OLLI at Tufts Spring 2025 Catalog by Tufts University College

Spring 2025 Course Catalog

March – May 2025

Course registration begins January 30, 2025 and runs through March 13, 2025.

Membership is required to register for courses.

Published January 15, 2025

To our Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Community Members,

Our team is looking forward to the warmer weather we hope will accompany the start of our Spring 2025 term! We’re delighted to have our Spring courses led by many of our own Tufts OLLI members, Tufts graduate students, faculty, and alumni, as well as new and returning outside instructors. Our wonderful line-up of in-person and Zoom courses provide great opportunities to get outside and explore some of the trails around greater Boston, celebrate the 250th anniversary of the historic city, or come together and discuss the impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), great decisions in foreign policy, and various topics in literature and philosophy.

In addition to our great line up of inperson and virtual courses, we can look forward to many interesting Lunch and Learn Talks and special events during our Spring term! We want to thank our Curriculum Committee, Lunch and Learn Committee, and all of our members who volunteer to be Course Instructors and Classroom Assistants who make our Spring 2025 term possible. We could not do it without you!

To continue our anniversary celebrations, we’re also excited to pilot a new travel program, OLLI on the Road. These domestic day trips will

take members to explore new areas and attractions a little further afield than our past museum or gallery tours. More information about this new pilot program can be found on page 51.

Finally, please note that Tufts and the Osher Office will be closed on the following dates leading up to and during our Spring 2025 term:

• January 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

• February 17: Presidents’ Day

• April 21: Patriots’ Day

As always, our team is available to answer any questions via phone, email, Zoom, or in-person. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us, and we look forward to seeing you all in our Spring term!

Your Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Team,

Callan B. Moody Associate Director Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Kathy Scanlon Program Administrator University College

LUNCH AND LEARN TALKS

All talks will be 12:15 - 1:15pm ET.

Wednesday talks will be exclusively on Zoom. Friday talks will be in-person at Tufts University as well as streamed by Zoom for our members at home. If you are joining us in person, feel free to bring your lunch. Coffee and tea will be provided.

Experiencing the Ellis Island Experience

Stephen Lean

Director, American Family Immigration History Center, Ellis Island

Gypsy and Funny Girl: They have so much in common, it’s a phenomenon

Gail Leondar-Wright Independent Sondheim Scholar

It’s A Wonderful Town – New York City in Movies

Brian Rose Professor, Emeritus, Fordham University

American Higher Education – A Disaster or the Envy of the World?

Sol Gittleman

Alice and Nathan Gantcher Professor Emeritus, Tufts University

Cost & Consequences of Healthcare Errors, Fraud, and Abuse

Lucilla Prates-Ramos

”The Raven” and “The Turkey”: Edgar Allen Poe and the Boston Literati in 1845

Paul Lewis Professor of English, Emeritus, Boston College

Vaccines and Immunology

Dr. Paul Turner

Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University

Rachel Carson Microbiology faculty, Yale School of Medicine

Is it Racist? Is it Sexist? Why Red and Blue White Americans Disagree and How to Decide in the Gray Areas

Betsy Leondar-Wright American Economic Justice Advocate, Sociologist, Author

Jared Katz

Pappalardo Curator of Musical Instruments, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Gift – An Epic WWII Story of Sisters, Secrets and Survival, and the Lies We Tell to Survive Our Pasts Karen Kirsten

Dave Wattles

Black Bear and Furbearer Biologist, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, MassWildlife

Kendra Field

Associate Professor of History, Director, The Center of the Study of Race and Democracy Institute, Tufts University

Dr. Jennifer Levasseur

Curator,

AT A GLANCE

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Course Title

Leader

Sessions Day and Time Dates

Artificial Intelligence and Art Hugh Leeman 2 Tuesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 4/15, 4/22

Better Together or Stronger Alone?

Can Machines Think?

ChatGPT, Modern AI, and the Turing Test

Commodity Culture, Ethics, and the regard for nonhuman animals

Shannon Moryl 4 Tuesday, 4pm – 6pm 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8

Tim Snow 4 Monday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7

Edward J. Ingebretsen 4 Thursday, 10am - 12pm

3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10

Doris Lessing: The Antheap Petra Bittner 4 Tuesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8

Great Cities: Boston Margaret Lourie, Ellen Kitzis, Linda Agerbak, Yogesh Shinde, Jean O’Leary 6 Thursday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24

Great Decisions 2025 (Virtual)

Joseph Ash, Peter Baldwin 8 Wednesday, 10am – 12pm

3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7

Course

The History of Enslaved Spiritualities: Hoodoo and Conjure to the Social Gospel of Martin Luther King and John Lewis

Edward J. Ingebretsen 4 Monday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5

Joseph McCarthy: Charismatic Tyrant Jeff Goldberg 8 Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm

3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7

Linking Great Literature Rand Peabody 2 Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 3/19, 3/26

Seasons of Change: Finding Light and Wellness in Times of Transition

Madjeen Lorthe 4 Tuesday, 10am – 12pm 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8

Proust, Vol 3: The Guermantes Way (Virtual) Emese Soos 8 Tuesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm

3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6

Setting the Scene: Interweaving Persona, Plot, and Place (Virtual) Jane Katims 5 Thursday, 10am – 12pm 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1

Smartphone Photography Steve McGrath 3 Friday, 6pm – 8pm 3/21, 3/28, 4/4

The Cinema of Mike Nichols: Celebrated Director of Screen and Stage Allan Elfant 4 Tuesday, 1pm – 5pm 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8

Course Title Leader Sessions Day and Time Dates

The Dismal Science – Understanding the Economic Mindset Eric Mankin 4

Tuesday, 10am – 12pm 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6

Understanding Music Vedran Mehinovic 8 Thursday, 6pm – 8pm

Western Gunslingers: The Truth Behind the Westerns, Part 2 – The Bad Guys

3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8

Daniel Seligman 5 Tuesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Course Title Leader Sessions Day and Time Dates

“Rose, Lorelei, Sugar and Roslyn”: The Evolution of the Acting of Marilyn Monroe Scott Levine 4 Friday, 9:30am – 12pm 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11

Cold War Paranoia in Film David Briola 4 Friday, 1:30pm – 4pm 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11

Critiques of Philosophy: Religious, Artistic, Scientific, Practical

Eric Chatterjee 8 Friday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9

Grammar and Diction, 60 Years Ago and Today: Part I Art Weiss 8 Friday, 10am – 12pm

3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Course Title

Let’s Go to the Beach! Cleo and Steve D’Arcy 4

Dates

Friday, 10am – 12pm 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11

Mr. Nice Guy: Films of Tom Hanks Arnie Wright 4 Friday, 1:30pm – 4pm 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9

Powerful Connections: How Sensory Communications Shape Status and Community Culture Thea Curtin 4

Select Poetry and Letters of John Keats

Setting the Scene: Interweaving Persona, Plot, and Place (In-Person)

Some True Stories from Life: Reading and Writing Memoir

John Murphy 8

Friday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11

Jane Katims 5

Alisa Wolf 6

In-person at Brooksby Village

Course Title Leader

Friday, 10am – 12pm 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9

Friday, 10am – 12pm 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2

Friday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25

and Time Dates

Global Mosaic: Exploring Decorative Tiles from Around the World Callan B. Moody 2 Monday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 3/17, 3/24

Perspectives on the Holocaust

Thomas Burke 6 Monday, 10am – 12pm 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/21

In-person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Course Title Leader Sessions Day and Time Dates

Great Decisions 2025 (In-Person)

Joseph Ash, Peter Baldwin 8 Thursday, 10am – 12pm

3/20, 3/27, 3/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8

Hellfire and Deliverance: A Guided Tour of Verdi’s Requiem Elke Jahns-Harms 4 Tuesday, 10am – 12pm 3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8

