma Online

Brain Games

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: March 13-April 17

Course #AE157 Will Luera Ringling College Museum Campus

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 This course examines films made about China’s changing family in the face of the many turbulent recent historical events to include the cultural revolution, end of diplomatic isolation, and the embrace of market economy. The course covers five fictional films produced in Mainland China between 2000 and 2020. Students will not only gain an understanding of recent Chinese history seen through the lens of the family, but also gain a familiarity with the Chinese movie industry and some of its major players. Except for the first class, students will receive a link to screen the films at home. Students are encouraged to bring questions and observations to class for discussion. The five films planned for screening and discussion are Zhang Yimou’s Coming Home (2014); Seventeen Years (1999) by Zhang Yuan; Postmen in the Mountains (1999) by Huo Jianqi; The Coffin in the Mountain (2014) by Xin Yukun; and Girls Always Happy (2018) by Yang Mingming. Each film has English subtitles.

Friday: 10 am-1 pm 1 Sessions: March 15 Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55 This workshop focuses on cognitive fitness for the prevention of memory loss and to keep us mentally sharp at any age. Throughout the class, students will play games and do theater exercises that help strengthen listening skills and short-term memory functions. Students will learn to use their instincts, creativity, and spontaneity as they work together to explore and create improvisational theater in an environment that will be fun and funny.

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Arts and Entertainment | Culture and Travel

Culture and Travel

New: Greenland: Our Curious North American Neighbor

New: Alfred Hitchcock’s San Francisco Course #AE158 Jay Sherwin Online

Course #TV111 Bob Busch and Louise Gallagher Ringling College Museum Campus

Friday: 1-2:30 pm 1 Session: March 22

Friday: 10 am-1 pm 1 Session: March 22

Gold Member: $12 Silver Member: $15

Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55

Alfred Hitchcock loved San Francisco and used its beauty and mystery to great effect in many of his films. On this virtual tour, you’ll see brief scenes from Vertigo, The Birds, and other Hitchcock classics filmed on location in the San Francisco Bay Area. You’ll hear stories about how Hitchcock chose those locations and how he filmed them.

And you’ll learn why San Francisco was the perfect setting for Hitchcock’s favorite themes: danger, deception, and obsession. It’s a treat for Hitchcock fans and lovers of the City by the Bay.

What’s the big to-do about Greenland? Greenland is a unique and remote Arctic island with a rich cultural heritage.

It is the largest island in the world bordering both the Atlantic and Arctic oceans. Greenland is known for its natural, stunning landscapes. With a population of over 56,000, its culture is deeply rooted in Inuit traditions and language. Do you know the significance of Greenland in winning World War II? In this workshop, we will discover the mysteries of Greenland beginning with the Vikings. You’ll also learn the significance of Greenland on the world stage.

New: Tennessee Williams and The Glass Menagerie Course #AE159 Leah Gindes, Deloria Berks, Peter Klein, and Daniel “Dee” Pelissier Ringling College Museum Campus Friday: 2-3:30 pm 1 Session: April 26 Gold Member: $12 Silver Member: $15 In this session, we will discuss Tennessee Williams’ early life and his family relationships informing the characters and the plot development of his iconic memory play The Glass Menagerie. Questions we will discuss include: What makes this a memory play? What inner turmoils does the playwright address through his characters? The instructor will choose several scenes to be read aloud to participants revealing important dynamics between Amanda, Tom, and Laura Wingfield that reflect Tennessee's own relationships with his controlling mother, his alcoholic father, and his mentally ill sister. We will discuss emotional dependencies, the creative process, the struggle for emotional independence, and racial and sexual bias in the pre-war period in the American South. In preparation for this session, students are asked to read the play or watch the iconic YouTube stream of The Glass Menagerie, directed by Paul Newman, starring Joanne Woodward and John Malkovich.

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Current Events and Global Issues | Economics and Finance | Health and Lifestyles

Current Events and Global Issues

Health and Lifestyles

World in Transition

New: The Amazing Human Body: How Does it Really Work?

Course #CV127 Peter Mermin Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HL122 Wendy LeBolt Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 4 Sessions: March 12-April 2

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 4 Sessions: March 12-April 2

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

We will be discussing various topics relating to the current world situation. Optional materials for the course will be emailed to participants two weeks before our first class.

The class will be conducted seminar-style, with full class participation. We will consider books, articles, movies, and personal experiences which may help us illuminate what is going on in today’s world. Let’s all learn from each other.

Bodies—we all have one. But, have you ever really thought about HOW yours works? How do our eyes see, our ears hear, our muscles move, and our hearts beat? In this interactive class, we’ll take an up-close look at some of the body’s amazing design features and consider how they allow us to accomplish the things we do every day, even if sometimes, we don’t accomplish them quite as well as we used to.

Economics and Finance

Your Destiny is In Your Closet

Portfolio Management

Course #HL123 Gail Condrick Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #EC109 Lauren Rudd Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 4 Sessions: March 19-April 9

Tuesdays: 9-10:20 am 8 Sessions: March 12-April 30

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Learn to create a wardrobe that’s in alignment with your “now” body and life. Do you love your style, or are you ready for a change? In this course, you will learn the psychology of dressing and the messages your clothes send, how to decode your closet, analyze what you hold on to, and why it’s hard to let go of older pieces. The goal is to create a unique boutique in your closet—a place where everything fits, flatters, and enhances your lifestyle. Join us. Have fun and be inspired and fashionable with your classmates.

Students are advised to have taken Introductory Investment Analysis and Advanced Investment Analysis or have suitable experience in those areas. This course will utilize equities selected with the parameters of those two courses in building and analyzing a subsequent portfolio. Approximately 18 different portfolio statistics will be analyzed in determining the potential profitability and possible changes based on various portfolio theories.

Mathematics will be kept to a minimum.

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Health and Lifestyles

New: Decluttering: 55+ A Roundtable Discussion and Coaching Session

New: Triggers: Where Do They Come From, and Why Are They Important?

Course #HL124 Michelle Passoff Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HL126 Herb Cohen and Anita Cohen Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesday: 11 am-12:30 pm 1 Session: March 27

Thursdays: 1-2:20 pm 4 Sessions: April 11-May 2

Gold Member: $12 Silver Member: $15

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Too many papers? Too many clothes and other “stuff”?

It’s all clutter. In this session, we will address what to do with it. But that’s not all. Areas of life we Baby Boomers sweep under the carpet—to address another day (or never) because they are all too confounding or confronting — also are clutter. If decisions about the right exercise and eating regimen, dealing with digital devices, sharing your life story with the next generation, reigniting old and creating new relationships, getting your financial house in order, choosing where to live and what to do in retirement have you stumped, this engaging and interactive program will help. These conversations will compel you to gain clarity and to take action. They are intended to enliven your life so that nothing is in the way for you to create a legacy—not a mess.

The push and pull we often experience in relationships happens because we have different guideposts for how we act and judge. These are so much a part of who we are that we’re not often aware they exist. Yet, someone will do or say something, and we respond emotionally rather than rationally. A strong emotion comes rushing up in you. The next thing you know, you may say something you deeply regret. We can say that you’ve been “triggered.” This course is a thoughtful, enjoyable, and easy way to understand how triggers work and their origin. You will learn how to discover and diffuse your triggers, think about communication in a new way, and have fun doing it.

New: Holistic Health: The Healing Power of Humor

New: Help! I Think I’m a Caregiver

Course #HL127 Cheryl Brandi Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HL125 Kristin Harrison Ringling College Museum Campus Thursdays: 9-10:20 am 8 Sessions: March 14-May 2

Friday: 1-4 pm 1 Session: March 15 Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Humor is a magnet connecting humans, and laughter serves as a universal language. In recent years, humor has become accepted in the medical community as a healing tool and coping mechanism for stress reduction. Humor and laughter have well-researched health benefits, and in today’s stressful world, most of us could probably use more humor and laughter for our overall well-being. But just what is humor? In this workshop, we will define humor, explore the psychological, biological, and social benefits of humor and its “offspring,” laughter; discuss types of humor, share tips for getting more humor and laughter into our lives; and experience the therapeutic value of humor through several interactive exercises.

