Fall 2026 Catalog

Lifelong Learning A New Renaissance

OLLI at ASU is an advocate for lifelong learners, and we believe our most vibrant chapters are always the ones which we have yet to write.

What happens when the noise of “what you must do” finally quiets, and the whisper of “what if?” takes its place?

For decades, you defined yourself by the titles you carried: professional, provider, parent. But beneath the resume, a vital question remains: Who are you when you are simply allowed to be curious?

Welcome to OLLI at ASU. We believe that aging is not a retreat, but a renaissance, a radical act of reinvention. This is not about passing the time, but about igniting the soul.

Here, you are stepping into a sanctuary where curiosity is the only currency. You will find a vibrant community of fellow seekers who refuse to let the calendar dictate their capacity for wonder. Together, we challenge the tired narrative of growing older by proving that the mind does not age, but deepens. The intellect ripens. The spirit expands.

This is your invitation to unearth your next chapter. To shed the expectations of yesterday and find a community that speaks your language. To explore the uncharted territories of art, science, history, and yourself. To stay excitingly, and beautifully curious.

FALL 2026

Community Partners

Free Classes

Arts & Humanities

OLLI at ASU Donors

Science & Technology

History & Government

Social Sciences

Wellness, Fitness & Sports

Global Cultures & Travel

Travel Opportunities

Special Interest Groups (SIGs)

Class Directory by Date

Class Directory by Location

OLLI at ASU Multi-Year Donors

Fall 2026 Locations

Registration Information

*Click titles to go to the specified page

*Click numbers to go to the specified page

Special Event First Annual Curiosity Fair

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Faculty Spotlight

Dr. Phil Christensen: NASA, Mars & Beyond

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Guest Lecture Series

Dr. Eoin Devlin, historian of British history from Girton College, Cambridge

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International Travel Food & Landscapes Ireland 2027

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Those words capture the spirit of OLLI at ASU.

Passion gives life purpose, and the pursuit of knowledge keeps that passion alive. OLLI at ASU is more than a place to take classes. It is a gateway to lifelong learning, healthy aging, meaningful friendships, and the joy of discovering something new every day.

Since becoming Director almost four years ago, this community has electrified my mind and inspired me in ways I never imagined. It is an honor and a privilege to lead this extraordinary program.

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Domestic Travel

5th Annual OLLI

Sedona International Film Festival Trip

OLLI belongs to all of us. Our members are the heart of this community, bringing curiosity, wisdom, and enthusiasm to every experience. Our staff is here to help guide the ship as we navigate an exciting learning adventure together.

Thank you for being part of the OLLI at ASU family. Stay curious.

Jared Swerzenski, Director

To Our OLLI at ASU Community Partners

Thank you for advancing the mission of lifelong learning and healthy aging with OLLI at ASU. Together, we are building stronger communities where curiosity and learning thrive at every age. Thank you for being an essential part of the OLLI at ASU community.

Member Perks

As part of your membership, exclusive discounts are developed in collaboration with a variety of our community partners across the valley.

Events

Find unique events, programs and sessions hosted by our community partners, online and in-person, across the valley.

Free Offerings

Invite a friend, neighbor, or family member to experience the power of learning with our free classes and events this semester. These are the perfect, no-cost, high-inspiration opportunities to see what OLLI is all about with some of ASU’s most outstanding faculty.

005 | Your Guide to OLLI at ASU

Instructor: Jared Swerzenski

Class Cost: FREE

1 Session: Tuesday, Aug. 11

Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Location: Zoom

Welcome to the OLLI at ASU! We want to hear from you. Join us for a special online gathering with OLLI at ASU Director, Jared Swerzenski. Jared will share a brief history of our program and offer an exciting preview of what’s ahead this year. Whether you’re a returning member or brand new to OLLI at ASU, this is a great opportunity to learn more about our classes, programs, and ways to get involved. Returning members are encouraged to share their favorite experiences and offer feedback. This event is free and open to all; simply register to receive to the Zoom link.

006 | Navigating OLLI Online: Bring Your Device & Your Questions

Instructor: Jared Swerzenski

Class Cost: FREE

1 Session: Wednesday, Aug. 12

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

OLLI Director Jared Swerzenski will guide participants through the OLLI website, highlighting key features such as class registration, event information, member resources, and Zoom class access. Members are encouraged to bring their own smartphone, tablet, or laptop and follow along as features are demonstrated in real time. OLLI staff and volunteer tech assistants will be available throughout the session to provide one-on-one support and answer individual questions. Participants will also learn how to use common Zoom features, including chat, mute/unmute controls, and gallery view. Please bring your device and charger. Whether you’re troubleshooting a problem or building confidence with technology, this friendly workshop offers practical assistance in a supportive environment. Light refreshments will be served.

Free Classes: Membership is not required, but you must have an OLLI account and register for the class to reserve a space. Space is limited in these classes, and registration is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

OLLI Share is a collaboration program in which multiple Osher institutes partner to offer a wider range of online courses to their members. ASU members can attend the courses from partner OLLIs for FREE. These will be added throughout the semester as we receive information from the other OLLIs. Please check the ‘OLLI Share’ link on the website under the ‘Classes’ button.

008 | Discover Citizen Science: Learn, Explore, & Contribute to

Real Research

Instructor: Darlene Cavalier

Class Cost: FREE

1 Session: Monday, Aug. 24

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Locations: Zoom

■ Community Partner

Have you ever wondered how you can contribute to scientific discovery, regardless of your background or experience? Join the citizen science experts at SciStarter for an engaging introduction to one of the fastest-growing movements in public participation and lifelong learning. During this interactive program, you’ll discover how everyday volunteers help researchers answer important questions through simple yet meaningful activities. Learn how to find projects that match your interests, participate from home or in your community, and connect with a global network of citizen scientists. Explore examples of projects, try hands-on activities, and leave with practical resources for getting started. No scientific background is required. Whether you’re seeking a new hobby, opportunities or a chance to contribute to research that matters, citizen science offers something for everyone.

049 | Fingerprints Uncovered: What Your Prints Reveal Beyond Your Identity

Instructor: Dr. Min Jang

Class Cost: FREE

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 6

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Glendale Foothills Library

Your fingerprints can reveal far more than who you are. They may also reveal what you’ve eaten, what medications you take, and even clues about your health. The tiny traces left in a fingerprint can contain chemical evidence from everyday life, such as caffeine, nicotine, or medication residues. Researchers are also exploring whether fingerprints could help detect conditions like diabetes and tuberculosis. Join Dr. Jang, Assistant Professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Forensics, for a fascinating look at the many surprising ways fingerprints are being used in health research, forensic investigation, and environmental monitoring.

053 | Leave the Rockets, Take the Space Elevator!

Instructor: Dr. Peter Swan

Class Cost: FREE

1 Session: Thursday, Oct. 8

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Scottsdale Library - Mustang

Space elevators are amongst the most promising space infrastructure concepts on the drawing boards today. Think of a space elevator as a vertical railroad into the cosmos. A tether stretching from Earth to an anchor point (counterweight) 60,000 miles in space, with elevator cars traveling up and down carrying cargo and passengers. Dr. Peter Swan, President of the International Space Elevator Consortium, will introduce you to this remarkable concept, covering its history, design, mechanics, potential benefits, future plans, and the obstacles still to overcome. Just as interstate highways and transcontinental railroads once transformed life on Earth, the space elevator may define the green superhighway

First Annual Curiosity Fair

We are excited to host the very first OLLI at ASU Curiosity Fair on Friday, October 30th, 2026.

079 | OLLI Curiosity Fair

Cost: FREE

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 30 Time: 10:00 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

This new event is designed to bring together many of the people, programs, and opportunities that make OLLI at ASU such a vibrant learning community. Whether you are a long-time member or newer to OLLI at ASU, the Curiosity Fair will offer a fun and engaging way to explore all that your membership includes.

One of the things that makes OLLI at ASU so unique is the incredible community of faculty, experts, and partners who contribute to the lifelong learning experience. The Curiosity Fair is an opportunity to celebrate those connections while giving members and their guests a welcoming place to discover what OLLI at ASU is all about.

During the event, you will have the opportunity to:

• Meet OLLI instructors and learn more about their classes and areas of expertise

• Attend a special instructor panel where members can ask questions and share ideas for future topics

• Connect with community partners who p rovide behind-the-scenes experiences,discounts, and special opportunities for OLLI members

• Discover new classes, activities, and member benefits you may not yet have explored

• Enjoy giveaways, treats, and interactive tables throughout the event

Takes Flight

100 | The Hunt for the Zombie Killer:

Why Cold Cases Matter

Instructor: Troy Hillman

Class Cost: FREE

1 Session: Thursday, Nov. 12

Time: 10:00 a.m. - noon

Location: Scottsdale Library - Mustang

Retired Homicide Sergeant Troy Hillman shares his remarkable journey as a cold case detective, including the investigation that defined his career: the infamous Phoenix canal murders. He’ll detail the case, two young women murdered along the canal in the early 1990s, and how his team took it up again in 2011, embarking on a threeand-a-half-year investigation that read like a thriller. Using a gifted criminal profiler and cutting-edge forensic DNA techniques, they tracked down a killer known as the “Zombie Hunter” who had been hiding in plain sight. Troy will also cover the arrest, the aftermath, and the ongoing search for related cases and why his passion for cold cases has never dimmed. Troy will be available after class for a book signing. Bring your copy of his book, Chasing Down the Zombie Hunter, or find it on Amazon before class.

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| The Emperor Nero: Monster, Myth, or Misunderstood?

Instructor: Dr. Sarah Bolmarcich

Class Cost: FREE

1 Session: Tuesday, Dec. 1

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Westward Ho

For millennia, Nero has been the model of the bad Roman emperor. He supposedly persecuted Christians, murdered family members, and drove rivals to suicide. But is that the real Nero? Contemporary sources were deeply biased against him, and recent scholarship has begun to tell a very different story. This course examines the traditional portrait of Nero alongside efforts to rehabilitate his legacy, asking whether he was truly a monstrous ruler, or a more complex, and perhaps more human, figure navigating an impossible role.

117 | Get Your Kicks at 100: A Route 66 Celebration

Instructor: Roger Naylor

Class Cost: FREE

1 Session: Tuesday, Dec. 8

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Glendale Foothills Library

In 2026, Route 66, America’s beloved “Mother Road” turns 100. Join acclaimed author and travel writer Roger Naylor for a lively journey through the history, culture, and enduring charm of this legendary highway. Discover how Arizona became Route 66’s greatest champion and caretaker, and hear stories of the breathtaking landscapes, vibrant small towns, and beloved mom-and-pop eateries that still thrive along Arizona’s storied stretch of road. Don’t miss this chance to rediscover the highway that shaped a nation and still stirs the wandering spirit today.

Explore Arts & Humanities

010 | Fortunato Film School: “Jaws”

Instructor: Joe Fortunato Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Monday & Tuesday, Sep. 14, 15

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon Location: Zoom

Join us for “Fortunato Film School”, where ASU film professor Joe Fortunato will screen, discuss, and provide live commentary on Steven Spielberg’s careerdefining summer blockbuster “Jaws.” The session will include a brief discussion about the making of “Jaws,” and highlight why it’s cited by many film historians as the film that changed Hollywood forever. It’s Professor Fortunato’s favorite film of all time, so this class is sure to thrill you.

Community Blog

Discover our community blog. Whether you’re interested in exploring new subjects, sharing your own learning adventures, or connecting with fellow learners, the member-led community blog is the perfect place to start.

017 | Scandinavian Folkdance

Instructor: Jana Peterson

Class Cost: $50

2 Sessions: Wednesdays, Sep. 16, 23

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

■ OLLI Workshop

Discover the joy of Scandinavian folk dancing in this fun and interactive class led by dancer, artist, and educator Jana Peterson. Jana earned a BFA in Dance from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, and a Master of Arts in Education from ASU. Members will learn several simple folk dances while exploring the rich traditions, music, colorful costumes, and cultural history of Scandinavia. Long enjoyed at celebrations and community gatherings, these dances bring people together through movement and shared experience. No dance experience is necessary. Comfortable clothing and shoes suitable for light movement are recommended.

019 | Remembering Robert Redford

Instructor: Dr. Kevin Sandler

Class Cost: $57

3 Sessions: Thursdays, Sep. 17, 24 & Oct. 1

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

Robert Redford, who passed away in 2025, left an enduring mark on Hollywood across a seven-decade career as actor, director, activist, and founder of the Sundance Film Institute. This course celebrates his early star-making work and the fascinating complexity beneath his “golden boy” persona, from the smug, self-assured skier in “Downhill Racer” (1969), the idealistic gubernatorial scion running for a California Senate seat in “The Candidate” (1972), and the carefree apolitical foil to Barbra Streisand’s passionate political idealist in “The Way We Were” (1973).

024 | Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: A Journey Through Sound & Story

Instructor: Dr. David Schildkret

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Sep. 22

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

Using only strings and a harpsichord, Vivaldi painted vivid scenes, from birdsong and thunderstorms to frozen winter landscapes. The result is one of the most enduring works in all of classical music. We explore the origins, content, and longevity of this sparkling collection of four Baroque masterpieces. No musical background needed: just bring your curiosity and your ears. Mozart trip participants will have a chance to hear this work performed live in Prague.

028 | Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western

Instructor: Dr. Andrew Nelson

Class Cost: $30

1 Session: Thursday, Sep. 24

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Western Spirit Museum

■ Community Partner

Join Western Spirit Museum’s Chief Curator, Andrew Patrick Nelson, for an insider’s look at the museum’s newest blockbuster exhibition, Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western. This special class combines a curator’s talk with a guided tour of the exhibition. Dr. Nelson will discuss the origins and development of the exhibition, introduce its key themes and arguments, and explore how Western films of the 1960s to 1990s reflected changing ideas about heroism, violence, nostalgia, American identity, and the mythology of the West. He’ll then lead participants through the galleries, offering behind-the-scenes insights into selected objects, images, and interpretive choices. Part film history, part museum tour, this class offers a deeper look at one of Hollywood’s most iconic genres during one of its most fascinating and misunderstood periods.

029 | Great Artists in American Roots Music

Instructor: Dr. Taylor Ackley

Class Cost: $95

6 Sessions: Mondays, Sep. 28 & Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 & Nov. 2

Time: 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. (PT)

Location: National Osher Zoom

From its emergence amid rapid cultural change in the early 20th century, country music has resonated with people who feel left behind by a shifting world. A key genre of American roots music, it captures hardships of modern life while intentionally evoking emotional response. Whether facing troubled relationships, unemployment, homelessness, loneliness, or spiritual bereft, there is a country song for you. This course traces the history of country and American roots music through the stories and artistic developments of influential performers. Each session highlights key figures including the Carter Family, Bill Monroe, Hank Williams, and Dolly Parton. Note: Class is in PT; accomodate for Nov. 1 time change.

030 | The Great Jazz Revival

Instructor: Hal Smith

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 28

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Mesa Arts Center

When the Swing Era swept America, it also sparked a passionate revival of interest in the early jazz and ragtime that came before it, a musical reclamation movement that lasted until rock ‘n’ roll took over American culture. This course profiles the musicians and bands who led that revival: Bob Crosby’s Bobcats, Lu Watters’ Yerba Buena Jazz Band, Bunk Johnson, Kid Ory, George Lewis, Louis Armstrong’s All-Stars, Turk Murphy, Bob Scobey, and more.

034 | Exploring the Masters of Jazz: Miles Davis

Instructor: Dr. Jeffrey Libman

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Sep. 29

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Sun Health - La Loma

In this class, ASU Jazz Studies Professor Dr. Jeffrey Libman discusses the life and music of trumpeter and composer Miles Davis. Davis emerged professionally during the heyday of bebop, but then became a legendary bandleader who restlessly pushed jazz into the future, helping to develop cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, post bop, and jazz/rock fusion. This class is intended for jazz aficionados and those who would like to learn more about jazz. Instruments not required! The class will consist primarily of active listening to exemplary recordings with interspersed guided discussion.