Ida B. Wells –Shining a Light of Truth Bill Saunders 2 Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm 4/30, 5/7

Proust, Vol 3: The Guermantes Way (In-Person) Emese Soos 8 Wednesday, 10am – 12pm

The Ethical Writings of John Stuart Mill Joyce Carpenter 6 Wednesday, 10am – 12pm

3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7

3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23

The Right Cannabis for Me Dianna Dixon 1 Tuesday, 10am – 12pm 4/22

In-person at Offsite Locations

Course Title Leader Sessions Day and Time Dates

Introduction to Plant ID Jeff Adams 2 Monday, 10am – 12pm 4/28, 5/5

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS & INSTRUCTOR BIOS

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Artificial Intelligence and Art

Hugh Leeman, Outside Instructor

Tuesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (4/15, 4/22)

2 Sessions, Minimally Interactive – Mostly Lecture

For centuries, civilizations have turned to art to reflect their deepest beliefs, power dynamics, and cultural bedrocks. As we traverse the modern era, artificial intelligence is reshaping this ancient landscape, introducing robots capable of producing art and challenging our understanding of creativity. We will explore the creative application of AI tools and their integration into our lives as we trace developments of robots and AI to understand critical milestones and technological advancements, as well as the societal and ethical implications for human creativity and its potential to redefine cultural paradigms in the 21st century.

Course participants are expected to read 10 pages per week.

Hugh Leeman

Hugh Leeman is an artist and lecturer. He lectures regularly at Johns Hopkins University and Duke University in English and at Colorado State University in Spanish. Leeman uses his art to engage social challenges while energizing community relationships. His first social art project focused on a five-year collaboration using Near Field Communication and the first iPhone to create micro self-empowerment business platforms for unhoused individuals. More recently, he used his art and community activism to cofound aetatribes.org. Currently, he is collaborating with marginalized communities using oral histories, artificial intelligence, and narrative art-making to preserve cultural knowledge and foster human connection. His artworks have been shown in museums in the United States and Mexico.

Better Together or Stronger Alone?

Shannon Moryl, Tufts Alum

Tuesday, 4pm – 6pm (3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8)

4 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$100

Over the course of the past two centuries, the international order has moved towards globalization and countries have invested power in international economic, political, and military organizations. Yet the past decades have seen a rise in nationalism and isolationism in the United States and abroad. Drawing from the primary sources and current events, this group will discuss the present and think about whether countries are better together or stronger alone. We will start with an intro of the philosophical and political basis of international unions. We will then focus on a specific theme each of the following 3 weeks: political organizations (United Nations, EU, AU), economic organizations (EU, NAFTA, BRICS), and military organizations (NATO, and other historic and contemporary alliances).

Required reading: Readings will be provided digitally.

Shannon Moryl

Shannon Moryl is a 7th grade Global Studies teacher in the Boston Area. She graduated from Wake Forest University with honors in History and Philosophy and a minor in International Affairs and from Tufts University with a Masters of Arts in Teaching. She has led five courses through the Osher Institute since 2020. In her free time, she enjoys hiking with her husky and learning about the world.

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Can Machines Think? ChatGPT, Modern AI, and the Turing Test

Tim Snow, OLLI Member

Monday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7)

4 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

$100

Some researchers claim that ChatGPT-4, a recently developed AI chatbot, has passed the Turing Test, a test designed to answer the question, “Can machines think?” In this course, we’ll explore what this means: whether machines can, or ever will, “think” and in what sense. We’ll examine this by looking at the way modern AI systems work and at the Turing Test and objections to it from a philosophical perspective. At the end of the course, we’ll also take a look at the potential benefits and dangers of machines becoming super-intelligent.

Tim Snow

Tim Snow earned a PhD in Philosophy in 1992, then left academia for the computer industry, where he spent the next 25 years before retiring in 2018. His working life was bookended by two projects in AI, starting with writing an expert system and ending up working on IBM’s Watson (the artificial intelligence that beat Jeopardy). After retirement, he has returned to reading and thinking about philosophy as well as other topics. Tim previously led the OLLI course “Philosophers Look At Artificial Intelligence” with Michael Werner.

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Commodity Culture, Ethics, and the Regard for

Edward J. Ingebretsen, Outside Instructor

Thursday, 10am - 12pm (3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10)

Non-Human Animals

$100

4 Sessions, Somewhat Interactive, A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

This course examines the vexed interchange between humans and animals in commodity culture. We encounter animals daily, although likely we pay little attention to, or don’t recognize, these encounters AS encounters. We eat animals, we wear them. Our beauty, health and home products are tested on them. Animals perform for us and satisfy our need for intimacy, entertainment, as well as novelty. Human agency and indifference removes animals from their natural lives, and displays them for a variety of human pleasures. Western culture—and its mix of theologies generally—positions animals as subservient to humans; post-colonial rhetoric subjugates their bodies in the same discursive frame that gave Harriet Beecher Stowe the sub-title for Uncle Tom’s Cabin: “The Man Who was a Thing.” But are they things?

Course participants are expected to read 11-25 pages per week.

Edward J. Ingebretsen

Professor Edward J. Ingebretsen holds advance degrees in Theology and Ethics (JSTB 1982) and a Doctorate in American Studies (Duke 1986). His publications (books, journals) consider the intersection of gender, race, theology, and popular cultures. He concentrates in non-human ethics and American social history.

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Doris Lessing: The Antheap

Petra Bittner, Outside Instructor

Tuesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8)

4 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$100

Long considered Doris Lessing’s best collection of short stories, African Stories is an homage to her twenty-five years spent in Africa. In this anthology, she explores the complexities, the agonies and joys, and the textures of life in Rhodesia. First published in 1965, the book contains much of the Nobel Prize winner’s most extraordinary work. In this class, we will read the longer stories/novellas “A Home for the Highland Cattle” and “The Antheap.” Please obtain the required reading and read “The Story of Two Dogs” for the first class.

Required reading: Lessing, Doris. African Stories. Simon & Schuster, 2014. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $16.94.

Petra Bittner

Petra Bittner is a German native from Berlin who holds degrees in English literature (PhD) and teaching German as a second language (MA/Staatsexamen). She has taught language and cultural studies classes for Boston University, Harvard University and MIT. Between 2007 and 2020, she taught cultural studies and business communication courses for various universities in Munich. During that time, Petra was also a lecturer and language instructor for the adult education center in Munich (Münchner Volkshochschule). Since 2020, she has been teaching both English and German literature, as well as German language classes for the Cambridge Center for Adult Education. In 2022, she started teaching for Tufts OLLI. Petra loves the cultural diversity in adult education classes as well as the relaxed but dedicated atmosphere in the classroom.

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Great Cities: Boston

Margaret Lourie, Ellen Kitzis, Linda Agerbak, Yogesh Shinde, Jean O’Leary, OLLI Members

$150

Thursday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24)

6 Sessions, Minimally Interactive – Mostly Lecture

The Tufts OLLI program is proud to join with other local organizations in the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the beginnings of American revolutionary activity that took place in the Boston area in 1775 – 1776. In this course, we will look at Boston’s past, present, and future, and what has made it the great city that it is today. We will start with a look at the history of Boston, from its beginnings with the first settlers and its pivotal role in the American Revolution to the development of civic, economic, social, and cultural institutions (some of which are in neighboring Cambridge). We will then take a look at some of these great institutions, as well as some of Boston’s neighborhoods, that make Boston a great place to live, work, and visit.