This engaging course is directed to students and where they are in the caregiver continuum. It begins with defining the types of caregiver scenarios and allows students to identify and share their caregiver scenarios and individual journeys.

This course will be presented in a lecture format and will include hands-on learning activities and some self-reflecting assignments. The students will walk away with tools and a foundation that builds confidence and even joy in the journey ahead.

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History

History

New: Intersection of African and European History: Science, Pseudoscience, and the Invention of Race

New: This Was Their Lives: Celebrating Women in History Course #HS190 Bob Busch, Martha Hill, Cheryl Brandi, Bonnie Spadafora, Gayle Yaverbaum, Carol Ellis, and Mary Ziegler Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HS189 Mike Weddle Ringling College Museum Campus Mondays: 11 am-12:20 pm 5 Sessions: March 11-April 15 (No class on April 8)

Mondays: 1-2:20 pm 7 Sessions: March 18-April 29

Gold Member: $76.50 Silver Member: $85

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 Each week, a different instructor will present a lecture about a remarkable woman in history who made significant contributions to society or their field. In short, they made a difference in the world. Join us for the discovery.

Many fine African-American history courses have been developed with a high level of scholarship, beginning in Africa and moving across the Atlantic with the slave trade. This course will be presented from a Euro-American perspective. We will look at the evidence of Africa as a global culture before Europe’s “Age of Exploration.”

We will examine the intersection of the slave trade with the development of the scientific method in the 17th century and how the slave economy changed Western science, creating a race pseudoscience that perpetuates destructive racial stereotypes.

March 18: Ethel Percy Andrus—founder of AARP presented

by Bob Busch March: 25: Dorothy Parker—author and humorist presented

by Martha Hill April 1: Florence Nightingale—founder of modern nursing presented by Cheryl Brandi April 8: Rachel Carson—author and environmentalist presented by Bonnie Garvey Spadafora April 15: Grace Hopper—computer scientist; mathematician presented by Gayle Yaverbaum April 22: Elizabeth Blackwell—physician presented

by Carol Ellis April 29: Eleanor Roosevelt—First Lady and U.N. delegate presented by Mary Ziegler

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History

New: America’s Story in Music

New: Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy

Course #HS191 Monroe Brett Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #HS193 Michael Gibson Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 6 Sessions: March 12-April 16

Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: March 14-May 2

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

This course is the story of America told through its music.

From America, the Beautiful to This Land Is Your Land, we will follow the path of our country’s political, military, economic, and cultural past up to the present. We will hear from the Carter Family singers, Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Chuck Berry, and Elvis. The Charleston launches a new era. Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, and Leonard Bernstein will represent Broadway. African-American spirituals will lead the way to America’s truly original sounds of jazz. Bing Crosby paved the way for all the popular performers on the radio and TV. Loretta Lynn and the ladies lead us through equal rights. Sorry, no dancing in the aisles—well, maybe!

United States foreign policy consists of the strategies we use to protect our international and domestic interests and determines the way we interact with other state and non-state actors on the global stage. Intelligence informs those strategies and offers insights on how effective those policies may be. After a brief look at early American history, this class will trace U.S. foreign policy since World War II and examine how the intelligence community interacts with the government to protect and enhance our national security.

New: Domina: Women in the Ancient World Course #HS192 Beverly Jennings Ringling College Museum Campus Wednesdays: 1-2:20 pm 3 Sessions: March 20-April 3 Gold Member: $54 Silver Member: $60 Ancient history is a story of great men and their accomplishments. In this class, we will talk about famous as well as obscure women who made a difference.

We all know about Cleopatra, but what about Hatshepsut, Livia, Sappho, and the rest? Join us for some interesting discoveries.

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History

History (cont.)

New: History Thursdays

April 11: The U.S. Constitution—Everything You Need to Know with Monroe Brett We will follow the story from the original compromise document to the miracle of democracy that developed from the 27 amendments and Supreme Court decisions. We will discuss the electoral college; the importance of the preamble; the Bill of Rights; the 2nd and 14th amendments as well as a long list of Supreme Court cases beginning with Marbury v.

Madison and McCulloch v. Maryland.

Course #HS194 Michael Gibson, Stan Zimmerman, Beverly Jennings, Paul Sarno, Monroe Brett, and Jeff Newman Ringling College Museum Campus Thursdays: 1-2:20 pm 6 Sessions: March 14-April 18 Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

April 18: Robert Lincoln: Witness to History with Jeff Newman Abraham and Mary Lincoln had four sons. Only Robert, their oldest, survived to adulthood. Robert Todd Lincoln grew up in the shadow of his famous father and struggled each day of his long life to engage with a public who could never get enough of the martyred president. Robert was present in many historic events, such as Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, the cataclysmic shocks of three presidential assassinations, and the devastation of the Chicago Fire. Throughout his life, he was at the top of the national spotlight and always stood ready to serve his nation. We examine what it was truly like to be the only surviving son of America’s greatest president.

March 14: How World War II Ended—The Untold Chapter with Michael Gibson After the August 1945 bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Tokyo surrendered, marking the end of World War II. But for thousands of U.S. sailors and marines, the war was not over.

While their compatriots came home to wives, sweethearts, medals, and parades, they stayed on in the Pacific. Their job? Go into China, round up, and then repatriate more than 1 million Japanese Army soldiers back to their homes.

(They also were responsible for repatriating another 1 million Japanese soldiers from islands across the Pacific.) But those in China faced a unique challenge: A Soviet invasion and occupation of northeastern China and the outbreak of the Chinese Civil War.

The Gilded Age—1865-1910

March 21: A History of Smuggling in Florida with Stan Zimmerman The title is self-descriptive, but the details reach deep into the state’s history, even before its “discovery” by Ponce de León in 1513, and span the centuries to the present day. Contraband trade, some might say, is now integral to the state’s economy. And certainly adds color to its history, including a gun-running governor, the proposed sale of a nuclear weapon in Miami, the explosive growth of the drug trade, and the continuing presence of its oldest commodity— human beings.

Course #HS179 Michael Sherrow Ringling College Museum Campus Fridays: 11:30 am-1 pm 2 Sessions: March 15 and March 22 Gold Member: $40.50 Silver Member: $45 The Gilded Age was an era of unimaginable opulence and wealth for a few, much private and public corruption, and crushing poverty for many struggling to survive. Mark Twain coined the term because he saw the serious social and economic problems of the era as being masked by a thin gilding of extraordinary affluence. It was a fascinating and exciting period of our history, filled with heroes, villains, and colorful personalities. It was a time of workers vs. employees, old money vs. new, and nativists vs. immigrants as millions were flocking to seek America’s promise of a better life. The course examines the amazing people and events that made this era a historical turning point for what our nation would aspire to become.

March 28: The Black Death and You with Beverly Jennings We have just been through a worldwide pandemic. Focusing on the Black Death in the 14th century, we will discuss how plagues have changed the world throughout history.

April 4: Three Major Kingdoms: Pre-Colonial Empires of Southeast Asia with Paul Sarno The lecture will highlight the major kingdoms and empires of Angkor in Cambodia, c. 802-1431, Bagan in Myanmar, 849-1300, and Majaphat on Java, 1203-1527, including their important potentates, system of governance, organization of society, temples, expansion, and problems leading to their disintegration.

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Literature

Literature

New: OLLI Spring Book Club

New: World’s Great Literature

Course #LI102 Carol Ellis Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #LI145 Robert Kendal Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 1-2:30 pm (Note: Extended class time) 4 Sessions: March 12-April 23 (Note: Class meets every other week)

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: March 12-April 30 Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

In this class, we continue the tradition of Great Books by creating an intellectual community through the practice of text-based, shared inquiry discussions. Now, in addition to reading the great classics of the Western canon, we will also explore classic texts of world literature, as well as contemporary works, both fiction and non-fiction. We read exceptional selections, curated by the editors, from the Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volume 2, Volume F, the 20th century, 2nd edition. About two weeks before the first session, a syllabus with specific readings will be emailed to those registered for the class. Discussion each week will be led by a volunteer from the class.

