Tufts OLLI Fall 2025 Catalog by Tufts University College

Featured Member

Meet Yogesh on page 01!

Fall 2025 Course Catalog

September – November 2025

Course registration begins July 1, 2025 and runs through September 8, 2025.

Membership is required to register for courses.

Published June 23, 2025

Please visit our website or refer

To our Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Members,

Welcome to a new year at Tufts OLLI!

July 1, 2025 marks the start of our 20252026 membership year, and kicks off the registration period for our Fall courses. We’re excited to offer a wide variety of Tufts OLLI and Osher Online topics this fall, covering everything from Roman Emperors to Thai Cooking.

We’ve redesigned and reorganized our Fall catalog to make it easier for our readers to find courses in their favorite topic areas or those led by their favorite facilitators. Looking for our traditional ‘At A Glance’ page? It’s still here! We placed it at the back of the catalog to make for easier home printing and easy removal should you prefer to bring that quick list of course options with you. We’ve also included the minimum and maximum number of participants each course is able to accommodate.

In addition to our great line-up of course offerings, we have a wonderful selection of Lunch and Learn talks which will take place every Wednesday and Friday during our Fall term. These talks are held on Zoom both days, and

in-person at Tufts on Friday. Our newly renovated Alumnae Lounge space at Tufts is a great place to connect over coffee before or after our Friday courses and is well equipped to host our Lunch and Learn presenters each week—come by and check it out!

Our Fall term would not be possible without the help of our member-led Curriculum and Lunch and Learn committees, nor would our courses be up and running without our member instructors and the Tufts students, staff, and faculty, and our Outside Experts who teach them—THANK YOU!

As always our team is just a phone call away if you have any questions or would like assistance in registering. Please do not hesitate to give us a call at (617) 627-5699 or email us at OsherLLI@tufts.edu.

Your Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Team,

Callan B. Moody Program Director

Kathy Scanlon Program Administrator

Tufts OLLI is proud to partner with Brookhaven at Lexington and Brooksby Village. Through our partnership, members who reside at both locations have a slightly different registration process. Please contact our office at OsherLLI@tufts.edu for assistance.

Phone: (617) 627-5699

Email: OsherLLI@tufts.edu

Web: olli.tufts.edu

80 George Street Medford, MA 02155

On the Cover: Meet Yogesh Shinde

Yogesh joined Tufts OLLI in 2023 and enjoys participating both in-person and virtually with all the available programming: courses, Lunch and Learn Talks, EDventure Clubs, and special events. With four other Tufts OLLI members, he co-taught the ‘Great Cities: Boston’ course in Spring 2025, which delebrated the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution!

COURSE CATEGORIES Fall 2025

By Course Topic p.08

We’ve reorganized our catalog so members can find courses by their preferred category—by Instructor, Course Topic, or the Day of Week the course is held. Please refer to the page numbers for more information about the courses offered in each category.

Looking for our usual “At A Glance” page? You can now find that at the end of the catalog.

By Instructor

Adams, Jeff............................15

Agerbak, Linda.....................10

Arne, Stephanie..................24

Bayard, Aleen.......................14

Bernard, Ronald.................28

Boettcher, Steven...............32

Braddock, Nathaniel.........21

Briola, David........................24

Burakovsky, Arik................30

Carpenter, Joyce................20

Castellano, Francesco.......11

Crooks, Robert....................28

D’Arcy, Cleo and Steve.....32

Elfant, Allan...........................16

Escobar, Lark.........................10

Goldberg, Jeff......................20

Guthery, Scott.......................21

Himberger, James..............26

Ingebretsen, Edward J........11

Jennings, Matt......................16

Katims, Jane...................26, 29

Kato, Dennis...........................25

Kitzis, Ellen..............................31

Kovalko, Yolanta.....................17

Langellier, John.......................17

Lourie, Margaret.....................18

Mankin, Eric............................22

McKitterick, Glenna...............10

Miller, Sara...............................12

Moody, Callan B.....................13

Panciera, Carla................13, 33

Saunders, Bill..........................12

Schaffer, Jonathan................19

Seifer, Marc..............................14

Simon, Eric..............................27

Sinkel, Kiril...............................19

Soos, Emese............................15

Sutter, Valerie.........................23

Weingarden, Lauren............27

Wright, Arnie..........................33

By Day of Week

2025-2026 Tufts OLLI

Membership Information

For many years, our organization has maintained a single membership fee structure. While this model has served us well, we’ve listened carefully to your feedback and spent time evaluating how we can better serve the diverse needs and interests of our members while ensuring the long-term sustainability of our program. As a result, we are introducing a tiered membership system starting July 1, 2025.

Why the Change?

Our goal is to offer more flexibility, choice, and value for everyone. We understand that members participate in different ways—some join us for occasional events, while others are more involved year-round. The new tiered system allows each member to choose a level that best fits their lifestyle and interests.

Tufts OLLI Membership Tiers

Learn more about membership benefits on our website.

Base Membership $75/year

Lunch and Learn Talks

Special Events

Course Registrations - A la carte

Bronze Membership $150/year

Lunch and Learn Talks

Special Events

Course Registrations - A la carte

Silver Membership $350/year

Lunch and Learn Talks

Special Events

Course Registrations - A la carte

2 courses included

Gold Membership $750/year

Lunch and Learn Talks

Special Events

Course Registrations

Unlimited courses included

OLLI On the Road

EDventure Clubs

OLLI On the Road

EDventure Clubs

OLLI On the Road

EDventure Clubs

OLLI On the Road

10% Discount on trip fees

EDventure Clubs

STEPS TO PURCHASE YOUR MEMBERSHIP TO REGISTER FOR COURSES

Base Membership

This will be automatically be added to your cart so you can check out the same way you have in the past!

Bronze Membership

The best order of operations is to add this membership fee to your cart and then checkout. If you wish to register for courses, please login to your account and then register for courses as a separate transaction after purchasing your membership.

Silver or Gold Membership

Please follow the same steps as purchasing the Bronze Membership.

IMPORTANT: The discount code to receive your free course(s) will be included on the receipt of your membership purchase and emailed to you only after the purchasing of the membership is complete.

Course Registration & Policy Information

For the 2025-2026 membership year, the process to purchase a membership and register for courses is slightly different than it has been in the past. Please refer to the previous page, page 3, for information on purchasing an OLLI membership.

REGISTER ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE

Add the OLLI courses you would like to take to your shopping cart and checkout! Payment is due to complete your course registration.

Registration runs from Tuesday, July 1, 2025 through Monday, September 8,2025.

Please note that a 2025-2026 Base Membership fee is automatically added to your shopping cart. Once you enter your username and password to login into your account, this fee will be removed if you already renewed your membership for this year.

Planning to purchase a Bronze, Silver, or Gold Membership? Please complete your membership transaction separately and prior to your course registration transaction.

If you are a Silver or Gold Member, the discount code to receive your free course(s) will be included on the receipt of your membership purchase and emailed to you only after the purchasing of the membership is complete.

Fall 2025 Registration Schedule

• Fall 2025 registration opens Tuesday, July 1, 2025

• Add/Drop period: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 – Monday, September 8, 2025

• Courses begin Monday, September 15, 2025

Community Standards, Refunds, Withdrawals, and Cancellation Policies

The Tufts OLLI Community Standards & Guidelines for participation, refunds, withdrawals, and course cancellations can be found on our website, olli.tufts.edu. Those members participating in the program are responsible for reading and adhering to all policies found there.

FINANCIAL AID

Financial aid is available to those members who provide documentation that their annual income is less than the median income of the city/town in which they reside. This financial aid will include waiving the base membership fee of $75 and 50% off all courses in which they choose to register. Please reach out to the office for more information.

About Nearpeer

Nearpeer is a community engagement app recently expanding into lifelong learning programs nationwide. It is a closed app experience for Tufts OLLI members, so you don’t have to worry about advertisements, scams, or people trying to acquire or sell your information.

The goal is to make it easier for Tufts OLLI members to connect with one another regardless of location. Members can connect over shared interests, chat one-on-one, or join a specific chat group on various topics—all ways to strengthen our community even more! Here are just a few examples of the things you can do with Nearpeer:

• Connect and chat with people from your current or past courses.

• Search for and find people who are interested in graphic novels, cooking, or hiking.

• Join the group chat sharing a joke of the day.

• Connect and organize carpools for getting to campus or a community event.

Nearpeer can be used on your smartphone, tablet, or desktop device, whichever is easier for you! The Tufts OLLI team will offer training sessions throughout the summer and fall to help cover the basics of the platform and provide assistance if needed.

Tufts OLLI members will be added to our Nearpeer instance every Monday and Thursday morning, so keep an eye on your email for more information and next steps!

Fall 2025

LUNCH AND LEARN TALKS

A huge thank-you is due to our Lunch and Learn committee members for organizing such a wonderful line-up of talks for our Fall term!

Beginning on Wednesday, September 17, our Fall talks kick off with Lucilia PratesRmos, Director of Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol Program presenting on ‘Cost & Consequences of Healthcare Errors, Fraud, and Abuse.’ The talks will continue every Wednesday and Friday throughout the fall and cover everything from the aging brain to swarm robots to the importance of horseshoe crabs.