Linda Agerbak, Ellen Kitzis, Margaret Lourie, Jean O’Leary, Yogesh Shinde

The five members of the team presenting this course are Tufts OLLI members, experienced instructors, and come from varied backgrounds. All have lived in the Boston area for a long time and are looking forward to sharing their favorite things about Boston with other Tufts OLLI members and showing them what makes Boston a Great City.

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Great Decisions 2025 (Virtual)

Joseph Ash, Peter Baldwin, OLLI Members

Wednesday, 10am – 12pm (3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7)

8 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

$175

Participate in a series of thought-provoking discussions about eight key issues of concern to today’s U.S. policymakers. We’ll review one foreign policy topic per week. The course instructors will begin each session with a presentation on the topic of the day to supplement the text. The rest of the session will be devoted to open discussion based on the text, the presentation, and the ideas and experience of class members, as we seek a deeper understanding of the issues involved. Weekly readings will include about 15 pages from the required text plus occasional additional short articles. Home Internet access is recommended as we’ll share resources and opinions by email.

Required reading: Great Decisions 2025 Briefing Book. Foreign Policy Association, 2025. Click here to purchase on the FPA website. $35.

Course participants are expected to read 11-25 pages per week.

Joseph Ash

Joe Ash holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Cornell University and a MS in Management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. During his 39-year career with an electric and gas utility, he held a number of officer-level positions in such areas as customer service, supply chain, regulatory affairs, pricing, and energy supply acquisition. He has been a member of Osher LLI since he and his wife retired to Somerville in 2009. In his retirement, he has been certified as a mediator and has undertaken a variety of volunteer activities.

Peter Baldwin

Peter Baldwin has been involved in all aspects of the gas turbine and compressor industries for over 55 years and has very broad general industry knowledge and equipment best practice. base-e is his Boston based independent consulting company. Pete was President of Ramgen Power Systems, a developer of an advanced shock compression technology for use in utility scale Carbon Capture and Storage Systems (CCS). Pete spent 33 years with Ingersoll-Rand Company, serving as President of Woburn-based NREC, the developer of the I-R’s microturbine for use in Distributed Power Generation. Pete had been Vice President of Sales & Service North America for Ingersoll-Rand’s Air Compressor Group and has held a variety of executive level positions, including international assignments in the UK and Italy. Pete holds a BSME degree from Purdue University.

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The History of Enslaved Spiritualities: Hoodoo and Conjure to the Social Gospel of Martin Luther King and John Lewis

Edward J. Ingebretsen, Outside Instructor

Monday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5)

4 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

African spiritual practices of Conjure, Hoodoo—blended with captivity’s folk practices (Islam and Christianity)—empowered a dynamic sense of identity and resistance in colonial enslaved people. Likewise, this mix of spirits encouraged post-colonial Black Americans (enslaved and free) as they sought the freedoms promised them by prophets, sacred writings, and leaders (voodoo as well as Christian). A syncretic spirituality thus functioned on multiple levels, providing psychological resilience, and in some cases, practical means of resistance. Ultimately, spirits magical, as well as orthodox, moved thousands of enslaved women, men, and children to find their way to freedom. Their hand to hand urgency in turn provided the impetus and final cause for legal emancipation. In this four-session course we will discuss the following class topics: 1. Hoodoo, Christianity, and the spiritual motive for rise of a nation, 2. The Long Emancipation: Passed Hand to hand, from Sojourner Truth to Juneteenth 2024, 3. American Apartheid: How the Supreme Court guaranteed the whiteness of the Postcivil war nation, 4. The 1963 March on Washington: How Martin Luther King awoke, and how John Lewis learned ‘good trouble’ by preaching to chickens.

$100 Course participants are expected to read 11-25 pages per week.

Edward J. Ingebretsen

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Joseph McCarthy: Charismatic Tyrant

Jeff Goldberg, OLLI Member

Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7)

8 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

The course will examine the rise of Joe McCarthy from his grass roots beginnings as self-promoting yet likeable soldier, businessman, and politician in Wisconsin starting during WWII, to becoming one of the most destructive and feared U.S. senators ever. $175

Required reading: Tye, Larry. Demagogue: The Life and Long Shadow of Senator Joe McCarthy. Mariner Books, 2020. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $18.29.

Wicker, Tom. Shooting Star: The Brief Arc of Joe McCarthy. Harcourt Publishing, 2006. Click here for buying options on Google Books. $7.50.

Jeff Goldberg

Jeffrey Goldberg attended Rutgers University, where he received a BA degree in chemistry. Following Rutgers, Goldberg proceeded to Cornell University, where he thought he would pursue an advanced degree in chemistry only to realize, nearly immediately after arriving, that he did not have the personality to pursue research. Instead, he changed focus and received an MBA. This was followed by further studies in finance and accounting at Northwestern University in Chicago. Jeff’s interest in chemistry persisted. He worked in the chemical industry for large corporation, such as WR Grace, and Allied Signal from 1972 to 1976 when he began his own corporation— Carlisle Chemical corporation which is sold in 2021. He is an extensive reader and enjoys topics concerning United States history, law, war and economics. He competes at duplicate bridge events, plays chess, and watches all sports (including curling)— professional and college basketball and football are his favorites. Jeff feels baseball has a long way to go to end its boredom.

Linking Great Literature

Rand Peabody, Outside Instructor

Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/19, 3/26)

2 Sessions, Minimally Interactive – Mostly Lecture

$50

The course will present numerous examples of English literature gathered around two well-focused themes: “Ecstasy and Mystery” and “Facing the End.” The first lecture will examine works by Blake, Donne, Coleridge, Dickinson, Rumi, Hopkins, and Bob Dylan. The second will weave works by Shakespeare, Keats, Dylan Thomas, Wilfred Owen, T.S. Eliot, Thornton Wilder, and the Biblical Psalm 139.

All literary content will be presented in the course of the lectures.

Rand Peabody

Rand Peabody has taught a successful lecture series at Brooksby Village in Peabody, MA titled, “Linking Great Literature.” Dr. Peabody has professional training in theology and counseling psychology and has enjoyed a life-long avocational interest in English Literature.

Seasons of Change: Finding Light and Wellness in Times of Transition

Madjeen Lorthe, Tufts Staff Member

Tuesday, 10am – 12pm (3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8)

4 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$100

Life is a series of transitions, bringing new challenges and opportunities—whether in personal life, career, or community roles. From adapting to major life changes to navigating unexpected obstacles, each transition has the potential to reshape our journey. Each season of life offers a unique opportunity to nurture our well-being, even during challenging transitions. Season of Change: Finding Light and Wellness in Times of Transition is a four-session course that blends mindful practices with the metaphor of nature’s growth cycle to explore how to care for ourselves during times of change. Through gentle reflection, self-care rituals, and resilience-building exercises, this course will support your journey toward balance, grounding, and emotional well-being as you navigate winter’s darkness and transition toward a brighter season.

Madjeen Lorthe

Madjeen Lorthe, MEd, ACC, a certified career and life transitions coach by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and founder of Transitions Well Done—a coaching practice dedicated to helping individuals transform the way they live, work, and thrive. With degrees in human services and psychological studies, Madjeen has led and managed teams; coached leaders and entrepreneurs across various industries through past collaborations, including CMG, SCORE Boston, Center for Women Enterprise, and other local organizations.Madjeen has a deep commitment to guiding individuals through life’s transitions, helping them emerge stronger and more resilient. Her workshops offer practical insights on embracing change, building resilience, balancing self-care and mental well-being, and refining leadership skills to confidently steer personal and professional transitions. Drawing on her extensive background in coaching, mental health counseling, and leadership, Madjeen’s holistic approach ensures that individuals navigate change and thrive through it. Passionate about supporting people through life transitions with ease and confidence, Madjeen uses a holistic and trauma-informed approach. She has two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership and mental health counseling and is well-equipped to guide individuals through various life challenges. As a first-generation Black Caribbean immigrant and a parent to a teenage daughter, Madjeen understands the unique challenges and opportunities that arise during times of change. She believes in each person’s capacity to create the life they desire, providing a safe, supportive space to explore their goals and celebrate achievements along the way. Madjeen’s coaching approach integrates mindfulness practices and evidence-based coaching techniques, recognizing the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit. She helps individuals cultivate self-awareness, resilience, and self-care, addressing limiting beliefs, stress management, and societal barriers. Her work is trauma-informed and transformative, guiding individuals on a path toward achieving their goals.