The OLLI book club explores works of literary fiction and contemporary non-fiction with a group of thoughtful people. The varied book choices bring new selections into our lives, and our discussions probe the books with great depth. This semester we will read three books, three weeks apart. Two will be contemporary fiction and one will be non-fiction. The instructor will select the first book and will provide a list of choices for the group to select for the other two meetings. The novel for the first meeting will be The House of Doors by Tan Twan Eng.

New: OLLI Mystery Book Club

New: The New Yorker Magazine: Conversations

Course #LI135 Joe Cucci Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #LI125 Alan Freedman Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 1-2:30 pm (Note: Extended class time) 4 Sessions: March 19-April 30 (Note: Class meets every other week)

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: March 12-April 30

Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

The OLLI Mystery Book Club is a very casual discussion group. The hope is to introduce you to new authors and series. You will read four books with one book being discussed for 90 minutes every other week. The moderator will select the first book; the other three will be selected by the class from a menu that will include books from the earliest forms of the genre to today’s contemporary novels.

The moderator will provide cursory background information and then will steer the discussion which is driven by the book club members. The first book for the class is Slow Horses by Mick Herron.

For nearly a century, The New Yorker has been a treasured source of essays, fiction, cartoons, satire, poetry, criticism, and reportage, and its writers occupy a unique place in the pantheon of erudition and wit. In this class, we'll enjoy the magazine even more by sharing our knowledge and opinions on weekly selections from “Shouts & Murmurs,” “The Talk of the Town,” a work of fiction or non-fiction, a movie review, or cartoons. Prior to each week's meeting, you'll receive an email naming items from the prior week's issue to be discussed, so a subscription (either in print or online) is necessary. A stimulating conversation is certain!

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Literature | Music Appreciation

Literature

Music Appreciation

Short Story Collective

New: Conversations With Beethoven About Going Deaf in 1814

Course #LI116 Debbie Mackler and Thomas Miller Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #MA171 Albert H. Cohen Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:30 pm (Note: Extended class time) 6 Sessions: March 20-April 24

Tuesdays: 1-2:20 pm 8 Sessions: March 12-April 30

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

“When you read a short story, you come out a little more aware and a little more in love with the world around you…” ~ George Saunders

Beethoven started to lose his hearing in 1795. At the time, he was a highly-regarded pianist. It affected him so much that Beethoven considered suicide in 1802 but instead decided to live for his music. The deafness progressed until 1814 when he was completely deaf and no longer able to perform on the piano in public. In this course, Beethoven will “visit” our class and discuss the effect deafness had on his music. We will hear works from 1795 through 1814, and he will describe his approaches and the content of each piece.

We will listen to several piano sonatas, three symphonies, overtures, and various chamber pieces.

“Short stories are tiny windows into other worlds, and other minds, and other dreams. They’re journeys you can make to the far side of the universe and still be back in time for dinner.” ~ Neil Gaiman We read two short stories each week before class and ask you to come prepared to discuss these stories in a seminar setting. Each week we have different presenters who share their selected stories with the class. Please join us for an exciting and dynamic literary experience.

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Music Appreciation

New: Pizza Pop and Ravioli Rock!

New: Operetta: The Lighter Side of Opera

Course #MA172 Tony Moon Online

Course #MA174 Ted Medrek Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: March 12-April 30

Thursdays: 1-2:20 pm 7 Sessions: March 14-April 25

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

In a class titled “Marinara Melodies—Those Singing Italians!,” we discovered how many Italian singers were huge successes. Of course, we were familiar with Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone, et al, but we rediscovered people like Julius La Rosa, Don Cornell, and Dean Martin.

The class will begin with the advent of rock ’n’ roll and then continue with the great musical heritage from Connie Francis to Lady Gaga. We’ll also learn about the many bands and vocal groups. Join us and be amazed about who contributed to Pizza Pop and Ravioli Rock!

Foolish heroes, swooning heroines, mistaken identities, mismatched lovers, and heady waltzes: These are some of the tropes of operetta. And a champagne toast or a can-can never hurts! We’ll look at the conventions of the operetta form—happy endings are as required as in a Hallmark movie—and revel in beautiful music that doesn’t take itself too seriously. We’ll explore, through class discussion and homework viewing/listening, classic operettas including Offenbach’s sophisticated Orpheus in the Underworld, Strauss’s bubbly Die Fledermaus, Gilbert and Sullivan’s poignant The Yeoman of the Guard, Lehar’s lush, romantic The Merry Widow, and Bernstein’s witty, sophisticated Candide. And we’ll discuss why Mozart’s The Magic Flute may in fact be the proto-operetta.

New: Was Music in the ’70s Really That Great?

Course #MA173 Tony Moon Ringling College Museum Campus

New: Immigrants in America: Stories of Jazz, Blues, Rock, and Pop

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 8 Sessions: March 13-May 1

Course #MA175 Emanuel Abramovits Online

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Thursdays: 9-10:20 am 7 Sessions: March 21-May 2

It always seems popular music in America is broken down by decades: the ’30s (big bands), the ’40s (post-World War II), the ’50s (rock ’n’ roll), and the ’60s (British invasion).

But what about the ’70s? Many claim it was the greatest decade of all. This class will affirm that the music of the ’70s very well could be considered unequaled in quality and variety. The English artists continued to amaze, country music became mainstream, and Los Angeles became a major influence with artists like The Doobie Brothers, Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles, and Three Dog Night. Even rap charted for the first time. On this nostalgic trip, we’ll learn the answer to the question, “Was music in the ’70s really that great?” Absolutely!

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90 We will document the fertile interaction between minorities who transformed, not only the music of the 20th century but the whole industry of entertainment and popular culture. With support from audiovisuals (and based on the instructor’s experience as a concert promoter for three decades), we’ll explore the legacy of the most relevant singers, performers, producers, record labels, and booking agencies in the history of jazz, blues, rock, and pop. We’ll learn how main jazz standards and the Great American Songbook were built by artists like Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Benny Goodman, Stan Getz, etc., and how their legacies influenced Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Bob Dylan, Barbra Streisand, Lou Reed, Leonard Cohen, KISS, guitarist Slash, and many more.

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Philosophy and Religion

Philosophy and Religion

Walking the Yogic Path with Practical Feet: The 8 Limbs

New: Mending Gaps: Religion and Spirituality

Course #PL119 Susan Marcus Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #PL122 Rabbi Sigal Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesdays: 9-10:20 am 8 Sessions: March 12-April 30

Tuesday: 1-2:20 pm 1 Session: March 19

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95

Gold Member: $12 Silver Member: $15 Much of our experience in religion lacks spirituality, creativity, and joy. How did today’s religions drift so far away from the original roots of spiritual religions?

Why is it important to work toward healing our discontents with religion and to mend gaps? In this session, learn how there was always an aspect of the imagination and creativity that was needed and that contributed to people’s lives. How can we make peace with aspects of spirituality and religion now and mend our hearts, souls, and world?

The yoga sutras of Patanjali is a collection of 196 short verses that guide the reader on the path of yoga to attain greater self-knowledge, contentment, and emancipation from the thoughts, beliefs, and actions that lead to unhappiness. In this eight-week class, we focus on the sadhana pada—the path of practice, exploring the historical and metaphysical roots of the eight limbs of yoga and the practical matters of how to practice yoga in everyday life. B.K.S. Iyengar’s Light on the Yoga Sutras is the recommended text, but any translation of Patanjali's sutras is fine.

New: Demystifying Kabbalah and Mysticism

New: Dialogue with Death: An Introduction to the Katha Upanishad

Course #PL121 Rabbi Sigal Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #PL123 Susan Marcus Ringling College Museum Campus

Tuesday: 1-2:20 pm 1 Session: March 12

Thursdays: 9-10:20 am 6 Sessions: March 28-May 2

Gold Member: $12 Silver Member: $15

Gold Member: $81 Silver Member: $90

Have you ever wondered: What is mysticism? What is Kabbalah? What is the relationship between mysticism, religion, and spiritual practice? This session will focus on demystifying, learning, and contemplating these interrelated topics and will be viewed through the lenses of history, spirituality, and mysticism. It is truly a guide to a healing contemplative practice to live a content and satisfying life.