The full Lunch and Learn schedule for the fall can be found on pg. 43. We placed the schedule there in a handy one-pager to make it easier for at-home printing!

Steps to Print the ‘At A Glance’ and Fall Lunch and Learn Talk Schedule at Home:

1. Download our Fall catalog.

2. Click print (either the printer icon on the top right of the page or by clicking File and then Print).

3. In the new pop-up window, under Pages to Print, select the radio button next to Pages and enter 43, 44, 45, 46. Only looking to print the Lunch and Learn schedule? Only enter 45.

4. Click Print! Printing instructions may vary by computer and printer, please call the office for assistance if needed!

About Osher Online

Beginning Summer 2025, we are now offering additional Zoom courses through Osher Online. These programs will allow our Tufts OLLI members to take classes on a wider variety of topics with an even more diverse pool of instructors and join other OLLI members from across the country! These courses were created by the Osher National Resource Center (NRC) at Northwestern University and are delivered by that program. Their staff will provide moderators and technical assistance.

Each course is six weeks in duration, with 1.5-hour sessions every week. As such, we have reduced the cost to $125 per person, per course instead of the usual 6 session rate of $150. Sessions take place via Zoom. Sessions are not recorded, so live attendance is essential. A Tufts OLLI membership is required to register for any of these courses. After registering for Osher Online courses, students will receive a welcome email from Osher NRC that includes a link to the Osher Online website. The website holds the class Zoom link, syllabus, discussion board, and Customer Care contact information. Students will also receive an invitation to a pre-class orientation with information on accessing courses (see the “Before Your First Class!” section). To ensure you do not miss any emails from Osher Online, please add OsherOnline@northwestern.edu to your email contact list.

Before Your First Class!

Once you register for any Osher Online course, we strongly encourage you to attend their orientation session. A registration link will be provided after you register for one of the courses. You can also watch their Member Orientation recording to ensure you are fully prepared for your first day of class. Afterwards, practice logging in at www. osheronline.net!

Support for Courses

While registration is processed through Tufts OLLI, support for Osher Online courses is provided by the Osher Online Team at the Northwestern University School of Professional Studies. For assistance, call them at (312) 503-5555 or email OsherOnline@northwestern. edu.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Adaptive (Chair) Yoga and Relaxation 17

Graceful Exits: Exploring the Economics, Ethics & Ethocs of Death with Dignity 14

HISTORY

American History in Six Songs (Approximately) 16

Group Discussion: James A. Michener’s “Tales of the South Pacific” 28

Ida B. Wells – Shining a Light of Truth 12

Imprisoned Without Trial: Japanese Incarceration in WWII 25

Native American Mounds and Mound Builders of the Eastern United States 18

Roger Williams: An American Original 28

The Roman Emperors 26

The Story of Human Migrations and Peopling of the World 19

LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY

Conclustion to Proust’s In Search of Lost Time 15

Huck and James: One Story Twice Told 20

Machiavelli the PlaywrightMandragola (Mandrake Root) 11

Science Fiction Before Science Fiction 19

The Art of Time in Fiction (inperson) 29

The Art of Time in Fiction (virtually on zoom) 26

MUSIC

Music in Africa 21

The African American Military Experience: From Revolution to Civil Rights 17

POLITICS, ECONOMICS, AND SOCIOLOGY

Forecasting in International Relations 30

Joseph McCarthy - Charismatic Tyrant 20

The Challenge of Living in “The Anti-Social Century” 31

The Dismal ScienceUnderstanding the Economic Mindset 22

RELIGION

Cults & Alternative Religious Movements 10

Of Spirits, Of Magicks, and an interior Life 11

SCIENCE, NATURE, AND TECHNOLOGY

Creative Conservation 24

In Darwin’s Footsteps: A Journey to the Galapagos 27

Just Cool Math Stuff - No Homework Required 32

Plant ID Guided Nature Walk (“Fall Flora”) 15

Readers in Science and Technology at the Boston Athenaeum (1827-1850) 21

The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla 14

TRAVEL AND CULTURE

A Walk Through Paris 23

French Culture through Film: Dramatic moments in French history 23

Legends of the Loch: Mythical Creatures of Scotland 13

Our Most Favorite National Parks 32

Thai Cooking 12

VISUAL ARTS

Cold War Paranoia in Film 24

Impressionism: Color Light and Leisure 27

Japanese Prints 10

The Cinema of Steven Spielberg: A Sample of His Earlier Creations (mid-1970early 1980s) 16

The Life and Works of Jimmy Stewart 33

Memoir Writing: What I Learned Writing the Story of a World Famous Bull (in-person at Brooksby Village) 13

Memoir Writing: What I Learned Writing the Story of a World Famous Bull (in-person at Tufts) 33

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM

Cults & Alternative Religious Movements $175

Lark Escobar, Tufts Alum

Monday, 10am – 12pm | 8 Sessions

9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 20

This class is a survey of alternative religious movements including some famous cults including: The People’s Temple (Jonestown), Branch Davidians (Waco), The FLDS (Warren Jeffs), The Nation of Yahweh, Lev Tahor, Heaven’s Gate, The Family International, and the Branhamites. On this journey we will consider the questions of: Why do some religious movements become religions and others cults? What do cults have in common? How and why do people get involved in cult movements?

Lark Escobar is an international educator and diplomacy professional currently serving as a Virtual Educator with the U.S. Department of State. She holds six academic degrees, including a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) from The Fletcher School at Tufts University (Class of 2022) with foci in Comparative Islamic Civilization, Gender, Human Security, and International Law. Lark has taught in diverse global contexts—including Afghanistan, England, Belgium (NATO), the United Arab Emirates, Indian Kashmir, and Jordan—where she has focused on professional English, civic engagement, and intercultural communication. She is an award-winning educator and a 5-time

award winning humanitarian. Her research interested include religious ethnography, chemical weapons violations, radicalization, WPS, and language studies. She has previously led OLLI courses such as Comparative Islamic Culture, Comparative Monotheism, Information Literacy, and Pashmina Passion: The Kashmiri Cottage Industry. Lark brings a dynamic, globallyinformed perspective to the classroom.

Japanese Prints $100

Linda Agerbak, Glenna McKitterick, OLLI Members

Monday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 4 Sessions 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture Min: 5 Max: None

Art reflects a country’s history and geography. In this course, we’ll learn how traditional Japanese Prints embodies this by discussing Japan’s creation myth, how Japan, Korea, and China relate, what is Shinto, and how woodblock prints were a tool to teach Buddhism. We’ll also learn how the island chain became unified under the first shogun and why the shogun cut Japan off from the world and how this isolation enabled Japan to prosper. We’ll see how prosperity gave rise to ukiyo-e, prints showing the fleeting world of beauty and pleasure, and how the prints’ popularity began to undermine the shogun’s strict caste system.

Linda Agerbak is a graduate of Stanford & UC Berkeley. Her Stanford student exchange scholarship to Berlin set off 35 years of travel & teaching across the world. She worked with Vietnamese refugees in Malaysia, became the Singapore Straits

Times first travel editor, worked for Oxford University Press, wrote a report on conflict for Oxfam, and taught conflict resolution to students at international schools. The question she always asks is Why?

Glenna lived many years in Miami FL as a dedicated preservationist of historic buildings, many with historic horticultureverdant gardens kept glorious from years of abundant tropical sun and rains. Tending and preserving such living history is a deep cultural and spiritual experience for Glenna.

Machiavelli the PlaywrightMandragola (Mandrake Root) $100

Francesco Castellano, OLLI Member

Monday, 10am – 12pm | 4 Sessions 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 25

If you thought Machiavelli wrote only political or historical works, you are in for a surprise. He is probably the first modern playwright who also considered himself a poet. We will read his most famous comedy “Mandragola” written in the tradition of Roman comedies with “sexual”overtones, and his equally famous short story “Belfagor”. Francesco will give a brief bio of the author and the connection between the play and “The Prince” which was written as a job application that never got him anywhere and was only published after his death. This course requires participants to read 11-25 pages per week.

Francesco Castellano is a native speaker of Italian with a lifelong interest in music, literature and history. In addition to his military career (Colonel, U.S. Army), he had

a career in High Tech where he started as a technical translator. He taught languages from Jr. High level through College and has a Masters in Italian Literature from Boston College where he taught Italian. He is also the male speaker in a well known Italian language program.

Of Spirits, Of Magicks, and an Interior Life $100

Edward J. Ingebretsen, Outside Instructor

Monday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 4 Sessions 9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: None

Of Spirits, Of Magicks, and an Interior Life is a four-part exploration of magical consciousness, spiritualities, and the unseen currents that shape individual lives. This series considers how ancient powers linger beneath modern habits and beliefs, how suppressed knowings persist as gestures, rituals, and quiet intuitions. We begin with Magic Jesus: Miracles, Faith, and the Untamed Divine, recovering the raw, miracle-working power of Jesus, historically validated in the Christian Bible, and move through Ancient Rites, Modern Chains, tracing how institutions have policed, silenced, and controlled magick across time. From there, we uncover The Powers in Daily Life, the protective acts and subtle wards we perform without thinking, and expand into Magical Consciousness: Beyond the Veil of the Rational, exploring how awareness itself becomes an active, enspirited practice. Finally, we conclude with Living Magick: Reclaiming the Unseen, offering ways to integrate

these powers into daily rhythms, restoring a sense of connection, protection, and meaning that has never fully disappeared.

