Tufts OLLI Fall 2026 Catalog

Featured Member

Meet Diane Boettcher inside!

Fall 2026 Course Catalog

September – November 2026

Course registration begins Wednesday, July 1, 2026 and runs through Monday, September 14, 2026.

Membership is required to register for courses.

Published June 18, 2026

Please visit our website or refer to the Weekly Digest for the most updated information.

To our Tufts Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Members,

Welcome to a new year at Tufts OLLI!

July 1, 2026 marks the start of our 20262027 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 Cyrano de Bergerac to a Plant ID Guided Nature Walk.

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.

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 Policies

All Tufts OLLI members are expected to know and follow our policies as listed on our website. To ensure a pleasant and welcoming sense of community for our members, all Tufts OLLI Community Members (current members, course instructors, guest speakers, etc.) must follow our community standards and guidelines for participation.

Tufts OLLI Community Standards and Guidelines for Participation

A social community is not just a group of individuals with shared interests; it’s a vibrant space that fosters connection, support, curiosity, and collaboration. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Tufts University is a strong community of older learners that is also an important part of the Tufts University community, which is comprised of students and educators of all ages.

Tufts OLLI strives to create an environment that focuses on the following:

• Respect & Kindness: Treat everyone with dignity and respect.

• Constructive Dialogue: Encourage passionate discussions but respect differing views without personal attacks.

• Zero Tolerance for Disrespect: Offensive language, discrimination, or distruptive behaviors are not allowed, and violators may face consequences.

• Inclusive Learning: Provide a welcoming environment where diverse perspectives are valued and ensure a conducive environment for academic and personal development.

All members of the Tufts OLLI community (paid members, course instructors, guest speakers, etc.) will be held accountable to these standards and guidelines. The Program Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, will handle any infractions. Violations may result in discontinuation of participation in the program.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Office Closures

Tufts and the OLLI office will be closed on the following days during Fall registration and the Fall term:

• July 3, 2026

• September 7, 2026

• October 12, 2026

• November 11, 2026

Communication

A newsletter is sent to all current OLLI members every Tuesday. This newsletter will include important announcements, RSVP links for events, etc. So you can be sure to receive this email and other important communications from our office, please be sure to add the following emails to your address book to help keep them out of your spam folder:

• OsherLLI@tufts.edu

• OsherOnline@northwestern.edu Didn’t receive an email you were expecting from the office or course leader? Please check your spam folder!

Continuing this year, we will also be using the Nearpeer desktop and mobile app to streamline communications with members! More information about this platform can be found on page 05. Members will be added to our Nearpeer instance on Tuesdays.

Disability Accommodations

We are committed to equal access for persons with disabilities and will make every effort to provide accommodations. If you have a disability and need accommodation, please call our office at (617) 627-5699. A two-week advance notice is recommended.

Community Partners

Tufts OLLI is proud to partner with Brookhaven at Lexington, Brooksby Village, and The Commons in Lincoln. Through our partnership, members who reside at both locations have a slightly different registration process. Please contact our office at (617) 627-5699 for assistance.

Phone: (617) 627-5699

Email: OsherLLI@tufts.edu

Web: olli.tufts.edu

80 George Street Medford, MA 02155

On the Cover: Meet Diane Boettcher

Education and community. Those are the reasons I’ve chosen to participate in the Tufts OLLI program over the past 10 years. It’s been a pleasure to watch the program weather the pandemic, introduce so many of us to Zoom classes, and reemerge with new ideas that connect people both on-line and in person (Dine-Arounds, Edventure Clubs, OLLI on the Road, OLLI on Foot, OLLI at Night, Lunch and Learns, Nearpeer and more). I’ve made new friends, learned about movie critiquing, gardening, best ice-skating routines, and our National Parks, just to name a few. My mission as Chairperson of the Executive Board is to use the expertise and advice of our board members to help further the goals of the program and accomplish what is detailed in our strategic plan. It’s been a pleasure to work with Callan and Kathy and watch our program expand into new areas and partnerships. I encourage all members to get involved. Contact me if you’d like to know more about volunteer opportunities (dianeboettcher2@gmail.com).

COURSE CATEGORIES

Instructors Course Topics

Abramovtis, Emanuel 12

Adams, Jeff 10

Agron, Mike 21

Allen, Polly 26

Alpert, Rachel 11

Bernard, Ronald 23

Boettcher, Steven 09

Burns, Martin 14

Cabot, Elizabeth 29

Carpenter, Joyce 17

Cervantes, Angelo 22

D’Arcy, Cleo and Steve 20

Dyke, Ed 22

Elfant, Allan 13

Escobar, Lark 11, 16

Frias, Jodee 29

Hemmer, Kurt 16

Hirsch, Steven 14

Hissong, Norma 24

Kahney, Leander 16

Katims, Jane 24, 27

Kovalko, Yolanta 12

Lourie, Margaret 11

Mankin, Eric 25

McCree, Paula 15

McGrath, Steve 30

Menson-Furr, Ladrica 21

Munroe, Stephen 25

Noordzij, Tinie 10

Olszewski, John 23

Saunders, Bill 09

Shin, Jem 20

Sinkel, Kiril 17

Siwila, James 19

Soos, Emese 13

Stafford, Judith 24

Sutter, Valerie 18, 19

Travis, Amy 27

Weingarden, Lauren 26

Weiss, Art 28

Wright, Arnie 28

and Technology

Day of Week

Suggested and Required

Reading Information

To better manage our limited catalog space, price information and the links to purchase any suggested and/or required materials for our courses will only be available on the course registration website, go.tufts.edu/ Catalog.

2026-2027 Membership Info

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 introduced a tiered membership system in July 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. All memberships for 2026-2027 expire on June 30, 2027.

Tufts OLLI Membership Tiers

Learn more about membership benefits and discounts 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

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

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

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 2026-2027 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 Wednesday, July 1, 2026 through Monday, September 14, 2026.

Please note that a 2026-2027 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.

Once you become 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.

Already a Silver or Gold Member? Your discount code for summer registration will be sent to you via email the day registration opens.

Fall 2026 Registration Schedule

• Fall 2026 registration opens Wednesday, July 1, 2026

• Add/Drop period: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 – Monday, September 14, 2026

• Courses begin Monday, September 21, 2026

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

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

About Nearpeer

Nearpeer is our members-only app, serving as a member directory and community building platform. 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!

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. Please note that as these courses are offered nationally, there will be far more students enrolled than in a usual Tufts OLLI course.

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 provvided 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.

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE

Courses offered through Osher Online are indicated by the above label.

COURSES

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Two Fall Landscape Walks in the Winchester Woods 10

Balance & Mobility Yoga 12

Positivity and Relaxation

Training 15

HISTORY

We Shall Overcome: American Protest Music 09

Homer and the World of Odysseus 14

Mind Of A Killer 23

LITERATURE AND PHILOSOPHY

Cyrano de Bergerac: A Heroic Comedy 13

The Birth of the Beat Generation 16

Feminist Thinking 17

Tess of the d’ Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy 19

Four Famous Poets: WB Yeats, Robert Frost, TS Eliot and WH Auden 22

James A. Michener’s “Tales of the South Pacific” 23

Lanugage, Landscapes, Longings: Stories by Three Contemporary Authors (Virtual) 24