This ancient story describes the quest of a young hero (Nachiketa) who deliberately seeks out Death to discover the meaning of Life. Like many great epics that ring true in the present day, the story begins with an unfortunate/ fortunate turn of events. This story was first shared through oral tradition, somewhere between 800 and 500 BCE, after the Vedas; and then transcribed into Sanskrit.

The purpose of the course is to explore the meaning of Life using this text and conversation, videos, images, meditations, and readings. The instructor grounds the discussion in traditional yoga philosophy, referencing Eastern and Western philosophy, science, and contemporary media to engage students in conversation about the self, non-attachment, and joy in everyday life. The text for the course will be Eknath Easwaran’s Essence of the Upanishads (originally titled Dialogue with Death).

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Philosophy and Religion | Psychology

Psychology

New: Introduction to Zen Meditation

New: Aging as a Spiritual Journey

Course #PL124 Bodhin Kjolhede Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #PY147 Dent Davis and Mary Ziegler Ringling College Museum Campus

Friday: 10 am-1 pm 1 Session: March 29

Wednesdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 3 Sessions: March 13-March 27

Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55

Gold Member: $54 Silver Member: $60 Research continually suggests that spirituality is one of the key factors in aging well. Spirituality contributes to having greater optimism, longevity, and a more meaningful life. But what is spirituality? How do you get it? And how does it fit into the complexities of aging in today’s anxious, complicated world? This class explores growing older from a psychological and spiritual perspective, reviews what teachers, researchers, poets, artists, and religious leaders say about spirituality in life’s second half, and explores a few helpful practices for the journey.

In this workshop, the emphasis is on the practical—the postures and other techniques of traditional Zen meditation.

We will also explore the philosophical and intellectual principles behind Zen, as well as psychological issues related to anxiety, depression, and pain management.

Spirituality and Your Identity Course #PL112 Alan Fisher Ringling College Museum Campus Friday: 10 am-1 pm 1 Session: April 5 Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55 In this troubled, divisive, stressful, “mind-made” world, where many people are experiencing suffering from stress, anxiety, fear, or depression, it’s hard to imagine living in peace, love, joy, and harmony. Yet we have a choice. Most people identify themselves as the “thinking mind” and “their past” experiences. This workshop offers something different—an opportunity to not only learn about, but experience their true identity through unique written and oral exercises, meditation, videos, lectures, and discussion.

Suggested readings (but not required): any books or videos

by Eckhart Tolle and/or Michael Singer’s The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself.

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Psychology

Psychology (cont.)

New: Darkness and Dawn: How Emerson, Thoreau, and William James Recovered from the Greatest Losses of Their Lives

Dreams: What Condition is your Condition In? Course #PY149 Katherine Best Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #PY148 Dent Davis Ringling College Museum Campus

Friday: 1-4 pm 1 Session: March 22

Thursdays: 11 am-12:20 pm 3 Sessions: March 14-March 28

Gold Member: $49 Silver Member: $55

Gold Member: $54 Silver Member: $60

From ancient cultures to current theories, dreams have been either revered as guidance and prophecy or dismissed as unintelligible. There will be a brief overview of historic dream theories. We will also discuss different types of dreams ranging from processing dreams, compensatory, precognitive, and problem-solving to recurring dreams, nightmares, and archetypal or “Big Dreams.” The symbols, personal motifs, images, and animals that appear so frequently in dreams that try to guide us in our daily lives will be explored as key elements in our dreams. The primary question we should ask is: “Why is the psyche bringing us these images?” We know that nature doesn’t waste energy, yet dreams arrive each night with people, animals, and images that try to communicate a story to us. Respecting and attending to the dream images from the social, cultural, and personal context will be introduced. Join us for a fascinating discussion.

Everyone experiences personal loss. This class will explore personal losses experienced by Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and William James, three of America’s great 19th-century writers. What did they experience?

What did they learn? What lessons might these three great authors offer to us today? Theirs is a story of resilience, courage, and creativity, a story important for any age, but especially anxious, uncertain times like these.

Henry David Thoreau

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Science

Science

New: Control Systems and Artificial Intelligence

New: Birthstones and Their Meanings Course #SI130 Stephenie Slahor Online

Course #SI128 Herb Walker Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesdays: 1-2:20 pm 3 Sessions: March 13-March 27

Mondays: 11 am-12:20 pm 5 Sessions: March 11-April 8

Gold Member: $54 Silver Member: $60

Gold Member: $76.50 Silver Member: $85

Each month of the year has a birthstone assigned to it for persons born in that month. This course discusses the 12 traditional birthstones, their locations in the world, mining, processing, and marketing to consumers for jewelry or collectibles. Students will also learn guidelines on the best ways to care for and maintain such gems.

We have been turning over control of critical systems to computers for some time. With the advent of AI (Artificial Intelligence), the trend is accelerating. This course will go into some of the nitty-gritty aspects of how this is done.

We will see some of the math, physics, and computer science behind things such as aircraft autopilots and self-driving cars. You will also get some history as to how control systems got started. The class is expected to contribute to the philosophical question of “Just how much control should we be turning over to the computers?”

New: How AI Is Changing Work and Learning Experiences Course #SI129 Alex Beavers Ringling College Museum Campus Wednesdays: 9-10:20 am 4 Sessions: April 3-April 24 Gold Member: $63 Silver Member: $70 Generative AI, from the likes of Nvidia, Google, and OpenAI, presents major opportunities for positive changes in the way people learn, work, and thrive. While there are risks as usual with any new technology, there are major benefits as well.

This course will look at how the generative technology from Google and OpenAI is changing the design, content, and delivery of classroom courses as well as informal learning experiences. The course will consist of lectures and handson demonstrations of how a service from Google or OpenAI can be used in a classroom and informal setting.

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Science | Writing

Science (cont.)

Writing

New: Science Wednesdays

Writers’ Workshop

Course #SI131 Alex Beavers, Steven Koski, and Stephen Suau Ringling College Museum Campus

Course #WR100 Ellen Brosnahan and Jo Horne Schmidt Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesdays: 1-2:20 pm 3 Sessions: March 13-March 27

Mondays: 9 am-12 pm 8 Sessions: March 11-April 29

Gold Member: $54 Silver Member: $60

Gold Member: $85.50 Silver Member: $95 The Writers’ Workshop provides an interactive setting for writers to share their work and receive feedback from one another. In this workshop, members read five to 10 pages of their finished work or work-in-progress and then have it critiqued (not criticized) by others. Constructive feedback acts as a motivating factor for further revising and editing.

Writers of all experience levels are welcome. All genres are embraced. This class offers a non-threatening experience among a group of individuals who wish to improve their craft.

The objective of science is to gain an understanding of nature. This enables us to develop tools that apply Nature’s Laws to improve our daily lives. Science Wednesdays is a series of lectures dealing with a broad range of sciences, including physics, biology, health, and medicine.

March 13: Why Light Speed is the Universe’s Speed Limit with Alex Beavers Einstein taught us, as part of his Theory of Relativity, that nothing can travel faster than the speed of light. In fact, he taught us that the faster an object travels, the more the time it experiences slows down, its length shrinks, and its mass increases. And he even taught us that time slows down for an object as it gets farther away from Earth.

Over the last 100 years, his theory has been proven correct countless times. In this presentation, we will talk about the basic science, what the light speed limit means to our daily lives, what it says about the universe, and offer up some fun facts that can be used in social settings.

March 20: The Everglades – Florida’s Bane and Potential with Stephen Suau This talk will provide an overview of the history of the drainage of Florida’s Everglades system including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River; its impacts on Florida Bay, the east coast of Florida including Indian River Lagoon, and the west coast of Florida including Sarasota County.

We will also discuss what is being done and what needs to be done.

March 27: Diving Into the Ancient Past: Coastal Underwater Archaeology of Sarasota County with Steven Koski Prehistoric underwater archaeological sites, including shell middens, activity areas, and burials, have been found locally in many settings, some of which are eroding as a result of tides and storm surges. This presentation provides an overview of three coastal sites of research interest: Venice Beach, Snake Island, and offshore Manasota Key. We will discuss how underwater archaeological sites are preserved during inundation and highlight methods used to identify and study them.