037 | The History of Jazz Saxophone

Instructor: Dr. Clark Gibson Class Cost: $40

2 Sessions: Wednesday & Sunday, Sep. 30, Oct. 4

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon (Class) | 6:009:00 p.m. (Show)

Location: The Nash Jazz Club

■ Community Partner

Dr. Clark Gibson will be giving a course on the history of the saxophone dating from the invention of the saxophone in the mid 1800s through the mid 1900s. The course will focus primarily on the development of the saxophone through the lens of jazz history as we discuss many of the pioneers of jazz saxophone such as Rudy Wiedoft, Sidney Bechet, Lester Young, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane and more.

038 | Micro-Memoir & Prose Poetry: Big Stories, Small Containers

Instructor: Dr. Rosemarie Dombrowski Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Wednesdays, Sep. 30 & Oct. 7

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Tempe Public Library

■ OLLI Workshop

In this two-session class, we’ll explore the tools and techniques of two closely related, deeply expressive genres: micro-memoir and prose poetry. In the first session, we’ll read and discuss representative works in each genre. In the second session, you’ll share your own original writing, in one or both genres, in a supportive, collegial setting. No prior writing experience required.

OLLI Special Event

Tiny Rememberings: An Anthology of Poetry & Micro-Prose

Instructor: Dr. Rosemarie Dombrowski Class Cost: $25

1 Session: Friday, Nov. 13

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Musical Instrument Museum

Celebrate the intersection of music, history, and the written word during this special OLLI event at the Musical Instrument Museum. Begin with the launch of Tiny Rememberings: An Anthology of Poetry & Micro-Prose, featuring readings by OLLI members, including original works from the OLLI classes Poetry & Music and MicroMemoir & Prose Poetry. Whether or not you participated in either writing class, all OLLI members are warmly invited to enjoy this inspiring afternoon of poetry and shared creativity. Following the readings, we will tour the MIM’s remarkable 2026 special exhibition, featuring an extraordinary collection of archaeologically significant musical instruments and artifacts from China. Admission to the special exhibition is included with your registration, and copies of the anthology will be available for purchase. Guests wishing to explore the rest of the museum may purchase general MIM admission independently.

043 | Bows for Stringed Instruments:

The History, Development & Significance of the Bow

Instructor: Michael D’Avanzo

Class Cost: $95

2 Sessions: Fridays, Oct. 2 & Nov. 6, 7, or 8 (Show)

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. (Class)

Location: Phoenix Symphony

■ Community Partner

The bow is far more than an accessory, it is the voice of a stringed instrument. Juilliard-trained cellist Michael D’Avanzo, a member of the Phoenix Symphony since 1990, demonstrates why the bow matters far more than most listeners realize. Through an exploration of the bow’s origins, evolution, and modern materials, while comparing different models and makers, you’ll gain a richer understanding of what you hear when strings take the stage. Then put your newfound appreciation to the test: join us at Symphony Hall for Beethoven’s 7th Symphony and Chopin’s 2nd Piano Concerto, Nov. 6–8, 2026.

052 | The Search for an American Sound

Instructor: Emanuel Ambromovits

Class Cost: $57

3 Sessions: Wednesdays, Oct. 7, 14, 21

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Zoom

Since the 1890s, American composers have wrestled with a fascinating question: what does American music actually sound like? We’ll explore how classical musicians, alongside Broadway and Hollywood composers, many of them Jewish, followed parallel paths in creating sounds that evoke the landscapes and people of this nation. Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, William Grant Still, Florence Price, Alex North, Elmer Bernstein, and others take center stage in this multimedia lecture, enriched with audiovisuals and stories.

056 | Poetry & Music at MIM: Explore, Create & Share II

Instructors: Drs. Rosemarie Dombrowski & Mike Silvers

Class Cost: $68

2 Sessions: Mondays, Oct. 12, 19

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Musical Instrument Museum

■ Community Partner

Phoenix’s first Poet Laureate, Dr. Rosemarie Dombrowski, and MIM’s Dr. Mike Silvers, Curator of Education, lead this immersive two-part course. We’ll read and discuss poems that engage with music and musical instruments, a style known as ekphrastic writing, meaning creative work that responds to another art form. Take a guided tour of the Musical Instrument Museum, interact with instruments from across the globe, and explore the beautiful relationship between poetry and music. In our second session, we’ll compose original poems inspired by an instrument or musical sound and share them in a celebratory reading at MIM. No prior writing experience necessary.

057 | Romeo & Juliet: Music, Movement, & Tragic Love Through Ballet

Instructor: Elijah Evans

Class Cost: $95

2 Sessions: Tuesday & Saturday, Oct. 13, 24

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. | 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Location: Ballet Arizona

■ Community Partner

Explore the beauty, drama, and timeless passion of Romeo and Juliet through the lens of ballet. Dive into Sergei Prokofiev’s powerful score, examine how his music brings Shakespeare’s tragic love story to life. Explore Ib Andersen’s choreographic vision for Ballet Arizona, highlighting how movement, storytelling, and artistic imagination shape this beloved production. Learn about the music, choreography, and creative choices that make Romeo and Juliet one of ballet’s most captivating works. Tickets for the performance will be distributed during the lecture and will not be available at another time.

061 | Phoenix Art Museum Presents

Kim Chong Hak: Painter of Seoraksan

Instructor: Museum Docent

Class Cost: $25

1 Session: Thursday, Oct. 15

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Phoenix Art Museum

■ Community Partner

Born in Sinuiju, Korea, in 1937, Kim Chong Hak began as an abstract painter before boldly charting his own course. Rejecting the Western-style abstraction he saw as a response to national melancholy, he settled in Gangwon Province in the late 1970s, home of Mount Seorak, the highest peak in the Taebaek mountain range, and developed a vivid, unabashedly expressive style all his own. Kim Chong Hak: Painter of Seoraksan presents works spanning his long career, offering a rare look at an aspect of Korean art from the late 20th century that is little known outside South Korea. Led by Phoenix Art Museum Docents, join us for a lecturestyle presentation and in-gallery exploration of this remarkable artist’s world.

062 | Exploring the Masters of Jazz: Great Musicians Play Cole Porter

Instructor: Dr. Jeff Libman

Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Thursdays, Oct. 15, 22

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

Cole Porter wrote the music and lyrics for over 30 musicals, and his wit, melodic genius, and rich harmonies have made his songs a perennial favorite among jazz performers. Join Dr. Jeffrey Libman for an exploration of how jazz masters have interpreted classics like “So in Love,” “Night and Day,” and “I Get a Kick Out of You.” Whether you’re a lifelong jazz aficionado or simply curious about the music, this class offers an engaging mix of active listening to exemplary recordings and guided discussion. No instruments required, just open ears and an open mind!

068 | The Life & Art of Georgia O’Keefe

Instructor: Allen Reamer

Class Cost: $57

3 Sessions: Wednesdays, Oct. 21, 28 & Nov. 4

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

In this combined lecture and studio experience, Legacy Instructor Allen Reamer guides you through Georgia O’Keeffe’s life year by year, exploring how her distinctive style developed: when, where, and why it changed. You’ll gain insight into the influences that shaped her work, including periods of illness and the key individuals who supported her career. Beyond learning about her art, you’ll create your own original works inspired by O’Keeffe’s techniques and compositions, without copying her paintings. Working with large-scale forms and expressive design, you’ll explore a variety of media and complete one or two pieces each session. Please bring your materials from the supply list to the first class. For questions regarding the class, contact areamerart@mindspring.com.

082 | Nature Journaling: Observing, Reflecting, & Creating

Instructor: Monro Obenauer Class Cost: $25

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 2

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

■ OLLI Workshop

Nature journaling blends observation, curiosity, reflection, and creativity to deepen your connection with the natural world, and the research is clear: time in nature supports both physical and psychological well-being. In this class, a short indoor lecture is followed by time outdoors in the beautiful desert landscape surrounding ASU’s Health Futures Center. You’ll explore a variety of observational techniques like drawing, labeling, mapping, and descriptive writing, and discover which approaches resonate most with your own style. You’ll also reflect on your personal experiences in nature, deepening your awareness and appreciation of the world around you. The goal isn’t to become an expert artist or naturalist, but to cultivate a lasting practice of curiosity, wonder, and building a mindful connection to nature.

084

| From Personal to Global: The Best of Alfred Hitchcock, Part 3

Instructor: Jay Sherwin Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Mondays, Nov. 2, 9

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Alfred Hitchcock was a master at weaving together intimate personal drama and sweeping geopolitical tension, often in the very same scene. In this class, the third installment of our popular “Best of Hitchcock” series, we’ll explore four films from the early 1940s that showcase his ability to capture domestic life and international intrigue. Watch the films on your own before class (all four are available online) then join us to examine key clips and dig into the themes and motifs that make Alfred Hitchcock’s work endlessly fascinating.

086 | Three Bags Full: A Cozy Animal Mystery

Instructor: Dr. Derek Pacheco

Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Nov. 3, 10

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Tempe Public Library

If you loved The Sheep Detectives in theaters, don’t miss the book that started it all: Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. Originally written in German and translated into thirty languages, this utterly charming mystery follows a flock of sheep as they conduct spirited debates about the borders between life and death, good and evil, with surprising philosophical depth. Class is a blend of lecture and discussion, with reading questions distributed in advance. Use whatever book format you prefer; Dr. Pacheco will reference the paperback edition (Soho Crime, ISBN-10: 1641296828) during class.

087

| Arizona Science Center Presents: The Art & Science of Bookbinding

Instructor: Hawkins Pendragon

Class Cost: $45

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 3

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Arizona Science Center

Design, bind, and personalize your very own sketchbook in this hands-on makerspace workshop at the Arizona Science Center. Learn the basics of bookbinding and cover design as you craft a one-of-a-kind space for your ideas, doodles, or journaling. All materials and tools are provided, just bring your creativity!

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090 | Smartcracker: Dorothy Parker’s Enduring Wit

Instructor: Dr. Heather Ackerman

Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Thursdays, Nov. 5,12

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Zoom

Few authors are as quotable, or as consistently underestimated, as Dorothy Parker. Her caustic wit and succinct wisdom have secured her status as a literary powerhouse who moved seamlessly between essays and poetry, fiction and observation, sharp social commentary and deep personal feeling. Yet Parker herself worried that audiences were too dazzled by her “calisthenics with words” to grasp the deeper truths behind her cultural observations. This class gives Parker’s life and literature the thoughtful, close reading they deserve. We’ll sketch her character and intentions through her own words, then discuss a selection of her most notable work. All readings provided.

091 | Let’s Talk Turkeys!

Instructor: Kathe Anderson

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Thursday, Nov. 5

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Foothills Recreation and Aquatic Center

This class, led by Kathe Anderson, community scientist and conservation educator, combines an indoor presentation with an outdoor birding experience. We’ll explore the surprising story of turkeys, from what’s really behind the familiar Butterball label to how Wild Turkeys came back from the brink of extinction. Along the way, we’ll cover their distinctive features (the wattle, snood, and beard), plus habitat, diet, and breeding behavior. Then we’ll head outside to see what shows up in the area, possibly a turkey cousin, the Gambel’s Quail. Bring your binoculars!

092 | It’s Your Life: Write Your Autobiography

Instructor: Dr. Irene Karpiak

Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Thursday, Nov. 5, 12

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Tempe Public Library

Every life is a story worth telling and yours is no exception. Autobiography transforms lived experience into a written selfportrait, and this class will guide you every step of the way. You’ll learn what makes autobiography distinct from other forms of creative writing, how to tap into the memorable events that have shaped you, and how to deepen your understanding of the person you’ve become. Drawing on years of teaching and research in autobiography and adult learning, Irene Karpiak, Emerita Professor at the University of Oklahoma, will introduce a clear framework for life writing that is both enjoyable and deeply rewarding.

094 | The Global Middle Ages at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Instructor: Dr. Mark Cruse

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Friday, Nov. 6

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Desert Foothills Library

The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds one of the world’s greatest collections of medieval art and much of it tells a story that may surprise you. These objects traveled from across the globe, revealing the international trade and cultural networks that shaped beliefs, artistic practices, and daily life far beyond Europe. We’ll explore some of the most spectacular examples of this global contact: a seventh-century Chinese vase shaped like a Greco-Roman amphora, Chinese lions carved into a 12thcentury capital in a Catalonian monastery, and a Chinese sword on the 13th-century tomb of a French knight. Through these and other works, we will explore how they shaped art and history.

099 | Celebrating American Craft in Contemporary Art

Instructor: Amelia Hay Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 10

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Mesa Arts Center

2026 is “The Year of Craft” at Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and this class takes you behind the curatorial curtain. Hear insights from the team whose vision shaped this landmark year, then explore the galleries firsthand with a guided walk-through and a hands-on art activity. Developed in partnership with Craft in America’s Handwork: Celebrating American Craft 2026, the museum’s spring and fall exhibitions feature contemporary artists experimenting with, challenging, and reinventing traditional American craft techniques and materials.

108 | Frank Ferrante’s Groucho: A Night With the Legend

Instructor: Frank Ferrante Class Cost: $65

1 Session: Sunday, Nov. 22

Time: 3:00 p.m. (Show) | 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. (Class)

Location: ASU Kerr Cultural Center

■ Community Partner

For ninety fast-paced minutes, this acclaimed actor-director-producer transforms into the legendary comedian, delivering a performance that CBS News called the work of “the legendary comedian, writer and star of vaudeville, film, radio and television.” Following the performance, Ferrante will hold a one-hour class on the creation and evolution of his celebrated one-person show which began as a senior thesis at USC, caught the attention of Arthur Marx (Groucho’s son), and has since taken him to stages in New York, London, and around the world. In London, he received a nomination for the Laurence Olivier Award. A Q&A session follows the class.

115 | Johnny Guitar, McCarthyism & 1950s Sedona, Arizona

Instructor: Dr. Kevin Sandler

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Dec. 7

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Johnny Guitar (1954) bursts at the seams with sexual tension and expressionist frenzy, two feuding female leads (Joan Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge), the men they love (Sterling Hayden and Scott Brady), and a story that defies every convention of the Western genre. Director Nicholas Ray (Rebel Without a Cause, In a Lonely Place) shreds the genre’s rulebook through operatic closeups, tilted angles, flamboyant performances, a lush score, and eye-popping color. And threaded through every frame: the paranoia, suspicion, and betrayal of the McCarthy era, bleeding through like few films of its time. Coffee Pot Rock, the Two Nuns, and Oak Creek Canyon form the backdrop as ASU’s Dr. Kevin Sandler guides us through the film’s themes and its equally wild production history at Republic Pictures’ permanent Western set in Sedona.

OLLI Special Event

113 | The Power of Connection: A Celebration of Learning & Community

Instructor: Kathleen Dixon

Class Cost: FREE

1 Session: Thursday, Dec. 3

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Location: Tempe History Museum

Join us as we come together to celebrate our OLLI community! Enjoy light refreshments, reconnect with fellow learners, friends, faculty, and staff, and be among the first to pick up your Spring catalog and explore the exciting classes and events ahead. As part of the gathering, Kathleen Dixon will present a special program exploring how cultures around the world use food to celebrate the season, share traditions, and bring people together through warmth, memory, and celebration.

A Special Thanks OLLI at ASU Donors

OLLI at ASU thrives because of members like you. Your curiosity, participation, and support help create a welcoming community where learning, friendship, and discovery continue at every stage of life. Thank you for helping us inspire and connect more than 1,500 lifelong learners and counting.