A Secular Look at C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” 24

Lanugage, Landscapes, Longings: Stories by Three Contemporary Authors 27

Robert Frost: New England’s Favorite Poet 29

MATHEMATICS

Parabolas, Ellipses and Hyperbolas: More Than You Need to Know 28

POLITICS, ECONOMICS, AND SOCIOLOGY

Transgender Rights and Wrongs 11

Northern Island: From Conflict to Compromise 14

When Scarcity Shapes Belief 16

The Dismal ScienceDeveloping and refining an economic mindset 25

RELIGION

Revival: Early American Religious Movements 11

SCIENCE, NATURE, AND TECHNOLOGY

Just Cool Math Stuff II - Still No Homework 09

Plant ID Guided Nature Walk 10

Apple at 50: How it Revolutionized Computing and Transformed Daily Life 16

From the Big Bang to Big Brains 17

Cats (not the musical) 20

Tracing Our Roots: DNA, Family History, and the Politics of Identity 22

Searching for Life on Mars--and Beyond! 25

Demystifying Digital Devices 27

Threads of Innovation: How Fiber Arts Shaped the Digital World 29

TRAVEL AND CULTURE

Intrepid Women Travel the Globe - and Beyond... 11

Paris Revealed: A cultural and historical stroll through the City of Lights 18

Private Lives, Public Times: Relationships in French Cinema 19

VISUAL ARTS

The Search for an American Sound 12

Films Of Steven Spielberg: 2002-2022 13

Queer Cinema in the 21st Century 20

The Magic Behind Film Scores: The Role of Music in Great Movies-Part II 21

August Wilson and His American Cycle-The First Five: 1904-1957 21

Colorful Contemporary Basketry 26

Early 20th Century AvantGarde: From Rebellion to Abstraction 26

Rebels, Rogues, and Reluctant Heroes: Paul Newman on Screen 28

Nature and Bird Photography 30

Just Cool Math Stuff II - Still No

Homework $100

Steven Boettcher, Outside Instructor

Monday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions

10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 18

Do you know the number of different orders in which 60 pingpong balls, numbered from 1 to 60, could be put into a line? The answer is at the end of this course description. In this fun, non-academic, discussion of the beauty and wonder of math you learn about an eclectic group of topics such googol, Pi, prime numbers, the fibonacci sequence, logic puzzles, how long it took a guy to count out loud to 1 million, mobius strips, and much more. 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. There are more ways to line up those balls than there are atoms in the known Universe!!

Steve Boettcher is a mathematician who worked early in his career at Lincoln Lab, taught High School math at DoverSherborn and Wayland, and spent over 30 years doing one-on-one private math tutoring with people of all ages. He sees the world through a mathematical lens and enjoys sharing his knowledge, insights, and enthusiasm with others. His background includes a BS in math and physics from the University of Wisconsin and a MS in applied math from Cal Tech. He has two children

and six grandchildren (all of whom often say to him “Grandpa, give me a math problem”)

We Shall Overcome: American Protest Music $100

Bill Saunders, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Monday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 8 Max: 25

Movements for social change have often been accompanied by powerful music that educates and inspires participants. Music played a prominent role in both the civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1960s. However, these were not the first nor the last to effectively employ music to achieve their goals. We will look at some of these movements and the songs that accompanied them. You may be familiar with some of these songs, but I suspect that some of them will be new to you. We will explore the role that music played, and why it was important. In addition, we will explore the role that music might play in the current moment.

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, Ida B. Wells’ crusade against lynching, two courses analyzing historical events through the lens of Graham Greene films, and a course covering right-

wing military juntas that took over the governments of many countries.

IN-PERSON OFF CAMPUS

Plant ID Guided Nature Walk $50

Jeff Adams, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Monday, 10am - 12pm 2 Sessions

10/19, 10/26

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 12

Please join Jeff for two (2) Fall Plant ID

Guided Nature walks at Greenwood Park and Virginia Wood. We’ll focus on Plant ID looking at native species along with a few non-natives. We’ll include some select natural history too and learn about helpful identifiers such as branching patterns, galls, buds, leaves, and diagnostic characteristics that enable us to immediately identify the plant. And we’ll discuss specifics on native vs. nonnative. ALL are welcome. Class rain dates will be Tuesday, 10/20 and 10/27 .

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, Newton Conservators, Friends of Fresh Pond Reservation, The Cape Ann Trail Stewards, The Wells Reserve at Laudholm, and The Massachusetts Archaeological Society, Inc.

Two Fall Landscape Walks in the Winchester Woods $50

Tinie Noordzij, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Monday, 10am - 12pm 2 Sessions 9/21, 9/28

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 12

The Long Pond area in the Middlesex Fells and the Brooks-Parkhurst Town Forest are both wooded and designated as conservation areas in the Town of Winchester. Yet, there are differences in their history, size, geology and biology. On a roughly two hour walk at each destination we’ll look for signs of wildlife and birds, identify some trees, shrubs, plants and mushrooms. The paths are flat or slightly undulating, some are uneven in places. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Use hiking poles if you like, bring binoculars if you have them. No prior reading or knowledge is required, more information will be sent to participants closer to the date. Rain date of 10/5.

Tinie Noordzij has been an amateur nature guide for over thirty years. She was trained in the Netherlands in a two year program with “IVN” (Institution For Nature), and in Winchester with an organization called Winchester Trails. She has co-guided bird walks, landscape walks, nature walks for adults and school children.

Intrepid Women Travel the Globeand Beyond... $100

Margaret Lourie, Current Tufts OLLI

Member

Monday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions

9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: 5 Max: 25

Except for a few notable examples, like Amelia Earhart, the travels of brave and independent women have not received as much recognition or as lasting a place in history as they deserve. In this study group we will try to rectify that by celebrating the lives of some of the brave women who traveled far and wide in search of adventure and knowledge about the broader world. Through short videos and other materials, this study group will present a brief introduction to the lives, travels, and achievements of approximately 35 women from a variety of times, places, and travel destinations. Participants will have the opportunity to volunteer to give a short presentation to the class about a woman traveler of their choice. This a reprise of the course last offered in Spring 2023.

Margaret Lourie is a librarian who has always enjoyed traveling to foreign lands. She is looking forward to visiting with some of the brave women travelers of earlier and more modern times and sharing and celebrating their accomplishments with other OLLI members.

Revival: Early American Religious Movements $175

Lark Escobar, Tufts Alum

Monday, 10am - 12pm 8 Sessions 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 4 Max: 10

Explore early American religious movements spanning the 1600s1800s, including: Puritanism & New England Congregationalism, The First Great Awakening, The Second Great Awakening, and The Restoration Movement.

Lark S. Escobar is an educator, researcher, and humanitarian specializing in international law, human security, and conflict-affected populations. She holds an MA in International Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and has taught across academic and professional settings in the United States, Middle East, and Europe. Escobar has led large-scale humanitarian efforts. She has also trained international military, diplomatic, and civil servant personnel in cross-cultural communication and governance.

Transgender

Rights and Wrongs

Rachel Alpert, Outside Instructor

$175

Monday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 8 Sessions 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 8 Max: 30

Transgenderism is the hot spot in the American culture wars. Candidate Trump and affiliated PACs spent over $200M

on ads during the 2024 Presidential campaign attacking Kamala Harris on transgender rights. (Kamala is for ‘they/ them’, President Trump is for ‘you’) On his first days in office in 2025 President Trump issued six executive orders circumscribing transgender activities. State legislatures have considered 706 bills in 43 states in the first three months of 2026 alone on the subject. in June 2025, the US Supreme Court allowed the states to ban transgender medical care for minors and the 2025-2026 will rule on state bans on transgender participation in sports. This interactive course will parse through the rhetoric to consider the science, the law and the history to discuss what rights transgender adults and minors should or should not have, especially when in potential conflict with others (parents, teachers, women).

Rachel Alpert was a lawyer for 35 years. Her teaching experience includes teaching high school English, teaching law at Suffolk Law School, then leading lifelong learning courses on “Freedom of Speech,” “The Rise of Religion in the Supreme Court,” “The Regulation of Food in the U.S.,” “Transgender Rights and Wrongs,” and on James Joyce’s Ulysses and Geraldine Brooks’ historical novels.

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM THROUGH OSHER ONLINE

The Search for an American Sound

$125

Emanual Abramovits, Osher Online

Monday, 5pm - 6:30pm 6 Sessions 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: None Max: None

Since the 1890s, when Americans were beginning to develop their own traditions in classical music, composers have recognized the dilemma of creating the American sound. We will explore how classical musicians, and Broadway and Hollywood composers, most of them Jewish, followed parallel paths in creating sounds that have been defined as evocative of these lands and its people. Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, William Grant Steel, Florence Price, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein and others will be the protagonists of this lecture, supported with audiovisuals and anecdotes.

Emanuel Abramovits is a mechanical engineer and has been a concert promoter for over two decades. He is involved in events by international artists like Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Sarah Brightman, Roger Hodgson, ASIA, Journey, and Kenny G. Abramovits has designed and staged original orchestral events, including an Event of the Year winner and several world premieres. He served as the cultural director at Union Israelita De Caracas, releasing books and organizing film cycles, concerts, and art exhibits.