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Proust, Vol 3: The Guermantes Way (Virtual)

Emese Soos, Retired Tufts Faculty Member

Tuesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6)

8 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

The Guermantes Way, the third volume of Proust’s masterpiece, In Search of Lost Time, ushers the narrator Marcel into the divine realm of the ancient high nobility, whose manners he must study and master to be accepted. At first dazzled by the glamor of these literary and aristocratic salons, Marcel gradually discovers how insular, snobbish, and obsolete they are. Consumed by their intricate sense of hierarchy, fixated on the frivolities of their social life, and indifferent to the events of the world around them, they pay scant attention to the Dreyfus Affair or to the tragedy of the impending world war. The changing times raise insecurity about status and identity, to be sure, but also set the stage for devastating social satire. $175

Required reading: Proust, Marcel. The Guermantes Way. Penguin Classics, 2005. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $21.98.

Course participants are expected to read 85 pages per week.

Emese Soos

Emese Soos majored in French and history at Mount Holyoke College, earned a PhD in French from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and taught French language and culture courses at Tufts for over 30 years. She delights in revisiting some of her favorite literary works, this time in English.

Setting the Scene: Interweaving Persona, Plot, and Place (Virtual)

Jane Katims, OLLI Member

Thursday, 10am – 12pm (4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1)

5 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of

Discussion

$125

The dictionary defines “setting” as “The place or type of surrounding where something is positioned or where an event takes place.” We will explore how story settings have a decidedly active role in narratives and how they provide atmospheres that bring into focus the particular nature of characters and events. In addition, we will discuss character development and conflict, as well as compare authors’ styles of writing and storytelling strategies. Course participants will be assigned 50-90 pages of reading per week. Please buy or locate the required readings and please read the stories “Rock Springs” and “Great Falls” in the book, Rock Springs, for the first class.

Required reading: Ford, Richard. Rock Springs. Grove Press, 1987. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $16.75.

Groff, Lauren. Florida. Riverhead Press, 2018. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $18.49.

Remnick, David. Wonderful Town: New York Stories from the New Yorker. Random House, 2000. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $13.19.

Course participants are expected to read 11-25 pages per week.

Jane Katims

Jane Katims has written and co-produced six radio series for Wisconsin Public Radio, one earning her a Peabody Award in Broadcasting. She is the author of the poetry collection, Dancing on a Slippery Floor, and the short story collection, Until Now. As well as teaching at OLLI, she teaches literature and creative writing at The Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Jane is a member of the Friends of Humanities at the University of WisconsinMadison. She lives with her family near Boston, Massachusetts.

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Smartphone Photography

Steve McGrath, Outside Instructor

Friday, 6pm – 8pm (3/21, 3/28, 4/4)

3 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

$75

This course is dedicated to helping you understand how to use your smartphone for photography, how to take a create great images on your phone, what editing apps to use, and how to share and print your images. Join Steve as we go over how to find out how to use essential controls on your phone along with the best free and low-cost tools for editing and image management.

Steve McGrath

Steve McGrath is professional freelance photographer and photography teacher who has been creating images for 30 years. Steve first began by shooting sports photography for local high schools, then weddings, and stock agencies. Then his love of the outdoors led him to focusing more on his true passion: nature photography. Many of his images have been published in school textbooks. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

Virtually on Zoom

The Cinema of Mike Nichols: Celebrated Director of Screen and Stage Allan Elfant, OLLI Member

$100

Tuesday, 1pm – 5pm (3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8)

4 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

Mike Nichols earned adulation on Broadway and in Hollywood. He was one of the few people to win an Oscar, a Tony, an Emmy, and a Grammy. He had a gift for communicating with and inspiring actors. We will view and discuss four of his films: Who’s Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?, The Graduate, Catch-22, and Closer. Classes will run for 3 – 4 hours depending on the film length. Suggested readings will be provided online.

Allan Elfant

Allan Elfant has a BA in Psychology from Brooklyn College and a PhD in Clinical Psychology from New York University. He was in clinical practice for over 40 years and held teaching positions at several universities. He has led over 200 presentations at national and regional professional conferences and meetings and over two dozen study groups for Tufts OLLI on various cinematic, psychological, and philosophical themes. Many of these study groups have been film classes.

The Dismal Science – Understanding the Economic Mindset

Eric Mankin, OLLI Member

Tuesday, 10am – 12pm (4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6)

4 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$100

We will apply the principles of economics in addressing current questions, both large and small. We will consider economic concepts, like price discrimination and nonsatiety. We will do so in the spirit of inquiry rather than advocacy, using an economic lens to discuss explanations and make a few predictions. No prior knowledge of economics is required —the course is designed for those who may never have taken any prior courses in the subject, although I can accommodate those with an economics background as well. Prior participants in the study group are welcome to continue with the course. There will be some new material. There will be pre-readings before each session. The format of the sessions will be facilitated discussion, seminar style, so participation is expected. This class is a reprise of similar courses offered in previous terms.

Required reading: Readings will be provided.

Eric Mankin

After getting his PhD in Business Economics back in the mid 1980s, Eric ran far from the academy and had a career in management consulting for about 20 years, which gave him a lot of exposure to the ways in which successful businesses actually ran. In the next twenty years, however, Eric spent a great deal of his time in executive education. He often uses his economics training to try to understand the world. This is his first time leading a courseat Osher, but he has lectured for various executive and student groups.

Virtually on Zoom

Understanding Music

Vedran Mehinovic, Outside Instructor

Thursday, 6tpm – 8pm (3/20, 3/27, 4/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8)

8 Sessions,

Minimally

Interactive – Mostly Lecture

$175

This course caters to a broad range of musical experiences. Combining the elements of acoustics, Western music theory and history, and world music, even the students with some musical background will find new areas to explore. Topics include the propagation of sound in space, human and animal sound perception, history of music notation and printing, spectral analyses of various instruments, development of polyphony, and landmark works throughout the centuries. Participants will receive a global perspective of musical activity and an awareness of how even distant events can shape our sonic world (e.g. the relationship between Mesopotamian lutes and the electric guitar). The select themes aim to inspire continued musical pursuits well after the course has been completed.

Vedran Mehinovic

Vedran Mehinovic was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A gifted pianist from an early age, he and his musical family helped maintain the artistic life of the city during Bosnian War. Mehinovic received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Composition from New England Conservatory, and a Doctorate from University of California, Santa Cruz. In 2007, his piece RA was selected as one of just three orchestral works to be performed during the Gaudeamus Music Week in Amsterdam, winning Honorable Mention at the week’s end. An enthusiast of world arts, Mehinovic has organized concerts of Korean, Hindustani, Uyghur, and Chinese musics in Boston. He facilitated the Pacific Rim Music Festival 2010 and 2017, which took place in multiple international locations and featured new compositions for Korean and Western instruments. Mehinovic’s works have been performed in Bosnia, Croatia, Switzerland, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea, and the United States.