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Explore Science & Technology

004 | Chemistry in the Real World

Instructor: Dr. John Hendrickson Class Cost: $76

4 Sessions: Thursdays, Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Many of us come away from chemistry in school thinking it’s a dull lab-based science of mixing up obscure solutions in a laboratory. In reality, chemistry is what happens inside us and all around us every day. For example, if you’ve ever wondered why barns are always painted red, you’ve thought about chemistry. If you’ve tried to suss out the line between every-day pharmaceuticals and poisons, you’ve pondered chemistry. If you’re curious about the foods you eat and why you need them, chemistry has the answer. In this class, we will address these and other applications of chemistry in the real world.

007 | The Future of War: The Paradox of Accuracy

Instructor: Dr. Amos Fox

Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Aug. 18, 25

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Zoom

Join Dr. Amos Fox, Research Fellow with ASU’s Future Security Initiative and retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, for an engaging exploration of precision strike technology and its role in modern warfare. Precision weapons are often promoted as a way to achieve rapid, cost-effective, and less destructive military victories. Yet these promises rarely materialize in actual conflicts. Why does greater accuracy so often fail to produce decisive results? This course examines the strategic, operational, and political factors behind this paradox, using historical and contemporary examples to explore the realities and limitations of high-tech warfare today.

016 | Laser Cutting Basics - Let’s Make

Coasters

Instructor: Abbie Murray

Class Cost: $25

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 16

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Chandler Innovation

Center

■ OLLI Workshop

Transform a digital design into a real, handcrafted object in this hands-on introduction to laser cutting. You’ll use Adobe Illustrator to create a custom design, then operate the laser cutter yourself to engrave and cut a personalized coaster to take home. No prior experience required, just curiosity and creativity.

023 | Embracing AI: Enhancing Lives & Communities

Instructor: Tina Miller

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 21

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Sun Health - Freedom Plaza

Curious about artificial intelligence and what it actually means for your life?

This interactive workshop, led by Tina Miller, Executive Director of Creative and Communications in ASU’s Enterprise Technology division, offers an accessible, engaging introduction to AI’s transformative possibilities. You’ll get the latest on cuttingedge AI initiatives at ASU, explore how AI is reshaping higher education, and dig into generative AI in plain, easy-to-understand terms. You’ll leave with a clear sense of where AI is headed and practical resources to keep exploring on your own.

025 | Water Insecurity: Hidden Challenges in a Thirsty World

Instructors: Drs. Patrick Thomson & Amber Wutich

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 23

Time: 10:00 - 11:30 a.m.

Location: Zoom

OLLI Community Blog:

Scan the QR code with your phone camera to learn more about our member-led community blog.

What does it mean to live without reliable access to safe, affordable water? In this engaging session, ASU professors Dr. Amber Wutich and Dr. Patrick Thomson introduce the concept of water insecurity and explore how it affects households and communities around the world, including here in Arizona. Drawing on cutting-edge research and realworld case studies, they’ll discuss the social, economic, and health impacts of water scarcity and examine how people adapt to uncertain supplies. You’ll come away with new insight into the human dimensions of water challenges and a clearer picture of what the future of water security may look like in a changing climate.

031 | Medical Marijuana: From Mana to Mass Hysteria to Medicine to Munchies

Instructor: Dr. Ken Sweat

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 28

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

From Reefer Madness to licensed dispensaries on every corner, what a long, strange trip it’s been. This class traces the full history of marijuana, from its numerous ancient medicinal applications through its demonization, its rehabilitation, and its current status as both medicine and big business. ASU professor Dr. Ken Sweat covers the history of our relationship with the plant, modern approaches to growing, processing, and consuming cannabis, and the ever-evolving politics and policies that govern it.

033 | The Science & Politics of Vaccines

Instructor: Dr. John Hendrickson Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 29 & Oct. 6

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

What does a vaccine actually do and what’s really in it? This two-session class takes an evidence-based look at vaccine immunology, ingredients, and safety data, then examines the modern anti-vaccine movement: its origins in a fraudulent study, the financial incentives driving its key figures, and the cognitive biases that make misinformation so persuasive. Along the way, we’ll explore VAERS (the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), vaccine court, herd immunity, and what the epidemiological data reveal about the real-world costs of vaccine hesitancy.

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

Instructor: Leander Kahney Class Cost: $95

6 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 29 & Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 & Nov. 3

Time: 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. (PT)

Location: National Osher Zoom

This class 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. This class is listed in Pacific Time. Note: Class is in PT; accomodate for Nov. 1 time change.

040 | “Studies Show...” (Or Do They?):

Under the Hood of a Scientific Study

Instructor: Dr. John Hendrickson

Class Cost: $95

6 Sessions: Thursdays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & Nov. 5

Time: noon - 1:30 p.m. (PT)

Location: National Osher Zoom

What really changes when we read beyond the abstract? In this interactive class, we will open real research papers (many in health and nutrition) and explore what scientists actually look for. We will explore how small design choices can dramatically shape a study’s meaning, and why headlines rarely tell the full story. By the end of the class, we will never read “studies show…” the same way again. Note: Class is in PT; accomodate for Nov. 1 time change..

042 | Become a Smarter News Consumer

Instructor: Mark Scarp

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 2

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

In today’s media landscape, knowing who to trust has never been more important. While traditional outlets strive for balance and accuracy, social media algorithms serve us content that reinforces what we already believe, creating an incomplete information diet for making important life decisions. Meanwhile, legacy media faces growing financial pressures as search engines dominate the flow of online news. Join veteran journalist and journalism instructor Mark Scarp to learn how to distinguish reliable from unreliable sources, spot hidden agendas, and navigate a complex media world with confidence.

044 | Feel the Force: A Live Gravity Presentation in the Dorrance Dome

Instructor: Alec Warren

Class Cost: $30

1 Session: Sunday, Oct. 4

Time: 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Location: Arizona Science Center

■ Community Partner

What keeps the planets in orbit? What makes an apple fall and a galaxy spin? Join us for a live, 25-minute interactive journey through the greatest gravitational discoveries in history, from Newton to Einstein and beyond. We’ll travel the cosmos to see how gravity shapes everything around us, followed by a lively Q&A and technology showcase.

047 |

Cannabis

Science:

An Experiential Journey From Plant to Product

Instructors: Matthew Bermudez & Kirk

Schmitz

Class Cost: $30

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 6

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Grow Sciences

■ OLLI Workshop

Curious about cannabis science? This OLLI class at Grow Sciences offers an academically grounded, hands-on exploration of how cannabis goes from seed to shelf. The session begins with a seminar covering the wide range of products currently available, including their manufacturing processes, therapeutic applications, consumption methods, and bioavailability. You’ll then join a guided tour of the complete cultivation and production lifecycle, from propagation and vegetative growth through harvesting, post-processing, and quality assurance. Designed to be interactive and inquiry-driven, this one-ofa-kind class offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the innovation, precision, and care that define the modern cannabis industry.

050 | Will AI Destroy Our Economic, Social & Political Systems?

Instructor: Dr. Braden Allenby

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 7

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Friendship Village

The impact of artificial intelligence is accelerating faster than most people realize. Tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek have already changed how we work, communicate, and make decisions, and experts believe we may be just steps away from “artificial general intelligence” (AGI), an AI so advanced it could evolve and think far beyond human capability. But AI is just one piece of a much larger transformation reshaping our governments, social systems, and personal beliefs. What once seemed like science fiction is rapidly becoming reality. Join us to examine these startling changes and explore practical ways to adapt and thrive.

051 | Navigating an Automated World: Careers, AI,

& What Comes Next

Instructor: Harvey Hess

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 7

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Robots and artificial intelligence are rapidly transforming how we work, reshaping the workplace, job roles, and determining which careers remain secure. Author Harvey Hess, with 40 years of experience in the consumer product distribution industry, will explore the technologies driving these changes and what they mean for today’s workforce. You’ll get an overview of current and emerging AI tools and automation trends, learn where the greatest impacts are already being felt, and both the vulnerabilities and the opportunities ahead.

060 | Rediscovering the Night: Astronomy, Community, & Dark Skies

Instructor: Dania Wright

Class Cost: $40

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 14

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Location: Dark Sky Center

■ Community Partner

Artificial lighting now washes out the stars, impacting wildlife, energy consumption, sleep, and human health. Hosted by the International Dark Sky Discovery Center, this class explores the dark sky movement and the importance of preserving natural darkness. Participants will learn how light pollution affects our world and discover simple strategies for better community lighting. Afterward, join a guided walk through Fountain Hills to observe effective practices, followed by stargazing using the Center’s 27.5-inch telescope.

Special Feature: The Building Blocks of Belonging

Written by Kaelin Ryczek | Orignally published June 18, 2026

The hallways of the Bateman Physical Sciences Center at Arizona State University are often quiet, characterized by the hum of laboratory equipment and the focused silence of students hunched over chemistry homework.

But if you stop near the study areas by the chemistry labs, you might stumble upon a "hidden treasure" that challenges the traditionally cold nature of scientific spaces.

Mounted on the walls on each floor of the building are mixed-media mosaics, each roughly 4 feet long and 3 feet wide. At first glance, they appear as a sophisticated nod to molecular architecture, a collection of hexagons framed by maroon and gold concrete and periodic table elements. However, a closer look reveals a vibrant celebration of human identity.

The School of Molecular Sciences Mosaic Project was sparked by a seed grant from The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences centered on belonging and community. John Hendrickson, a teaching professor who has spent 20 years with the School of Molecular Sciences, envisioned a project that would physically manifest the school's commitment to inclusivity.

"What do I hope people feel?" said Hendrickson, whose academic work focuses on science communication and the reciprocal relationship between science and society. "That they belong in science, that they belong in chemistry, that they belong in this scientific community that's made up of all the people who do the work and make the work possible."

The project, spearheaded by the School of Molecular Sciences’ MOSAIC (Mentoring,

Opportunities, Support and Inclusiveness in Chemistry) committee, uses 500 4-inch hexagonal tiles. This shape was chosen specifically to represent the "benzene ring," a fundamental building block in chemistry. The outreach was intentionally broad:

- Global reach: 200 tiles were mailed to remote and online students worldwide, ensuring that those far from Tempe still had a permanent place on campus walls.

- Intergenerational connection: Participants included campus-based students, faculty, staff, and even retirees from the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

- Middle and high schools: Local students contributed tiles to bridge the gap between early education and the university scientific community.

The mosaics are a masterclass in symbolic design. The frames themselves are a blend of wood, metal, and 3D-printed features, representing how different elements with unique strengths can work in harmony toward a common goal.

For science students who don't consider themselves "artistic," Hendrickson offers a reminder that art, like science, is about communication: "Anytime you create something that takes up space, this is your piece of you that you’re offering to the world."

LEARN MORE:

To read the full unabridged article, originally published on June 18, 2026 by Arizona State University, please visit www. news.asu.edu or CLICK HERE if viewing the digital catalog version of this document.

Faculty Spotlight Dr. Phil Christensen

Written by OLLI at ASU Member Jerry Grula

Most geologists focus their efforts downward, studying the structure of the Earth. But Dr. Phil Christensen focuses on the heavens.

Phil is a Regents Professor and the Ed and Helen Korrick Professor in the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University. His research interests center on the composition, processes, and physical properties of interstellar surfaces. A major component of his research is the development of spacecraft instruments. Guided byPhil’s leadership, ASU has built a lengthy history of participation in planetary exploration, including the development of nine instruments for NASA and international missions to explore Mars, asteroids, and Europa, a moon of Jupiter with a subsurface ocean that may contain life.

Phil is also a frequent OLLI instructor, providing classes on topics including the inner terrestrial planets, the outer gaseous planets, the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, the Earth’s Moon, the asteroid belt, and the formation of our solar system. He is extremely adept at breaking down technical subject matter into easy-to-understand pieces. No technology background is required for his courses – instead, you need only bring your interest in space exploration!

I sat down with Phil recently to learn more about how he became a “space geologist,” the work he does at ASU, and his interest in teaching OLLI classes.

What sparked your interest in geology, and how did that lead to you studying other celestial bodies?

As a young boy in the western US, our family took long car trips for vacation. Staring out the window, I was intrigued by the differences in the landscapes – why was Kansas so flat, while Colorado was so mountainous? I was also a child of the Apollo era, and when my mom got me a telescope, I found that I had the same types of questions about the Moon. Not realizing that I could make a career out of both interests, I graduated with a geology degree and was ready to start a job doing oil exploration in the Middle East. As luck would have it, my friend told me about a professor who was studying Mars and was looking for someone to help him. I spoke with the professor, got the job, enrolled in graduate school, and began my lifelong work on space exploration.

How do you, your students, and ASU participate in space research?

Our research is funded through NASA. When NASA announces a mission, we go through a comprehensive application process. It is time-consuming, but if we are selected, the resulting project results in significant work for our employees and students, as well as prestige and funding for ASU. I spend about 50% of my time on research activities, with 30% on classroom teaching and 20% on service activities.

Our current project is an infrared (IR) camera for the Europa mission. Each mineral has a unique frequency spectrum that will be measured by our camera. My students are currently measuring the spectrum of minerals to build a library, and when data starts coming in from the mission in 2030, they will analyze that data to identify the minerals.

We’re also excited about a new Moon mission we were awarded just before the government shutdown. There are craters near the poles of the Moon which are never exposed to sunlight, so we are going to help investigate them for signs of ice.

Do you leverage commercial technology for your cameras?

Yes, but we can’t just use off-the-shelf equipment. Our instruments need to survive the massive shock and vibration of liftoff, extreme temperatures, and significant radiation, to name a few factors. And they absolutely cannot fail, so we build in redundancy wherever possible. But accommodating these factors adds weight, which is bad for space flight. It’s a huge engineering challenge. As a scientist I’m supposed to be more interested in the “why” and “what” than the “how,” but over time I’ve become increasingly intrigued with the puzzle of making these instruments meet requirements.

Why do you teach OLLI classes?

I love teaching OLLI classes! Every student is there because they are truly interested in the material. Everyone is engaged. That helps me to be more into teaching the material. It’s like a good concert crowd –if the crowd is into the performance, the band feeds off that energy. It also helps me to figure out how to explain things in their

simplest, most understandable forms. I’m not an instructor who likes to stand in front of a class and show students how smart I am. In fact, I think too many students believe that the people who work on NASA missions are all geniuses. We’re not; we’re just normal people with a passion for our field. Anyone can do it!

Finally, what’s next on tap for you at OLLI?

For the Spring 2026 semester I’m going to focus on IR cameras. I’ve taught classes on various aspects of our solar system, but the common thread in all of them is the cameras we use on the missions. I plan to explain how they work, and to let people use them and experience first hand the images we get.

LEARN MORE:

This Fall, take a class with Dr. Phil Christensen. See his class 085 | Life in the Universe: Space Exploration & ASU's Role on page 36 of this catalog.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jerry Grula is a retired technology business leader with experience in sales, marketing, product management, consulting, and engineering. He grew up in northeast Pennsylvania and moved to Phoenix in 1989, where he started his career and met his wife. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering from MIT and an MBA from ASU, and all three of his children are Sun Devil graduates. His interests include golf, exercise, sports, puzzles, music, fantasy football, technology, lifelong learning, and helping to publish the ASU OLLI Blog.

064 | The Invisible Thread: 3,500 Years of Global Supply Chain

Instructor: Scott Jones

Class Cost: $95

6 Sessions: Mondays, Oct. 19, 26 & Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23

Time: 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. (PT)

Location: National Osher Zoom

We often only notice the global supply chain when it breaks. Yet, for millennia, the movement of goods across the world has been the silent engine of civilization. In this class, we will track the evolution of trade from an executive’s perspective. From the sunken treasures of Bronze Age merchant ships to the high-tech intermodal systems of today, we will explore the vessels that carried the world’s wealth and the complex networks that keep our modern shelves stocked. Note: Class is in PT; accomodate for Nov. 1 time change.