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM

Balance & Mobility Yoga $75

Yolanta Kovalko, Retired Tufts Staff or Faculty

Tuesday, 5pm - 6pm 6 Sessions 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture Min: 10 Max: 14

Participants of this class will safely and effectively improve their balance, mobility, and confidence through

TUESDAYS

a progressive series of yoga and therapeutic movement practices. The focus is on building foundational strength, enhancing proprioception, and increasing body awareness.

Yolanta Kovalko has been teaching for OLLI since fall 2018 and is thrilled to be part of their team of course instructors! She retired from the Tufts Community Health Department where she worked as a Department Administrator. She is a certified yoga and meditation teacher and has taught yoga and meditation in her Somerville studio, Ball Square Yoga, for the last 10 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 traditions.

Cyrano de Bergerac: A Heroic Comedy $100

Emese Soos, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Tuesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 8 Max: 18

What images of Cyrano come readily to mind if not his absurdly long nose and panache?

Edmond Rostand (1868 - 1918) found his inspiration in the real life Cyrano de Bergerac, a whimsical 17th century poet, soldier, and lover who published a travelogue to the moon. Rostand adapted these traits to his late 19th century Romantic character, brawler and sentimental lover. We will discuss the play in detail, with reference to the protagonist’s historical model.

Emese Soos majored in French and history at Mount Holyoke College, earned a Ph.D. in French from the University of WisconsinMadison, and taught French language and literature courses at Tufts for over 30 years. She enjoys revisiting the French works she read and taught, this time in English translation.

Films Of Steven Spielberg: 20022022 $150

Allan Elfant, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Tuesday, 1pm - 5pm 6 Sessions 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 16

Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest film directors of modern times and has won all the major cinematic awards. We will view and discuss 6 of his significant films from 2002 to 2022: Catch Me If You Can, Munich, Lincoln, The Post, West Side Story, and The Fablemans. Due to the different lengths of these films, each class will vary between 3 to 4 hours in length. Optional weekly readings will be provided via the internet. This class is a continuation of the previous two study groups on Spielberg films.There is no need to have attended those classes.

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

Homer and the World of Odysseus $100

Steven Hirsch, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Tuesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 20

The Iliad and the Odyssey are the earliest extant works of European literature. Monumental and brilliant as they are, they were the work of an illiterate Greek poet who orally composed his poem as he recited it. Homer, whoever he was (and there are competing traditions), lived around 700 BCE, but he thought he was describing a much earlier world, the highly sophisticated world of the Mycenaean Greeks five hundred years before his time. How much did Homer and the Greeks of his time really know about the brilliant Mycenaean past? And when in time is the world that he is mostly talking about? We will explore how oral poetic composition worked. And we will collectively read and discuss the Odyssey. It is an especially appropriate time to do so, given the much-anticipated release of Christopher Nolan’s film The Odyssey this summer. We will be learning about and discussing Homer’s Odyssey in its own right, as well as comparing it to Christopher Nolan’s retelling. The course will be a mixture of lecture and discussion, and the assigned readings will comprise the Odyssey in translation and viewing of Christopher Nolan’s film.

Steven Hirsch was for 43 years a professor in the Classical Studies Department at Tufts. Primarily an ancient historian, he also taught many classes on the languages and

literatures of Greece and Rome, and late in his career taught courses comparing the Mediterranean civilizations with ancient China. He is also co-author of a popular global history textbook, “The Earth and its Peoples,” writing chapters covering prehistory to 500 CE around the world. He is working on a comparison of the Greek and Chinese historical traditions, as well as reading voraciously about science (particle physics and astrophysics), linguistics, and the histories he doesn’t know, and playing power wheelchair soccer.

Northern Ireland: From Conflict to Compromise $100

Martin Burns, Tufts Alum

Tuesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions

9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 20

Trace Northern Ireland’s path from its early history through the turbulent era known as The Troubles, and into the modern day. Beginning with an overview of Irish history leading up to 1912, participants will discuss the decades of political and sectarian conflict that shaped a generation. Explore the landmark Belfast/Good Friday Agreement: how it came to be, what it achieved, and whether its lessons can inform peace-building efforts elsewhere. In our final session, we’ll turn to Northern Ireland today, examining its challenges, progress, and what the future may hold. While no readings are required for this course, participants may enjoy the following titles: Gerry Adams, A Farther Shore: Ireland’s Long Road to Peace (London, 2005); Richard English, Armed Struggle: The History of the IRA (London, 2003); Richard

TUESDAYS

TUESDAYS

English, Irish Freedom: The History of Nationalism in Ireland (London, 2006); Susan McKay, Northern Protestants: An Unsettled People (Belfast, 2021); David McKitterick & David McVea, Making Sense of the Troubles (Belfast, 2000); George Mitchell, Making Peace (London, 1999); Mark Mulholland, Northern Ireland: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford, 2003); Jonathan Powell, Great Hatred, Little Room: Making Peace in Northern Ireland (London, 2009); James Waller, A Troubled Sleep: Risk and Resilience in Contemporary Northern Ireland

Martin Burns grew up in Glen Cove, New York. He earned a BA in International Relations from Tufts University and master’s degrees in Government from Johns Hopkins and in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice from Queen’s University Belfast. His dissertation entitled “The Politics of Persuasion: How the Irish Republican Leadership Sold the 1998 Good Friday/ Belfast Agreement To Their Constituency” examined how Sinn Fein leaders built support for the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, featuring interviews with Gerry Adams and other key decision-makers. At Queen’s, the Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice published his blogs. Martin has worked as a congressional aide, journalist, political consultant, and nonprofit lobbyist. He is now an independent journalist published by The Hill, Irish Central, Common Dreams, Bylines Scotland and Byline Times, London. He Lives in DC with his wife, Mary Liz.

Positivity and Relaxation Training

$175

Paula McCree, Tufts Alum

Tuesday, 10am - 12pm 8 Sessions 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20,

10/27, 11/3, 11/10

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 12

The Positivity and Relaxation Training (PART) program is an 8 week, small group education program that teaches participants self-care techniques to promote health, happiness and general wellbeing and resilience. The program is based on the Stress Management and Resiliency Training (SMART) program designed by the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at the Mass General Hospital for use in clinical setting. PART has been designed for delivery outside of the clinical setting using many of the same evidence based practices of the SMART program. The Program employs a variety of mind-body techniques like meditation, mindfulness, and positive psychology. It also integrates creativity, humor and adaptive thinking practices from cognitive psychology. Participants learn skills and have a chance to practice and share experiences with others during each class. Classes start with reflection and end with meditation and recommendations for practice between sessions. Participants report the program has helped them develop skills to manage stress and cultivate a more positive outlook.

Paula McCree is a certified Positivity and Relaxation Training (PART) Instructor through the Mass General, Benson Henry Mind Body Institute with additional certification in the Power of Awareness and Mindful Mentoring training by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach. In addition, she is a Registered Yoga Teacher and Certified Life and Success Coach through the Jay Shetty Coaching

Certification School. Paula also holds an MS in Nutrition from the Tufts School of Nutrition. All of her services are based on a foundation of mindfulness and designed to help individuals build the practical, evidence-based skills they can use in everyday life to support self-care, resilience, and greater balance in life.

When Scarcity Shapes Belief $175

Lark Escobar, Tufts Alum

Tuesday, 10am - 12pm 8 Sessions

9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 4 Max: 10

This course examines how economic insecurity and early life conditions influence cognition, perception, and political attitudes. Drawing on research from political science, psychology, and development economics, the course explores how scarcity affects decisionmaking, risk tolerance, and openness to authoritarianism. The course explores the roles of education and inequality in political belief as well as the ways structural conditions shape belief systems.

Lark S. Escobar is an educator, researcher, and humanitarian specializing in international law, human security, and conflict-affected populations. She holds an MA in International Law and Diplomacy from The Fletcher School at Tufts University and has taught across academic and professional settings in the United States, Middle East, and Europe. Escobar has led large-scale humanitarian efforts. She has also trained international military, diplomatic, and civil servant personnel in cross-cultural

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Apple at 50: How it Revolutionized Computing and Transformed Daily Life $125

Leander Kahney, Osher Online

Tuesday, 7pm - 8:30pm 6 Sessions

9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: None Max: None

This course traces Apple’s fifty-year history and its massive impact on personal computing, design, product culture, platforms and ecosystems, and daily life. Each session focuses on a different decade in Apple’s history, from the birth of the PC in the late 1970s to the latest Apple silicon, VR headsets, and future iPhones. We will learn how Apple reshaped not just technology, but how people live, work, and communicate.