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, American social history.

Thai Cooking $75

Sara Miller, Tufts Alum

Monday, 6:30pm – 8:30pm | 3 Sessions 9/15, 9/22, 9/29

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 20

Learn the basics of Thai cooking! In this virtual course, we’ll explore the flavors and ingredients of Thai food, as well as where to find them in the U.S. We will then learn to cook classic Thai dishes.

Sara Miller is an alumni of The Fletcher School and currently a humanitarian worker. Her career has taken her all over the world where her favorite thing to do is eat and learn about food.

IN-PERSON AT BROOKSBY VILLAGE

Ida B. Wells – Shining a Light of Truth $50

Bill Saunders, OLLI Member

Monday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 2 Sessions 10/27, 11/3

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: 8 Max: 20

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. This is a reprise of the course offered in the 2024 - 2025 membership year.

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.

Legends of the Loch: Mythical Creatures of Scotland $75

Callan B. Moody, Tufts Staff

Monday, 10am – 12pm | 3 Sessions 9/15, 9/22, 9/29

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: None

As a land that proudly has a unicorn for its national animal, Scotland has a rich history of mythical and supernatural creatures. Join us on a captivating journey through Scotland’s rich folklore as we explore the legendary creatures that have stirred imaginations for centuries. From the mysterious Loch Ness Monster and shape-shifting selkies to mischievous fairies and towering Highland giants, this course invites you to revisit old tales, share stories, and discover how mythology reflects the spirit and landscape of Scotland. Perfect for those who enjoy history, storytelling, and a touch of the magical.

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, 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. With her mother being born and raised in Scotland, Callan grew up with the tales of Scottish mythical creatures and enjoys sharing her Scottish heritage with others.

Memoir Writing: What I Learned

Writing the Story of a World Famous Bull (In-person at Brooksby Village)

$25

Carla Panciera, Outside Expert

Monday, 10am – 12pm | 1 Session 11/3

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 45

Aldo Panciera had a farm, and on that farm he had a bull. Both became celebrities in the world of dairy farming. They were even featured in Esquire Magazine! Carla Panciera, Aldo’s daughter, worked on the farm in Westerly as a teenager in the 1970’s and traveled with her dad to local and regional fairs. In this slide show presentation/discussion we’ll hear how she came to write and publish Barnflower, a memoir about the famous bull and her father. You’ll get advice on how you, too, might commit your family’s story to paper and learn about a vanishing piece of New England history.

Carla Panciera’s collection of short stories, Bewildered, received AWP’s 2013 Grace Paley Short Fiction Award. She has also published two collections of poetry: One of the Cimalores (Cider Press Book Award) and No Day, No Dusk, No Love (Bordighera

Poetry Award). A third collection is forthcoming in November 2025 from Bordighera Press. Her work has appeared in several journals including Poetry, The New England Review, Nimrod, Painted Bride, and Carolina Quarterly. A recipient of a 2022 Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant in creative nonfiction, Panciera’s newest book is Barnflower: A Rhode Island Farm Memoir (Loom Press, 2023).

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE

Graceful Exits:

Exploring the Economics, Ethics & Ethos of Death With Dignity $125

Aleen Bayard, PhD, Osher Online

Monday, 5pm – 6:30pm | 6 Sessions 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24

Min: None Max: 13

This course explores the complex issue of Death with Dignity, also known as assisted suicide, through its historical development, ethical debates, legal frameworks, and cultural perspectives The movement gained national attention through the advocacy of Dr. Jack Kevorkian, sparking widespread discussion on end-of-life choices. Participants will critically examine evolving policies on physicianassisted suicide and euthanasia while engaging in thoughtful discussions on this sensitive and often controversial topic. Designed to educate and foster awareness, this course provides a comprehensive look at the ethical and legal dimensions of end-of-life decisionmaking.

Aleen Bayard, PhD is an adjunct faculty

member at Northwestern University, teaching leadership and change management. She played a key role in Northwestern’s partnership with the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, developing the curriculum for the Certificate in Jewish Leadership and teaching in the program for several years. Bayard holds degrees from Stanford University, Columbia University, and Northwestern University and earned her doctorate from Benedictine University. Through her consulting practice, she develops programs on leadership, culture, employee engagement, and team performance.

The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla $125

Marc Seifer, Osher Online

Monday, 3pm – 4:30pm | 6 Sessions 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10

Min: None Max: 13

This course traces the life and innovations of Nikola Tesla, from his early years and university studies in Graz and Prague to his groundbreaking work in electricity and wireless technology. We will explore his collaborations and rivalries, including his work with Thomas Edison, the “War of the Currents” between AC and DC power, and his partnership with George Westinghouse, which led to the lighting of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Key topics include Tesla’s telautomaton invention, his wireless experiments, and his race against Marconi in the development of radio. We will examine the Wardenclyffe—Tesla’s ambitious wireless transmission tower, his work during World War I with Telefunken, and

his interactions with Franklin Roosevelt. We will conclude with Tesla’s later-life invention of the particle beam weapon, his negotiations to sell it to the Allies during World War II, and the mystery surrounding his secret papers after his death.

Marc Seifer, PhD is the author of more than 100 articles and a dozen books, including the acclaimed Wizard: The Life & Times of Nikola Tesla, Ozone Therapy for the Treatment of Viruses, and Tesla: Wizard at War. A frequent speaker on Tesla and technological history, Seifer has lectured at every International Tesla Conference and has presented at institutions including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic, West Point Military Academy, and the United Nations. His work has been featured in many major publications and has appeared on the BBC, NPR, and in The Tesla Files, a five-part History Channel series which has aired in 40 countries.

IN-PERSON, OFF-CAMPUS

Plant ID Guided Nature Walk (“Fall Flora”) $50

Jeff Adams, OLLI Member

Monday, 10am – 12pm | 2 Sessions 10/6, 10/20

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 12

Please join Jeff for two (2) Fall Plant ID Guided Nature walks. We’ll visit the Greenwood Park and Virginia Wood in Stoneham, MA where 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 some non-natives too. We’ll discuss specifics on native vs. non-native plants, and we’ll include some fun and interesting natural history. This walk is ideal for those who’ve not attended a Plant ID walk before but ALL are welcome. Rain dates for this class are 10/7 and 10/21.

Jeff Adams is an avid outdoor enthusiast & naturalist who’s 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, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Tufts University and The Massachusetts Archaeological Society, Inc. He and his wife, Carol Andrulli, have been hiking all over New England for over 30 years & frequently participate in numerous hiking/nature programs.

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM

Conclusion to Proust’s In Search of Lost Time $175

Emese Soos, Retired Tufts Faculty or Staff Member

Tuesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 8 Sessions 9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Adaptive (Chair) Yoga & Relaxation introduces a gentle form of a Yoga based therapy to older people who may experience a range of ailments related to muscles, bones, joints, and nerve degeneration due to aging. Every week students will be introduced to new postures that will help with mobility, balance, muscle strength, flexibility, and bone health. Adaptive (Chair) Yoga & Relaxation demands the students’ active participation, the course will give students tools they can take with them to improve their posture, increase mobility, balance, strength, and state of mind. Each class will end with guided meditation for deep relaxation.

Yolanta Kovalko has been teaching for OLLI since fall 2018 and is thrilled to be part of their team of group leaders! By day, she is the Department Administrator for the Tufts Community Health Department. She is a certified yoga and meditation teacher and has taught yoga and meditation in her Somerville studio, Ball Square Yoga, for the last 5 years. She has been practicing yoga for the last 15 years. In addition to being certified in Hatha Yoga and Chair Yoga, she is also certified as a Guided Meditation teacher with a specialization in Yoga Nidra (Sleep Yoga), a form of meditation grounded in yogic.

Native American Mounds and Mound Builders of the Eastern United States $100

Margaret Lourie, OLLI Member

Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 4 Sessions 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: 5 Max: 25

Thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans in North America, native peoples inhabited the lands around and east of the Mississippi River. When the new “Americans” began to move westward in the late 18th and early to mid 19th centuries, they came upon many earthen structures in the form of mounds. Mounds appeared all over the lands around the Mississippi River and its many tributaries, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. These European settlers didn’t quite know what to make of what they encountered, as the structures were entirely foreign to them and no native people were living there at that time to explain them. Three hundred years earlier, Spanish explorers had also encountered mounds in the southeast. Who lived there and built them, and why? What were they used for? In this study group, we will look at some of the early explanations given for the mounds, as well as later ideas based on archaeological evidence gathered since the initial encounters. We will visit a number of the mound sites (using videos) that have survived both settlers’ moves westward and the more modern development that leveled a large percentage of the original mounds.

Margaret Lourie spent her career as a professional librarian in several libraries and professional organizations in the Boston area. She has led study groups in the Tufts OLLI program on several topics, including digital resources from our public libraries, visiting museums virtually, intrepid women travelers, the Amazon and Congo Rivers, visiting pre-Inca Andean archaeological sites, Chicago, and Boston. She enjoys learning new things and

exploring topics like this one with other Tufts OLLI members.