067 | Pros & Cons: AI in Medical School Education & Research

Instructor: Dr. Eric vanSonnenberg

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 20

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Sun Health - Freedom Plaza

Undoubtedly, AI will become deeply integrated into medical education as well as clinical and research medicine. While there are many advantages, there are also challenges and details that remain to be refined. This talk will highlight controversies surrounding AI, including educational, ethical, and legal issues.

072 | Learning from Nature: From Snakes to Surgical Robots

Instructor: Dr. Hamid Marvi

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 23

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Join ASU Professor and History Channel contributor Dr. Hamid Marvi as we explore how animals and biological systems are inspiring the next generation of robots. From snake-inspired machines that navigate sand and rubble to medical robots designed for minimally invasive surgery, bio-inspired robotics combines engineering, biology, and AI to create machines capable of extraordinary feats. We’ll explore how studying animal movement and behavior is leading to breakthroughs in search and rescue, healthcare, and environmental exploration.

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085 | Life in the Universe: Space

Exploration & ASU’s Role in the Search

Instructor: Dr. Phil Christensen

Class Cost: $57

3 Sessions: Tuesdays, Nov. 3, 10, 17

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

Is there life elsewhere in the universe? It’s one of the most compelling scientific questions of our time. Join ASU Regents Professor Phil Christensen as we explore the quest for potentially habitable worlds, beginning with Earth’s neighbor Mars, then venturing to the icy “ocean world” moons of Jupiter and Saturn, and finally to primitive asteroids that hold clues to the origins of our solar system. ASU has science instruments aboard many of these missions, including five built right here on the Tempe campus.

093 | AI & Healthcare: Ethical, Legal & Policy Dimensions

Instructor: Dr. Gary Marchant

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Friday, Nov. 6

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare faster than our legal and ethical frameworks can keep up and the stakes couldn’t be higher. In this timely presentation, Dr. Gary Marchant, Regents Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Law, Science and Innovation, examines how AI is reshaping medicine while raising urgent questions about safety, accuracy, bias, accountability, liability, and data privacy. Drawing on his extensive work in the legal and ethical challenges of emerging technologies, Dr. Marchant will discuss real-world examples and explore what it will take to ensure AI-driven medicine remains ethical, trustworthy, and patient-centered. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of both the extraordinary promise and the serious risks ahead.

097 | Earth & Life: How Ecosystems Form, Adapt & Change

Instructor: Dan Gruber Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 9

Time: 10:00 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

■ Community Partner

We live in one of the most remarkable ecosystems on Earth, the Sonoran Desert. Despite extreme heat and scarce rainfall, an extraordinary diversity of plants, animals, and people have called this place home for thousands of years. But human development is changing the landscape faster than ever, making the work of organizations like the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy more important than ever. In this class, we’ll explore the processes that shaped this desert, how ecosystems form and sustain themselves, how living things adapt to environmental challenges, and what it means for humans to leave such a deep mark in such a short time. Core principles of ecology from the rocks beneath our feet to the communities above them. Come alive in this local context.

098 | Cannabis Science: An Experiential Journey From Plant to Product

Instructor: Matthew Bermudez & Kirk Schmitz

Class Cost: $30

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 10

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Grow Sciences

■ OLLI Workshop

Curious about cannabis science? This OLLI class at Grow Sciences offers an academically grounded, hands-on exploration of how cannabis goes from seed to shelf. The session begins with a seminar covering the wide range of products currently available, including their manufacturing processes, therapeutic applications, consumption methods, and bioavailability. You’ll then join a guided tour of the complete cultivation and production lifecycle, from propagation and vegetative growth through harvesting, post-processing, and quality assurance. Designed to be interactive and inquiry-driven, this one-ofa-kind class offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at the innovation, precision, and care that define the modern cannabis industry.

107 | Cancer Time Machines: Reconstructing the Hidden History of Human Cells

Instructor: Dr. Diego Mallo Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 19

Time: 3:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Location: Mirabella

How can we travel back in time to observe the earliest stages of cancer? Cancer develops over years as cells in our bodies evolve, accumulating changes and competing with one another, yet much of this process unfolds out of sight, limiting our understanding of how cancers arise, progress, and respond to treatment. By reading the record left behind in our cells’ genetic material, scientists are building statistical “time machines” that reveal events that could never be observed directly. In this course, we’ll explore how present-day biological data can reconstruct the evolutionary history of cells as they progress toward cancer, what these methods are already teaching us, and how ongoing advances may transform our ability to understand and treat cancer in the years ahead. Please note: parking is not included in the cost of class.

Explore History & Government

009 | Behind the Ballot: A Tour of the Maricopa County Election Center

Instructor: Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center Team

Class Cost: $25

1 Session: Thursday, Sep. 10

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Phoenix - Maricopa County

Tabulation and Election Center

Ever wondered what really happens to your ballot after you cast it? Get a rare behind-the-scenes look at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center, one of the largest election operations in the United States, and see firsthand how ballots are received, processed, tabulated, and secured. An eye-opening tour for any engaged citizen.

013 | Nothing New Under the Sun: America Then & Now

Instructor: Dr. Terry McAteer

Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 15, 22

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

If you think today is filled with divisiveness between red and blue then you should have lived in America the latter part of the 19th Century. The end of the Civil War with 700,000 Americans dead began this era of angst. The post-war era, coupled with the acrimony between a growing divide between the haves and have-nots, led to labor unrest and a complete revisioning of democracy in this country. The parallels are amazing!

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018 |

The Fall of the Roman Empire

Instructor: Dr. Sarah Bolmarcich

Class Cost: $57

3 Sessions: Thursdays, Sep. 17, 24 & Oct. 1

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Zoom

In AD 476, the Roman Empire fell, not with a bang, but with a whimper. At its height it had spanned 1.9 million square miles and endured for more than 500 years, yet its end came as the culmination of a long, slow decline. What ultimately caused it? Could anything have saved it? This course examines the complex web of causes behind the fall of the Western Roman Empire, from political dysfunction and the rise of Christianity to a collapsed economy, lead poisoning, and even climate change.

020 | Ukraine & Russia I & II: Past, Present & Future

Instructor: Dr. Hilde Hoogenboom

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Friday, Sep. 18

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Sun Health - Grandview

Russia shocked the world when Putin invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. What followed has become one of the most consequential geopolitical crises of our time. In this class, we will examine the history of Ukraine and Russia’s complex relationship, how the war has unfolded, what sanctions have achieved, how the global balance of power is shifting in response, Europe’s profound transformation since the fall of the Soviet Union, Sweden and Finland joining NATO, Germany rearming, Europe severing decades of energy dependence on Russia, and the evolving U.S. role, and what possible outcomes may lie ahead.

027 | What Every Voter Should Know: Elections

in Maricopa County

Instructor: Bill Gates

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 23

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Join Bill Gates, Director of the ASU Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory and former Chairman of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, for an inside look at how one of the largest election systems in the United States really works. Designed for engaged citizens, this course will walk you through the essentials of voting in Maricopa County, from how ballots are cast and counted to who is responsible for ensuring the integrity of the process. You’ll gain a clear understanding of the different voting options available, the safeguards in place to protect election security, and the realworld challenges election officials face. We will also explore what’s new and different about the 2026 election cycle, helping you stay informed and confident as a voter. Expect a practical, nonpartisan discussion with plenty of time for questions and conversation.

032 | Winning the White House: The Evolution of the Presidency

Instructor: John White

Class Cost: $95

6 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 29 & Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 & Nov. 3

Time: 8:00 - 9:30 a.m. (PT)

Location: National Osher Zoom

Truman called the presidency “the most peculiar office in the world.” This class explores how the Founders’ open-ended design sparked a dramatic expansion of executive power, allowing the presidency to eventually dominate Congress and the Supreme Court. We will examine how this shift occurred, how the office is won, how executive authority is exercised, and how the modern administrative state reshaped the framers’ original balance. Note: Class is in PT; accomodate for Nov. 1 time change.

036 | The Birth of the Beat Generation

Instructor: Kurt Hemmer Class Cost: $95

6 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 29 & Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 & Nov. 3

Time: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. (PT)

Location: National Osher Zoom

In this class, 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. Note: Class is in PT; accomodate for Nov. 1 time change.

041 | From the Margins to the Major Leagues: How Women Became a Decisive Political & Economic Force

Instructor: Bobbie Wasserman Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 2

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

How did women move from the economic and political margins to become one of the most influential voting blocs in the United States? A panel of experts will examine the long arc of women’s participation in public life, from suffrage and civic organizing to economic agency, voting power, and public office. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, this session provides timely context for understanding women’s role in today’s electorate, including why women are politically powerful yet do not vote as a single bloc. Join us to better understand how women’s history continues to shape elections, leadership, and public life today.

045 | Galveston’s Jewish Heritage: The Ellis Island of the West

Instructor: Dan Fellner

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Oct. 5

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

It’s a mostly forgotten but pivotal chapter in Jewish-American history: the Galveston Movement. From 1907 to 1914, some 10,000 Jews fleeing religious persecution in Eastern Europe immigrated to America through the unlikely port of Galveston, Texas. Travel journalist Dan Fellner visited Galveston and met descendants of those immigrants who arrived more than a century ago and built new lives across the western United States. We’ll explore the sites connected to the Galveston Movement and discover the island city’s surprisingly robust Jewish community, one that produced five mayors, prominent business leaders, and two highly renowned rabbis.

048 | Samuel Adams: The Father of the Revolution

Instructor: Dr. Heather Dudley

Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Oct. 6, 13

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Zoom

If not for that eponymous frothy beverage, Samuel Adams might be largely forgotten today. Yet among the Founding Fathers, Adams was the leader of the pack. Boston was the epicenter of the earliest struggle for independence and Adams was the spark that lit the fire. Long before Washington led an army or Jefferson penned the Declaration, Adams was rallying resistance to British rule and working to unify the colonies. We’ll explore how his “riches to rags” family story may help explain his deep resentment of British interference in colonial life.

054 | America’s Immigration Dilemma: Past and Present in Perspective

Instructor: Dr. Jared Day

Class Cost: $76

4 Sessions: Thursdays, Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Few topics generate more heat in American politics today than immigration, yet few are more deeply rooted in the nation’s history. This four-part lecture series examines how US immigration policy has evolved in response to dramatic shifts in American society. We’ll give particular attention to the landmark immigration laws of the 1920s, Lyndon Johnson’s transformative Immigration Act of 1965, and the most recent developments in policy and challenges along the US border. Whether you follow the news closely or are looking for deeper historical context, this series offers an essential framework.

055 | Awakening the Sleeping Giant: How the U.S. Entered World War II

Instructor: Dr. Richard Carlson

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 9

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Dr. Carlson, Chairman Emeritus at District Medical Group, leads this single-session class through one of the most dramatic turning points in American history. Together we’ll examine America’s journey from the Great Depression and deep isolationism to its decisive role in World War II, as Germany and Japan built formidable war machines abroad. Explore how Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call for the “Arsenal of Democracy” ignited national mobilization, and discover the remarkable contributions of women, the surprising influence of show business, and the profound sacrifices made on both the home front and the battlefield.

058 | The Great Brown’s Ranch Land War

Instructor: Len Marcisz

Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Wednesdays, Oct. 14, 21

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon | 9:00 a.m. - noon

Locations: ASU Health Futures Center / McDowell Sonoran Preserve

■ Community Partner

In February 1947, Ellsworth Brown sparked a massive political firestorm by attempting to exchange 27,000 acres in northwestern Arizona for public land adjoining his north Scottsdale ranch. The resulting two-year conflict embroiled U.S. Senators, Congressmen, federal directors, and prominent businessmen. This battle provides a fascinating window into behind the scenes land politics, ultimately embarrassing the Bureau of Land Management but saving the land that became the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. An accompanying field study at Brown’s Ranch Trailhead is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 21, at 9:00 a.m., featuring a gentle, threehour, 3.3-mile walk.

059 | How Arizona Became a Battleground: Politics, Growth, & a State in Transformation

Instructor: Dr. Gary Grossman

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 14

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Tempe Public Library

Arizona has changed more rapidly and more dramatically than almost any other state in the nation. Political shifts over the past 114 years, driven by social and economic forces, brought the Progressive movement of the early 20th century, the explosive growth of urban centers and the state’s role as a pivotal political battleground today. We’ll trace the most significant turning points in Arizona’s history and explore what residents can expect as the 21st century continues to unfold.

063

| Doing Government Right: What Public Libraries Can Teach Us All

Instructor: Dr. Mary Feeney Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 16

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

With more than 123,000 libraries across the United States, public libraries represent one of democracy’s most enduring institutions. Their simple and radical mission remains unchanged: free, open access to information for all. Today, libraries have transformed into modern civic centers, delivering critical public services and embracing the digital age. Join returning OLLI instructor and ASU School of Public Affairs Professor Mary Feeney to explore the essential role libraries play in civic life, the remarkable commitment of librarians, and what this democratic model teaches us about excellence in local government.

065

| The Modern Supreme Court: Politics, Polarization & Worldview

Instructor: Dr. Joseph Russomanno Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Mondays, Oct. 19, 26

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

The U.S. Supreme Court is one of the nation’s most powerful institutions yet many experts argue it has become dangerously political. The Court’s evolution from independent arbiter to ideologically driven body is, according to these scholars, no longer a matter of opinion but of fact. At a time when so much is at stake, the stakes for judicial integrity have never been higher. In this course, Dr. Joseph Russomanno offers an overview of the Supreme Court’s structure and procedures, then shares the provocative analysis he first presented in his book The “Stench” of Politics: Polarization and Worldview on the Supreme Court.

069 | How Catherine Became Great

Instructor: Dr. Hilde Hoogenboom Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 21

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Desert Foothills Library

Join Dr. Hilde Hoogenboom to discover the full extent of Catherine II’s life and her remarkably intense afterlife in history, plays, movies, and television. Catherine herself carefully cultivated her legacy as an enlightened ruler: legislator, administrator, and imperial visionary. In the 19th century, her memoirs became a state secret because they implied that her heir, Paul I, was illegitimate and thus the Romanov dynasty, in the strictest sense, ended with her husband, Peter III. We’ll examine why Catherine the Great and her 36-year reign continue to captivate scholars and the public alike.

070 | Apache History and Culture: From the Bering Strait to Geronimo

Instructor: Jim Turner Class Cost: $38

2 Sessions: Wednesdays, Oct. 21, 28

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

On Mar. 25, 1886, Geronimo said to General George Crook: “Once I moved about like the wind. Now I surrender to you and that is all.” This course traces the full arc of Apache history, from their crossing of the Bering Strait some 15,000 years ago and migration through Texas and New Mexico to their eventual home in Arizona. Drawing from military records, diaries, leading scholars, and Geronimo’s own 1906 autobiography, we’ll examine not only the major military events and leaders, but also Apache spiritual beliefs, ceremonies, and folkways. A rich, human story spanning millennia.

073 | Women Voters in 2026: Power, Fracture, & the Fight for Political Meaning

Instructor: Bobbie Wasserman Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Oct. 26

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

One week before the 2026 midterm elections, women voters will again be called one of the most powerful forces in American politics. But the phrase “the women’s vote” often obscures as much as it reveals. Women do not vote as a single bloc, their choices are shaped by race, class, education, marriage, religion, geography, age, family economics, media narratives, and partisan identity. This timely panel examines what the data shows: where women voters are moving together, where they remain sharply divided, and how campaigns and media often flatten diverse communities into oversimplified categories. Together, we’ll explore what women’s political power truly means in 2026, and how that meaning is being shaped in the final days before a major national election.

077 | S’edav Va’aki’: Ingenuity, Living Legacy & the Power of Partnership

Instructor: Nicole Armstrong-Best Class Cost: $35

1 Session: Thurssday, Oct. 29

Time: 2:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Location: S'edav Va'aki Museum

Join Nicole Armstrong-Best, Director of the S’edav Va’aki Museum, and discover the remarkable ingenuity of the Ancestral O’odham who built and inhabited extensive villages in the Phoenix basin. You will learn about the engineered largescale irrigation systems that supported intensive agriculture and connected communities across a vast network of trade and communication. We will discuss the importance of collaboration between S’edav Va’aki’s descendant communities and Museum staff in preserving cultural connections and archaeological heritage. We will end by taking a guided tour of the outdoor interpretive trail with the City Archaeologist.