Leander Kahney is a veteran technology reporter who has covered Apple for more than 30 years. He has written six books about the company, including two New York Times bestsellers. He is the editor and publisher of Cult of Mac, a long-running Apple blog, and was previously news editor at Wired.com.

The Birth of the Beat Generation $125

Kurt Hemmer, Osher Online

Tuesday, 9pm - 10:30pm 6 Sessions 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: None Max: None

TUESDAYS

In this course, we will examine the dramatic circumstances that gave rise to the Beat Generation in the 1940s. Together, we will examine three famous Beat works: Howl and Other Poems by Allen Ginsberg, On the Road by Jack Kerouac, and Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs. We will focus on historical events involving Beat writers, important passages of Beat literature, and the literary movement that spawned the 1960s counterculture.

Kurt Hemmer is the editor of the Encyclopedia of Beat Literature and a professor at Harper College. Hemmer has produced award-winning documentaries on Beat poets with filmmaker Tom Knoff and published extensively on Beat writers. He organized the Jack Kerouac Centenary Conference and serves as president of the Beat Studies Association. He is currently working on a biography of Beat poet Gregory Corso.

IN-PERSON AT BROOKHAVEN AT LEXINGTON

Feminist Thinking $100

Joyce Carpenter, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Wednesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 6 Max: 15

While a lot of feminism is about changing laws, there is more to it than equal pay or equal voting rights or name-yourequality-issue. There is also a deep well of thought about who women are, what oppression against them (and others) is, how society constructs both gender

and sex (yes, those are different), and what the dynamics of sexual violence are all about. In this course, we’ll follow Carol Hay’s book, Think Like a Feminist: The Philosophy Behind the Revolution. Warning: while her writing is often quite amusing, the book contains descriptions of sexual violence, swear words, and sexually explicit language. Reading: about 50 pages per week. Note: This is the same class as was taught in Spring 2021.

Joyce Carpenter studied literature and philosophy as an undergraduate (Rutgers, B.A. 1984) and received a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Chicago in philosophy (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.

From the Big Bang to Big Brains $100

Kiril Sinkel, Outside Instructor

Wednesday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 6 Max: 20

Today the universe is a highly organized place. We see structure at every scale from the subatomic all the way to the galactic. But it was not always so. The universe was born with almost no organization at all. There were no stars or galaxies or planetary systems. There was no chemistry, no biology

and no intelligence. Join us as we take a grand tour through time and observe the development of the universe from its earliest days to the present. We will consider how the physical universe developed, consider what distinguishes life from purely physical processes, and how life and then intelligence may have emerged. To do full justice to such a grand topic, we will consider both the scientific explanations that have been proposed and philosophical puzzles they raise. The class will be a mix of lecture and discussion. The material is meant to be accessible to anyone with an interest in science. No particular technical knowledge is assumed. There will be no homework assignments though suggestions for additional readings on the internet will be made for those interested in delving deeper.

Kiril Sinkel, a retired computer programmer, has had a long-term interest in foundational topics of science, history and philosophy. Over the last fifteen years has been auditing Boston University graduate and undergraduate courses in microbiology, neuroscience, astronomy, mathematics and philosophy.

Paris Revealed: A cultural and historical stroll through the City of Lights $100

Valerie Sutter, Outside Instructor

Wednesday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: 10 Max: 40

Armchair traveler, seasoned tourist, or devoted Francophile, join us for a captivating journey through the City of Light. Whether it’s your first visit, a trip

in the making, or a return to a beloved place, this exploration of Parisian culture and history will both delight and surprise. Strolling through iconic landmarks and hidden corners alike, we’ll trace the city’s evolution from its humble pre-Roman origins to the elegance of the Belle Époque, including the tensions of the Dreyfus Affair, uncovering stories that shaped modern France. Along the way, we’ll revisit old favorites, discover new gems, and explore the lives of artists, writers, and everyday Parisians. We’ll also see how filmmakers from classic cinema to contemporary works have captured and reimagined Paris on screen, offering new ways to experience its beauty, drama, and enduring allure. Weekly topics include a Review of the Beginnings of Paris to the future plans of the present mayor; the thrilling Belle Epoque period at the end of the 19th century; the tragic Dreyfus Affair; and a cinematic review of various movies in the sweeping lecture ‘Paris of the Silver Screen.’

Valerie Sutter has pursued her passion for France throughout her adult life. Born in the United States, she fell in love with the French language in high school and majored in it at university. After graduating, she moved to Lyon, where she earned a Master’s degree from the Facultã des Lettres while launching her teaching career. More than 30 years of living and traveling in France have deepened her connection to its culture, leading her to found The French Traveler, which offers immersive summer language workshops and curated trips to France. She divides her time between Paris and Miami, where she teaches at various OLLI programs and organizes a French film club.

Private Lives, Public Times: Relationships in French Cinema $100

Valerie Sutter, Outside Instructor

Wednesday, 1:30pm - 4:30pm 4 Sessions 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 10 Max: 35

Through four remarkable French films spanning different eras and social worlds, this course explores how intimate relationships reveal larger truths about society, history, and the human condition. From the haunting innocence of “Jeux Interdicts” and its portrait of childhood amid war, to the unexpected bonds and hidden lives in “Le Hérisson,” these films illuminate friendship, class, solitude, and resilience. In “Je verrai toujours vos visages,” relationships become a means of reckoning, forgiveness, and restoration, while “Les invités de mon père” deftly examines family tensions, political ideals, and cultural encounter. Together, these films show how French cinema probes the ties between generations, strangers, and communities, asking how people connect across conflict, difference, and time. Rich in emotion, social insight, and moral depth, they offer a powerful lens onto both French society and universal human experience. All films are watched and discussed—always vigorously, sometimes passionately —the same day in class. All films are shown in French language with English subtitles; no outside reading or film viewing.

Valerie Sutter has pursued her passion for France throughout her adult life. Born in the United States, she fell in love with the French language in high school and majored in it at university. After graduating, she

moved to Lyon, where she earned a Master’s degree from the Facultã des Lettres while launching her teaching career. More than 30 years of living and traveling in France have deepened her connection to its culture, leading her to found The French Traveler, which offers immersive summer language workshops and curated trips to France. She divides her time between Paris and Miami, where she teaches at various OLLI programs and organizes a French film club.

Tess of the d’ Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy $100

James Siwila, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Wednesday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 7 Max: 15

Tess of the d’Urberville s marks a significant development in the form of the novel in the late nineteenth century. Its characters are drawn with depth and complexity reminiscent of writers like George Eliot. The novel deals with morality in ways that raise questions about free will and fate that were shocking to Victorian readers. And morality is at the center of the title character’s shocking and tragic life. We will read to understand how Tess and the other main characters deal with moral dilemmas and how the local social and economic environment in the English countryside at the time affects their decisions.

Jim Siwila earned his PhD in English Literature specializing in the development of the English novel in the 18th and 19th centuries. After teaching several years, he left academia to work in the computer industry where he remained for almost 40

years. Upon retiring in 2018, he joined Tufts OLLI where he has taken numerous courses and taught courses on Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales and the two greatest novels by the Bronte sister, Charlotte and Emily: Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights.

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Cats (not the musical) $75

Cleo and Steve D’Arcy, Current Tufts OLLI Members

Wednesday, 10am - 12pm 3 Sessions 9/23, 9/30, 10/7

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 20

Cat lovers, this is the study group for you! Together we will explore the history, biology, variability and popularity of cats. Each participant will have the chance to lead a brief discussion on an aspect of cats that interests them and to share photos and stories of their own cats, past and present.. We will even watch some cat videos. Prepare to learn more than you ever considered about cats, and to participate in lively discussions about these wonderful feline companions.

Cleo and Steve D’Arcy are retired professors who taught at the University of Illinois for over 30 years. While they found teaching college students fulfilling, they really enjoy sharing their interests with their contemporaries. They have co-taught Tufts OLLI courses on a wide variety of subjects, including places they have travelled and their favorite hobbies. Both Cleo and Steve have lived with cats most of the lives and are currently spending time with a frisky grandcat. They invite you to join them to explore the mystery and joy of cats.