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CONNECTIONS

American Symphony (2023)

CONNECTIONS has been a vital part of OLLI’s program offerings since 2017 when we were known as the Ringling College Lifelong Learning Academy. The communal viewing experience offers our students the opportunity to connect to many of today's pressing global issues via the penetrating perspectives of contemporary films. After watching a film together, students can engage in a facilitator-led conversation about the film's content and impact, which forges deeper learning and social connections.

Film #FS131 1 hour 44 minutes Tuesday, March 12 • 2:30-4:30 pm Ringling College Museum Campus Gold Member: $12 Silver Member and General Admission: $15 Professional triumph and personal turmoil intersect in American Symphony, an extraordinarily intimate love story that follows Jon Batiste as his musical career peaks while his life partner, the writer Suleika Jaouad, undergoes a bone marrow transplant. At times harrowing, often uplifting, the two artists both clash and blend. We witness his musical triumphs with the simultaneous toll exacted by her treatment. The film celebrates his success while exposing apprehension and complications at every turn.

As the name CONNECTIONS implies, the themes for our films showcase the connections humans have with each other, with our physical world (including technology), and with other species that share our planet. CONNECTIONS is offered in our fall, winter, and spring terms, with two films in each term for a total of six per year.

Film to be Announced

Julie Cotton, a member of the OLLI Advisory Council, is the coordinator and host of this series. Julie has a doctorate in human development and is a former organizational consultant and executive coach.

She is an aficionado of documentary films and a skilled facilitator of group conversations.

Tuesday, April 9 2:30-4:30 pm Ringling College Museum Campus Gold Member: $12 Silver Member and General Admission: $15 Over the next few months, many award-nominated documentary films will be released.

The April film will be announced on the OLLI website www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org and via email no later than March 26.

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Lectures

Toward a Better Constitution

Technology, the Individual and Society: What Do Advanced Technologies Such as Artificial Intelligence Portend for the Individual and for Society?

Lecture #LC199 Bob Levy Ringling College Museum Campus Wednesday, April 3 2:30-3:30 pm

Lecture #LC200 Peter B. Miller Ringling College Museum Campus

Gold Member: $12 Silver Member and General Admission: $15

Friday, April 12 1-2:30 pm

In this session, Bob Levy will discuss how the U.S. Constitution should be interpreted—analyzing the views of liberals and conservatives, and explaining how those views differ from the libertarian perspective embraced by legal scholars at the Cato Institute, where Bob chaired the board for many years. Additionally, Bob will compare and contrast two leading theories of constitutional interpretation: originalism and “the living constitution.” He will also examine several controversial constitutional questions, describe how the Supreme Court has occasionally subverted the document’s original design, and recommend three constitutional amendments—involving the taxing power, interstate commerce, and the administrative state.

Gold Member: Free Silver Member and General Admission: $15 We are in one of the most rapid periods of technology development in history. The most important of these developments is artificial intelligence (AI). In November 2022, ChatGPT was opened to the public. It immediately garnered over one hundred million worldwide users.

However, since that time, AI has raced forward with increasingly powerful applications for creating images, video, etc. What does this technology portend for the individual and for society? Will these benefit us or harm us? In this talk, Peter will explore the entire range of possibilities and potentialities of AI and related technologies.

Bob Levy earned his doctorate at age 24 and went on to found CDA Investment Technologies. At 51, he entered George Mason University (VA) law school and earned a juris doctorate as class valedictorian.

He clerked on two federal courts and then joined the Cato Institute, where he is currently chairman emeritus. Bob also taught at Georgetown University (D.C.) law school, published widely, and appeared often on radio and television. He was co-counsel in the groundbreaking Supreme Court gun case, District of Columbia v. Heller.

Peter B. Miller was born and raised in New York City. He is a product of the Bronx High School of Science and City College of New York where he split his studies between mathematics and literature. He attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he received a graduate degree in computer science and artificial intelligence. Over his career, he has pushed the frontiers of computer technology with pioneering software efforts. He founded successful start-up companies as well as worked for companies such as Apple. In addition to his work in technology, he is an author and composer.

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Lectures

Plastics and Human Health

A Generational Look at Election 2024

Lecture #LC201 Rick Tolin Ringling College Museum Campus

Lecture #LC202 Susan A. MacManus Ringling College Museum Campus

Wednesday, April 17 1-2:30 pm

Monday, April 29 2:30-3:30 pm

Gold Member: $12 Silver Member and General Admission: $15

Gold Member: Free. Pre-registration required.

Silver Member and General Admission: $15

Production of plastic products has skyrocketed over the past 20 years. Microplastics are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Toxins from plastic have been found in the urine of nearly every human tested. They cross into the placenta, have been found in amniotic fluid, meconium of newborns, and in breast milk. They interfere with fetal endocrine and brain development and may be in part responsible for the dramatic increase in autism, ADHD, and gender dysphoria syndromes that have been seen over the past few decades. Harms caused by plastic-associated toxins may extend into later life and may be passed on to future generations. This talk will include: 1. the definition of plastic and the reasons why there has been such a dramatic increase in production in recent years; 2. the life cycle of plastic products and sources of human exposure; 3. physiology of the epigenetic changes that are induced by plastic-associated toxins; 4. human health harms, with emphasis on endocrine disruptors; and 5. solutions.

The Times They Are a-Changin’…The 2024 election is shaping up to be a “young v. old” battle, and there is no place like Florida in which to examine generational shifts.

This session will focus on generational differences in party registration, voting patterns and turnout, along with divergent opinions about governance and specific issues.

Successful campaigns are attentive to these differences and also to voters' primary sources of political information.

Generational media reliance patterns will be examined, along with their role in micro-targeting—getting the right message to the right voter. Failure to do so typically tamps down turnout...already a concern in 2024.

Susan A. MacManus is a University of South Florida Distinguished University Professor Emerita (Department of Government and International Affairs, School of Interdisciplinary Global Studies). From 1998 to 2015, she served as political analyst for WFLA News Channel 8 (Tampa's NBC affiliate). Since 2016, she has been the political analyst for ABC Action News (Tampa's ABC affiliate). Susan is a featured columnist on sayfiereview. com, a widely-read Florida-based political website, and has appeared on every major broadcast and cable television and radio network. Susan is Florida's most-quoted political scientist. She is not affiliated with any political party.

Rick Tolin had a long career as a gastroenterologist at a community hospital in Pennsylvania where he also served as Chairman of the Department of Medicine. In 2017, he joined Vice President Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project and transitioned his interest to teaching about the interconnections between health care, climate change, pollution, and social injustice. He retired from clinical practice in 2020.

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Presentations

Laughter Yoga and Difficult Conversations

Tidewell: Know Us Before You Need Us

Lecture #LC203 Kelly Garrett Ringling College Museum Campus

Lecture #LC204 Kelly Garrett Ringling College Museum Campus

Thursday, March 21 2:30-3:30 pm

Tuesday, March 26 2:30-3:30 pm

Free: Gold and Silver Members and General Admission

Free: Gold and Silver Members and General Admission

Session 1: Did you know that as children we laugh over 300 times a day but as adults, we laugh only 30 times a day?

Scientific studies indicate that laughter may have medically beneficial effects, particularly on cardiovascular health and mood. “Laughter Wellness” is a practice involving prolonged voluntary laughter. It is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. You won’t want to miss this hysterical experience that will heighten your awareness of the therapeutic and restorative values of joy and laughter.

Knowledge is power and the best time to learn about the compassionate care that Tidewell Hospice provides is before you need it. Did you know that patients and families who choose hospice care live longer and report feeling better both emotionally and physically? Did you know that there is rarely any out-of-pocket expenses for hospice care? Join us as we learn about the hospice Medicare benefit and dispel the myths surrounding hospice care.

Kelly Garrett is a Community Partnership Specialist for Tidewell Hospice. She currently serves on the board of the Cancer Resource Network and recently became a certified Laughter Yoga Instructor. Kelly obtained her bachelor’s degree in Family and Child Sciences at Florida State University. She has personally been touched by hospice and believes deeply in Empath Tidewell’s mission to be unified in empathy as we serve our communities through extraordinary Full Life Care for all.