088 | German WW II POWs in Arizona

Instructor: Steve Hoza Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Nov. 4

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Friendship Village

What happened when German prisoners of war were held in the Arizona desert? Local historian Steve Hoza presents a fascinating look at a lesser-known chapter of WWII history in the American Southwest. Drawing from decades of research and hundreds of interviews with former prisoners, guards, and camp personnel, Hoza illuminates daily camp life, the use of POWs as farm laborers, and the infamous “Great Papago Escape.” Throughout his talk, he shares rare camp artifacts, personal photos, drawings, and maps gathered directly from his interviewees.

089 | The Meaning of Gaman: Resilience, Hope & Dignity in Arizona’s WWII Incarceration Camps

Instructor: Midori Hall Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Nov. 4

Time: 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Location: Health Futures Center

Join Midori Hall, community educator, and her husband Jim for a moving and deeply personal exploration of Arizona’s two Japanese American incarceration camps, Gila River and Poston, during World War II. Born at the Gila River camp in Aug. 1942, Midori shares her family’s lived experiences, childhood memories, and the historical research that later confirmed many of those recollections. The presentation examines the profound cultural meanings of the Japanese concepts “Shigata-nai,” “Nozomi,” and “Gaman” and how these ideas helped families endure extraordinary hardship with resilience, hope, and dignity. Through stories of unexpected kindness, perseverance, and healing, Midori and Jim reflect on their return to Arizona in 1986 and their ongoing commitment to preserving this vital history.

OLLI at ASU Guest Lecture Series

We are honored to welcome Dr. Eoin Devlin, an esteemed historian and educator from the Faculty of History at the University of Cambridge.

Dr. Eoin Devlin

Dr. Eoin Devlin specializes in the political, religious, cultural, and diplomatic history of early modern Britain. His recent scholarly work includes contributions to ‘The Oxford History of British and Irish Catholicism’ and editing a forthcoming volume on 17th-century dynasties. His distinguished academic career includes the prestigious CRASSH Conversions Fellowship at the University of Cambridge and a fellowship at Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Many OLLI at ASU members have already experienced Dr. Devlin's engaging teaching through the Lifelong Learning Summer Programme at Girton College, Cambridge. We are delighted he has accepted our invitation to visit ASU and share his expertise with our learning community.

During his visit, members will have three unique opportunities to learn from Dr. Devlin through thought-provoking presentations and discussions. Seating is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your place early.

075 | Why Just Visit Cambridge, When You Can Live It?

Presented by: Dr. Nick Godfrey

Class Cost: Member Only - FREE

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 28

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Tempe Public Library

Thinking of an educational and cultural adventure unlike any other? Dr. Nick Godfrey , Director of the Summer Programme at Girton College, University of Cambridge, will present an overview of the upcoming August 2027 program. Beyond world-class academic lectures, this unique study-abroad opportunity offers participants rich historical arts and local cultural experiences and traditions. Several OLLI at ASU members who attended this year’s program will share their personal experiences. Discover why staying at Girton is so much more than "summer school". It is a bucket-list journey of learning and cultural discovery. Light refreshments will be served.

To enrich this information session, guest lecturer Dr. Eoin Devlin will bring Girton’s fascinating history to life. Dr. Devlin has taught in the Girton Lifelong Learning Summer Program for over a decade, leading acclaimed courses on the British monarchy, British Prime Ministers, and the history of science at Cambridge.

In his presentation, Dr. Devlin will highlight Girton's history as the first Cambridge college to admit women, a radical 19thcentury move that deeply influenced the suffrage movement. This pioneering legacy continues to shape educational ideas across the English-speaking world.

078 | The Cambridge Origins of the USA

Instructor: Dr. Eoin Devlin

Class Cost: $35

1 Session: Thursday, Oct. 29

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: SkySong

Three signatories of the Declaration of Independence shared an unlikely distinction: they had all been educated at the University of Cambridge in England. This talk traces their lives on both sides of the Atlantic, examining what drove them to join the rebellion against Britain — and what their Cambridge connections reveal about the intellectual and political ties between the University and the American colonies. We’ll explore how those transatlantic links shaped the early history of the United States, and how Cambridge itself grappled with the loss of the colonies in the late 18th century.

080 | Challenging the Political Duopoly in Modern Britain

Instructor: Dr. Eoin Devlin

Class Cost: $35

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 30

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

In Partnership with:

Two-party dominance is one of the defining features of modern politics — in Britain and the United States alike. But can a third party break through? This talk examines one of history’s most dramatic examples: the displacement of the Liberal Party by the Labour Party in the 1910s and 1920s, exploring the circumstances and historical forces that made such a seismic shift possible. We’ll then turn to the present day, asking whether the strains on Britain’s political duopoly since 2010 echo the fault lines of a century ago — and what those lessons might reveal about where British politics is headed next.

095 | Gettysburg & Midway: Historical Parallels in Command

Instructor: Robert Rubel

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Friday, Nov. 6

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Sun Health - Grandview

This class explores the challenges of highlevel military leadership by comparing the decisions and mistakes of Robert E. Lee during the Battle of Gettysburg and Isoroku Yamamoto during the Battle of Midway. Despite the differences between a 19thcentury land battle and a 20th-century naval-air battle, the class will examine how similar command errors in planning, intelligence, and execution produced comparable outcomes, offering insight into the enduring challenges of strategic command.

101 | Erasing Ukrainian Identity as a Tool of War

Instructor: Dr. Thom Reilly

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 16

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

In his forthcoming book, Child Abduction in the War in Ukraine: Erasing Ukrainian Identity as a Tool of War (London: Routledge, Fall 2026), Dr. Thom Reilly tells a simple, urgent story: Russia’s removal of Ukrainian children is not a byproduct of war it is a deliberate tactic to erase cultural identity, destroy families, and a prosecutable war crime under international law. Drawing on over 50 interviews with experts, practitioners, returned youth, and caregivers, as well as investigative reporting and official documentation, Dr. Reilly examines a system that operates not only through the transfer of children into Russia or Belarus, but across the far larger population of Ukrainian children still living under occupation. This class makes the case that the public needs to understand what is at stake, and why.

102 | Saints, Strangers & Stowaways: The Fascinating Passengers of the Mayflower

Instructor: Suzanna Brayer Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 16

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

In 1620, the Mayflower left Southampton carrying 102 passengers and a crew of thirty, bound for the unknown. What drove them to risk everything on such a dangerous journey? Two very different motivations: religious freedom and economic opportunity. Historian George Willison, in his 1945 book Saints and Strangers, gave us the terms we still use today. The “Saints”, Bradford, Carver, and Brewster, are better known, but the “Strangers”, Alden, Warren, Hopkins, Standish, and Billington made names for themselves too. And what of the women? We’ll explore the passengers, the ship, the harrowing journey, the Mayflower Compact, the early days of Plymouth, and the myths that have grown up around them.

103 | Remarkable Women Who Shaped the Middle East

Instructor: Alexandria Kinias

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 16

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Discover the fascinating stories of influential women whose lives provide a unique window into the political, cultural, and historical development of the Middle East. Through engaging narratives and lively discussion, class members will explore how these remarkable women challenged expectations, led movements, and influenced the course of their societies. Their courage, leadership, and resilience offer valuable insights into the region’s history while highlighting the lasting impact individuals can have on shaping the world around them.

104 | The Very Long Con: Fakes & Forgeries in Ancient Greece & Rome

Instructor: Dr. Sarah Bolmarcich Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Thursday, Nov. 19

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

From forged wills to counterfeit coins, fake oracles to fraudulent relics, the ancient world was awash in deception and the Greeks and Romans knew it all too well. This class explores some of antiquity’s most brazen frauds: the forgers who faked famous authors’ works, the merchants who passed off cheap imitations as priceless goods, and the politicians who manipulated documents to rewrite history. What do these fakes reveal about ancient values, anxieties, and desires? The impulse to deceive, and to be deceived, is as old as civilization itself.

105 | Modern & Historical O’odham Culture

Instructor: Allen Dart Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 17

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Arizona’s “Four Southern Tribes” share deep ancestral connections, tracing their roots to people who inhabited south-central Arizona and northern Mexico, as evidenced by geographical, archaeological, linguistic, oral tradition, and historical records. These tribes refer to themselves as “O’odham” (meaning ‘People’) in their native language and have historically been known as the Papago and Pima Indians. While they occupy several southern Arizona reservations, many members live and work in communities well beyond those boundaries. This presentation offers a rich introduction to historical and modern O’odham cultures from their origins in the ancient Paleoindian, Archaic, and Hohokam traditions to their prominent and vital place in the world today.

109 | Dropping the Musket to Reach the Ballot: A Brief History of Voting Rights & the 15th Amendment

Instructor: Robert McWhirter J.D.

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 30

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Friendship Village

Join Bob McWhirter, constitutional law expert, former Maricopa County and federal public defender, and advisory board member of the Arizona Justice Project, for a close look at the history and context of the 15th Amendment. Ratified in 1870, the 15th Amendment declared that the right to vote cannot be denied on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude, and gave Congress the power to enforce it through legislation. Together with the 13th and 14th Amendments, it fundamentally redefined the Constitution and the country. As McWhirter will show, the 15th Amendment was as much a product of Black self-determination as it was of the Reconstruction Congress’s drive to build a more just America.

112 | Horror on the Hassayampa: The Story of the 1890 Walnut Grove Dam Disaster

Instructor: Dr. Eduardo Pagan

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Dec. 2

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Arizona settlers celebrated the Walnut Grove Dam as a symbol of progress, proof that human ambition could tame the wilderness and transform Arizona’s rugged frontier into prosperous farmland and mining country. Those ambitions came to a tragic end in February 1890, when the dam failed, unleashing millions of gallons of water down the Hassayampa River and claiming as many as 150 lives. In this presentation, Dr. Eduardo Pagán, former cohost of History Detectives (PBS), Bob Stump Endowed Professor of History, and Associate Dean of Barrett, The Honors College, explores the engineering ambitions behind the dam, the catastrophic collapse, and what the disaster reveals about Arizona’s territorial development.

114 | Gettysburg & Midway: Historical Parallels in Command

Instructor: Robert Rubel

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Dec. 7

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

What can the catastrophic failures of Robert E. Lee at Gettysburg and Isoroku Yamamoto at Midway teach us today? This lecture examines the errors in planning and decision-making that shaped both battles, lessons so instructive that the instructor used these very case studies to teach strategy at the U.S. Naval War College. Error, it turns out, yields more lessons than success. The striking recurrence of these mistakes across two very different eras gives new weight to Mark Twain’s observation: “It is not worthwhile to try to keep history from repeating itself, for man’s character will always make the preventing of the repetitions impossible.”

116 | E Pluribus Unum: Religious Pluralism in America

Instructor: Dr. Vicki Cabot

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Dec. 8

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

How did America’s founders devise a system that limited state religion while extending religious freedom to all and how has that balance been tested ever since?

Drawing on landmark legal challenges to religious freedom, this class explores the revolutionary First Amendment framework the founders created, the ongoing tensions between religious liberty and competing social interests, and what it truly means to live in a pluralistic society.

119 | The Day the Music Died

Instructor: Ken Sorensen

Class Cost: $14

1 Session: Wednesday, Dec. 9

Time: 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Location: ASU Chandler Innovation Center

Late in the evening of Feb. 3, 1959, in a snowy Iowa cornfield, the trajectory of rock and roll changed forever. Following a legendary performance at the Surf Ballroom, a small plane carrying three of those rising stars, Buddy Holly & the Crickets, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and Dion and the Belmonts, went down shortly after takeoff. Join us as we revisit the lives of these iconic musicians, the night that became known as “The Day the Music Died,” and the enduring legacy of Don McLean’s masterpiece, “American Pie.”

Location Spotlight McDowell Sonoran Conservancy

Written by OLLI at ASU Member Mark Faller

Part of the mission for Arizona State University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is to provide experiences both in and beyond the classroom setting. Among the places OLLI students have visited rare the Surprise Water Reclamation Facility, the Arizona Science Center, and the Musical Instrument Museum.

In addition to allowing students the opportunity to explore interesting and varied locations, these programs also help OLLI forge relationships across the Valley. One of the most successful examples is its ongoing relationship with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy (MSC).

The past few fall semesters, OLLI at ASU students have been able to visit parts of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale and learn about two facets of Arizona desert history. A class titled “The Great Brown’s Ranch Land War” took students to the Brown’s Ranch Trailhead in the preserve, where an interpretive walk told the story of ranching in the 20th century. At the Fraesfield Trailhead, participants walked part of the Stoneman Military Road, a route that from 1870-90 connected Fort McDowell on the Verde River to Fort Whipple in Prescott. Research by MSC stewards uncovered the existence of the road.

Two more OLLI at ASU classes presented by the conservancy were in the catalog in Spring: “Arthropods of the Sonoran Desert,” a two-part course capped by an outing at the preserve’s Gateway Trailhead, and “Geology: The Deep History of the Valley of the Sun.”

The OLLI at ASU-MSC partnership dates to 2012, but in the past several years things picked up “with a series of classes about the ecosystem, flora and fauna of the Sonoran Desert,” said MSC steward Mary Simons, assistant chair of MSC’s Community

Engagement team. “They have been very successful, and OLLI has asked for at least one and sometimes two classes per semester.

“The students especially like the lectures when we can combine a field study in the Preserve. Many of the lectures given at OLLI are developed specifically for them; they are more in-depth and advanced to follow OLLI’s focus for lifelong learners.”

Added MSC Legacy Steward Len Marcisz, who co-presented the Brown’s Ranch and Stoneman Road classes, “We greatly enjoy working with OLLI at ASU staff. They are accommodating and provide us with assessments that help us to improve our product.”

That meshes with what OLLI at ASU program director Jared Swerzenski is striving to accomplish as his team looks to build on past success.

“Over the last two years I’ve really honed in and talked to people about (how) we’re all in this together,” he said about ASU OLLI’s partnerships. “We want to learn, we want to find fun things to do, we want to be intellectually curious. Let’s just share opportunities. And people are going to do what they’re drawn to.

“And we’re happy to just share as many opportunities as we can and let people choose their own journey. If that means being a steward at the McDowell Conservancy, if that means being a docent at the Musical Instrument Museum, amazing. And most of the time what we see is they get even more involved with OLLI. They take six classes instead of four, and then they’re telling all their docent and steward friends about OLLI. For us, it’s not this competition, it’s how can we collaborate? How can we think about opportunities and highlight our partners.”

The OLLI at ASU-MSC partnership was what led me to becoming a Steward. I took the Brown’s Ranch class, and as we gathered at the trailhead for the interpretive walk I struck up a conversation with several Stewards. I’d always enjoyed my time in the preserve, and once I indicated that I might be interested in volunteering, one Steward told me about the next orientation class and helped me register.

Along with the outings in the Preserve, recent classes have taken students to places as varied as Glendale’s Asiana Market, the Scottsdale Museum of the West, Taliesin West, the Heard Museum and the Cactus League stadium in Peoria. In the spring, a behind-the-scenes look at Chase Field, home of the Arizona Diamondbacks, was offered (and filled up quickly).

“We want to be that focal spot of, hey, you’re interested in lifelong learning and healthy (topics) here’s a million different opportunities that you can go,” Swerzenski said, adding, “I just feel we can be a gateway to lifelong learning and a gateway to opportunities in the greater Phoenix area, to have partnerships with institutions, back and forths, and really be a collaborator.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mark Faller is a retired journalist who from 2003-24 was sports editor at The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com. He became a steward for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy in 2025.