The Story of Human Migrations and Peopling of the World $100

Kiril Sinkel, OLLI Member

Wednesday, 10am – 12pm | 4 Sessions 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 25

This is an exciting time in the study of human prehistory. The story of how humans expanded over the globe during the last million years is increasingly coming into focus. Join us as we examine the major waves of migration and cultural diffusions that have directly led to the world as we find it today. We will cover early out of Africa migrations of Neanderthal, Denisovan and modern humans and look at how humans spread to nearly all continents around the globe. Migrations were a principal way to spread ideas and technologies and so were sometimes very consequential. For instance we will look at how the Indo-European languages now spoken from the western fringes of Europe all the way into India originated from the migrations of a Steppe people living in what is now Ukraine. These herders spread their horse and wheel technology across Eurasia, setting the stage for the bronze age civilizations, invention of writing and rapid cultural progress. The ability to extract and read ancient DNA is of course key to many of the new findings. So we will examine this technology and discuss how it is used to complement archaeology, anthropology and linguistics to form a

new holistic view of human prehistory. This course is meant to be accessible to anyone with an interest in the topic. No particular specialized knowledge is assumed. There are no assigned readings but suggestions for optional readings on the internet will be made for those interested in delving deeper. Active discussion will be encouraged.

Kiril Sinkel, is a retired computer programmer and has had a life-long interest in history and science. He has been teaching Tufts OLLI courses, mostly in genetics, physical sciences and the history of science over the last five years.

Science Fiction Before Science Fiction $150

Jonathan Schaffer, Outside Instructor

Wednesday, 6:30pm – 8:30pm | 5 Sessions 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: None

Today, the origin of the science fiction genre is often located in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, Frankenstein. Yet, when William Wilson coined the term ‘sciencefiction’ in 1851, the only work he could locate in the genre was R.H. Hornes 1850 novel, “The Poor Artist.” This course will examine “Frankenstein” and several other works of proto-science fiction, such as Lucian of Samosata 2nd-century writing, “A True Story,” or the 14th-century “The Travels of Sir John Mandeville” to interrogate historical understandings of ‘science’ and ‘truth.’ At the same time, we will use these historical frameworks to better understand our own relations to science in the world today. This course has

required weekly reading

Jonathan Schaffer (he/his/him) is a MA student in Brandeis University’s English department. He is a professional student, working full-time at Brandeis University as an Area Coordinator while completing his studies. Jonathan has a background teaching English as a foreign language to mixed Israeli and Palestinian groups, as well as teaching first year seminars at both Rutgers University and Brandeis University. The opportunity to explore applications of literary technique to daily work in American higher education are of great importance and interest to Jonathan. Jonathan’s research interests include queer and disability reading, ludonarratology, contemporary and genre literature, and medievalist fictions.”

Huck and James : One Story Twice Told $150

Joyce Carpenter, OLLI Member

Wednesday, 10am – 12pm | 6 Sessions 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 8 Max: 15

In this class we’ll follow two famous guys on a trip along the Mississippi. These are the fictional characters Huck and Jim/James, as presented by Mark Twain in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and James by Percival Everett. The latter is a recent retelling of Twain’s story from James’ perspective. As part of our literary analysis, we’ll consider the racial representations and implications of the stories: Are both heroes presented sympathetically in both works? Are there important differences in the plots? How does the use of language affect each

telling? Be prepared to read up to 100 pages each week, including odd dialects and offensive language.

Joyce Carpenter studied literature and philosophy as an undergraduate at Rutgers and received a Ph.D. 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.

Joseph McCarthy - Charismatic Tyrant $100

Jeff Goldberg, OLLI Member

Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 4 Sessions 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 15

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 become one of the most destructive and feared US senators ever. We will discuss the content of Demagogue : the life and long shadow of senatorJoe McCarthy, by Larry Tye in each class meeting.

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.

Readers in Science and Technology at the Boston Athenaeum (18271850) $100

Scott Guthery, Outside Instructor

Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 4 Sessions 10/14, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: 5 Max: 20

The course is based on the book written and published by the instructor, Practical Purposes: Readers in Experimental Philosophy at the Boston Athenaeum (1927-1850) . The book is based on analyzing the books borrowed by antebellum Boston scientists and technologists as recorded in the Authenaeum’s books borrowed registers. Each chapter focuses on a different and consequently a different

set of Boston personalities. Gratis copies of the book will be provided to course enrollees. There are no multi-media requirements. There are two types of enrollee engagement with the course. The first is reading about and discussing selected chapters in the book. The technology focus of the chapter, the individual readers in the technology, and backdrop of Boston history would be the topics addressed. The second type of engagement is optional and is to explore the Athenaeum’s books borrowed registers to find readers in subjects other than those in the book which interest the student. PDFs of the registers will also be supplied for this purpose.

Scott Guthery has a PhD in probability and statistics. He worked for Bell Laboratories, Schlumberger, Assa Abloy, and Microsoft during his career. He cofounded a start-up that was acquired. He has written books about the history of mathematics and mobile technology. He founded and currently runs Docent Press which publishes books in the history of mathematics and technology. He is a proprietor of the Boston Athenaeum as well as the Salem Athenaeum, the Philadelphia Athenaeum, and the Library Company of Philadelphia. He’s also on the board of the Boston Authors Club. He wrote a book with the title of the course.

Music in Africa $150

Nathaniel Braddock, Tufts Alum

Wednesday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 6 Sessions 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22

IN-PERSON AT BROOKHAVEN AT LEXINGTON

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 40

Music in Africa means many different things to listeners around the globe. While for some the idea of African music may conjure images of folkloric musicians with acoustic instruments preserved from antiquity, others will think of an electrifyingly political music that is shockingly contemporary and urban. In this class we dive into the cultures of Africa through an exploration of the traditional, the classical, the popular, and the experimental. Through readings, recordings, videos, and the instructor’s personal research and inclass demonstrations, we will engage the diverse history of African musics, and see how musicians maintain their unique heritage while producing continually evolving modern styles. We will explore the music regionally and historically, but also engage with current academic approaches to sound, to ideas of tradition and innovation, and to localism and globalism. We’ll study Africa’s earliest guitar music from Ghana, griot music from Mali, the irresistible soukous guitarists of Congo, music as an instrument of social change in Zimbabwe, and more! Preparation for the weekly classes will include some short readings and selected music to listen to. While the class is lecture driven, students’ impressions and discussions will enliven our appreciation of the music and the cultures that produce it.

Nathaniel Braddock is a PhD candidate in ethnomusicology at Boston University whose dissertation focuses guitar builders

and underground music in contemporary Kinshasa, DRC. He completed an MA from Tufts University which focused on compositional and intellectual property issues in the West African “Yaa Amponsah” rhythm. He produces podcast episodes for Afropop Worldwide, and writes for the Fretboard Journal. His chapter “African Electrical Networks” is included in the 2024 Cambridge Companion to the Electric Guitar. For two decades, Braddock has performed with musicians from Ghana, Uganda, DRC, Mali, Zambia, and Mozaimbique, and leads the African style groups Occidental Brothers Dance Band International, Maison Électronique, Trio Mokili, the Palmwine Session, and the Accra Quartet. He has performed at major festivals in Africa, Europe, N. America, and Asia. Before re-entering academia, he served on the faculty of several music schools, and continues to teach masterclasses and private lessons. http:// nathanielbaddock.com

The Dismal Science - Understanding the Economic Mindset $100

Eric Mankin, OLLI Member

Wednesday, 10am – 12pm | 4 Sessions 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 18

This is the continuation of the course first offered in summer 2024. We will apply the principles of economics in addressing current questions, both large and small. We will consider economic concepts like price discrimination and non-satiety. 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.

After getting his PhD in business economics back in the mid 1980s, Eric Mankin 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, from 2000 to 2020 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 third time leading a study group at Osher, and he has lectured for various executive and student groups. This is his fourth time leading a study group at Osher, although his first in-person class. He has lectured for various executive and student groups.

A Walk Through Paris $100

Valerie Sutter, Outside Instructor

Wednesday, 10am – 12pm | 4 Sessions 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 70

Armchair traveler, well-heeled tourist, avid Francophiles: come join us for another round of adventures in

our favorite City of Lights! Whether you’re “visiting” for the very first time, preparing for an actual trip, or reminiscing about a city you fell in love with years ago, in this 4th and final part of our Walk series, you’ll enjoy revisiting old haunts and discovering new ones, delve into some interesting details about French history, and take off for some terrific day trips from Paris.

The day after graduating from university with a BA in French, American-born Valerie Sutter headed off to France for what she thought would be a year of polishing her language skills. Twenty years later, she returned home to the US, fluent not only in French but in Portuguese and intercultural relations. She earned her Master’s degree with honors at the Faculté de Lettres de Lyon and shared her passion for language and culture by teaching for thirty years in public and private schools in France, Brazil, and the US. Believing total language immersion to be the best means of understanding another culture and most important, one’s own, she organizes language workshops in France every summer for teachers of French through her own company, The French Traveler, and trips to Paris for interested Francophiles. She owns an apartment in Paris where she spends several months of every year.