Queer Cinema in the 21st Century

$150

Jem Shin, Tufts Graduate Student

Wednesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 6 Sessions 9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 15

How have the stories and reception of queer people on the screen evolved since the start of the century? This course examines a selection queer films from the past two and a half decades, our class will engage in a mix of lectures about critical ways to read these films (including feminist theory, close reading, eco-criticism, and more) as well as interactive discussions about our own responses to these stories. Before each course meeting, students will watch that week’s film on their own outside of class to prepare. Ranging from “Brokeback Mountain” to “Carol” to “Call Me By Your Name,” this course will study films that mark very different constructions of queer relationships that have been depicted in contemporary cinema as well as the historical moment that each film arrives out of. We will also consider the important roles played by characters outside of our central queer figures, ranging from spouses to parents to friends, to understand the forms of queer life that are developed. This course aims to uncover the movement of queer cinema across the 21st century so far, considering the effects of critical reception, race, gender, class and more on each of the movies we will watch.

Jem Shin is a PhD candidate in the department of English at Tufts University (expected graduation in 2028). They

earned a BA in English and Economics from Wesleyan University in 2023. Jem’s academic interests focus on global literature and film from the 20th century onward, with a particular eye to depictions of movement, border crossings, and diaspora writing. They are also interested in the representation of queer and trans lives in the contemporary world. They are currently a First-Year Writing Instructor at Tufts.

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August Wilson and His American Cycle-The First Five: 1904-1957 $125

Ladrica Menson-Furr, Osher Online

Wednesday, 5pm - 6:30pm 6 Sessions 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: None Max: None

August Wilson was the first African American playwright to have a Broadway theater bear his name, a fitting tribute to a dramatist who brought African American culture and lived experience to the stage. In this course, we will read, watch, and examine the first five plays in “Wilson’s American Cycle,” a tenplay series representing each decade of the African American culture’s 20th century. We will explore Wilson’s life and the influences behind his work while focusing on Gem of the Ocean, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and Seven Guitars, tracing his powerful interpretation, celebration, and perseveration of African American culture.

Ladrica Menson-Furr, PhD, is assistant dean of undergraduate programs and associate professor of African American literature.

Menson-Furr is the author of August Wilson’s Fences and August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, and has published on Zora Neale Hurston and Pearl Cleage. She has led academic programs in African American studies and served as a Provost’s Fellow and a Tennessee Board of Regents’ Maxine Smith Fellow.

The Magic Behind Film Scores: The Role of Music in Great Movies-Part II $125

Mike Agron, Osher Online

Wednesday, 5pm - 6:30pm 6 Sessions

9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 11/4, 11/11

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: None Max: None

This course continues our journey into how music becomes the emotional engine of film. This is not film school—it is a celebration for film lovers who want to experience how music shapes story, character, and unforgettable moments. We will explore how instrumental scores and songs with lyrics work together to drive narrative, define identity, and capture cultural shifts. We will focus on films where songs take center stage, from iconic franchise themes to pop- and rock-driven storytelling. Spanning genres and eras, we will see how composers, songwriters, and performers expanded the language of film music.

Born in Los Angeles’s entertainment scene, Mike Agron is a former high-tech executive and entrepreneur who now creates and delivers dynamic, story-driven seminars on music and entertainment. With a storyteller’s eye and a DJ’s ear, he has led 15 acclaimed seminar series, each spotlighting a different facet of music and entertainment.

Tracing Our Roots: DNA, Family History, and the Politics of Identity

$125

Angelo Cervantes, Osher Online

Wednesday, 7pm - 8:30pm 6 Sessions

9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: None Max: None

How does DNA reshape our understanding of ancestry, colonial society, and identity in the Americas? In this course, we will explore the science and methodology of genetic genealogy through the lens of first contact between European and Indigenous peoples. Using the New Mexico DNA Project as a central case study, we will examine how Y-DNA and mitochondrial DNA can confirm, complicate, and challenge traditional research. Topics include Y-DNA Adam, Indigenous maternal haplogroups, the Spanish castas system, and colonial identity. We will consider the ethical and political implications of DNA testing and the limits of what genetic evidence can, and cannot, reveal about race and belonging.

Angelo Cervantes is an anthropological genetic genealogist and history researcher who has conducted archival work in Mexico and Spain. Cervantes teaches at the University of New Mexico and founded the Iberian Peninsula DNA Institute, offering DNA consulting and courses in anthropological genetics. He pioneered anthropological genetic genealogy through the creation of the New Mexico DNA Project, now a major Hispanic DNA database. He has appeared on PBS and frequently lectures on genetic genealogy in the US and Mexico.

IN-PERSON AT THE COMMONS IN LINCOLN

Four Famous Poets: WB Yeats, Robert Frost, TS Eliot and WH Auden

$100

Ed Dyke, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 20

These four poets were the giants of their time and influenced each other and many other poets who followed them. The class will read, analyze and discuss notable poems of each to understand their backgrounds and the reasons for their influence. Hopefully, the discussions will give class participants an opportunity to gauge their own response to each poet’s work.

Ed Dyke was born in Cleveland and graduated with a B.A. in English from Mundelein College (now part of Loyola) in Chicago. After graduating from Southern Illinois University with an M.A. in English, he moved to the Boston area and has since enjoyed New England’s unique culture and attractions. He taught writing and rhetoric after graduation but spent most of professional life in health care and retired from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as its Director of Grants and Development. This has not prevented him from maintaining a lifelong interest literature and especially poetry. He looks forward to discussing literature and ideas with the lifelong learners in the Tufts OLLI program.

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

Ronald Bernard, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Thursday, 10am - 12pm 8 Sessions

9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 10 Max: 30

“Tales ...” was Michener’s first book. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1948. Several characters, places, and events were culled from his book to create the musical “South Pacific”. If you’ve enjoyed a performance of “South Pacific”, perhaps you have wanted to learn more about Nellie Forbush, Emile De Becque, Bloody Mary, Lt. Joe Cable, USMC, and Liat. If you are interested in WW2, perhaps you are interested to learn why the US Navy was in the South Pacific instead of somewhere else. Register for this course to discover and discuss these topics ... and more. The longest reading assignment is 60 pages combining history with literature. We talk about the history behind Michener’s stories, the themes he presents, and his literary style.

Ron Bernard has been a member of Tufts OLLI for more than ten years. A life-long learner, he has taught several courses for our organization on topics ranging from WW2 history to American Popular Music. He is a retired computer systems analyst with experience in mutual fund processing and personal lines insurance. He holds a BS degree from Assumption College.

Mind Of A Killer $25

John Olszewski, Outside Instructor

Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 1 Sessions 10/1

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 2 Max: 20

Join us as we look into the history of mass, serial, and spree murder, along with some other equally chilling cases while trying to explain the public obsession with them. We will analyze the instructor’s personal collection of artwork and correspondences from the most feared and infamous killers. Instructor

John Olszewski, the author of three books on famous murderers, will answer the questions of what goes through a crazed killer’s mind and what in their background and childhood could be a mitigating factor that may have led them to murder.

John Olszewski has a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, a Bachelor’s degree in Behavior Science, and an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice. He has worked in jails, prisons, mental hospitals, and countless treatment facilities. He has authored three books, The Long Dark Walk (2019), Serial Shorts (2022), and Still Walking In The Dark (2026). The Long Dark Walk chronicles his personal journey into the mind of a killer. Serial Shorts is a collection of seven short stories on real-life serial killers. Still Walking In The Dark is a sequel to The Long Dark Walk. He is also the host of The Long Dark Walk Podcast.

A Secular Look at C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” $150

Judith Stafford, Norma Hissong, Current Tufts OLLI Members

Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 6 Sessions 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 16

This six-week course offers a secular exploration of C. S. Lewis and his influential work Mere Christianity. Meeting two hours each week, the class will examine Lewis’ life, historical context, and intellectual development, alongside key themes from Mere Christianity, including morality, human nature, and belief. Rather than focusing on religious instruction, the course approaches the text as a work of philosophy and cultural thought, encouraging critical discussion and reflection. Participants will consider how Lewis’ ideas emerged from his time and how they continue to shape modern conversations about ethics and meaning. No prior familiarity with Lewis or religious studies is required.