Session 2: No one wants to have “that” conversation and often we avoid speaking up because we don’t know where to start or how to bring it up. In this session, you will learn how to approach a difficult conversation and break down the barriers to create a space for empathy and understanding.

You will also learn how to use tools to ask and respond to those difficult questions.

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Special Program

Opera Is For Everyone! with Martha Collins

Martha Collins, the Director of Education at the Sarasota Opera, has a long association with the company, having first joined in 2004 as a stage director. She has since directed over 21 mainstage productions and 12 youth opera productions, and this season she will direct Bizet’s Carmen and The Little Sweep by Benjamin Britten. Martha has also directed at numerous other companies and universities throughout the U.S., and she has extensive teaching credits, including New York University and the Florence Voice Seminar in Italy. Born in Ottawa, Martha gained much acclaim in Canada as both a concert and operatic performer, and she was a finalist in the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition.

She was chosen to perform for Prince Charles and Princess Diana at the opening gala of the World’s Fair in Vancouver and on the silver screen, Martha appeared in the Norman Jewison film Moonstruck, in the role of Mimi.

Lecture #LC193 Mondays: 2:30-4 pm 3 Sessions: March 11-March 25 Gold Member: $54 Silver Member: $60 Opera has been captivating audiences for more than 400 years. Stage director, Martha Collins, believes this is because opera is compelling stories told through beautiful, timeless music by thrilling emotional singing. Known for her lively and engaging talks, she will lead you in exploring the extraordinary and compelling world of opera and the reasons for its enduring popularity. So, what makes opera great? The Singing! The Music! The Storytelling! Join us for this special program.

Mar. 11: The Singers! Whether on an opera stage or even “America’s Got Talent,” an operatically trained voice has the power to enthrall and captivate an audience. Explore what makes opera singers unique in their ability to portray their characters through beautiful, emotional singing that soars out over an entire orchestra.

Mar. 18: The Music! Great opera composers were able to take a story and make it more compelling with music that is timeless and deeply emotional. Their music can often convey reactions and emotions more strongly than mere words alone. Martha will lead you to explore some of the most extraordinary artistic works of all time.

Mar. 25: The Stories! Learn from an opera director how these great stories are brought to life on the stage.

Using stories from her years in opera, Martha will lead you through a director’s process from first opening the score to opening night.

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Making a Gift

Making A Gift Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is a part of Ringling College’s Continuing Studies program. OLLI provides educational opportunities taught by instructors who possess a broad range of knowledge and expertise.

Our home, on the Ringling College Museum Campus, will become the gold standard for lifelong learning communities. This new facility provides a thought-provoking setting that creates opportunities for meaningful dialogue among our learning community through opportunities to engage in stimulating courses and lectures.

Gifts to OLLI enable us to continue providing a wide array of classes and lectures that broaden and inspire the intellectual curiosity of our members at an affordable cost.

Your gift could support OLLI’s mission; underwrite a session, workshop, or lecture series, or another area of your choosing. If you would like to make a gift, please go to www.ringling.edu/giving, or call us at 941-309-4733.

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32

Thank You To Our Donors

Thank You To Our Donors The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College is grateful to have generous, consistent donors. It is their extra financial support that allows us to offer an affordable and outstanding program. Donations are always appreciated. The following honor roll of donors represents gifts given between June 1, 2022-May 31, 2023.

Ms. Beverly A. Harms Mrs. Jo Hennelly Mr. Sam Samelson The Bernard Osher Foundation Mrs. Shirley Foss Mrs. Judith Schwartzbaum Mr. and Mrs. Alan Freedman

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sukin

Mr. Jeff Ryder and Mr. J. Alvin Stout Mr. Joseph Cucci Dr. Albert Tripodi and Ms. Fran Harris

Mr. Jose A. Garnham and Ms. Barbara Lausche Mr. John C. Metz

Ms. Marilyn L. Pinsky Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Wey

Ms. Barbara Osmon

Community Foundation of Sarasota County

Ms. Leslie Meeker and Mr. Enver Bismillah

Ms. Lisa Kauffman

Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Tschirhart

Clarence Blanton

Ms. Jesse Lazarus

Mr. Michael Vlaisavljevich

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Eckl

Ms. Sara Miller

Joan Wexler

Mr. Jon Freedman

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Miller

Archer L. Seely-Wilson

Mr. and Mrs. Allen Goldis

Mr. and Mrs. Jay Richter

Exit Art Boutique, Longboat Key

Mr. and Mrs. Alan B. Grindal

Ms. Sue Rupp

Just Because Boutique, Sarasota

Hal and Peggy Hayden

Michael Sherrow

The Welcome Club of Sarasota, Inc.

Mr. John Hockenberry

Ron Shoemaker

Dr. Susan Johnson

Mr. and Mrs. Rick Steinmann

Ms. Linda Bailey Ms. Maxine Becker Mr. Gilbert Bosse, Jr. Ms. Bette Boysen Mr. Anthony Cancro Dr. Julie Cotton

Ms. Victoria Frigo Mr. and Mrs. Alvin I. Gerstein Ms. Rosalie Y. Goldberg Ms. Jan M. Haynes Mr. and Mrs. William Herring Mr. and Mrs. Ira and Jessica Hymoff

Lynda Irvin Mr. Robert K. Kendal Mr. David Lionel Jennifer McKechnie

A special thank you to our Gold Members for their generous support through their membership this year. If we inadvertently overlooked your name, please accept our apologies and contact us to make the correction.

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Instructor Biographies

Cheryl Brandi is a Whole Health Educator™ (WHE) and adult nurse practitioner (NP) with years of experience in managing chronic diseases and providing health education. She holds a doctorate in nursing science (University of San Diego), a post-master certificate as a nurse practitioner (University of South Florida) a diploma (WHE) from the National Institute of Whole Health, and certification as a Holistic Stress Management Instructor. (pp. 15, 16)

OLLI instructors possess a wide range of backgrounds, interests, and experiences. These biographies are small snapshots showcasing the lives and careers of these valued team members.

Emanuel Abramovits has been a concerts promoter since 2000, presenting dozens of shows by international artists, from Pop icons like Journey, to classical artists like Itzhak Perlman, staging along the way, epic orchestral extravaganzas, and winning a prestigious “Event of the Year” award. While directing the cultural activities of Union Israelita de Caracas for 11 years, Emanuel has released multiple books, and organized lectures and art exhibits. (p. 21)

Monroe Brett has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in secondary social studies education from George Washington University (D.C.). Monroe taught U.S. history, world studies, and advanced placement economics at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Beltsville (MD), where in 2001, he was selected as the school’s best teacher who made a difference. (pp. 17, 18)

Alex Beavers is a high-technology executive, entrepreneur, and author. Alex was in charge of tech transfer at Stanford Research Institute (CA), CEO of two Silicon Valley ventures, an executive at Schlumberger and General Electric, and PIC of High-Tech Consulting at Price Waterhouse Coopers. He has a bachelor’s (Vanderbilt), a master’s, and a doctorate in electrical engineering (University of Houston). He also holds a master’s of business administration (Boston University).

Alex has authored 25 publications and two books. (pp. 25, 26)

Ellen Brosnahan is a Chicago native and a lifelong educator.

After spending many years as a middle school language arts teacher, she supervised a next generation of teachers at Illinois State University. She is the author of The Second Mrs. Ringling, a novel about John Ringling and his second wife, Emily Haag Buck. In addition, she has co-authored two books: 101 Things to Do in Naperville, and Guiding Students into Information Literacy. Ellen has written several novellas and has published a variety of pieces on her blog Hello Lamppost. (p. 26)

Roxanne Baker is a retired English teacher from upstate New York. She became a film introduction hostess at The George Eastman Museum (NY) in 2005 and continues to moderate film discussions at Burns Court Cinema as well as author a film review blog. (p. 12)

Bob Busch holds a master’s degree in Soviet Studies.

He studied basic Russian at the Defense Language Institute and graduate Russian at the U.S. Army Russian Institute in Bavaria. He was a diplomat in Moscow in the early 1980s.

He traveled extensively throughout the USSR, specializing in the Central Asian Republics. A later assignment was as a Liaison Officer to the Soviet military in East Germany. (pp. 13, 16)

Katherine A. Best holds a doctorate and a master’s degree in public health and is a licensed clinical social worker.