Virtually on Zoom

Western Gunslingers: The Truth Behind the Westerns, Part 2 (The Bad Guys)

Daniel Seligman, Outside Instructor

Tuesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13)

5 Sessions, Minimally Interactive – Mostly Lecture

$125

The American West has been portrayed extensively in westerns and other media and subjected, on the one hand, to broad exaggeration, and, on the other, to a more recent tendency to uninformed debunking. This course discusses the life and times of gunslingers who lived in the American West in the late 19th century and are well known in American popular culture. This Spring session is a continution of the ‘Good Guys’ course offered in Winter 2025. We will discuss Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Belle Starr, Black Bart, and Butch Cassidy. The Winter session on Good Guys is NOT a prerequisite.

Daniel Seligman

Daniel Seligman is a retired computer engineer with a lifelong interest in the American West, dating from his days as a small child watching B westerns on a 7-inch TV screen in the 1950s. Over the years, he has indulged his interests in extensive readings and travels and, since retirement, in the publication of magazine articles and presentation of seminars on western historical figures.

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

“Rose, Lorelei, Sugar and Roslyn”: The Evolution of the Acting of Marilyn Monroe

Scott Levine, Outside Instructor

Friday, 9:30am – 12pm (3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11)

4 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

While few figures of the 20th century remain as universally recognizable as the actress Marilyn Monroe (1926-62), her iconic status belies her development as a hardworking, dedicated and talented movie actress whose performances reflect the decisive change in the narrative style of mid-twentieth-century American movies. Over our four weeks of this course, we will watch four of her films: two star-making roles infused with intuition and skill made within the tradition of classic Hollywood acting, and two very different performances of precision and interiority in films she made after studying with Lee Strasberg at The Actors Studio in New York. In the process, we will also discuss how performances in film are defined by the style, structure and tone of the films in which they appear.

Course participants are expected to read 10 pages per week.

Scott Levine

Scott Levine has a BA in American Studies from Colby College and an MA from NYU in Cinema Studies. He taught undergraduate Film classes at URI, spent a long career working in publicity for the Hollywood studios, and was the Assistant Director of The Film Center at The Art Institute of Chicago. He studied acting at The Atlantic Theater Company in NYC (and other places) and has recently performed with theater companies in Providence, RI.

In-person at Tufts Medford/ Somerville Campus

Cold War Paranoia in Film

David Briola, OLLI Member

Friday, 1:30pm – 4pm (3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11)

4 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

$100

In this course, we will watch then discuss some of the most important films dealing with the Cold War. This course is comprised of four Friday afternoons, from 1:30 to 4:00pm. We will start with “Three Days of the Condor,” from 1975. It very effectively illustrates the major themes of trust and mistrust, lies and deceit, and the tendency toward mirroring the actions of the “other side.” Week 2 features “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold.” It is one of the best known films of its kind—of any kind, actually. If anything, it is even bleaker than “Condor.” Then we go into a change of pace as we view “The Manchurian Candidate,” filled with many twists and turns, in week three. We will finish with a gem from Stanley Kubrick, “Doctor Strangelove.” As dire as this film is, it is filled with humor. After we’ve seen the last entry, we will close with a retrospective of all four movies.

David Briola

David Briola has been immersed in going to the movies all his life, starting at the age of 5, and has seen roughly 15,000 films (including older films on TV). He wrote his first experience of watching a film in 1955 for a third grade class: Giant. In addition, he spent 25 years doing storytelling which almost always included references to at least one movie. Also, voluminous reading of film history and countless film reviews. He has participated in nearly endless discussions concerning current movies, as well as classic films from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and so on. He spent years doing public speaking and community theater and has been considered a pretty good impressionist (not the painting kind). That about sums it up.

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Critiques of Philosophy: Religious, Artistic, Scientific, Practical

Eric Chatterjee, Tufts Graduate Student

Friday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9)

8 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$175

This class will consider global and historical challenges to the study of philosophy— critiques that call into question philosophy’s utility, legitimacy, and ethicality as a discipline. These criticisms will be taken seriously, though thoughtful ones will be distinguished from those which are perfunctory. The course will begin by addressing religious critiques of philosophy, then examine questions surrounding the role of philosophy in contrast to the arts, move on to criticisms from the sciences, and conclude by addressing concerns about philosophy’s implications for citizenship and private life. This course is likely to be quite rigorous and will be highly discussion oriented. Prior study of philosophy, whether formal or auto didactic, will be very helpful but is not required. Links to recommended materials (readings and videos) will be made available prior to each session.

Eric Chatterjee

Eric is a second-year Master’s student at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He has previously taught several courses for the Tufts OLLI program.

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Grammar and Diction, 60 Years Ago and Today: Part I

Art Weiss, Tufts Alum, OLLI Member

Friday, 10am – 12pm (3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9)

8 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$175

An excellent manual of English grammar and diction, Modern American Usage by Wilson Follett, was published in 1966. Its many entries reveal the author’s views, penetrating and witty, on correct and elegant writing. In this discussion course, we will look at some of Follett’s most interesting suggestions and remarks. We will evaluate them from our own perspectives, considering whether we think they were valid in 1966 and whether they are valid today. Sections of the book will be assigned as reading before each class, from which the course leader will select topics for discussion in the first half of the class. For the second half, class members will choose additional topics from the reading.

Required reading: Follett, Wilson. Modern American Usage: A Guide. Hill and Wang, 1966. 5. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $22.56.

Art Weiss

Art Weiss (PhD Mathematics, Tufts) is an inveterate reader. When he was younger, he was responsible for writing technical documents with (he hoped) clarity and precision. A lifelong curmudgeon, he is accustomed to noticing and is not-at-all shy in complaining about the innumerable manglings of the English language he encounters on a daily basis. Art has been an OLLI member since 2013 and has led courses in mathematics, physics, computer algorithms, and contract bridge.

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Let’s Go to the Beach!

Cleo and Steve D’Arcy, OLLI Members

Friday, 10am – 12pm (3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11)

4 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$100

Going to the beach is a favorite activity for many of us. If that includes you, join us in this discussion-centered study group about beaches. We will first consider what defines a beach, how beaches form, and how they change over time. We will talk about life on the beach, including the wide variety of plants and animals that use the beach as their home or for a stopover. And, of course, we will talk about beachcombing finds, from sea glass to shells to sand dollars. Finally, we will discuss the challenges that beaches face and what we can do to help preserve these special places. There will be many opportunities to share during each class, including discussions of short poems and stories read in class or at home. So, let’s go to the beach together!

Required reading: Readings will be provided.

Cleo and Steve D’Arcy

Cleo and Steve D’Arcy are retired professors who taught at the University of Illinois for over 30 years. While they enjoyed teaching college students, they really enjoy sharing their interests with their contemporaries. They have co-taught OLLI courses on a wide variety of subjects, including places they have travelled and hobbies they enjoy. Cleo and Steve are avid beachcombers and have walked many beaches in New England and in other areas of the U.S. In this course, they will share their experiences and knowledge about beaches and beach life, and invite you to share yours. Please join them for this trip to the beach.

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Mr. Nice Guy: Films of Tom Hanks

Arnie Wright, OLLI Member

Friday, 1:30pm – 4pm (4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9)

4 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

$100

Tom Hanks (born in 1956) is an actor, director, and producer. Known for both his comedic and dramatic roles, he is one of the most popular and recognizable film stars worldwide and is regarded as an American cultural icon. Hanks has appeared in over 75 films that have grossed more than $4.9 billion in North America and more than $9.96 billion worldwide, making him the fourth-highest-grossing actor in North America. Tom Hanks has been nominated for an Oscar six times and won the Best Actor Award for the movies “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump”. In this four week course, we will view a different Hanks’ film each session. After the film, we will have a 20-30 minute discussion and critique. This is your chance to be a film critic. Be prepared to be entertained! April 10: “The Money Pit” (1986), April 17: “Philadelphia” (1994), April 24: “Cast Away” (2001), May 2: “The Terminal” (2004).