Judith Stafford is an experienced educator in computer science and software engineering. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she later served as a Senior Instructor, teaching and mentoring students in software design and leading senior capstone projects. She also taught at Tufts University and has been affiliated with the Software Engineering Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. Judith has a lifelong interest in spirituality and religious philosophy. She has been reading and studying the life and works of C.S. Lewis for several decades and looks forward to

deepening her understanding of his views on religious thought through discussions in this class.

Lanugage, Landscapes, Longings: Stories by Three Contemporary Authors (Virtual) $150

Jane Katims, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Thursday, 10am - 12pm 6 Sessions 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 15

Francine Prose once read aloud to her students a draft of her first novel. She said about that experience, “What made an important difference to me was the attention I felt in the room as others listened. I was encouraged by their eagerness to hear more.” In this course, we will study specific aspects of narrative: descriptive language, evocative settings, and skillful portrayal of characters which engage the reader. How do these elements interweave and hold the reader’s attention? We will discuss short stories by Louise Erdrich, Colm Toibin, as well as a short novel, WEST, by Carys Davies. Please locate the following books: PYTHON’S KISS (Erdrich); THE NEWS FROM DUBLIN (Toibin); and WEST (Davies). In preparation for our first class, please read the following stories in PHYTHON’S KISS: “Python’s Kiss,” “Wedding Dresses,” and “The Hollow Children.”

Jane Katims has written and co-produced six radio series for Wisconsin Public Radio, one earning her a Peabody Award in Broadcasting. She is the author of the poetry collection DANCING ON A SLIPPERY FLOOR, and the story collection, UNTIL NOW. In addition to teaching at OLLI, she

teaches literature at The Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Jane is a member of the Friends of the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Madision. She lives with her family near Boston, Massachusetts.

Searching for Life on Mars--and Beyond! $50

Stephen Munroe, Outside Instructor

Thursday, 10am - 12pm 2 Sessions 10/22, 10/29

Somewhat Interactive - A Mixture of Lecture and Discussion

Min: 6 Max: 25

For six decades NASA has been singularly successful in executing increasingly sophisticated mission to Mars. What began as part of the space race with the Soviet Union in the 1960s has evolved into a well-structured campaign to map the planet’s geography, geophysics and geological history and has yielded evidence for a habitable environment 3-4 billion years ago, similar in many ways to that of early Earth. Recent discoveries provide the strongest evidence yet that life may have existed on ancient Mars. If confirmed, what are the broader implications for understanding life’s origin on Earth and finding life on other worlds?

Steve Munroe is Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences at Marquette University where he taught molecular biology and biochemistry for 35 years prior to retirement. He now lives full-time on Cape Cod with frequent visits to Boston and Cambridge. Previously, he led OLLI courses on “How Life Began” and “Short History of Earth.”

The Dismal Science - Developing and refining an economic mindset $150

Eric Mankin, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 6 Sessions 9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 14

This is the continuation of a course I first offered in summer 2024 and the economic world keeps getting more and more interesting. We will apply the principles of economics in addressing current questions, both large and small. 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 quite a bit of new material, and based on feedback I have expanded the course from 4 sessions to 6 sessions. 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 from Harvard in business economics 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 subsequent twenty years, Eric designed and delivered executive education programs, retiring as a Director of Delivery for Harvard Business Publishing’s Corporate Learning group. This will be Eric’s

fifth time leading a study group related to economics.

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Early 20th Century Avant-Garde:

From Rebellion to Abstraction $125

Lauren Weingarden, Osher Online

Thursday, 5pm - 6:30pm 6 Sessions 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: None Max: None

Journey into the vibrant world of early 20th century art and witness the birth of abstraction. This transformative period reshaped the cultural landscape, from the bold colors of Fauvism, the fractured forms of Cubism, to the dreamlike realms of Surrealism. Each session focuses on the movements’ leading artists including Matisse, Kandinsky, Picasso, Mondrian, Duchamp, and Dali. We will explore their aesthetic goals and the social and cultural currents that influenced them.

Lauren Weingarden is professor emerita of art history at Florida State University. Her research explores the intersections of literature and visual art in 19th-century culture, with a focus on the American architect Louis Sullivan and French figures such as Charles Baudelaire and Édouard Manet. She has published extensively on these subjects and developed an interdisciplinary, embodied aesthetic model that invites viewers to re-experience artists’ responses to modernity’s fragmentation and the fleeting qualities of nature, a perspective that shapes her teaching on Impressionism.

Colorful Contemporary Basketry

$100

Polly Allen, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Friday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 4 Sessions 9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 4 Max: 6

The art of basketry takes on a contemporary spin; traditional techniques BUT colorfully painted paper, instead of natural materials. Students will complete a Cocktail Napkin Basket learning basic techniques that will give them the skills to create more complicated paper baskets in the future. So, grab that package of Marimekko 5”x5” cocktail napkins (or any other brand) and weave a new colorful basket to hold them. It will surely spark a lively conversation at your next soirée. There will be a $30 materials fee to be paid to the instructor in cash. This materials fee will cover one sheet of specified watercolor paper and a selection of small basketry tools for each student to use and keep. Students will need to bring their own colorful 5”x5” paper cocktail napkins, Golden acrylic paints (minimum 4 colors to coordinate with napkin colors), apron, latex gloves, old wash cloth, spray bottle, 18” ruler, scissors, X-acto knife, pencil, and notepad.

After a career in the apparel industry specializing in product development, merchandising and design, Polly has taught several Fiber workshops including Paste Paper, Boxmaking, woven paper vessels and waxed linen Baskets. In addition teaching, she has made a second career of volunteering her graphic design and/or

financial skills to many craft organizations, including the Craft Emergency Relief Fund (CERF+), the Penland School of Craft, the National Basketry Organization (NBO), the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen, and North Country Studio Workshops.

Demystifying Digital Devices $175

Amy Travis, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Friday, 10am - 12pm 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: 12

Ever wondered what happens when you tap your phone, scan a barcode, or connect to a web page? In this course, we will pull back the curtain on the technology we use every day. We’ll explore how the digital world works, from computers and smartphones, to Wi-Fi, the Internet, AI, robots, and cybersecurity. No reading required. Homework may involve watching short videos.

With nearly 40 years in the computer industry, first as a technical writer at BBN and then as a user experience designer at IBM, Amy Travis has had a front-row seat to some of the most exciting developments in the computer industry. She has worked on many different types of applications, including video conferencing, cloud computing, computer networking, social media, and artificial intelligence. Throughout her career, her goal has always been the same: To make technology understandable, so that everyone can use it with confidence.

Lanugage, Landscapes, Longings: Stories by Three Contemporary Authors $150

Jane Katims, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Friday, 10am - 12pm 6 Sessions 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 5 Max: 15

Francine Prose once read aloud to her students a draft of her first novel. She said about that experience, “What made an important difference to me was the attention I felt in the room as others listened. I was encouraged by their eagerness to hear more.” In this course, we will study specific aspects of narrative: descriptive language, evocative settings, and skillful portrayal of characters which engage the reader. How do these elements interweave and hold the reader’s attention? We will discuss short stories by Louise Erdrich, Colm Toibin, as well as a short novel, WEST, by Carys Davies. Please locate the following books: PYTHON’S KISS (Erdrich); THE NEWS FROM DUBLIN (Toibin); and WEST (Davies). In preparation for our first class, please read the following stories in PHYTHON’S KISS: “Python’s Kiss,” “Wedding Dresses,” and “The Hollow Children.”

Jane Katims has written and co-produced six radio series for Wisconsin Public Radio, one earning her a Peabody Award in Broadcasting. She is the author of the poetry collection DANCING ON A SLIPPERY FLOOR, and the story collection, UNTIL NOW. In addition to teaching at OLLI, she teaches literature at The Cambridge Center for Adult Education. Jane is a member of the Friends of the Humanities at the University of Wisconsin-Madision. She lives with her

family near Boston, Massachusetts.