Katherine is a Jungian psychotherapist in private practice and a former professor. She completed her post-doc in Archetypal Pattern Analysis and Dream Patterning with Dr. Michael Conforti of the Assisi Institute (CT). For seven years she studied directly with Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés, author of Women Who Run With the Wolves. In addition, she studied Dr. Stephen Aizenstat’s post-Jungian approach of dream tending at Pacifica Graduate Institute (CA). She later served on dissertation committees for Pacifica. (p. 24)

Albert H. Cohen has worked as a classical music critic for more than 42 years (20 for a Gannett newspaper in New Jersey). In Florida, he is music critic for the Sarasota HeraldTribune and Pro-Opera magazine and former music critic for the Orlando Sentinel and Tampa Bay Times. Albert was also managing director of the Music Critics Association of North America for 13 years. (p. 20)

Deloria Berks is an experienced psychotherapist in private practice, with advanced psychoanalytic training from several New York City institutes. She also studied acting at Rutgers University (NJ) where she was awarded a full scholarship for artistic achievements. She has performed in multiple off-Broadway productions. Note: Deloria will portray Amanda Wingfield for the class Tennessee Williams and The Glass Menagerie. (p. 13)

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Instructor Biographies

Alan Fisher has worked as a disc jockey, salesman, lawyer, and Small Claims Court judge, but that's not who he IS. First and foremost, he is a human BEing. He has been on his spiritual path since 1979 with numerous classes and retreats on the “Art of Living.” He is full of love, life, and joy, and wishes to share that with others. (p. 23)

Anita Cohen hold a doctorate degree and is a former college instructor with a broad background in communication skills, the relationship between language and culture, and the development of communicative competence in children. She has taught classes in developing creativity for corporations and has designed and taught courses for increasing teachers’ skills to include opportunities for growth within the classroom. (p. 15)

Alan Freedman has a journalism degree from Boston University (MA). Until retiring, Alan was public affairs director at a NYSE-listed company and previously had been a financial writer and editor. With a special interest in technology and publishing, Alan has taught iPhone classes to over 600 OLLI students and continues to explore popular technological and media topics. (p. 19)

Herbert Cohen is a psychologist and marriage and family therapist. He taught at New York University and the State University of New York (Purchase). Herbert received his doctorate in psychology from Columbia University (NY) and is the author of Snap Out of It, a book dealing with stress, addictions, and anxiety. (p. 15)

Alan Frost has played assorted string instruments since the 1960s. He will look to create a 1940s style sound for this readers theatre production with his parlor banjo.

Note: Alan will be the musician for the class Tennessee Williams and The Glass Menagerie. (p. 13)

Gail Condrick is an author, teacher, and certified Caroline Myss archetypal consultant. She frequently speaks on topics of creativity, spirituality, and empowerment. For 25 years, Gail led an award-winning staff creating TV programming in Fairfax, VA. She is a University of South Florida graduate and the author of Walking the Grove and online classes “Your Destiny is in Your Closet,” “Art of Observation,” and “Release Your Inner Archetype” series. (p. 14)

Louise Gallagher is a retired California licensed psychotherapist. She has been involved in Lifelong Learning since 2008. Her passion is working with seniors and especially those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. She is a community educator and support group facilitator with the Alzheimer’s Association, an AARP volunteer, and Tidewell hospice volunteer. Her hobby is jewelry making which she also teaches. (p. 13)

Joe Cucci took a film appreciation course in college, and hasn’t stopped going to movies ever since. He participates in movie groups and thoroughly enjoys hearing what others think about movies. Joe retired from Procter & Gamble after a career in sales. (p. 19)

Michael Gibson worked as a China analyst for the U.S. government (CIA and Department of Defense) for over 30 years. He was an adjunct professor of Chinese history at American and George Washington Universities (D.C.). He has a doctorate in Modern East Asian history and has lived and served in multiple East Asian locales. He is the principal author of “China: U.S. Policy Since 1945” (Congressional Quarterly, 1980), as well as numerous other articles. (pp. 17, 18)

Dent Davis, a retired Presbyterian pastor, graduated from Vanderbilt University Divinity School (TN) and has doctorates from Columbia Theological Seminary (GA) and the University of Tennessee. He has served as faculty at Columbia Theological Seminary, teaching spiritual growth, as President of Scott Peck’s Foundation for Community Encouragement, and as a business consultant. (pp. 23, 24)

Leah Gindes, (director and facilitator), is a psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice with a decades-long passion for the work of Tennessee Williams. Leah has a bachelor’s degree in theatre and a master’s degree in clinical social work. She received her analytic training at William Alanson White Institute (NYC). She has directed and produced off-off-Broadway original plays in the early 1980s. (p. 13)

Carol Ellis is a retired internist who practiced and taught medicine at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville for many years. She has been a participant in the OLLI Book Club for several years and takes great pleasure in reading and deepening an understanding of books through thoughtful discussion. (pp. 16, 19)

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Instructor Biographies

Wendy LeBolt has a doctorate in kinesiology and is an exercise scientist and health educator. Wendy has spent most of her professional career working to keep young athletes healthy and free of injury. Most recently, she taught kinesiology at the College of William & Mary (VA) and is delighted to call it her alma mater. Wendy is the author of two books, Fit2Finish: Keeping Your Soccer Players in the Game (2015) and Made to Move: Knowing and Loving God Through Your Body (2019). Wendy and her husband Scot split their time between Sarasota and Williamsburg, Va. (p. 14)

Kristin Harrison has a master of science degree in nursing and a master of business administration in health care.

She has more than 30 years of experience as a registered nurse. Many of those years were spent in home-health roles from direct patient care to program development, education, and administration. Real-life experience includes mother of four grown children, four grandchildren, and recently having dealt with the caregiving role for both parents for over 10 years. (p. 15) Martha Hill, a graduate of Bard College (NY) and Monmouth College (NJ) is a passionate lifelong reader of both good and bad books. Martha’s enjoyment of teaching is based on interaction with students to enjoy and illuminate the course materials and the joys of the written word. (p. 16)

Will Luera is the director of improvisation at Florida Studio Theatre, artistic director of Improv Asylum, director of Big Bang Improv, and serves as the artistic director emeritus of Improv Boston. He sits on the board of CreArte Latino, a Latino-centric cultural community center in the Sarasota area. Will tours globally as an improv comedy actor, instructor, director, and performs and teaches regularly all across North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. (p. 12)

Beverly Jennings has a master’s degree in history and taught at a Kansas City college for 15 years. Beverly’s field is the ancient and medieval world. One of Beverly’s favorite quotes about history is: “The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.” (pp. 17, 18)

Karen Ma is the author of China’s Millennial Digital Generation: Conversations with Balinghou (Post-1980s) Indie Filmmakers, published in June 2022. A film critic and educator specializing in Chinese cinema, Karen currently teaches film and language courses at New York’s China Institute. She has a bachelor’s degree from Tokyo’s Sophia University and a master’s degree in Chinese literature from the University of Washington, Seattle. (p. 12)

Robert Kendal served as a county government manager in Maryland for 30 years before moving to Sarasota in 2002.

For more than 13 years, he has participated in the former “Great Books” class as both a member and occasional weekly discussion leader. (p. 19) Bodhin Kjolhede received a bachelor’s of arts degree in psychology from the University of Michigan. After 15 years of residential training at the Rochester Zen Center, one of the original two Zen centers in the U.S., he was appointed Abbot/Director, a position he held over 35 years. Over the years, Roshi Bodhin conducted some 250 intensive Zen meditation retreats in the Americas, Europe, and Rochester, NY. (p. 23)

Debbie Mackler is a retired nurse/case manager who has enjoyed facilitating book clubs, the Big Read, and Short Story classes in North Carolina and Florida for over 20 years.