Explore Social Sciences

096 | Inside the Mind of a Criminologist: What Others Rarely See

Instructor: Susan Magesto Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Saturday, Nov. 7

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Drawing on criminology, psychology, and behavioral science, this presentation explores the hidden dynamics of trauma, stress, and human behavior that lie just beneath the surface of everyday interactions. You’ll gain insight into how unresolved emotional experiences shape individuals, families, and entire communities, and discover practical approaches to resilience, communication, and de-escalation. Susan Magestro brings more than 40 years of experience working with youth, families, schools, law enforcement, and crisis situations, making this a class that is as thought-provoking as it is immediately useful.

118 | Investigating Long-Term Missing & Unidentified Persons

Instructor: Stuart Someshoe

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Dec. 9

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

In this compelling presentation, retired detective Stuart Somershoe of the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit examines the investigative strategies used to pursue answers in cases that have gone unsolved for years, or even decades. Through real case studies, you’ll explore the key differences between missing-person and unidentified-person investigations, the obstacles detectives face, and the critical roles of forensic science, DNA technology, and interagency collaboration. The class also puts a human face on cold-case work, honoring the families still seeking answers and the investigators who never stop looking.

Explore Wellness, Fitness & Sports

015 | Six Research-Backed Habits for a Sharper, Healthier Brain

Instructor: Helen Hayes

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 16

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

As we age, maintaining cognitive vitality becomes increasingly important, not just for memory, but for overall quality of life. In this engaging workshop, we’ll explore six key habits backed by recent scientific research that support brain health in later life, led by Helen Hayes, Program Director of ASU’s Distinguished Innovation Fellows program for individuals 55 and older. You’ll come away with practical strategies to protect your mental sharpness, emotional resilience, and daily functioning, plus a personalized plan for integrating brain-boosting habits into your everyday routine.

026

| Nutrition & Brain Health: What You Eat May Change How You Think

Instructor: Tina Shepard

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 23

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Can certain foods improve memory? Can what you eat actually lower your risk of Alzheimer’s disease? In this class, ASU Clinical Nutrition Professor and Registered Dietitian Tina Shepard shares what the latest research says about how food and lifestyle choices affect the brain and how specific nutrients impact cognitive function and overall brain health. You’ll leave with practical, evidence-based dietary recommendations you can start using right away.

Community Blog

Discover our community blog. Whether you’re interested in exploring new subjects, sharing your own learning adventures, or connecting with fellow learners, the member-led community blog is the perfect place to start.

046 | Leisure and Quality of Life: Managing a Healthy Balance

Instructor: Dale Larsen

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Oct. 5

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Sun Health - La Loma

We’re bombarded with advice on how to manage stress, fitness routines, sleep hygiene, meditation apps, diet plans, and more. But somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we forgot one of the most natural antidotes of all: play. Led by Dale Larsen, Director of Community Relations and Professor in ASU’s School of Community Resources & Development, this session draws on his four decades of leadership in parks and recreation to revisit the science and joy of play. Rediscover how this “childlike” concept can become one of the most essential tools in everyday life.

066 | The Dark Side of Fun: Exploring Taboo Recreation

Instructor: Dr. Rebecca Barry

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 20

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

Not all leisure is wholesome. In this thoughtprovoking class, we explore the darker side of human play, activities that are fun yet transgressive, ranging from social rulebreaking to outright illegal behavior. What drives people toward gambling, vandalism, or other taboo pursuits? Is it the thrill of defiance, a rejection of mainstream culture, or simply boredom? We’ll examine the psychology and sociology behind taboo recreation, and audience contributions are warmly encouraged. A candid, fascinating look at what happens when fun crosses the line.

083 | Understanding & Maintaining Memory

Instructor: Dr. Billie Enz

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 2

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Fairway Recreation Center

Have you ever wondered why vivid memories from decades ago come easily, yet you can’t find your keys five minutes after setting them down? Join Dr. Billie Enz, ASU Emeritus Professor, for this engaging and interactive session. We’ll explore how memories are formed, stored, and retrieved and why some last a lifetime while others fade. You’ll gain practical strategies for supporting brain health and strengthening memory as we age. Join us for an informative, lively conversation about the fascinating science of memory and healthy aging.

106 | Why Healing Changes After 50 & What Actually Helps

Instructor: Dr. Tamara Hefferon

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Nov. 18

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

“Just take it easy”. It’s advice many of us have heard after an injury or bout of pain. But as we age, that guidance can often do more harm than good. This class explores how the body’s capacity to heal changes over time and why pain or injuries may persist despite rest, stretching, or conventional treatments. We’ll examine the critical roles that strength, movement patterns, and overall physical capacity play in recovery, and factors that are frequently underestimated or overlooked. Rather than chasing temporary relief, this class focuses on what truly helps the body regain resilience, restore function, and move with greater confidence. You’ll leave with a clearer, more proactive understanding of how to maintain your activity, mobility, and independence.

111 | Understanding Cancer: From Mystery to Medical Breakthroughs

Instructor: Dr. Josh LaBaer

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Dec. 1

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

For many years, cancer was shrouded in mystery, leaving doctors and scientists searching for answers. Today, that picture has changed dramatically. We now understand the biological hallmarks that distinguish cancer from normal cell behavior and have identified many of its causes. In this class, Dr. Joshua LaBaer will introduce the fundamentals of cancer: what it is, how our understanding has evolved, and, most importantly, the encouraging ways science and medicine are making real progress in the fight against it.

120 | Are All Calories the Same? Macronutrient Strategies for Weight Management

Instructor: Christy Alexon

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Dec. 9

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Is a calorie from a cookie really the same as a calorie from a piece of chicken? This class digs into the science behind macronutrients, carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, and how they affect weight management and fat loss differently. We’ll explore what calories actually are, how the body expends energy, what energy balance means in practice, and how to determine your own macronutrient needs. You’ll come away with a clearer, more practical understanding of how food choices, not just calorie counts, shape your body composition and long-term health.

Explore Global Cultures & Travel

011

| Travel & Pop Culture: Places

Featured in Your Favorite Movies & TV Shows

Instructor: Dan Fellner Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 14

Time: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Location: Sun Health - The Colonnade

From “Jaws” to “The Graduate,” “James Bond” to “The Birds,” “Midnight Express” to “Breaking Bad,” take a journey with a leading travel journalist to explore the places around the world where some of the most iconic movies and TV series were filmed. We’ll also visit the childhood haunts of Elvis Presley, The Beatles, and Buddy Holly, and learn about a British pop star’s surprising connection to the Alamo.

012 | 100 Years Grand: The Story of Arizona Highways Magazine

Instructor: Win Holden

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Sep. 15

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Friendship Village

Arizona Highways magazine recently celebrated its 100th birthday and its story is as remarkable as the landscapes it photographs. In this presentation, former Publisher Win Holden shares the inside story of an extraordinary magazine that has not only survived but thrived through an unconventional business model built on licensing, retail, and ancillary products, all without a single dollar of state funding. The talk features dozens of historical and contemporary photographs, and explores how this uniquely Arizona institution now delivers over $65 million in annual economic impact while captivating subscribers in all 50 states and more than 100 countries.

014 | 107 Days at Sea: The Journey That Changed Everything

Instructor: Jill Chalsty

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 16

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Zoom

At 63, Jill Chalsty boarded a ship alone, grieving her husband’s death and battling cancer. What began as a voyage around the world became something far more profound. In this lecture, Jill shares the story behind her memoir “Packets of Hope”, inviting you to travel alongside her through the ports she visited, the people she met, and the reflections that transformed personal adversity into resilience, strength, and global impact. Jill’s story is a testament to how one person’s courage can create ripples that span continents. Her memoir is available free at packetsofhope.com.

021 | America the Beautiful: 50 States50 Tastes

Instructor: Chef Larry Canepa

Class Cost: $30

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 21

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Buckle up for a coast-to-coast road trip through all 50 states, exploring the cities, monuments, people, culture, and iconic food of every corner of America. From rocky Maine to sunny California, sandy Florida to the lush Pacific Northwest, we’ll taste our way through the signature flavors of New England, the Heartland, the Southwest, and beyond. There are 50 dishes and 50 stories waiting to be discovered. Bring your appetite! This class includes a 60-minute lecture. Both morning and afternoon sessions will share lunch together from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

022 | America the Beautiful: 50 States50 Tastes

Instructor: Chef Larry Canepa

Class Cost: $30

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 21

Time: 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Location: ASU Health Futures Center

Class description same as above. Please see full description on class number 021.

071 | “Arizona Boots and Burgers: A Guide for Hungry Hikers”

Instructor: Roger Naylor

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Thursday, Oct. 22

Time: 1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Location: Fountain Hills Community

Join award-winning Arizona travel writer and author Roger Naylor, often called “the dean of Arizona travel writers”, for an entertaining journey across the state’s most scenic hikes and most memorable local eats. Inspired by his book Arizona Boots and Burgers, Naylor brings his trademark blend of outdoor adventure, storytelling, humor, and Arizona history to guide you from Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon to Sedona, Prescott, Tucson, the White Mountains, and beyond. Discover beloved trails paired with nearby, locally owned restaurants serving regional specialties: Sonoran hot dogs, barbecue, Indian tacos, cheese crisps, and classic burgers, with vegetarian options, too. A class filled with fascinating facts, travel insights, and vivid stories from decades of loving this remarkable state.

074 | Crème de la Crème: An Epicurean Odyssey

Instructor: Chef Larry Canepa

Class Cost: $19

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 27

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Sun Health - The Colonnade

Prepare to step beyond the velvet rope of the culinary world. Crème de la Crème isn’t just a cooking class; it’s an adventurous “food-tainment” experience designed for those with a taste for the extraordinary and a thirst for the exquisite. In this immersive session, we peel back the gold leaf on the world’s most legendary flavors. You won’t just learn about luxury, you’ll touch, taste, and master the ingredients that define opulence across the globe.

076 | A Culinary Vacation: Connection & Inspiration, Plate by Plate

Instructor: Chef Sasha Raj

Class Cost: $25

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 28

Time: 5:00 - 7:30 p.m.

Location: ASU Chandler Innovation Center

Join award-winning Valley chef Sasha for our fifth Everybody Eats event, and this season, we’re heading to the ASU Chandler Innovation Center! Fall is the perfect season to slow down, connect, and savor. This experience explores how preparing and sharing food can create space for rest, healing, meaningful fellowship, and a true sense of belonging. Arrive early to explore the Chandler Innovation Center’s Fabrication Shop and craft your own custom leather keychain before enjoying another delicious cooking demonstration.

081 | Global Food Journeys: The Story of Chocolate

Instructor: Kathleen Dixon

Class Cost: $25

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 2

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: ASU Chandler Innovation Center

■ OLLI Workshop

Discover how a humble bean from the tropical forests of the Americas became a global obsession. Taste different styles of chocolate as we trace its path through history, empire, and innovation, and discuss the environmental and ethical issues tied to its production today.

International Travel Ireland

Discover the culinary and scenic landscapes that inspired poets, from Belfast’s Titanic Quarter to the windswept cliffs of the Atlantic Coast. This tour of Ireland will connect you with the land and flavors that define the Emerald Isle.

Food & Landscapes of Ireland

ASU Featured Faculty: Kathleen Dixon

13 Days | May 17 - 29, 2027

From Belfast’s Titanic Quarter to the windswept cliffs of the Atlantic coast, this culinary and scenic journey through Ireland connects you to the land, the people, and the flavors that define the Emerald Isle. Curated exclusively for OLLI Arizona State, you’ll go beyond the postcard views: visiting working farms, savoring artisan tastings, and wandering landscapes that have inspired poets for centuries. Marvel at the Giant’s Causeway’s basalt columns, walk Derry’s historic walls, and stand in awe at Slieve League’s towering sea cliffs. Explore the Aran Islands’ Gaelic traditions, traverse the lunar-like Burren, and gaze from the Cliffs of Moher before ending in Dublin, discovering how history and culture come together in every bite.

Package Includes:

- 11 nights in handpicked hotels

- Breakfast daily

- 1 Lunch

- 5 Dinners with beer or wine

- 1 Beer Tasting

- 4 Food Tastings

- 1 Cooking Class

- 7 sightseeing tours

- Expert Tour Director & local guides

- Private deluxe motor coach

Included Highlights:

- Ulter Museum

- Titanic Museum

- Irish Cooking Class

- Giant’s Causeway

- Slieve League

- Aran Islands

- Cliffs of Moher

- Brú na Bóinne & Newgrange

- EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

- Guinness Storehouse Tour & Tasting

- Working Irish Farm Visit

Kathleen Dixon

Kathleen Dixon is a clinical professor. She teaches class in food science and nutriton. Her research interests include food service in healthcare and institutional settings, and pediatric diet therapy. She was awarded Outstanding Dietitian of the Year in 2014 by the Arizona Dietetic Association

Information Session:

Scan the QR code with your phone camera.

Recorded on: February 25, 2026

For Full Itinerary:

Scan the QR code with your phone camera.

You can also visit: www.asuolli.org

International Travel South Africa

Discover the wonders of Africa, from the vibrancy of Johannesburg’s culture and the breathtaking landscapes of Capetown, to various wildlife ecosystems of South Africa taking the next step in ecosystem conservation methods.

South Africa Expedition

10 Days | September 22 - October 1, 2027

Pre-Trip Option | September 19 - 22, 2027

This immersive educational expedition begins in Johannesburg, Africa’s vibrant economic and cultural hub. Participants explore the Cradle of Humankind and Sterkfontein Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most significant paleoanthropological landscapes, offering insight into early human origins. The experience continues with an exclusive visit to the Ann Van Dyk Cheetah Centre.

The journey then moves to a premier Big Five Nature reserve for an in-depth look at conservation and an unforgettable African Photographic Safari. Here, guests engage directly with conservation teams, including the head veterinarian and anti-poaching unit, and visit the wildlife rehabilitation center, a vulture sanctuary, and the Born Free Foundation’s big cat rescue program. Guests will also enjoy two game drives a day and a nature walk.

Next up is Cape Town, where travelers take in the city’s breathtaking landscapes on a full-day Cape Peninsula tour, explore penguin colonies and botanical treasures, and embark on a Marine Big Five excursion with expert marine biologists. Visits to SANCCOB and Rietvlei Wetland Reserve round out the journey, offering a comprehensive look at marine and avian conservation and completing a transformative educational adventure through South Africa’s ecosystems, wildlife, and natural wonders.

For those who want to begin their adventure with an extraordinary experience, enjoy a 3-night pre-trip extension to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, Victoria Falls. Witness the breathtaking power of one of the world's greatest waterfalls and the magic of twilight on the Zambezi River before embarking on your safari. This unforgettable introduction sets the stage for a journey filled with wonder, incredible wildlife, and transformative conservation experiences.

Leon & Betsy Vogel

Leon and Betsy Vogel met on safari over 30 years ago. Leon was working in one of the top lodges in South Africa as a safari guide and lodge manager and that is where they met! Together, they have travelled extensively in Africa and to over 40 countries across the globe. For the past 3 years, they have spent over 50 days each year in Africa learning about and experiencing the African bush and visiting 10-15 new and different lodges and game reserves.

Learn More: Details including full itinerary and launch meeting information available Aug. 3.

International Travel Spain & Portugal

Discover the sun-drenched shores of Lisbon, the grand boulevards of Madrid, and the ancient spirit of the Camino de Santiago in this unique and expansive tour of the Iberian Peninsula.

Madrid, the Camino & the Portuguese Coast

13 Days | October 7 - 19, 2027

From the grand boulevards of Madrid to the sun-drenched shores of Lisbon, this journey traces the soul of the Iberian Peninsula, with the ancient spirit of the Camino de Santiago woven throughout. Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims through the storied streets of Leon and on to Santiago de Compostela, where the legendary cathedral has welcomed weary travelers for centuries. Cross into Portugal to discover Porto’s riverside charm and world-famous wines, with a moving day trip to the sacred sanctuary of Fatima along the way. The adventure culminates in Lisbon, a city of sweeping viewpoints, golden light, and irresistible energy, a fitting final chapter to an unforgettable Iberian story.