Arnie Wright

Arnie Wright was a professor at Boston College and Northeastern in the School of Business. He loves reading and traveling. He is an avid movie and theatre fan. His interest in this course is that one of his favorite actors is Tom Hanks. Arnie has been the facilitator for several Osher film classes, including movies of Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, and Katharine Hepburn.

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Powerful Connections: How Sensory Communications Shape Status and Community Culture

Thea Curtin, OLLI Member

Friday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11)

4 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

From buying a house to rooting for the Red Sox, our five senses are major players. The goal of this class is to raise awareness of their non-verbal, critical value both consciously and unconsciously. We will trace the evolutionary journey of survival and examine each sense in a contemporary context. Why you should “listen to your nose” or pay attention to that funny feeling are questions to which we will seek answers. No required reading. There will be handouts and participatory sensing-the-message activities. $100

Thea Curtin

An active participant in Osher programs at Tufts University for over a decade, Thea previously led two classes titled “Sensory IQ” (Summer 2019) and “How the Nake Ape Got Home” (Fall 2018). A lifelong resident of Medford, Thea’s classes are informed by a 35-year career in real estate that offered a “Living Lab” on human behavior. Her lifelong interest in these topics began at the University of Massachusetts where she majored in Sociology and Communications.

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Select Poetry and Letters of John Keats

John Murphy, Tufts Alum

Friday, 10am – 12pm (3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2, 5/9)

8 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$175

In the first class, we will review Keats’ biography, read a selection of early poems and mention recurring themes. In the following weeks, we will read a few of Keats’ shorter poems in the first hour, and in the second hour, focus on a close reading of his famous Odes, ending in the final class with a discussion of ‘To Autumn’, perhaps his most perfect poem. As we read the poems and letters roughly chronologically, we can look for development in the poet’s craft and thought.

Required reading: Keats, John. Complete Poems and Selected Letters of John Keats. Modern Library, 2001. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $16.34.

Course participants are expected to read more than 50 pages per week.

John Murphy

John Murphy’s primary occupation, for 40 years, was renovating houses. He has spent a little less time as a student, primarily in the Humanities, studying Literature and Philosophy. He had one respite from carpentry in 1994 – 98 when, attending Tufts’ Department of Child Study, he wrote a thesis comparing parents’ understanding of growth, happiness, and independence in their children, as expressions of cultural backgrounds (Chinese and European). Since retiring, he has led many Osher courses.

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Setting the Scene: Interweaving Persona, Plot, and Place (Virtual)

Jane Katims, OLLI Member

Friday, 10am – 12pm (4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25, 5/2)

5 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$125

Required reading: Ford, Richard. Rock Springs. Grove Press, 1987. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $16.75.

Groff, Lauren. Florida. Riverhead Press, 2018. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $18.49.

Remnick, David. Wonderful Town: New York Stories from the New Yorker. Random House, 2000. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $13.19.

Course participants are expected to read 11-25 pages per week.

Jane Katims

In-person at Tufts Medford/Somerville Campus

Some True Stories from Life: Reading and Writing Memoir

Alisa Wolf, OLLI Member

Friday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/21, 3/28, 4/4, 4/11, 4/18, 4/25)

6 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$150

Reading a great memoir can inspire us to write our own life stories. In this course, we will read Safekeeping: Some True Stories from a Life, by master memoirist, Abigail Thomas. We will look at how Thomas uses scenes of childhood, marriage, motherhood, and loss to illustrate her theme: Even in the face of heartache and uncertainty, there is always something worth holding onto. Using prompts based on her example, we will write our own stories in class and read them aloud (optional) in a fun, constructive atmosphere. A framework will also be provided for structuring memoirs around universal themes that will resonate with readers.

Required reading: Thomas, Abigail. Safekeeping: Some True Stories From a Life. Anchor, 2001. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $15.95.

Course participants are expected to read 30 pages per week.

Alisa Wolf

Alisa Wolf is a writer, editor, and writing coach. She worked full-time on trade and consumer magazines and as a marketing communications writer for thirty-plus years. She also taught fiction and memoir-writing classes at The Arlington Center for the Arts and the West Medford Community Center. She earned an MFA from Vermont College, and her work has appeared in many literary journals, including Agni, Calyx, Cimarron Review, Concho River Review, Fjords Review, and Red Cedar Review, as well as the Prentice Hall Reader. She lives in Medford, MA and writes personal essays on Medium. com.

In-person at Brooksby Village

Global Mosaic: Exploring Decorative Tiles from Around the World Callan B. Moody, Tufts Staff Member

$50

Monday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (3/17, 3/24)

2 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

In Global Mosaic: Exploring Decorative Tiles from Around the World, students will explore the fascinating world of tile artistry across cultures and eras. From the ornate ceramic tiles of Islamic architecture to the hand-painted majolica of Italy, this course uncovers the techniques and traditions that have shaped decorative tilework around the globe. Students will gain insights into the cultural and architectural significance of tiles while appreciating the skill and creativity involved in their production. Whether you’re a designer, an artist, or someone with a passion for world cultures, this course will provide a rich and colorful experience.

Callan B. Moody

Having always had an interest and passion for art history and museums since watching her first Indiana Jones film in 3rd grade, Callan B. Moody went on to study art history and museum studies with a minor in archaeology at Radford University. She then worked at both the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, VA, and the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art in Virginia Beach, VA before completing her Masters in Arts Administration at Boston University. While working on her Masters, Callan began her career in higher education, working at Boston University and Berklee College of Music before joining Tufts and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute in 2022.

In-person at Brooksby Village

Perspectives on the Holocaust

Thomas Burke, Outside Instructor

Monday, 10am – 12pm (3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/21)

6 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

$150

The Holocaust, planned and carried out by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany, was the most heinous organized crime in all human history. This course will seek the “how” and the “why” of The Holocaust in lectures and discussion/Q&A. There is no required reading, but a list of suggested readings and background materials will be provided. We will consider the Holocaust in historical context, including discussion of how antisemitism originated and grew from Biblical times to the 20th Century. We will also discuss current trends in the teaching, acknowledgment, and denial of the history of The Holocaust. This course is a reprise of that offered in May 2023 with some new information to reflect current events.

Thomas Burke

Thomas Burke is a freelance writer, writing tutor, and author of Evil Must Not Have the Last Word, a biography/memoir of Holocaust survivor, Mary Wygodski. He is also coauthor of Tales from the Boston College Hockey Locker Room, a history of BC hockey. He is a history enthusiast with a deep personal interest in the Holocaust. He developed this course in order to share and discuss his findings and his research with those who are interested in knowing more about the Holocaust. Thomas has led previous courses including this course, in May 2020, October 2021, and May 2023.

In-person at Brookhaven At Lexington

Great Decisions 2025 (In-Person)

Joseph Ash, Peter Baldwin, OLLI Members

Thursday, 10am – 12pm (3/20, 3/27, 3/3, 4/10, 4/17, 4/24, 5/1, 5/8)

8 Sessions, Somewhat Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

$175

Required reading: Great Decisions 2025 Briefing Book. Foreign Policy Association, 2025. Click here to purchase on the FPA website. $35.

Course participants are expected to read 11-25 pages per week.