Debbie’s inspiration has always come from her twin sister whose occupation was county library supervisor for almost 25 years. It must be genetic! (p. 20) Susan Marcus has studied yoga since 1989 and is certified at the Intermediate Junior II level. She has completed more than 2,000 hours of continuing education, including study with the Iyengars at Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute RIMYI, in Pune, India. Susan co-authored a pilot study of yoga for aromatase inhibitor-associated joint pain in women recovering from breast cancer. She is a certified Yoga Therapist (C-IAYT). Susan is also a research psychologist and professor. (p. 22)

Peter Klein is a Realtor and a jack-of-all trades. A fan of the theatre and all things creative, Peter has a gusto for new adventures. Note: Peter will portray the Gentleman Caller for the class Tennessee Williams and The Glass Menagerie. (p. 13) Steve Koski is Sarasota County Archaeologist with Libraries and Historical Resources. His main responsibility is in the administration of the county’s Historic Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 66, Article III–Historical and Archaeological Resource Protection. He received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from the University of Massachusetts, Boston and completed course work and qualifying exams in a master’s program at Arizona State University. (p. 26)

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Instructor Biographies

Lauren Rudd is president of Rudd International Asset Management. He is a syndicated newspaper columnist who has been writing about Wall Street and the economy for over 26 years. A recognized public speaker, television commentator, and publisher of The Rudd Report, Lauren has a bachelor’s degree in economics and computer science with high honors from the University of Maryland and did graduate work for a doctorate in economics at the Wharton School (PA). (p. 14)

Theodore Medrek has worked as a performing arts critic, reporter, editor, and columnist for newspapers in and around Boston, including the daily Boston Herald. Previously, he was a co-founder and manager of the Northern Connecticut Ballet based in Windsor, CT, where he choreographed ballets to the music of Stravinsky, Debussy, Verdi, and Massenet and performed a variety of ballet character roles. (p. 21) Peter Mermin has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Antioch College (OH), a master’s in psychology from the New School for Social Research (NY), and a doctorate in psychology from Union Institute (OH). Peter taught at Southampton College and Suffolk Community College on Long Island for 34 years. He actively promotes humanistic and spiritual values. (p. 14)

Paul Sarno is a retired trial lawyer. He has taught courses on Southeast Asian history and political science at OLLI at Ringling College and other locations in Sarasota. In addition to wide-ranging readings, his most recent visit to the region was to Thailand and Myanmar in 2018. (p. 18)

Thomas Miller is a retired business owner, educator, and consultant. He worked in the menswear industry for more than 40 years in New York state. Since becoming part of OLLI, Tom has rediscovered his love of literature and particularly the short-story form. Tom and his wife are year-round residents of Sarasota. (p. 20)

Jo Horne Schmidt is an award-winning and critically acclaimed author. She was also co-author of Parkinson’s Disease For Dummies. She has taught at the college level and is a popular presenter of hands-on workshops at writing seminars and conferences. Her most recent novels are: The Winterkeeper and Monica’s War. She is currently working on a memoir about the death of her husband and her own journey into widowhood. (p. 26)

Tony Moon spent 55 successful years in the music business as an artist, agent, songwriter, producer, and publisher. Moving to Nashville, Tony became guitarist and conductor for Brenda Lee. He has won awards, with songs released by well-known artists. Tony currently administers an entertainment company and does music research for Sarasota’s Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe. (p. 21)

Michael Sherrow was born and raised in New York City and lived there his entire life before coming to Sarasota.

Michael is a student of the history of the city. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Baruch School at the City University of New York and a juris doctorate from St. John’s University (NY). Michael is a retired member of the New York Bar. (p. 18)

Jeff Newman holds a master’s degree in history and taught high school history for a number of years. He also served as the principal of Attleboro Comprehensive High School, one of the larger high schools in Massachusetts. Jeff spent nearly a decade in the Rhode Island State House as a top aide to both the Speaker of the House and the Lieutenant Governor. (p. 18)

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” and led it for nine years. Jay also developed this virtual tour to share his favorite stories and photos with Hitchcock fans everywhere. (p. 13) Rabbi Sigal is a spiritual mentor and scholar. She is the Rabbi at Kol HaNeshama congregation in Sarasota and on the faculty at the premier Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health. She has two master of art degrees, one in Jewish studies, the other in organizational psychology. She has training in art, yoga, meditation, and dance. Using a multidisciplinary disciplinary approach, she facilitates experiences of transformation for individuals and groups.

Rabbi Sigal has presented at TEDx, and was featured on CBS Sunday Morning News and NPR: National Public Radio. RabbiSigal.org (p. 22)

Michelle Passoff is the author of LIGHTEN UP! Free Yourself From Clutter. She has traveled back and forth across the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia teaching and consulting about using cleaning clutter as a life management tool. (p. 15) Daniel “Dee” Pelissier, aka Lady Charlotte Laquelle, is a popular working actor on the Gulf Coast, most recently performing to sold out houses in the role of Dr. Frank-NFurter in the Manatee Players production of The Rocky Horror Show. (p. 13)

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Instructor Biographies

Mike Weddle has a medical degree from the University of Miami and a doctorate in engineering from the University of Michigan. He completed his medical residency at the George Washington and Georgetown University Hospitals in Washington, D.C. Mike is a board member of the Manatee ASALH (Association for the Study of African American Life and History). He is a previous NAACP Branch Education Chair (Maryland) and has taught many adult education college-level courses. (p. 16)

Stephenie Slahor holds a doctorate and a juris doctorate degree. She retired from her law practice and her university position as law school teacher. Stephenie now creates informative and fun OLLI courses for universities around the nation. (p. 25) Bonnie Garvey Spadafora graduated from St. Francis Hospital School of Nursing, Pittsburgh, PA and earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s in public health from the University of South Florida. She spent 15 years at Sarasota Memorial Hospital as a charge nurse in neuroscience and rehabilitation and as a clinical instructor.

Before retirement, she was on the nursing faculty at Manatee Community College (now State College of Florida). (p. 16)

Gayle Yaverbaum holds both a master’s and a doctorate in computer science. She has taught technology courses at the college level, chaired the commission that developed guidelines for worldwide accreditation of computing programs, and visited numerous computing programs worldwide. Gayle was the director of information technology programs at Penn State Harrisburg (PA) and a teacher of information technology for over 25 years. (p. 16)

Stephen Suau is a hydrologist with 40 years of experience, specializing in watershed management and restoration. He has been both a small business owner in the private sector and Director of Sarasota County’s Stormwater Program.

Residing in Sarasota, he served as co-chairman of Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Advisory Committee and currently serves on the Technical Advisory Committees for Sarasota Bay and Charlotte Harbor. (p. 26)

Mary Ziegler has a passion for adult learning and change across the lifespan. She is a retired professor from the University of Tennessee. Her doctorate from Columbia University (NY) is in adult and continuing education and her master’s degree from the University of South Florida is in counseling. Mary is a certified instructor for Guided Autobiography from the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies. (pp. 16, 23)

Herb Walker is a retired engineer with 40 years of experience in technology development for design of aerospace jet engines and automotive and trucking products. Herbert has business and engineering undergraduate degrees from University of Colorado.

His graduate work was done at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (NY) where he also taught graduate courses in computer science. (p. 25)

Stan Zimmerman is a reporter, writer and author with awards from National Press Club, the Society of Professional Journalists and the U.S. Naval Institute. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in journalism. Stan is the author of four books, including A History of Smuggling in Florida. (p. 18)

Diane Walsh was a television producer in Los Angeles for 20 years and received an Emmy nomination for her work on Hallmark Hall of Fame’s A Place for Annie, starring Sissy Spacek. Diane also served as director of programming for the Family Channel and recently retired as director of the Writing for Film and TV Program for the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. (p. 12)

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SARASOTA ART MUSEUM is Ringling College of Art and Design’s dynamic laboratory for the exploration and advancement of contemporary art

ART + SHOP + BISTRO + OLLI + STUDIOS

SHOP

An eclectic collection of exhibition-inspired merchandise, art and architecture books, contemporary jewelry, and gifts

BISTRO

A farm-to-table experience made with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients

JOIN TODAY

Museum Members receive Free and discounted Museum programs, Discounts on Studios at SAM classes, 10% discount in SHOP and Bistro, and more!

SarasotaArtMuseum.org/membership

1001 South Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236 SarasotaArtMuseum.org 941.309.4300

1001 S. Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236-9117