Parabolas, Ellipses and Hyperbolas: More Than You Need to Know $100

Art Weiss, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Friday, 10am - 12pm 4 Sessions

9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16

Minimally Interactive - Mostly Lecture

Min: 4 Max: 12

Back to math class. In this course we will study geometric figures: parabolas, ellipses, and hyperbolas, in more detail than the usual coverage in a first-year calculus course; but we will not use calculus. Starting with a brief review of co-ordinate geometry and very basic trigonometry, we’ll go on to discuss these geometric figures as (1) intersections of a plane and a cone (2) solutions of polynomial equations in the xy-plane, (3) solution loci of focus-directrix problems, and (4) for ellipses and hyperbolas, solution loci of two-focus problems. If time permits, other topics may be covered. The material in this course will be presented on a level that would be assumed for high-school seniors. The intention is for a slow, leisurely presentation, and asking questions as they arise will be strongly encouraged. Also, Art will make himself available for additional catch-up sessions outside the regular course meetings, should the need arise. However, some minimal facility with algebraic computations (after clearing out the cobwebs) will be assumed.

Art Weiss holds a doctorate in mathematics from Tufts, concentrating in algebra and algebraic geometry. He has taught collegelevel math courses at Tufts and other colleges. Art is a long-time Osher member and has led several Osher courses in years

Rebels, Rogues, and Reluctant Heroes: Paul Newman on Screen $125

Arnie Wright, Current Tufts OLLI Member

Friday, 1:30pm - 4:30pm 5 Sessions

9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 7 Max: 30

Step into the legacy of one of Hollywood’s most magnetic stars, Paul Newman, an Oscar winner, cultural icon, and all-around legend whose influence extends far beyond the screen. From his award-winning performance in “The Color of Money” to his enduring collaborations with Joanne Woodward, Newman’s career blends charisma, craft, and cultural impact. Across five carefully selected films, you’ll explore Newman’s range, from rebellious antiheroes to deeply human leading men. Beyond Hollywood, discover how his entrepreneurial venture, Newman’s Own, redefined celebrity philanthropy by donating 100% of profits to charity. Newman also won several national championships as a sports car racer. Each screening is followed by a lively, guided discussion where you’ll sharpen your critical eye, share perspectives, and engage like a true film critic. Whether you’re a casual movie lover or a serious cinephile, this course offers an entertaining and thought-provoking journey through the work of a true screen legend: “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (1958) [1 hour 48 minutes]; “Cool Hand Luke” (1967) [2 hours 6 minutes]; “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969) [1 hour 50 minutes]; “The Verdict” (1982) [2 hours 9 minutes]; “The Color of Money”

(1986) [2 hours].

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 Paul Newman. Arnie has been the facilitator for several Osher film classes including movies of Alfred Hitchcock, Steven Spielberg, Katharine Hepburn, Tom Hanks, Jimmy Stewart, and Meryl Streep.

Robert Frost: New England’s Favorite Poet $50

Elizabeth Cabot, Outside Instructor

Friday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm 2 Sessions 10/30, 11/6

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 8 Max: 15

In a seminar format, we’ll read and appreciate Frost’s seeming simplicity but actual complexity of rhyme, form, images, and language of his best-known poems as well as some less familiar ones.

Elizabeth Cabot graduated from Wellesley College as an English major and has a Ph.D. from Boston University. She has taught at UMass Boston, Boston University, and for several years at Beacon Hill Seminars, including a course on Robert Frost, a favorite poet, and many other American and British poets.

Threads of Innovation: How Fiber Arts Shaped the Digital World $150

Jodee Frias, Tufts Graduate Student

Friday, 10am - 12pm 6 Sessions 9/25, 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 4 Max: 20

When we think of programming and computational algorithms, we rarely think of yarn, knitting needles, and embroidery hoops. Yet, the foundations of our current technological landscape started with these tools of traditional fiber arts. In this hands-on course, we will examine the women’s works that made our world what it is today, beginning with the Jacquard Loom and the Apollo space missions, and delve into the current use of fiber arts in our digital landscape, such as smart fibers. Through a blend of history, engineering, and hands-on crafting, you will leave this course with a greater understanding and appreciation of the vital fiber arts foundation of our digital world. By the end of this course, students will be able to (1) understand the historical context of fiber arts in science and technology, and how these mechanisms paved the way for our current landscape, (2) explain how fiber arts is currently connected to our active digital landscape, and (3) recognize how current advances and research in fiber arts can build our future technological landscape.

Jodee Frias is a fourth-year PhD candidate (EG: 2027) in Biomedical Engineering at Tufts University, studying noninvasive optical techniques to measure brain hemodynamics. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Boston University in Biomedical Engineering, with a minor in Public Health in 2022, and has a certificate from the Tufts University Graduate Engineering Teacher Training (GETT) program. Outside the lab, Jodee is an avid fiber artist fascinated by the historical connections between traditional women’s fiber arts and modern technology. She is passionate about teaching and loves bridging the gap between history

and cutting-edge science to make complex topics accessible and engaging.

VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM

Nature and Bird Photography $100

Steve McGrath, Outside Instructor

Saturday, 3pm - 4:30pm 4 Sessions 10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14

Highly Interactive - Lots of Discussion

Min: 2 Max: 20

In this Nature and Bird Photography online class, we will go over camera settings and compositions and how to get great images of Nature’s best like moose, birds, seals and other subjects! We will also learn how to set up a blind to get great images, the best lenses for this type of photography and tripods to get the best stability for your images!

Steve McGrath is professional freelance photographer and photography teacher who has been creating images for 30 years. Steve first began by shooting sports photography for local high schools, then weddings, and stock agencies. Then his love of the outdoors led him to focusing more on his true passion “nature photography”. Steve was an active member of the Gateway Camera Club for many years, and has won many ribbons and awards at fairs and competitions through the group and on his own. Many of his images have been published in school text books. His favorite places to shoot are Acadia National Park in Maine, the Green Mountains of Vermont, and the Cape Cod National Seashore.

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.

All upcoming events are available on the special events page, go.tufts.edu/OLLIEvents. Full event details and the link to RSVP will be available to current members in the Tufts OLLI Weekly Digest.

Fall Virtual Open House

Wednesday, August 12 at 2pm | Virtually on Zoom

Join us online to learn about our Fall courses and membership benefits before Fall registration closes on September 14.

Fall In-Person Open House

Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30pm | In-Person at Alumnae Lounge, 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 Fundraiser - Online Auction

November 2 – November 13 | Online

Bid on a wide variety of available auction items to help support our Tufts OLLI program!

Exclusive to Members

The following events are a benefit of a Tufts OLLI membership. Links to RSVP will be shared with current Tufts OLLI members in our weekly newsletter.

New Member Orientation

September 15, 3pm | Virtually on Zoom

Have you joined our Tufts OLLI program in the last two years? Join our New Member orientation to learn the ‘ins and outs’ of our program, have your questions answered by members of our Membership Committee, and connect with fellow new member!

Fall Member Lunches

Friday, September 25 and Friday, November 13 at 12:15pm | In-Person at Tufts University

Join your fellow Tufts OLLI members for lunch and conversation the first and last Friday of our Fall term! Lunch to be provided.

Conversations Marvento Duo (Flute and Piano)

Tuesday, November 3 at 7:30pm | In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Marvento Duo invites audiences to consider musical conversations: across cultures, between instruments, throughout history, and among disciplines. Chen Yi’s Three Bagatelles from China West place Chinese and Euro-American musical cultures in conversation with each other. Elizabeth Raum’s Conversations for Flute and Piano captures a whole range of interactions, from gossip to quarrel to reunion. Marvento Duo also shares the works of important but overlooked women composers, contributing to ongoing discussions about who is celebrated by history. After introducing music of the 17th century Italian Anna Bon and 19th century Frenchwoman Marie Clemence de Grandval, the concert will turn to the contemporary. Audiences will hear the story of how Carl Vine’s Sonata for Flute and Piano became an essential part of Marvento Duo’s collaborations with coral reef scientists and Dalcroze music educators.

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.

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.

Our Fall OLLI on the Road trips are:

September 16 | Guided Tour of America’s Stonehenge

October, Date TBA | Guided Tour of Hammond Castle

November 20 | Guided Tour of the Icon Museum

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!

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.