French Culture through Film:

Dramatic moments in French history

$100

Valerie Sutter, Outside Instructor

Wednesday, 1:30pm – 4pm | 4 Sessions 9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 70

Immerse yourself in four powerful films that marked the history of France, from the violent beginnings of the French Revolution in 1789 to some of the tangled events of World War II. In lively post-screening discussions, we’ll delve into new perspectives on French history and dissect the cultural nuances and societal reflections portrayed on screen. All films are watched and discussed, always in a lively manner, sometimes passionately, the same day in class. All films are shown in French language with English subtitles; no outside reading or film viewing.

Cold War Paranoia in Film $50

David Briola, OLLI Member

Wednesday, 1:30pm – 4pm | 2 Sessions 10/15, 10/22

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 35

In this continuation of the Spring 2025 course, we will watch and then discuss some of the most important films dealing with the Cold War. In this course we’ll view “The Manchurian Candidate” filled with many twists and turns, and a gem from Stanley Kubrick, “Doctor Strangelove” As dire, as this film is, it is filled with humor.

David Briola has been immersed in going to the movies all his life, starting at the age of 5 and has seen roughly 12,000 films (including older films on TV). Wrote his first experience of watching a film in 1955 for a third grade class (Giant). In addition spent 25 years doing story telling which almost always included references to at least one movie. Also, voluminous reading of film history and countless film reviews. Participated in nearly endless discussions concerning current movies, as well as classic films from the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and so on. He has spent years doing public speaking, community theater.. Thinks that about sums it up.

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE

Creative Conservation $125

Stephanie Arne, Osher Online

Wednesday, 5pm – 6:30pm | 6 Sessions 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12

Min: None Max: 13

Become educated, entertained, and empowered to become more effective stewards of the natural

world. Through real-life conservation stories—drawn from the instructor’s personal experiences and her time as host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom—we will highlight the impact of passionate individuals working together to address complex environmental challenges. This course explores how diverse perspectives, and unique skills contribute to conservation efforts, offering participants practical ways to take meaningful action in protecting wildlife and ecosystems.

Stephanie Arne is an international wildlife conservationist, expedition guide, and storyteller. She is the former host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and has appeared on Animal Planet, The Weather Channel, The Harry Connick Jr. Show, and The Drew Barrymore Show. Arne’s expertise in wildlife conservation has earned her a seat on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Lion SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) committee and the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Education and Communication Commission.

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM

Impri soned Without Trial: Japanese Incarceration in WWII $100 Dennis Kato, Outside Instructor

Thursday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 4 Sessions 9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: 10 Max: None

Anti-Asian violence: A modern day occurrence? Not at all. Fear, hatred, and racism toward the Chinese and Japanese began in the mid 1800’s culminating with the incarceration of

over 125,000 Japanese at the beginning of WWII, two thirds of whom were US citizens. From the perspective of a third generation Japanese-American (Sansei), we will discuss the how, when and why racism landed Americans in what is more accurately described as prison camps, and what we can do to countermand the effect of anti-Asian violence and racism in America today. With the continuing immigration and border crisis, we will see how the incarceration of the Japanese in WWII can repeat itself today and why we should be ever vigilant that this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

Born and raised in Cincinnati, OH, Denny Kato graduated from Walnut Hills High School, and received his BA from the University of Cincinnati. Denny was on active duty with the US Army as a 1LT in military intelligence. Denny was involved with restaurant management for nearly thirty years. For eleven years, Denny has been researching the history and events of the Japanese relocation and the incarceration camps in WWII. He and his wife Janet have visited all ten major camp locations doing his research project. Over the past six years, Denny has been giving lectures on the history of the camps, nationwide via ZOOM for OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) for twenty or so branch locations. Additionally, he has given live presentations for several venues, notably the Harriet Beecher Stowe House, the Art Institute of Cincinnati, and the Japan America Society. Most recently he gave a presentation for a class at the University of Florida, in Gainesville. He has also been the subject of several video profiles, articles, and radio interviews.

The Roman Emperors $175

James Himberger, Tufts Alum

Thursday, 5pm – 7pm | 8 Sessions 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 10

Between 27 BC and 630 AD, a select group of extraordinary individuals laid the political, legal, and spiritual foundations of Western Civilization while also plunging into the depths of tyranny, depravity, and villainy. How did they establish their power? How did they rule a vast empire? How did their decisions determine the course of European and World history? This study on universal and absolute power will be accompanied by selected readings from the classic works of history; Sallust’s Jugurthine War, Suetonius’s Twelve Caesars, and Tacitus’ Life of Agricola. Course participants are expected to read 26-50 pages each week.

James Himberger is the Managing Editor at The National Interest, a publication focused on foreign policy and national security commentary. He is a Class of 2021 Tufts alumnus where he graduated with honors and majored in Political Science. He has taught two previous courses with OLLI (The History of the Roman Republic and Introduction to British Politics). He lives in Maryland and is a member of the National Press Club.

The Art of Time in Fiction (virtually on zoom) $150

Jane Katims, OLLI Member

Thursday, 10am – 12pm | 6 Sessions 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 15

In this course, we will sample several story collections (and one short novel) by contemporary writers. We will explore the questions: In what ways do characters change over time? How do important elements of narrations, like plot and setting, show a character’s psychological evolution? How are narrative techniques, such as backstory and flashbacks, employed to mark the passage of time? What span of time is covered in a story (sometimes it is just one day; sometimes, a few years, or even an entire century)? How does the element of time communicate a story’s central themes? Study group members will please buy or locate the following books: Cathedral , by Raymond Carver; The Night in Question , by Tobias Wolff; and Clock Dance , by Anne Tyler. The study group leader will supply supplementary readings about the narrative elements of fiction several contemporary short stories by Jane Delury and Ben Shattuck. For our first class, please read the stories: “Flyboys,” “The Night in Question,” “Firelight,” and “Bullet in the Brain” in the book, The Night in Question , by Tobias Wolff.

Jane Katims is the author and co-producer of six radio series for Wisconsin Public Radio, one earning her a Peabody Award in Broadcasting. Jane earned her B.A. at the University of Wisconsin and her M.Ed at Lesley University. She is the author of the poetry collection, DANCING ON A SLIPPERY FLOOR and the story collection, UNTIL NOW. As well as teaching at OLLI, she teaches literature and creative writing at The Cambridge Center for Adult Education.

She is on the board of the Friends of the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin - Madison. Jane lives with her family near Boston.

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE

In Darwin’s Footsteps: A Journey to the Galapagos $125

Eric Simon, Osher Online

Thursday, 11am – 12:30pm | 6 Sessions 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20

Min: None Max: 13

From 1831-1836, Charles Darwin circumnavigated the globe aboard the HMS Beagle. In the Galapagos Islands and elsewhere, Darwin collected data that, after decades of study and reflection, formed part of the basis for his publication On the Origin of Species. The ideas presented in that volume remain the foundation of all modern biological thought. Drawing upon original source materials and the instructor’s photos, this course will present the historical and cultural context of Darwin’s era, follow the fiveyear journey, discuss how Darwin came to his ideas, and explain his theories in detail.

Eric Simon, professor of Biology at New England College, received his PhD in biochemistry from Harvard University. An avid traveler and award-winning nature photographer, Eric leads educational international trips to destinations including Belize, the Galapagos, Tanzania, Cuba, the Amazon River, and Patagonia. Simon is the author of a widely used series of college biology textbooks with over 2 million books

in print that help teach biology to students in over 40 countries.

Impressionism: Color Light and Leisure $125

Lauren Weingarden, Osher Online

Thursday, 3pm – 4:30pm 6 Sessions 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13

Min: None Max: 13

Impressionist painters revolutionized art with a new style that emphasized changing atmospheric effects and luminous color harmonies. Their unblended brushstrokes of pure color and simple compositions broke dramatically with traditional pictorial techniques. Rejecting historical, mythological, and religious themes, they instead focused on the rapidly shifting aspects of modern life—capturing scenes from the countryside, the home, and the city. This course examines the work of Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, and Morisot from the 1860s to the 1910s, exploring their stylistic and technical innovations, personal lives, and the cultural forces shaping their artistry. Participants will gain an enhanced ability to experience nature and artistic depictions of it with a newly developed sensory, coloristic, and immersive awareness.

Lauren Weingarden is professor emerita of art history at Florida State University. Weingarden’s publications explore the interrelations between literature and visual arts in 19th century cultural contexts. She is the author of several scholarly books and articles on the American architect Louis Sullivan and on French art and literature, particularly Charles Baudelaire and Édouard Manet. Her interdisciplinary

work includes developing an embodied aesthetic model through which art viewers re-experience artists’ immersive encounters with modernity’s fragmentation and nature’s transience—a perspective that deeply informs her teachings on Impressionism.

IN-PERSON AT TUFTS

Group Discussion: James A. Michener’s “Tales of the South Pacific” $175

Ronald Bernard, OLLI Member

Friday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 8 Sessions 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 10 Max: 30

Please come and enjoy an active discussion on James A. Michener’s Tales

Of The South Pacific, a series of loosely connected 19 short stories taking place during WW2. It is a work of fiction, but many of the people, places, and events are real. To fully appreciate the stories in their entirety, as well as the author’s overall theme, a factual background of each weeks readings will be presented for analysis. We will cover the book in six assignments. Our first week will be devoted to introductions and the history underlyig the stories; the last to an overall review of the work. This course was last held in Fall 2023.