Package Includes:

- 11 nights in handpicked hotels

- Breakfast daily

- 4 dinners with beer or wine

- 7 sightseeing tours

- Expert Tour Director & local guides

- Private deluxe motor coach

Included Highlights:

- Prado Museum

- Palace of Gaudi

- Astorga Leon Cathedral

- Santiago de Compostela Cathedral

- Stock Exchange Palace

- Douro River Cruise

- Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fátima

- Sao Jorge Castle

- Santo Antonio Church in Lisbon

Member Benefit: OLLI at ASU membership gives members access to exclusive travel opportunities.  Priority reservations are given to current members and previous travelers.

Dr. Eduardo Pagán

Dr. Eduardo Pagán is the Bob Stump Endowed Professor of History at Arizona State University’s West Valley campus. He received a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University, a master’s degree from the University of Arizona, and a master’s degree and doctorate from Princeton University in U.S. history. Pagán was one of the hosts of History Detectives (PBS), a historical consultant with American Experience (PBS), and has appeared in national and international documentaries and television shows.

Information Session:

Scan the QR code with your phone camera.

Mark Your Calendar: August 25, 2026

For Full Itinerary:

Scan the QR code with your phone camera.

You can also visit: www.asuolli.org

Domestic Travel Sedona Film Festival

Dr. Kevin Sandler

Dr. Kevin Sandler is an associate professor in the Film and Media Studies Program at ASU. He specializes in the contemporary U. S. media business, with a particular focus on censorship and animation. He is the coeditor of Hanna and Barbera: Conversations (University Press of Mississippi, 2024), author of The Naked Truth: Why Hollywood Doesn’t Make X-Rated Movies (Rutgers University Press, 2007), the co-editor of Titanic: Anatomy of a Blockbuster (Rutgers, 1999), and editor of Reading the Rabbit: Explorations in Warner Bros. Animation (Rutgers, 1998). He also has published in several anthologies, journals, and public facing outlets including Cinema Journal, Animation Journal, and Slate. His upcoming books are Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (Duke University Press) and The Hanna-Barbera Anthology (University of Texas Press).

5th Annual OLLI Sedona International Film Festival

ASU Featured Faculty: Dr. Kevin Sandler 3 Nights | February 25 - 28, 2027

- Must be a current OLLI Member

- We must have a minimum of (20) participants to offer event

Join Dr. Kevin Sandler for a four-day, three-night OLLI event at the 33rd Sedona International Film Festival. The film festival is a nine-day event that features more than 150 independent films from around the world. From narrative features to documentaries, animation to feature films, the festival includes Q&A discussions with filmmakers, free workshops, seminars and panel discussions, and much more. The registration fee is $445.00. The registration fee includes the items listed below and will cover the stipend paid to Dr. Sandler for his planning, expertise, facilitation, and behind-the-scenes access. The fee will be paid at time of registration with OLLI. It will become non-refundable on November 25, 2026.

Package Includes:

- Morning discussion (catered breakfast buffet included) led by Dr. Kevin Sandler in private meeting room

- Advanced selection of movies before general public (some films are not available at early release)

- Exclusive overview of the festival from the festival director

- 4 tickets for each registrant (1 for each of the 4 movies Dr. Sandler picks for discussion)

To Register Online: Scan the QR code with your phone camera.

You can also visit: www.asuolli.org

Additional items included with the event, but the cost is in addition to the OLLI registration fee are:

- NEW HOTEL - Courtyard by Marriott | 4105 W State Rte 89A, Sedona, AZ | $289 (King) & $309 (Double Queen) | Parking is $25+ tax, per vehicle, per night.

If the group reserves more than 22 rooms, there will be an additional discount on the room rate and parking rate. Each room will be reserved by the members themselves. The member is responsible for confirming the room cancellation policy directly with hotel. You will want to reserve your room as soon as possible. The link will be in 'My Class List' under 'meeting link' after the payment is completed for the OLLI registration fee.

- Members can request additional film tickets at a discounted film ticket price of $12 instead of $18 per film (Price subject to change). There is a maximum of four additional tickets, and the Alice Gill-Sheldon Theatre is not available for pre-selection. Once the film schedule is released, each registered member will be sent a list to request any additional tickets. Fee will be collected separately.

- Access to at least one festival party (cost TBD)

Travel Spotlight Sedona International Film Festival

Written by OLLI at ASU Member Tammy Austin

My annual trip to the Sedona International Film Festival all started a few years ago with a surprise discovery in the OLLI at ASU Spring Catalog. It was an entirely unexpected offering, but that initial trip was so incredible that I've returned every single year since.

I had previously attended the Boulder Film Festival. I was certain that my friends would love this similar Sedona offering as much as I had my first festival. Since that first year, even more friends are now joining us.

We packed the car, honestly I overpacked the car, and we made our way north from Phoenix. I have been to Sedona many times, but that first glimpse of those stunning red rock hills fills most with complete awe. About another fifteen minutes going up 89A, you’re inside a canyon of jagged red rock mountains. It only gets more beautiful the further you make your way in. Now add the lovely surprise of a dusting of snow.

I cannot say I was entirely shocked to learn that most attendees were seeing 4-6 films. For whatever reason, my friends and I dove in headfirst: four films each day over each of our three days. If the truth be told, it was a bit exhausting but still exhilarating in some wild crazy committed way. We didn’t even know that we had become groupies. Every year we say we will do fewer films and every year we do just as many, but go up a day earlier. Like I said….old lady groupies!

Our gang of about 20-25 assembled at a nearby hotel which offers a hot breakfast. Each morning between films we were led by the deft, cerebral and articulate Dr. Kevin Sandler, Director of Film Studies at ASU. Kevin (as he offers to us for ease) has a way of listening first and then through research, and a deep understanding of the hows and whys of filmmaking, helps us to see things entirely beyond our mind’s grasp. Many of us have expressed that this richness follows us after the festival. Our view has been altered, widened. In short…we have learned a few things.

Kevin was joined by Jared Swerzenski, OLLI’s Director, who assists in keeping us organized and supports whatever needs arise. SIFF (as we affectionately now call the festival) was first pitched to OLLI by Jared….. and as they say, the rest is history.

Most films offer a talkback with either writers, directors, or subjects about whom the film has been written. There are some party offerings which are filled with creatives. There are even filmmaking

workshops. One that I particularly enjoyed was about procuring funding across multiple sources. Even Arizona has some budget for this purpose.

We all come from different backgrounds. Think…..lively…..not quite combative….but opinions are expressed. It helps to get out of our own heads and explore other perspectives. The group humbles me and my friends. Each attendee has their own perspective, informed by their diverse range of knowledge and life experience.

The Sedona Film Festival started in 1995 as just a three day festival. Now over its nine days each year, somewhere between 10,000-15,000 people descend on Sedona. The whole town is abuzz, so reservations are a must.

If you venture out to local coffee shops and the like, you are likely to have conversations and overhear things…well it is Sedona. Think chakras, energy fields and a whole lot more! The locals run the gamut and will talk to you about anything and everything! Imagine a ukulele playing singer songwriter at 9:00 in the morning. One cannot make this up!

Patrick Schweiss is the SIFF Executive Director now for 21 years. Imagine the most organized, problem solver on his feet, passionate person. Now add to this your favorite animated theater friend from high school. You got it, Patrick is a stunningly talented fundraiser and communicator, with a galant can do attitude in the face of whatever is thrown at him. How he does all that he does makes me keep looking around for his body double. He even took the time to welcome our group and answer all of our festival questions at our hotel breakfast.

Over 1,500 films were reviewed, and about 150 made the cut. They are from every genre, many countries, varied in length and subject matter. We had the opportunity to vote after each film, and at the festival's end there were published awards. From various film festivals where an offering consistently is a favorite, it may even get picked up by a streaming service.

You can expect to be informed deeply, occasionally shocked, brought to tears, and often just entertained. You may come away with a deeper understanding of us as a species on this planet. It may even change how you see yourself and feel your place in our diverse world.

Special Interest Groups

World Tastes

Facilitator: Jo Henning

Start Date: Thursday, Sep. 10

Time: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Location: Various

Join our delightful culinary journey designed for members ready to step out of their food “comfort zone.” We will explore diverse cultures through their cuisine in our unique classrooms, meeting for lunch at various world restaurants throughout central Phoenix and the West Valley. Savor authentic flavors, make new friends, and occasionally enrich your understanding of global traditions. Perfect for food lovers seeking adventure and connection! This SIG will meet once a month, usually on the second Thursday, from September through December. The restaurant location will be shared after registration. Subsequent Thursday lunch dates will be determined by the group. There is no fee for this SIG. Each member will be responsible for their own lunch.

Volunteer SIG

Facilitator: Kerry Fahey Dates: 2026 - 2027

Volunteers are the heart of our community. They play a vital role in supporting our classes and events. OLLI volunteers are not “helpers”, they are culture builders and help shape the member experience. Whether assisting in the classroom, moderating a Zoom, helping spread the word, or leading a special interest group, their contributions are deeply valued and vital to OLLI’s day-today operations!

Opportunities include the following:

• Classroom Volunteers

• Member Moderators

• Leadership Advisor Committee

• Special Interest Group Facilitator

• OLLI Ambassadors

• AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program

Great Decisions - Current Affairs

Facilitator: Kathleen Adamson

Cost: $10 (One-time fee)

Dates: Saturdays, Sep. 26, Oct. 17, Nov. 21, Dec. 19

Time: 10:00 a.m. - noon

Location: Tempe Public Library

A discussion group using materials provided by the Foreign Policy Association (fpa. org), facilitated by Kathleen Adamson, Jim Stephens, Ph.D., and Joe Schelzo. This SIG is a discussion group where all members are expected to prepare in advance and willingly share experiences, readings, and cultural perspectives in a civil environment. This is a small group of fewer than 20 with opportunities for all to share in the discussion. The book is purchased at www. fpa.org/great_decisions for $35. We will meet on the 3rd Saturday of each month.

Topics we will be covering:

• Ukraine and the Future of European Society

• Multilateral Institutions in a Changing World

• U.S. Engagement with Africa

• The Future of Human Rights & International Law in a Divided World.

Flash Memoir Writing

Facilitators: Aimee Shramko & Jerry Grula

Cost: $80 (One-time fee)

Dates: Thursdays, Sep 17 & Oct 1,15, 29 & Nov 12, 19 & Dec 3, 10

Time: 10:30 a.m. - noon

Location: Zoom

Ready to grow and improve as a writer? Whether you are writing stories to share with family or have loftier intentions to publish, you’ll find that the best flash memoirs (1,000 words or less) aren’t merely anecdotal; they’re emotionally compelling. This will be a participatory group of 10 members who are expected to write memoirs, submit them via a secure portal, and review each other’s submissions before each meeting. We will provide constructive feedback to one another as we grow and learn. Our sessions will be led by LA-based writer Jill Hoppe, whose work spans film, television, animation, stage, and short fiction. She is a graduate of UCLA’s TV writing program and the winner of several prizes, including the Austin Film Festival and the PAGE International Awards. We’ll explore topics related to the craft of writing, including narrative structure, thematic elements, character design, conflict and stakes, tricks to improve dialogue and prose, and the psychology of unpacking difficult memories. Those interested will have the option of publishing their stories on the ASU OLLI Community Blog. An $80 fall fee per member will cover our instructor’s costs. Instructions for the collection will be given at the first meeting.

Let’s ‘Listen to the Music’ Together

Facilitators: Jo Ellen Alberhasky

Start Date: Friday, Oct. 10

Time: 4:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Location: Various

Calling all music lovers! Like to hear live music in all kinds of venues – big, small, local talent, world-acclaimed, club or MIM acoustic; interested in all kinds of music, or maybe jazz is your groove; craving a little education or trivia on your favorite vocalist – this SIG is for you. We will meet 1-2 times a month to find some music activity that ‘rocks’ your soul. This SIG is for those who are tired of attending concerts alone, love to swap tips on where to find great music, or simply want more music in their lives! The first meeting will be at The Vig at McCormick, located at 7345 N Via Paseo Del Sur, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. Future locations depend on activity. Subsequent events to be decided by the group. This SIG will start in October, with a specific date and time for the first meetup sent out after registration. Fee for SIG - $0 - All members must pay for their own ticket/cover charge for individual events.

OLLI Hikes the Valley: One

Facilitator: Cherie Stafford

Dates: Fridays, Nov. 13, Dec. 11

Time: 8:30 a.m.

Location: Various

Join us for a fun, monthly hiking group exploring easy-to-moderate trails (4-5 miles) around the Valley. We will meet at designated trailheads, with the first location shared after registration. Some hikes may be led by volunteer trail docents who will share insights about local desert plants and wildlife. Future trail locations will be selected by participants during the first hike. Hiking sticks, snacks, and water are recommended. This is a great opportunity to enjoy nature, stay active, and make new friends while discovering the beauty of our desert surroundings. Hikes will be on November 13 and December 11 — come explore with us!

OLLI Hikes the Valley: Two

Facilitator: Alison Van Uum

Dates: Tuesdays, Oct. 6, Nov. 3, Dec. 1

Time: 9:00 a.m.

Location: Various

Join us for a fun, monthly hiking group exploring easy to moderate trails (3–6 miles) around the Valley. We’ll meet on the last Tuesday of each month at 9:00 a.m. at designated trailheads, with the first location shared after registration. Some hikes may be led by volunteer trail docents who will share insights about local desert plants and wildlife. Future trail locations will be selected by participants during the first hike. Hiking sticks, snacks, and water are recommended. This is a great opportunity to enjoy nature, stay active, and make new friends while discovering the beauty of our desert surroundings. Hikes run once a month through April — come explore with us!

Classes August

004 | Chemistry in the Real World - pg. 27

Classes

September

4 Sessions: Thursdays, Aug. 6, 13, 20, 27

005 | Your Guide to OLLI at ASU - pg. 8

1 Session: Tuesday, Aug. 11

006 | Navigating OLLI Online: Bring Your Device & Your Questions - pg. 8

1 Session: Wednesday, Aug. 12

007 | The Future of War: The Paradox of Accuracy - pg. 28

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Aug. 18, 25

008 | Discover Citizen Science: Learn, Explore, & Contribute to Real Research - pg.