Joseph Ash

Peter Baldwin

In-person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Hellfire and Deliverance: A Guided Tour of Verdi’s Requiem

Elke Jahns-Harms, Tufts Faculty Member

Tuesday, 10am – 12pm (3/18, 3/25, 4/1, 4/8)

4

Sessions, Somewhat

Interative – A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

$100

“Only a genius could have written such a work,” said Brahms of Verdi’s Requiem. Indeed, this monumental piece includes some of the most powerful, joyful, terrifying, heartrending, and sublime music ever written, with all the drama and emotion we would expect from one of our most beloved opera composers. Who are the characters, what are they singing about, and how does the music illustrate the text? We will begin with some background on Verdi and a brief overview of the historical, cultural, and musical context in which he wrote this unusual setting of the mass for the dead. Then we will listen to the music together, highlighting key elements and sharing reactions. We will also watch the documentary Defiant Requiem, which tells the powerful true story of Jewish prisoners in a WWII concentration camp who sang this piece to uplift their spirits and defy their captors. Whether you are an old fan of classical choral music, or you’ve never stepped inside a concert hall, this is for you!

Elke Jahns-Harms

Elke Jahns-Harms holds a Master’s in Music and a PhD in International Relations. She currently teaches International Development Aid at The Fletcher School of Tufts University and previously taught Music and Social Change at the New England Conservatory. A professional flutist and amateur singer, Elke loves to make classical music engaging for wide audiences and has taught dozens of music appreciation classes for novices and experienced musicians alike at OLLI, community centers, retirement communities, and public libraries.

In-person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Ida B. Wells – Shining a Light of Truth

Bill Saunders, OLLI Member

Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm (4/30, 5/7)

2 Sessions, Minimally Interactive – Mostly Lecture

$50

Born into slavery, Ida B. Wells became an important leader for Black and women’s rights. An early pioneer of investigative journalism, she believed that: “the way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth on them.” Most famous for her anti-lynching campaign, she was exiled from the South and her newspaper destroyed after an incendiary editorial. Moving to Brooklyn and then Chicago, she continued writing, speaking, and organizing in support of Black rights and women’s suffrage. A powerful speaker, she had successful tours throughout the northern United States and England. Along the way, she founded many organizations, including the NAACP, although she was frequently sidelined by more conservative men or white women, because of her race, sex, lack of advanced education, and most importantly because of her outspokenness about the wrongs of society. Recommended readings will be provided as PDFs or web links.

Bill Saunders

Bill Saunders graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Amherst College and was formerly a marketing consultant for high-tech companies. Since retirement, he has traveled extensively, including making seven trips to Haiti with a medical team to provide care throughout the countryside around Leogane, the epicenter of the 2010 earthquake. Bill has taught other courses at Tufts OLLI, including the history of Haiti, the role of John Brown in American history, two different courses analyzing historical events through the lens of eight Graham Greene films, and a course covering right-wing military juntas that took over the governments of many countries during the 1960s and 70s.

In-person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Proust, Vol 3: The Guermantes Way (In-Person)

Emese Soos, Retired Tufts Faculty Member

Wednesday, 10am – 12pm (3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7)

8 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$175

Required reading: Proust, Marcel. The Guermantes Way. Penguin Classics, 2005. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $21.98.

Course participants are expected to read 85 pages per week.

Emese Soos

In-person at Brookhaven at Lexington

The Ethical Writings of John Stuart Mill

Joyce Carpenter, OLLI Member

Wednesday, 10am – 12pm (3/19, 3/26, 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23)

6 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$150

Mill was an important 19th-century British philosopher. As you’ll see by the titles below, he was a defender of liberal values, utilitarianism, and women’s rights. In this class, we will read three of his significant works in ethical philosophy: On Liberty, Utilitarianism, and On the Subjection of Women. Mill is considered a very good writer, although prose styles have changed since his time. We’ll read about 40-50 pages per week—two weeks per essay.

Required reading: Mill, John Stuart. The Basic Writings of John Stuart Mill: On Liberty, the Subjection of Women, and Utilitarianism. Modern Library, 2002. Click here to purchase on Amazon. $12.60. Be sure to purchase version with introduction by J.B. Schnewind. Course participants are expected to read 40-50 pages per week.

Joyce Carpenter

Joyce Carpenter studied literature and philosophy as an undergraduate at Rutgers and received a PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago in Philosophy in 1992. She’s taught philosophy and women’s studies at UIC, Chicago State, the College of Charleston (SC), and for Boston University’s Prison Education Program at MCI-Framingham. After leaving academia, she taught a variety of programming, web development, and network administration courses before becoming an editor at Computerworld magazine. She retired and joined Tufts OLLI in 2016.

In-person at Brookhaven at Lexington

The Right Cannabis for Me

Dianna Dixon, Tufts Alum

Tuesday, 10am – 12pm (4/22)

1 Sessions, Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$25

Seniors—people over the age of 65—are now the fastest growing group of cannabis users in the United States. Right now, we are witnessing a sort of “senior moment.”

People who grew up during the war on drugs and were in the formative years of their life when they experienced the impact of “Reefer Madness” are now willing to try cannabis, often for the first time. More often than not, according to recent studies, seniors use cannabis daily to help address some of the nuisances of aging: poor sleep, aches and pains, mood. And they regularly prefer it over the other medications they were often prescribed, such as sleeping pills, antidepressants, and even opioids. However, for those seniors new to “medical marijuana”, the sheer range of product options—and retail outlets (“dispensaries”)— can promote more confusion than comprehension. Cannabis can be a powerful tool for health and well-being, but like any medicine, it’s most effective when tailored to your unique needs. As a legal cannabis industry professional, Dianna can provide insights into how seniors might access legal cannabis products for therapeutic purposes. This interactive and tailored class focuses on you, equipping you to confidently navigate the sometimes complex and mysterious legal cannabis marketplace. We’ll cover three main subject areas: 1. Know Yourself - how (and why) might cannabis benefit/affect me? 2. Know the Products - understand the options and how to use them. 3. Know the Dispensarywhat’s going on in there?

Course participants are expected to read 26-50 pages per week.

Dianna Dixon

Dianna Dixon is a professional budtender (retail cannabis consultant) working in the MA and NYS legal cannabis industries. Mentored by the leading cannabis-prescribing doctors in Massachusetts, certified in many aspects of the cannabis industry, and an adjunct professor of cannabis studies at SUNY, Dianna spends her days talking to people about cannabis—people just like you, each with their own questions about and goals for modern cannabis use. Dianna’s journey into therapeutic cannabis was inspired by Michael Pollan’s books How to Change Your Mind and The Botany of Desire.

In-person at Offsite Locations

Introduction to Plant ID

Jeff Adams, Outside Instructor

Monday, 10am – 12pm (4/28, 5/5)

2

Sessions,

Highly Interactive – Lots of Discussion

$50

Please join Jeff for two (2) Spring Introductory Plant ID Nature walks. Our field sites will be Greenwood Park (176 Pond Street - across from the Stone Zoo) in Stoneham, MA on Monday, April 28th from 10:00am - 12:00pm, and Virginia Wood (1 Woodland Road) in Stoneham, MA on Monday, May 5th from 10:00am - 12:00pm. Members will need to provide their own transportation. In the event of rain, the courses will be held on Tuesday, April 29th and Tuesday, May 6th at the same times. We’ll focus on basic identification characteristics primarily looking at native species, including possibly locating a plant Native Americans used to supposedly cure mental illness, one they used to wash their hands, one they called “Green Stick”, a few best identified using our noses, several that are edible and medicinal along with a few non-natives. And we’ll discuss specifics on native vs. non-native. We’ll include some fun and interesting natural history too. This walk is ideal for those who’ve not attended a Plant ID walk before but ALL are welcome.

Jeff Adams

Jeff Adams is an avid outdoor enthusiast and naturalist who has been enjoying the natural world for 50 years. He’s a member of the Friends of the Fells, The Trustees, Mass Audubon, Sudbury Valley Trustees, Acton Conservation Trust, Arlington Land Trust, Essex Greenbelt, Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions, Lincoln Land Conservation Trust and Rural Land Foundation and The Massachusetts Archaeological Society, Inc. He and his wife, Carol Andrulli, have been hiking in the Fells for over 30 years & frequently participate in numerous hiking/nature programs.