Ronald Bernard is a life long learner with an interest in history and biography. He was lead several discussion groups for the Tufts program as well as in Concord, MA where he resides. He is a twenty-year veteran of the US Navy and holds a BS degree from

Assumption College.

Roger Williams: an American Original $100

Robert Crooks, OLLI Member

Friday, 10am – 12pm | 4 Sessions 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: 5 Max: 20

Most people have heard of Roger Williams (the historical figure, that is not the “Easy listening” pianist who had 38 hit albums between 1955 and 1980) and probably also know that he founded Rhode Island, America’s smallest state, and that there is a university located in Bristol RI named after him. However, there is a lot more to him than many people realize. He was a key figure advocating for the separation of church and state in early America; an idea that ranked as heretical in the early 17th century English-speaking world. The colony of Rhode Island was founded explicitly on this principle, offering refuge for religious minorities; the first of its kind in the world. This explains why America’s oldest Jewish congregation, the Jeshuat Israel congregation, established in 1658, is located in Newport, Rhode Island. William’s thinking on this subject is believed to have influenced the philosopher, John Locke and his ideas were later echoed by Thomas Jefferson in his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association and became a cornerstone of the First Amendment to the US Constitution. Williams was also an accomplished linguist who was fluent in at least seven languages, including Narragansett, the language of the Wampanoag people

who originally occupied the lands that would become parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He was a prolific writer, most notable for two publications in particular: “A Key into the Language of America” (1643), the first book length study of a native American language ever published in English; and “The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution for Cause of Conscience” (1644), considered by some to be one of the best defenses of liberty of conscience ever written. There was much more to the man but, notwithstanding, he appears to have been a remarkably humble man. No one is entirely sure when he was born or died; he never had his portrait painted or any other image made of him; and he never made any money from the fact that he founded either Rhode Island or the Baptist Church in America. The course will cover not only the life and thought of Roger Williams but also his relationship with the great jurist, Sir Edward Coke and a summary of events in England leading up to and including the First and Second Civil Wars in which Williams also played a role.

Rob Crooks is an expatriate Australian, now a US citizen. He graduated as an agricultural plant ecologist from Sydney University in 1972. After graduation, he started working on environmental research and education and spent the next 40 years working as an environmental scientist for governments and the private sector in Australia and 13 different countries in south and south-east Asia. In the 1970s, he worked as a research officer with the Department of the Environment in the Australian state of Tasmania. In the 1980s, he worked as an environmental consultant with one of Australia’s largest engineering

consultancies, eventually becoming a director and starting its international environmental practice. He joined the World Bank in 1992 and worked as a staff environmental specialist until 2003, by which time he had become a Principal Environmental Specialist. He retired early in 2003 due to a family emergency but resumed work as a consultant in 2005 working on environmental projects and studies for the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Australian Aid and Islamic Development Bank amongst others before finally retiring for good in 2011. He lives in Medford with his wife Elisabeth and dogs, Teddy and Bear, and his main retirement interests, other than taking and leading OLLI courses, are cooking and obeying his wife’s instructions. He has led OLLI classes on the Virginia Company of London, the World Bank, the Sumerians and Great Rivers of the World: Tigris and Euphrates (with Linda Agerbak).

The Art of Time in Fiction (in-person) $150

Jane Katims, OLLI Member

Friday, 10am – 12pm | 6 Sessions 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 15

is covered in a story (sometimes it is just one day; sometimes, a few years, or even an entire century)? How does the element of time communicate a story’s central themes? Study group members will please buy or locate the following books: Cathedral , by Raymond Carver; The Night in Question , by Tobias Wolff; and Clock Dance , by Anne Tyler. The study group leader will supply supplementary readings about the narrative elements of fiction several contemporary short stories by Jane Delury and Ben Shattuck. For our first class, please read the stories: “Flyboys,” “The Night in Question,” “Firelight,” and “Bullet in the Brain” in the book, The Night in Question , by Tobias Wolff.

Forecasting in International Relations $175

Arik Burakovsky, Tufts Faculty or Staff Member

Friday, 10am – 12pm | 8 Sessions

9/19, 9/26, 10/10, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/4, 11/21

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 20

How do we understand and prepare for the future? What makes some people good at making predictions? What does the future hold for international affairs? Being able to accurately forecast global trends and events can have many benefits. For individuals, it can inform career decisions, investment choices, and personal planning, allowing them to better navigate an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world. For organizations, it can inform strategic planning and decision-making, allowing them to better prepare for and respond to potential future occurrences. For governments, accurate forecasting can be crucial for developing effective policies and strategies at all levels to address a wide range of issues, from economic development to national security. The capacity to make clear probabilistic forecasts and keep score on them can help reduce uncertainty and risk by providing a better understanding of the potential outcomes of different actions and policies. That can be particularly important in times of instability, when the possible consequences of decisions may be difficult to predict. This course will help give participants the tools and knowledge they need to see into the future. We will delve into some traditional forecasting methods and explore their utility in international relations scholarship and policymaking. Throughout this course, participants will be tasked with reflecting on preclass resources, actively participating in class discussions, and regularly making predictions about global trends and events. We will rely heavily on the required text, Superforecasting: The Art

and Science of Prediction, by Tetlock, Philip E. and Dan Gardner.

Arik Burakovsky is Associate Director of the Russia and Eurasia Program and the Hitachi Center for Technology and International Affairs at The Fletcher School. His research interests include Russian foreign policy and political economy, soft power, public diplomacy, and international relations forecasting. Before completing his M.A. in Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School, Arik interned in the Public Affairs Section at the U.S. Embassy Moscow and studied the Polish language and culture as a Boren Fellow at the University of Warsaw in Poland. He also served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Omsk, Russia and twice as Resident Director of the ROTC Project GO intensive summer Russian language program in Narva, Estonia. His work has been published by The Conversation, TIME, The National Interest, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and elsewhere. Arik received his B.A. in Political Science and International Relations at the University of California, San Diego

The Challenge of Living in “The Anti-Social Century” $50

Ellen Kitzis, OLLI Member

Friday, 10am – 12pm | 2 Sessions 10/31, 11/7

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 12

Research shows that Americans spend more time alone and less time interacting with others. Since the 1960s we spend twenty percent less of our time interacting with others and ninety-nine more minutes alone every

day. The recent article in the Atlantic Magazine by Derek Thompson refers to this phenomenon as the “The AntiSocial Century.” The article poses the question why we are spending so much more time alone and how this trend is changing our economy, politics, and social relationships. This course will examine this proposition and how it affects our daily lives, and how can we change the trajectory of this phenomena, specifically for the senior population. The class will use Derek Thompson’s article as the foundation for the course. The Study Group Leader will provide reprints/copies of the article, as well as links to additional material. By extension, this course will only be offered in-person to reduce our sense of social isolation.

Ellen S. Kitzis enjoyed a fulfilling career as a management consultant and researcher before turning her focus to continuing education and community engagement in retirement. She has served as President of the Charlestown Preservation Society and is actively involved with the Tufts University Osher Lifelong Learning Program, where she serves on the Curriculum Committee and has taught a variety of courses. Dr. Kitzis was formerly a Group Vice President at Gartner, where she specialized in CIO and IT leadership issues. Her work focused on IT-business alignment, organizational change, governance, and the evolving role of the CIO. She is the co-author, with Marianne Broadbent, of The New CIO Leader: Setting the Agenda and Delivering Results (Harvard Business School Press, 2005). That same year, she was recognized by Optimize magazine as one of the Top Five Influential Emerging Thinkers in IT. Ellen holds a B.A. from Boston University

and a Ph.D. in Organizational Sociology from Tufts University. She has designed and taught OSHER Lifelong Learning Institute courses on a wide range of topics, including Global Megatrends, The Sociology of Everyday Life, and the Great Rivers and Great Cities series featuring the Mekong and Yellow Fivers and Chicago and Boston.

Just Cool Math Stuff - No Homework Required $100

Steven Boettcher, Outside Instructor

Friday, 10am – 12pm | 4 Sessions 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 20

Do you know that the number of molecules of water in a single drop of water is about the same as the number of sand grains on earth? In this fun, nonacademic, discussion of the beauty and wonder of math you learn about that and much more. We will explore an eclectic group of topics such as big numbers like googol, the lottery, logic puzzles, optical illusions, Roman Numerals, various number systems used for computing, the Memory Palace technique for memorizing a list of things, how big a gigabyte is (and what the heck is a byte, anyway) and almost anything mathrelated that a class member would like to know. In this course, the leader will introduce a topic and encourage an informal and free flowing discussion. No formulas, equations, algebra or homework will be required. Students will come away with topics to discuss at their next cocktail party or with their grandchildren.

Steve Boettcher is a mathematician who

spent over 30 years doing one-on-one tutoring with people of all ages. He sees the world through a mathematical lens and enjoys sharing his knowledge and insights with others. He loves talking about fun math facts that apply to the real world. His background includes a BA from University of Wisconsin and MA from Cal Tech. He has two children and six grandchildren who all love math due to his influence.