Our upcoming OLLI on Foot trips are:

August 6 | Mt. Auburn Cemetery

August 18 | DeCordova Sculpture Park

PLEASE

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 2027 (January 19 - March 12)

Virtually on Zoom

Spring 2027 (March 22 - May 14)

In-Person and Virtually on Zoom

Summer 2027 (May 31 - June 28)

In-Person and Virtually on Zoom

Course Proposal Submission Deadline: October 4, 2026

Course Proposal Submission Deadline: November 8, 2026

Course Proposal Submission Deadline: March 8, 2027

AT A GLANCE

MONDAYS

Just Cool Math Stuff II - Still No Homework In-Person at Brooksby Village

Steven Boettcher | Monday, 10am - 12pm (10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9)

We Shall Overcome: American Protest Music In-Person at Brooksby Village

Bill Saunders | Monday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9)

Plant ID Guided Nature Walk In-Person Off Campus

Jeff Adams | Monday, 10am - 12pm (10/19, 10/26)

Two Fall Landscape Walks in the Winchester Woods In-Person Off Campus

Tinie Noordzij | Monday, 10am - 12pm (9/21, 9/28)

Intrepid Women Travel the Globe - and Beyond... Virtually on Zoom

Margaret Lourie | Monday, 10am - 12pm (9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26)

Revival: Early American Religious Movements Virtually on Zoom

Lark Escobar | Monday, 10am - 12pm (9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16)

Transgender Rights and Wrongs Virtually on Zoom

Rachel Alpert | Monday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/28, 10/5, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16)

The Search for an American Sound Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online Emanual Abramovits | Monday, 5pm - 6:30pm (10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/9, 11/16)

TUESDAYS

Balance & Mobility Yoga Virtually on Zoom

Yolanta Kovalko | Tuesday, 5pm - 6pm (9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20)

Cyrano de Bergerac: A Heroic Comedy Virtually on Zoom

Emese Soos | Tuesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10)

Films Of Steven Spielberg: 2002-2022 Virtually on Zoom

Allan Elfant | Tuesday, 1pm - 5pm (10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10)

Homer and the World of Odysseus Virtually on Zoom

Steven Hirsch | Tuesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10)

Northern Ireland: From Conflict to Compromise Virtually on Zoom

Martin Burns | Tuesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20)

Positivity and Relaxation Training Virtually on Zoom

Paula McCree | Tuesday, 10am - 12pm (9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10)

When Scarcity Shapes Belief Virtually on Zoom

Lark Escobar | Tuesday, 10am - 12pm (9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/10)

Apple at 50: How it Revolutionized Computing and Transformed Daily Life Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online Leander Kahney | Tuesday, 7pm - 8:30pm (9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3)

The Birth of the Beat Generation Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online

Kurt Hemmer | Tuesday, 9pm - 10:30pm (9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3)

WEDNESDAYS

Feminist Thinking In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Joyce Carpenter | Wednesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4)

From the Big Bang to Big Brains In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Kiril Sinkel | Wednesday, 10am - 12pm (10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18)

Paris Revealed: A cultural and historical stroll through the City of Lights In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington Valerie Sutter | Wednesday, 10am - 12pm (9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14)

Private Lives, Public Times: Relationships in French Cinema In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington

Valerie Sutter | Wednesday, 1:30pm - 4:30pm (9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14)

Tess of the d’ Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy In-Person at Brookhaven at Lexington

James Siwila | Wednesday, 10am - 12pm (10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18)

Cats (not the musical) Virtually on Zoom

Cleo and Steve D’Arcy | Wednesday, 10am - 12pm (9/23, 9/30, 10/7)

Queer Cinema in the 21st Century Virtually on Zoom

Jem Shin | Wednesday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/23, 9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28)

August Wilson and His American Cycle-The First Five: 1904-1957 Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online Ladrica Menson-Furr | Wednesday, 5pm - 6:30pm (10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/11)

The Magic Behind Film Scores: The Role of Music in Great Movies-Part II Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online Mike Agron | Wednesday, 5pm - 6:30pm (9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 11/4, 11/11)

Tracing Our Roots: DNA, Family History, and the Politics of Identity Virtually on Zoom through Osher Online Angelo Cervantes | Wednesday, 7pm - 8:30pm (9/30, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4)

THURSDAYS

Four Famous Poets: WB Yeats, Robert Frost, TS Eliot and WH Auden In-Person at The Commons

Ed Dyke | Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12)

James A. Michener’s “Tales of the South Pacific” In-Person at The Commons

Ronald Bernard | Thursday, 10am - 12pm (9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12)

Mind Of A Killer In-Person at The Commons

John Olszewski | Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/1)

A Secular Look at C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity” Virtually on Zoom

Judith Stafford, Norma Hissong | Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29)

Lanugage, Landscapes, Longings: Stories by Three Contemporary Authors (Virtual) Virtually on Zoom Jane Katims | Thursday, 10am - 12pm (10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12)

Searching for Life on Mars--and Beyond! Virtually on Zoom

Stephen Munroe | Thursday, 10am - 12pm (10/22, 10/29)

The Dismal Science - Developing and refining an economic mindset Virtually on Zoom

Eric Mankin | Thursday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/24, 10/1, 10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29)

Early 20th Century Avant-Garde: From Rebellion to Abstraction Virtually on Zoom through Osher

Online Lauren Weingarden | Thursday, 5pm - 6:30pm (10/8, 10/15, 10/22, 10/29, 11/5, 11/12)

FRIDAYS

Colorful Contemporary Basketry In-Person at Tufts

Polly Allen | Friday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16)

Demystifying Digital Devices In-Person at Tufts

Amy Travis | Friday, 10am - 12pm (9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13)

Lanugage, Landscapes, Longings: Stories by Three Contemporary Authors In-Person at Tufts

Jane Katims | Friday, 10am - 12pm (10/9, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13)

Parabolas, Ellipses and Hyperbolas: More Than You Need to Know In-Person at Tufts

Art Weiss | Friday, 10am - 12pm (9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16)

Rebels, Rogues, and Reluctant Heroes: Paul Newman on Screen In-Person at Tufts

Arnie Wright | Friday, 1:30pm - 4:30pm (9/25, 10/2, 10/9, 10/16, 10/23)

Robert Frost: New England’s Favorite Poet In-Person at Tufts

Elizabeth Cabot | Friday, 1:30pm - 3:30pm (10/30, 11/6)

Threads of Innovation: How Fiber Arts Shaped the Digital World In-Person at Tufts

Jodee Frias | Friday, 10am - 12pm (9/25, 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13)

SATURDAYS

Nature and Bird Photography Virtually on Zoom

Steve McGrath | Saturday, 3pm - 4:30pm (10/24, 10/31, 11/7, 11/14)

Fall 2026 Registration Schedule

• Fall 2026 registration opens Wednesday, July 1, 2026

• Add/Drop period: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 – Monday, September 14, 2026

• Courses begin Monday, September 21, 2026

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.

2 Starting Small and Making It Big William Cummings, Founder, Cummings Properties; Co-founder, Cummings Foundation

7 Nature Conservation as a Way of Life: Place-Based Ecology in Uncertain Times Claire O’Neil, Founder, President, Earthwise Aware Organization

9 Engineering: A Window to Our Health Dr. Sameer Sonkusale, Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Tufts University 14 Life Lessons from the Happiest People on Earth Jez Layman, Programming Librarian

Love and Loss After Wounded Knee: Two Star-Crossed Lovers at a Time of Unprecedented Change Dr. Julie Dobrow, Director, Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Professor, Eliot-Pearson School of Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University

21 Why the Bayeux Tapestry Still Makes Headlines Denia Lara, Assistant Educator, The Cloisters, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City

23 Kinetic Diplomacy: The Militarization of U.S. Foreign Policy Dr. Monica Duffy Toft, Professor, International Politics, Director, Center for Strategic Studies, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University

28 Pastoral Livelihoods in East Africa: Resilient or Obsolete? Dr. Elizabeth Stites, Research Associate Professor, Feinstein International Center, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University

30 Collecting History: The Mission and Collections of the Tufts Archival Research Center Dan Santamaria, University Archivist, Director, Tufts Archival Research Center Alexandra Bush, Public Services, Instructional Archivist, Tufts Archival Research Center

4 Permission to Heal: Evolution, Placebos, and the Social Brain Dr. Philip Starks, Associate Professor, Biology, Tufts University

6 From Of Thee I Sing (1931) to Suffs (2022): Political Musicals on the American Stage Dr. Barbara Grossman, Professor, Theatre and Performance Studies, Tufts University

11 BURN BOSTON BURN: The Story of the Largest Arson Case in the History of the Country Wayne Miller, Author, Retired Special Agent, Federal Bureau, Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms

13 Luncheon