OLLI EVENTS

Additional events and full event details will be shared with current Tufts OLLI Members via our weekly digest and on our website. In addition to events listed, Tufts OLLI Members are invited to attend select lectures and special events at our partner, Brookhaven at Lexington, and special events hosted by Tufts University. Full details about these will also be shared via email.

Save the Dates!

February 26, 12pm | 110 Grill, Woburn, MA

Come together and share a meal during our day-time dine around.

Gallery Tour & Evening Dine Around

May 7, 3pm and 5pm | Lexington, MA

Join us for a visit to the Twist Gallery in Lexington. Artwork is displayed on two floors of an historic house. John and Gillian Ross, the owners are known for the way they display the work in an eclectic way. A feast for the spirit and a gift for the eyes in a very personable space. They add their our own little touches that offers visitors a new kind of ‘art experience. Then join us at a Dine Around at Via Lago Restaurant several blocks away from the gallery, near the Battlegreen in Lexington Mass. We will gather here at 5 :00 pm for another culinary feast. Come gather with old friends and meet new ones for a delightful event at an unexpectedly sophisticated oasis…

Thank you to our OLLI volunteers who organize our Dine Around events!

Full event details and the link to RSVP will be available to current members in upcoming Tufts OLLI Weekly Digest.

OLLI AT NIGHT

Half the History

March 31 6pm EST

Modality TBA

Women’s stories should constitute half of the stories told, but they do not. The written record and the filmic record over-document the stories and histories of men. As an example, only 18% of the biographies on Wikipedia are of women. Women of color and the stories of women from marginalized groups are particularly underrepresented.

The Half the History Project aims to change this.

Through short-form biography, film, and podcast, we curate, archive, and disseminate diverse women’s stories. With an initial focus on women in the United States, our stories narrate the lives of some women who were well-known in their times or in their fields, as well as many women who were not.

Join your fellow OLLI members and the Half the History team, Tufts faculty Jennifer Burton Professor of the Practice, Film, and Julie Dobrow Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Tufts University as they discuss their most recent projects and inspiration for Half the History.

Full event details and the link to RSVP will be available to current members in upcoming Tufts OLLI Weekly Digest.

OLLI AT NIGHT

Lexington Symphony’s 2024-2025 Season Present’s Coming to America

April 26 6:30pm EST

In-Person at Cary Hall (1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA)

The 2024-2025 season is the first of two seasons with programs designed to tie into the historical themes of the American Revolutionary War as identified by the Lex250 committee and according to its lecture series. The season finale opens with James Hewitt’s The Battle of Trenton and explores the attitudes, mistakes and reasons people emigrated to America. Those stories are represented through the music immigrants brought with them, enriching our nation despite the challenges they faced. While the stories are as varied as was America’s attitude toward immigrants, these stories are important because all those who came to America looked for a new beginning and hope for the future — which has been America’s promise.

Full event details and the link to RSVP will be available to current members in upcoming Tufts OLLI Weekly Digest.

OLLI ON THE ROAD

Join us this Spring as we pilot a new program, OLLI on the Road! These domestic day trips will take members to explore new areas and attractions a little further afield than the MBTA can travel. Each trip fee covers round-trip transportation to and from Tufts, any tickets required for entry, and lunch.

Full trip details and registration links will be shared with current members in upcoming Weekly Digests.

Tour of New England Botanic Garden at Tower

Hill

March 10, 2025 | Boylston, MA

$125

The Worcester County Horticultural Society, founded in 1842, established New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston, MA as a horticultural resource—a place for people to experience the wonder of plants, learn about the natural world, and make joyful connections. Our doors opened in 1986 and we’ve continued to grow our mission, our footprint, and our role in the community ever since. Today’s Garden sits on 200 acres. It includes conservatories, formal and naturalistic gardens, a café, Garden Shop, walking trails, accessible pathways, and expansive views of the Wachusett Reservoir. A nonprofit organization and AAM-accredited museum, we care for an irreplaceable collection of plants and place sustainability and environmental stewardship at the forefront of our work. A robust, year-round calendar of educational classes, activities, and events engages people of all ages in meaningful experiences with plants.

We’re proud to be a garden where everyone belongs, where wandering is always welcome, and where no two visits will ever be quite the same.

Tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Homes and the Currier Museum of Art

May 1, 2025 | Manchester, NH

$170

The Currier Museum is the only art museum in the world with two Frank Lloyd Wright homes. Accessible by guided tour, they are the only Wright buildings open to the public in New England. Both were built in the 1950s when Wright’s domestic architecture reshaped American home design. The Usonian Automatic and the Zimmerman House express two equally beautiful visions through their closely related designs and contrasting materials.

Do you have an idea for a course you would like to see?

Offer a Tufts OLLI Course!

Have you recently read a new book that you would like to discuss with others? Or traveled to a new destination that inspired you to learn more about the culture and history of that location? Share those interests and passions with Tufts OLLI members by leading a course! Our members enjoy learning about topics in history, literature, current events, film, STEM — the list goes on!

Don’t worry if you’ve never led a course before: our Curriculum Committee will happily talk you through the process or help you formulate your ideas, so your course will be as enjoyable an experience for you as it will be for the participants. The Tufts OLLI office provides training and materials for new course instructors, and support for courses taking place virtually on zoom or in-person. Member instructors are eligible for a free course as a thank you for being a course instructor.

The submission deadline and term dates and modalities can be found below, but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Tufts OLLI office at osherlli@tufts.edu or the Tufts OLLI Curriculum Committee at oshercurriculumcommittee@tufts.edu.

May 27, 2025 to June 23, 2025

In-Person and Virtually on

Summer 2025 March 9, 2025 Fall 2025

September 15, 2025 to November 7, 2025

In-Person and Virtually on

May 4, 2025

Course Registration & Policy Information

Become a Member or Renew your Membership for Registration Day

◦ Membership is required for class registration.

◦ Membership fee is $75 for an annual membership of July 1, 202 4 to June 30, 2025.

◦ The membership fee is reduced to $50 beginning January 30. This provides a valid membership for January 30 – June 30, 2025.

Registration Runs from January 30, 2025 Through March 13, 2025

◦ Register online by visiting our website, https://universitycollege.tufts.edu/lifelonglearning/osherlli/schedule .

◦ Add the OLLI courses you would like to take to your shopping cart and checkout!

Please note that a 2024-2025 membership fee is automatically added to your shopping cart. Once you enter your username and password, this fee will be removed if you already renewed your membership for this year.

Instantly Know Your Spring 2025 Schedule

◦ Payment is due to complete your class registration. The same day you register and pay for your classes you will know what courses you are enrolled in and/or what waitlists you are on!

◦ As long as there are seats available for a course, you can ad just your schedule up to four business days before the start of the term.

REGISTRATION SCHEDULE

◦ Spring Registration Opens: Thursday, January 30, 2025

◦ Add/Drop Period: Thursday, January 30, 2025 – Thursday, Marc h 13, 2025

◦ Classes Begin: Monday, March 17, 2025

REFUNDS, WITHDRAWALS, AND CANCELLATIONS POLICIES

The OLLI policies for refunds, withdrawals, and course cancellations can be found on our website, https://universitycollege.tufts.edu/lifelong-learning . Those members participating in the program are responsible for reading and adhering to all policies found there.

FINANCIAL AID

Partial tuition remission is available on a limited basis. For more information, please contact our office at osherlli@tufts.edu or (617) 627-5699.