Our Most Favorite National Parks $100

Cleo D’Arcy, Steve D’Arcy, OLLI Members

Friday, 10am – 12pm | 4 Sessions

9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 25

We have visited 62 of the 63 U.S. National Parks and enjoy sharing our park experiences with others. We are frequently asked “Which is your favorite park?” We have trouble answering that question because so many of the parks are truly exceptional. Instead, we have sorted the parks into three groups: our most favorite that we would love to visit again, our next favorite that we would revisit if we find ourselves nearby, and a final group for which we think one visit was enough. In this study group we will present our 21 most favorite parks, show why we like our favorites so much, and lead discussions on the issues each park currently faces, such as high visitation, climate change and pollution. Participants will learn about the geography, geology and biology of the parks and will get practical information about visiting tour favorites.

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 study groups on a wide variety of subjects, including places they have travelled and hobbies they enjoy. Cleo and Steve have visited 62 of the 63 U.S. National Parks and are often asked which one is their favorite. They can’t choose just one, so participants in this study group will crisscross the country to learn about their 21 favorite parks.

The Life and Works of Jimmy Stewart $125

Arnie Wright, OLLI Member

Friday, 1:30pm – 4:30pm | 5 Sessions 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 30

Jimmy Stewart (1908 –1997) had a film career spanning 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality he portrayed both on and off the screen, he epitomized the “American ideal”. In this class we will view and discuss five films starring Jimmy Stewart. After each film we will have a 20-30 minute discussion and critique. This is your chance to be a movie critic. Be prepared to be entertained! In class, we will watch the following: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939); Philadelphia Story (1940); Rear Window (1954); The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956); The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

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 study group is that one of his favorite actors is Jimmy Stewart. Arnie has been the facilitator for several Osher film classes including movies of Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Katharine Hepburn, and Tom Hanks.

Memoir Writing: What I Learned

Writing the Story of a World Famous Bull (In-person at Tufts) $25

Carla Panciera, Outside Expert

Friday, 1:30pm – 3:30pm | 1 Session 11/7

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 45

Aldo Panciera had a farm, and on that farm, he had a bull. Both became celebrities in the world of dairy farming. They were even featured in Esquire Magazine! Carla Panciera, Aldo’s daughter, worked on the farm in Westerly as a teenager in the 1970’s and traveled with her dad to local and regional fairs. In this slide show presentation/discussion we’ll hear how she came to write and publish Barnflower, a memoir about the famous bull and her father. You’ll get advice on how you, too, might commit your family’s story to paper and learn about a vanishing piece of New England history.

FRIDAYS

forthcoming in November 2025 from Bordighera Press. Her work has appeared in several journals including Poetry, The New England Review, Nimrod, Painted Bride, and Carolina Quarterly. A recipient of a 2022 Massachusetts Cultural Council Grant in creative nonfiction, Panciera’s newest book is Barnflower: A Rhode Island Farm Memoir (Loom Press, 2023).

OLLI EVENTS

Open to Public

The following events are open to Tufts OLLI members and the general public. Stop by to experience a taste of what Tufts OLLI has to offer!

Visit go.tufts.edu/ OLLIEvents for links to RSVP.

Tufts OLLI Presents

Chords and Cannons: Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture

Thursday, July 10 at 12pm | In-Person at Delaney at the Vale

Join us to learn more about the well-known classic, Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture. Anyone who has ever watched the fireworks on the Boston Esplanade has heard Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture... But what are the French national anthem and Russian folksongs doing in this Fourth of July favorite? Packed with drama and emotion, this Romantic masterpiece tells the story of a momentous historic event. How did it become a beloved American tradition? And who decided to throw in the cannons? We’ll listen to this great work, interspersed with discussions about the composer, the historical context, and the story told through the music. This is an engaging and interactive presentation for both lifelong musicians and those who claim to know absolutely nothing about classical music.

Fall In-Person Open House: ‘Sip and See’ What’s We Offer

Wednesday, July 22 at 6:30pm | In-Person at Tufts University

Join us in our usual meeting space on Tufts’ Campus to get a taste of what the Tufts OLLI program is all about! Learn about our Fall courses, member benefits, community partners, and more!

Fall Virtual Open House

Tuesday, September 2 at 2pm | Virtually on Zoom

Join us in our usual meeting space on Tufts’ Campus to get a taste of what the Tufts OLLI program is all about! Learn about our Fall courses, member benefits, community partners, and more!

Exclusive to Members

This event is a benefit of a Tufts OLLI membership. Links to RSVP will be shared with current Tufts OLLI members in our weekly newsletter.

OLLI at Night with AARP: Adapting and Transitioning as We Age

Thursday, September 4 at 7pm | In-Person at Tufts University and Virtually on Zoom

Presented with AARP, this presentation is about how we can best navigate constant change so that we can continue to enjoy our lives and our loved ones. We will discuss the importance of developing a personal management system that may make you feel more secure and comfortable and, therefore, have more time and energy to deal with the numerous aspects of rapid change in your life.

Tufts OLLI Presents

Voyages of Survival: Excavating Identity Across Slave and Pirate Vessels

Tuesday, September 2 at 6:30pm | In-Person at Tufts University and Virtually on Zoom

This presentation examines the intertwined histories of piracy and the transatlantic slave trade through the lens of maritime archaeology. Drawing on recent excavations of shipwrecks such as Blackbeard’s Queen Anne’s Revenge, the session explores how vessels once used for enslaved human trafficking were later repurposed for piracy, and the glamorized discussions around pirates today. Special attention is given to the presence of enslaved individuals aboard these ships, with a focus on uncovering their identities through the study of artifacts and material culture. By connecting archaeological findings with historical records, this research offers new insights into the lived experiences of enslaved people at sea and the broader legacies of resistance, survival, and cultural memory.

Tufts OLLI Anniversary Celebration

October - Details coming soon

Join us as we celebrate 25 years of lifelong learning at Tufts, and 20 years of our Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute!

Tufts OLLI Travel

Looking to step beyond the classroom and explore our local New England area? Tufts OLLI offers two unique travel programs to current members, OLLI on the Road and OLLI on Foot.

OLLI On the Road

OLLI On the Road offers domestic day trips taking members to explore new areas and attractions a little further afield than the MBTA can travel. Past examples of these unique travel experiences include a guided tour of the Currier Art Museum and Frank Lloyd Wright Homes in Manchester, NH, a guided tour of the Tower Hill Botanic Gardens in Boylston, MA, and a three-part photography workshop including a trip to the Stone Zoo in Stoneham, MA.

We are currently planning our trips for the 2025 – 2026 membership year and are aiming to take our members to:

Portugalia Marketplace in Fall River, MA

The Worcester Art Museum in Worcester, MA

The Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA

Hammond Castle in Gloucester, MA

The OLLI on the Road trips are organized by the Tufts OLLI Team, and a flat fee covers round-trip transportation to and from Tufts, any tickets required for entry, and lunch. Additional information about each trip and links to register will be shared via email.

OLLI On Foot

OLLI on Foot is a program offered by members, for members. These excursions are entirely run and organized by member volunteers, and will provide our community opportunities to explore areas and organizations in our own backyard. A huge ‘Thank You’ to all of our volunteer organizers!

For Fall 2025, we will offer the following OLLI on Foot experiences:

Charlestown Walking Tour on September 30 (rain date: October 7)

Tour of the Outdoor Sculptures of DeCordova Museum on October 19 (rain date: October 26)

Tour of the Medford Royall House and Slave Quarters on November 18

WGBH ‘Jim and Marjorie Show’ and Boston Public Library Tour on December 12

Members participating in each experience will be required to provide their own transportation and pay any needed fees out of pocket on the day of the excursion. Additional information about each trip and links to register will be shared via email.

Propose A Course!

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 instructing 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 class 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 of 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 class as a thank you for being a class 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.

Visit olli.tufts.edu and the ‘Courses & Activities’ tab to propose a course today!

Winter 2026 (January 20 – March 10)

Virtually on Zoom

Spring 2026 (March 16 – May 8)

In-Person and Virtually on Zoom

Summer 2026 (June 1 – June 26)

In-Person and Virtually on Zoom

Course Proposal Submission Deadline: October 5, 2025

Course Proposal Submission Deadline: November 9, 2025

Course Proposal Submission Deadline: March 8, 2026

AT A GLANCE

MONDAY

Cults & Alternative Religious Movements Virtually on Zoom

Lark Escobar | Mondays, 10am (9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10)

Graceful Exits: Exploring the Economics, Ethics & Ethos Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online

Aleen Bayard | Mondays, 5pm - 6:30pm (10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10, 11/17, 11/24)

Ida B. Wells – Shining a Light of Truth In-Person at Brooksby Village

Bill Saunders | Mondays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/27, 11/3)

Japanese Prints Virtually on Zoom

Linda Agerbak, Glenna McKitterick | Mondays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6)

Legends of the Loch: Mythical Creatures of Scotland In-Person at Brooksby Village

Callan B. Moody | Mondays, 10am - 12pm (9/15, 9/22, 9/29)

Machiavelli the Playwright - Mandragola (Mandrake Root) Virtually on Zoom

Francesco Castellano | Mondays, 10am - 12pm (10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10)

Memoir Writing: What I Learned Writing the Story of a World Famous Bull In-Person at Brooksby Village Carla Panciera | Monday, 10am - 12pm (11/3)

Of Spirits, Of Magicks, and an Interior Life Virtually on Zoom

Edward J. Ingebretsen | Mondays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/15, 9/22, 9/29, 10/6)

Plant ID Guided Nature Walk (“Fall Flora”) Hybrid

Jeff Adams | Mondays, 10am - 12pm (10/6, 10/20)

Thai Cooking Virtually on Zoom

Sara Miller | Mondays, 6:30pm - 8:30pm (9/15, 9/22, 9/29)

The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online

Marc Seifer | Mondays, 3pm - 4:30pm (10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10

TUESDAY

American History in Six Songs (Approximately) Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online

Matt Jennings | Tuesdays, 5pm - 6:30pm (10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18)

Conclusion to Proust’s In Search of Lost Time Virtually on Zoom

Emese Soos | Tuesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4)

The African American Military Experience: From Revolution to Civil Rights Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online John Langellier | Tuesdays, 7pm - 8:30pm (10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11)

The Cinema of Steven Spielberg: A Sample of His Earlier Creations (mid-1970-early 1980s) Virtually on Zoom Elfant Allan | Tuesdays, 1pm - 5pm (10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28)

WEDNESDAY

A Walk Through Paris In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Valerie Sutter | Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm (9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8)

Adapative (Chair) Yoga and Relaxation Virtually on Zoom

Yolanta Kovalko | Wednesdays, 4pm - 5pm (9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22)

Cold War Paranoia in Film In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington

David Briola | Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 4pm (10/15, 10/22)

Creative Conservation Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online

Stephanie Arne | Wednesdays, 5pm - 6:30pm (10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12)

French Culture through Film: Dramatic moments in French history In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington Valerie Sutter | Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 4pm (9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8)

Huck and James: One Story Twice Told Virtually on Zoom

Joyce Carpenter | Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm (9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22)

Joseph McCarthy - Charismatic Tyrant Virtually on Zoom

Jeff Goldberg | Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8)

Music in Africa In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Nathaniel Braddock | Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22)

Native American Mounds and Mound Builders of the Eastern United States Virtually on Zoom

Margaret Lourie | Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5)

Readers in Science and Technology at the Boston Athenaeum (1827-1850) Virtually on Zoom

Scott Guthery | Wednesdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5)

Science Fiction Before Science Fiction Virtually on Zoom

Jonathan Schaffer | Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm (9/17, 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15)

The Dismal Science - Understanding the Economic Mindset In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Eric Mankin | Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm (10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12)

The Story of Human Migrations and Peopling of the World Virtually on Zoom

Kiril Sinkel | Wednesdays, 10am - 12pm (10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5)

THURSDAY

Impressionism: Color Light and Leisure Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online

Lauren Weingarden | Thursdays, 3pm - 4:30pm (10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13)

Imprisoned Without Trial: Japanese Incarceration in WWII Virtually on Zoom

Dennis Kato | Thursdays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/18, 9/25, 10/2, 10/9)

In Darwin’s Footsteps: A Journey to the Galapagos Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online

Eric Simon | Thursdays, 11am - 12:30pm (10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20)

The Art of Time in Fiction Virtually on Zoom

Jane Katims | Thursdays, 10am - 12pm (10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6)

The Roman Emperors Virtually on Zoom

James Himberger | Thursdays, 5pm - 7pm (9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13)

FRIDAY

Forecasting in International Relations In-Person at Tufts

Arik Burakovsky | Fridays, 10am - 12pm (9/19, 9/26, 10/10, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/4, 11/21)

Group Discussion: James A. Michener’s “Tales of the South Pacific” In-Person at Tufts

Ronald Bernard | Fridays, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7)

Just Cool Math Stuff - No Homework Required In-Person at Tufts

Steven Boettcher | Fridays, 10am - 12pm (9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10)

Memoir Writing: What I Learned Writing the Story of a World Famous Bull In-Person at Tufts

Carla Panciera | Friday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (11/7)

Our Most Favorite National Parks In-Person at Tufts

Cleo and Steve D’Arcy | Fridays, 10am - 12pm (9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10)

Roger Williams: an American Original In-Person at Tufts

Robert Crooks | Fridays, 10am - 12pm (10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7)

The Art of Time in Fiction In-Person at Tufts

Jane Katims | Fridays, 10am - 12pm (10/3, 10/10, 10/17, 10/24, 10/31, 11/7)

The Challenge of Living in “The Anti-Social Century” In-Person at Tufts

Ellen Kitzis | Fridays, 10am - 12pm (10/31, 11/7)

The Life and Works of Jimmy Stewart In-Person at Tufts

Arnie Wright | Fridays, 1:30pm – 4:30pm 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10, 10/17)

Fall 2025 Registration Schedule

• Fall 2025 registration opens Tuesday, July 1, 2025

• Add/Drop period: Tuesday, July 1, 2025 – Monday, September 8, 2025

• Courses begin Monday, September 15, 2025

Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Tufts University

Phone: (617) 627-5699

Email: OsherLLI@tufts.edu

Web: olli.tufts.edu

80 George Street

Medford, MA 02155

LUNCH AND LEARN TALKS

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

Virtual talks will be exclusively on Zoom. Hybrid 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.

Cost & Consequences of Healthcare Errors, Fraud, and Abuse Lucilia Prates-Ramos, Statewide Director, Massachusetts Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Program

Lost Holiday: How Colonial Boston Celebrated the Fifth of November J.L. Bell, Historian, Author, Associate Editor, Journal of the American Revolution 19 Archeological Discoveries from the Boston of 1776 Joseph Bagley, Archeologist, City of Boston 24 26 Righting Wrongs: Three Decades on the Front Lines Battling Abusive Governments Kenneth Roth, Former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch (1993-2022), Visiting Professor at Princeton University, School of Public and International Affairs

Memory Malleability & the Aging Brain Elizabeth Race, Associate Professor, Psychology, Tufts University

Connecting to our Ancestors and Revisiting our Histories Rachel Jamison Webster, Author, Professor, English Department, Northwestern University

Transboundary Water Issues Globally: Challenges and Opportunities for Collaboration Melissa McCracken, Assistant Professor, International Environmental Policy, Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University

Golden Legacy—How Golden Books Changed Children’s Books Forever Leonard Marcus, Children’s Book Historian, Author, Critic

College Behind Bars Hilary Binda, Founder, Executive Director, Tufts University Prison Initiative (TUPIT) Boston History—The Other Red Line: Washington Street, From Scollay Square to the Combat Zone Anthony Sammarco, Historian, Author

Massachusetts Bees—Diversity through Structure Michael Veit, Retired Teacher, Bee Enthusiast

Langston Hughes and the Harlem Renaissance Dr. William Thierfelder, Retired Professor, Arts and Humanities, Docent Emeritus, American Museum of Natural History

Design. Print. Deploy. Enabling Swarm Robots via Additive Manufacturing Dr. Marcus Nemitz, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Tufts University

Superpowers of the Horseshoe Crab—Why We Need Them in Our World! Carol “Krill” Carson, Marine Biologist

Diet and Healthy Aging: Exploring the What. Why, and How Diane McKay, Assistant Professor, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts School of Medicine

Tufts OLLI Fall 2025 Catalog

Fall 2025 Course Catalog

September – November 2025

On the Cover: Meet Yogesh Shinde

COURSE CATEGORIES Fall 2025

By Course Topic p.08

By Day of Week

Suggested and Required Reading Information

2025-2026 Tufts OLLI

Membership Information

Why the Change?

Tufts OLLI Membership Tiers

Base Membership

Bronze Membership

Course Registration & Policy Information

REGISTER ONLINE ON OUR WEBSITE

Fall 2025 Registration Schedule

Community Standards, Refunds, Withdrawals, and Cancellation Policies

FINANCIAL AID

About Nearpeer

LUNCH AND LEARN TALKS

Steps to Print the ‘At A Glance’ and Fall Lunch and Learn Talk Schedule at Home:

About Osher Online

Before Your First Class!

Support for Courses

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

HISTORY

MUSIC

POLITICS, ECONOMICS, AND SOCIOLOGY

RELIGION

SCIENCE, NATURE, AND TECHNOLOGY

TRAVEL AND CULTURE

VISUAL ARTS

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM

Japanese Prints $100

Graceful Exits:

IN-PERSON, OFF-CAMPUS

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

A Walk Through Paris $100

Cold War Paranoia in Film $50

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE

IN-PERSON AT TUFTS

FRIDAYS

OLLI EVENTS

Open to Public

Tufts OLLI Presents

Chords and Cannons: Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture

Fall In-Person Open House: ‘Sip and See’ What’s We Offer

Fall Virtual Open House

Exclusive to Members

OLLI at Night with AARP: Adapting and Transitioning as We Age

Tufts OLLI Presents

Voyages of Survival: Excavating Identity Across Slave and Pirate Vessels

Tufts OLLI Anniversary Celebration

Tufts OLLI Travel

OLLI On the Road

OLLI On Foot

Propose A Course!

AT A GLANCE

FRIDAY

Fall 2025 Registration Schedule

LUNCH AND LEARN TALKS