9

1 Session: Monday, Aug. 24

009 | Behind the Ballot: A Tour of the Maricopa County Election Center - pg. 41

1 Session: Thursday, Sep. 10

010 | Fortunato Film School: “Jaws” - pg. 13

2 Sessions: Monday & Tuesday, Sep. 14, 15

011 | Travel & Pop Culture: Places Featured in Your Favorite Movies & TV Shows - pg. 65

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 14

012 | 100 Years Grand: The Story of Arizona Highways Magazine - pg. 66

1 Session: Tuesday, Sep. 15

013 | Nothing New Under the Sun: America Then & Now - pg. 42

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 15, 22

014 | 107 Days at Sea: The Journey That Changed Everything - pg. 67

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 16

015 | Six Research-Backed Habits for a Sharper, Healthier Brain - pg. 61

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 16

016 | Laser Cutting Basics - Let’s Make Coasters - pg. 29

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 16

017 | Scandinavian Folkdance - pg. 14

2 Sessions: Wednesdays, Sep. 16, 23

018 | The Fall of the Roman Empire - pg. 43

3 Sessions: Thursdays, Sep. 17, 24 & Oct. 1

019 | Remembering Robert Redford - pg. 15

3 Sessions: Thursdays, Sep. 17, 24 & Oct. 1

020 | Ukraine & Russia I & II: Past, Present & Future - pg. 43

1 Session: Friday, Sep. 18

021 | America the Beautiful: 50 States - 50 Tastes - pg. 67

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 21

022 | America the Beautiful: 50 States - 50 Tastes - pg. 67

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 21

023 | Embracing Al: Enhancing Lives & Communities - pg. 29

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 21

024 | Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: A Journey Through Sound & Story - pg. 15

1 Session: Tuesday, Sep. 22

025 | Water Insecurity: Hidden Challenges in a Thirsty World - pg. 29

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 23

026 | Nutrition & Brain Health: What You Eat May Change How You Think - pg. 62

1 Session: Wednesday, Sep. 23

027 | What Every Voter Should Know: Elections in Maricopa County - pg. 44

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 23

028 | Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western - pg. 16

1 Session: Thursday, Sep. 24

029 | Great Artists in American Roots Music - pg. 16

6 Sessions: Mondays, Sep. 28 & Oct. 5, 12, 19, 26 & Nov. 2

030 | The Great Jazz Revival - pg. 17

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 28

031 | Medical Marijuana: From Mana to Mass Hysteria to Medicine to Munchiespg. 30

1 Session: Monday, Sep. 28

032 | Winning the White House: The Evolution of the Presidency - pg. 44

6 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 29 & Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 & Nov. 3

033 | The Science & Politics of Vaccinespg. 30

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 29 & Oct. 6

034 | Exploring the Masters of Jazz: Miles Davis - pg. 17

1 Session: Tuesday, Sep. 29

035 | Apple at 50: How it Revolutionized Computing and Transformed Daily Life - pg. 30

6 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 29 & Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 & Nov. 3

036 | The Birth of the Beat Generation - pg. 45

6 Sessions: Tuesdays, Sep. 29 & Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 & Nov. 3

037 | The History of Jazz Saxophone - pg. 18

2 Sessions: Wednesday & Sunday, Sep. 30, Oct. 4

038 | Micro-Memoir & Prose Poetry: Big Stories, Small Containers - pg. 18

2 Sessions: Wednesdays, Sep. 30 & Oct. 7

Discover Our Community Blog

Connect with fellow learners on the member-led community blog.

Classes October

Keep Up-to-Date:

Scan the QR code with your phone camera to follow our Facebook.

You can also visit: facebook.com/olliasu/

040 | “Studies Show...” (Or Do They?): Under the Hood of a Scientific Study - pg. 31

6 Sessions: Thursdays, Oct. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & Nov. 5

041 | From the Margins to the Major Leagues: How Women Became a Decisive Political & Economic Force - pg. 45

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 2

042 | Become a Smarter News Consumerpg. 31

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 2

043 | Bows for Stringed Instruments: The History, Development & Significance of the Bow - pg. 19

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 2 & Nov. 6-8

044 | Feel the Force: A Live Gravity Presentation in the Dorrance Dome - pg. 31

1 Session: Sunday, Oct. 4

045 | Galveston’s Jewish Heritage: The Ellis Island of the West - pg. 45

1 Session: Monday, Oct. 5

046 | Leisure and Quality of Life: Managing a Healthy Balance - pg. 63

1 Session: Monday, Oct. 5

047 | Cannabis Science: An Experiential Journey From Plant to Product - pg. 32

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 6

048 | Samuel Adams: The Father of the Revolution - pg. 46

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Oct. 6, 13

049 | Fingerprints Uncovered: What Your Prints Reveal Beyond Your Identity - pg. 9

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 6

050 | Will Al Destroy Our Economic, Social & Political Systems? - pg. 32

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 7

051 | Navigating an Automated World: Careers, Al, & What Comes Next - pg. 33

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 7

052 | The Search for an American Soundpg. 19

3 Sessions: Wednesdays, Oct. 7, 14, 21

053 | Leave the Rockets, Take the Space Elevator! - pg. 9

1 Session: Thursday, Oct. 8

054 | America’s Immigration Dilemma: Past and Present in Perspective - pg. 46

4 Sessions: Thursdays, Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29

055 | Awakening the Sleeping Giant: How the U.S. Entered World War II - pg. 47

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 9

056 | Poetry & Music at MIM: Explore, Create & Share II - pg. 20

2 Sessions: Mondays, Oct. 12, 19

057 | Romeo & Juliet: Music, Movement, & Tragic Love Through Ballet - pg. 20

2 Sessions: Tuesday & Saturday, Oct. 13, 24

058 | The Great Brown’s Ranch Land Warpg. 47

2 Sessions: Wednesdays, Oct. 14, 21

059 | How Arizona Became a Battleground: Politics, Growth, & a State in Transformation - pg. 47

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 14

060 | Rediscovering the Night: Astronomy, Community, & Dark Skies - pg. 33

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 14

061 | Phoenix Art Museum Presents Kim Chong Hak: Painter of Seoraksan - pg. 21

1 Session: Thursday, Oct. 15

062 | Exploring the Masters of Jazz: Great Musicians Play Cole Porter - pg. 21

2 Sessions: Thursdays, Oct. 15, 22

063 | Doing Government Right: What Public Libraries Can Teach Us All - pg. 48

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 16

064 | The Invisible Thread: 3,500 Years of Global Supply Chain - pg. 37

6 Sessions: Mondays, Oct. 19, 26 & Nov. 2, 9, 16, 23

065 | The Modern Supreme Court: Politics, Polarization & Worldview - pg. 48

2 Sessions: Mondays, Oct. 19, 26

066 | The Dark Side of Fun - pg. 63

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 20

067 | Pros & Cons: Al in Medical School Education & Research - pg. 37

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 20

068 | The Life & Art of Georgia O’Keefe - pg. 21

3 Sessions: Wednesdays, Oct. 21, 28 & Nov. 4

069 | How Catherine Became Great - pg. 49

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 21

070 | Apache History and Culture: From the Bering Strait to Geronimo - pg. 49

2 Sessions: Wednesdays, Oct. 21, 28

071 | “Arizona Boots and Burgers: A Guide for Hungry Hikers” - pg. 68

1 Session: Thursday, Oct. 22

072 | Learning from Nature: From Snakes to Surgical Robots - pg. 37

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 23

073 | Women Voters in 2026: Power, Fracture, & the Fight for Political Meaningpg. 49

1 Session: Monday, Oct. 26

074 | Crème de la Crème: An Epicurean Odyssey - pg. 68

1 Session: Tuesday, Oct. 27

075 | Why Just Visit Cambridge, When You Can Live It? - pg. 52

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 28

076 | A Culinary Vacation: Connection & Inspiration, Plate by Plate - pg. 68

1 Session: Wednesday, Oct. 28

077 | S’edav Va’aki’: Ingenuity, Living Legacy & the Power of Partnership - pg. 50

1 Session: Thursday, Oct. 29

078 | The Cambridge Origins of the USApg. 52

1 Session: Thursday, Oct. 29

079 | OLLI Curiosity Fair - pg. 10

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 30

080 | Challenging the Political Duopoly in Modern Britain - pg. 52

1 Session: Friday, Oct. 30

Classes

November

081 | Global Food Journeys: The Story of Chocolate - pg. 68

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 2

082 | Nature Journaling: Observing, Reflecting, & Creating - pg. 22

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 2

083 | Understanding & Maintaining Memory - pg. 63

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 2

084 | From Personal to Global: The Best of Alfred Hitchcock, Part 3 - pg. 22

2 Sessions: Mondays, Nov. 2, 9

085 | Life in the Universe: Space Exploration & ASU’s Role in the Search - pg. 38

3 Sessions: Tuesdays, Nov. 3, 10, 17

086 | Three Bags Full: A Cozy Animal Mystery - pg. 23

2 Sessions: Tuesdays, Nov. 3, 10

087 | Arizona Science Center Presents: The Art & Science of Bookbinding - pg. 23

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 3

088 | German WW II POWs in Arizona - pg. 50

1 Session: Wednesday, Nov. 4

089 | The Meaning of Gaman: Resilience, Hope & Dignity in Arizona’s WWII Incarceration Camps - pg. 50

1 Session: Wednesday, Nov. 4

090 | Smartcracker: Dorothy Parker’s Enduring Wit - pg. 23

2 Sessions: Thursdays, Nov. 5, 12

091 | Let’s Talk Turkeys! - pg. 23

1 Session: Thursday, Nov. 5

092 | It’s Your Life: Write Your Autobiography - pg. 24

2 Sessions: Thursday, Nov. 5, 12

093 | AI & Healthcare: Ethical, Legal & Policy Dimensions - pg. 38

1 Session: Friday, Nov. 6

094 | The Global Middle Ages at the Metropolitan Museum of Art - pg. 24

1 Session: Friday, Nov. 6

095 | Gettysburg & Midway: Historical Parallels in Command - pg. 53

1 Session: Friday, Nov. 6

096 | Inside the Mind of a Criminologist: What Others Rarely See - pg. 59

1 Session: Saturday, Nov. 7

097 | Earth & Life: How Ecosystems Form, Adapt & Change - pg. 38

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 9

098 | Cannabis Science: An Experiential Journey From Plant to Product - pg. 39

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 10

099 | Celebrating American Craft in Contemporary Art - pg. 24

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 10

100 | The Hunt for the Zombie Killer: Why Cold Cases Matter - pg. 11

1 Session: Thursday, Nov. 12

SPECIAL EVENT | Tiny Rememberings: An Anthology of Poetry & Micro-Prose - pg. 18

1 Session: Friday, Nov. 13

101 | Erasing Ukrainian Identity as a Tool of War - pg. 53

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 16

102 | Saints, Strangers & Stowaways: The Fascinating Passengers of the Mayflowerpg. 53

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 16

103 | Remarkable Women Who Shaped the Middle East - pg. 54

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 16

104 | The Very Long Con: Fakes & Forgeries in Ancient Greece & Rome - pg. 54

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 17

105 | Modern & Historical O’odham Culture - pg. 54

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 17

106 | Why Healing Changes After 50 & What Actually Helps - pg. 64

1 Session: Wednesday, Nov. 18

107 | Cancer Time Machines: Reconstructing the Hidden History of Human Cells - pg. 39

1 Session: Tuesday, Nov. 19

108 | Frank Ferrante’s Groucho: A Night With the Legend - pg. 24

1 Session: Sunday, Nov. 22

109 | Dropping the Musket to Reach the Ballot: A Brief History of Voting Rights & the 15th Amendment - pg. 55

1 Session: Monday, Nov. 30

112 | Horror on the Hassayampa: The Story of the 1890 Walnut Grove Dam Disaster - pg. 55

1 Session: Wednesday, Dec. 2

113 | The Power of Connection: A Celebration of Learning & Community - pg. 25

1 Session: Thursday, Dec. 3

114 | Gettysburg & Midway: Historical Parallels in Command - pg. 56

1 Session: Monday, Dec. 7

115 | Johnny Guitar, McCarthyism & 1950s Sedona, Arizona - pg. 25

1 Session: Monday, Dec. 7

116 | E Pluribus Unum: Religious Pluralism in America - pg. 56

1 Session: Tuesday, Dec. 8

117 | Get Your Kicks at 100: A Route 66

Celebration - pg. 11

1 Session: Tuesday, Dec. 8

118 | Investigating Long-Term Missing & Unidentified Persons - pg. 60

1 Session: Wednesday, Dec. 9

119 | The Day the Music Died - pg. 56

1 Session: Wednesday, Dec. 9

120 | Are All Calories the Same? Macronutrient Strategies for Weight Management - pg. 64

Classes December

110 | The Emperor Nero: Monster, Myth, or Misunderstood? - pg. 11

1 Session: Tuesday, Dec. 1

111 | Understanding Cancer: From Mystery to Medical Breakthroughs - pg. 64

1 Session: Tuesday, Dec. 1

1 Session: Wednesday, Dec. 9

Keep Up-to-Date:

Scan the QR code with your phone camera to follow our Facebook.

You can also visit: facebook.com/olliasu/

Classes By Location

Arizona Science Center

044 | Feel the Force: A Live Gravity Presentation in the Dorrance Dome

087 | Arizona Science Center Presents: The Art & Science of Bookbinding

Ballet Arizona

057 | Romeo & Juliet: Music, Movement, & Tragic Love Through Ballet

ASU Chandler Innovation Center

016 | Laser Cutting Basics - Let’s Make Coasters

076 | A Culinary Vacation: Connection & Inspiration, Plate by Plate

081 | Global Food Journeys: The Story of Chocolate

Dark Sky Discovery Center

116 | The Day the Music Died

060 | Rediscovering the Night: Astronomy, Community, & Dark Skies

Desert Foothills Library

069 | How Catherine Became Great

094 | The Global Middle Ages at the Metropolitan Museum of Art Foothills Recreation & Aquatic Center

091 | Let’s Talk Turkeys!

Fountain Hills Community Center

071 | “Arizona Boots and Burgers: A Guide for Hungry Hikers”

Friendship Village

012 | 100 Years Grand: The Story of Arizona Highways Magazine

050 | Will Al Destroy Our Economic, Social & Political Systems?

088 | German WW II POWs in Arizona

109 | Dropping the Musket to Reach the Ballot: A Brief History of Voting Rights & the 15th Amendment

Glendale Foothills Library

049 | Fingerprints Uncovered: What Your Prints Revel Beyond Your Identity

117 | Get Your Kicks at 100: A Route 66 Celebration

Grow Sciences

047 | Cannabis Science: An Experiential Journey From Plant to Product

098 | Cannabis Science: An Experiential Journey From Plant to Product

Scan QR Code Register Online

006 | Navigating OLLI Online: Bring Your Device & Your Questions

015 | Six Research-Backed Habits for a Sharper, Healthier Brain

017 | Scandinavian Folkdance

021 & 022 | America the Beautiful: 50 States - 50 Tastes

027 | What Every Voter Should Know: Elections in Maricopa County

031 | Medical Marijuana: From Mana to Mass Hysteria to Medicine to Munchies

041 | From the Margins to the Major Leagues: How Women Became a Decisive Political & Economic Force

042 | Become a Smarter News Consumer

045 | Galveston’s Jewish Heritage: The Ellis Island of the West

051 | Navigating an Automated World: Careers, Al, & What Comes Next

055 | Awakening the Sleeping Giant: How the U.S. Entered World War II

058 | The Great Brown’s Ranch Land War

063 | Doing Government Right: What Public Libraries Can Teach Us All

068 | The Life & Art of Georgia O’Keefe 072 | Learning from Nature: From Snakes to Surgical Robots

073 | Women Voters in 2026: Power, Fracture, & the Fight for Political Meaning

079 | OLLI Curiosity Fair

080 | Challenging the Political Duopoly in Modern Britain

082 | Nature Journaling: Observing, Reflecting, & Creating

089 | The Meaning of Gaman: Resilience, Hope & Dignity in Arizona’s WWII Incarceration Camps

093 | AI & Healthcare: Ethical, Legal & Policy Dimensions

096 | Inside the Mind of a Criminologist: What Others Rarely See

097 | Earth & Life: How Ecosystems Form, Adapt & Change

102 | Saints, Strangers & Stowaways: The Fascinating Passengers of the Mayflower

103 | Remarkable Women Who Shaped the Middle East

106 | Why Healing Changes After 50 & What Actually Helps

112 | Horror on the Hassayampa: The Story of the 1890 Walnut Grove Dam Disaster

114 | Gettysburg & Midway: Historical Parallels in Command

115 | Johnny Guitar, McCarthyism & 1950s Sedona, Arizona

118 | Investigating Long-Term Missing & Unidentified Persons

ASU Kerr Cultural Center

108 | Frank Ferrante’s Groucho: A Night With the Legend

Mesa Arts Center

030 | The Great Jazz Revival

099 | Celebrating American Craft in Contemporary Art

Mirabella at ASU

107 | Cancer Time Machines: Reconstructing the Hidden History of Human Cells

Musical Instrument Museum

056 | Poetry & Music at MIM: Explore, Create & Share II

National Osher Zoom

029 | Great Artists in American Roots Music

032 | Winning the White House: The Evolution of the Presidency

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

036 | The Birth of the Beat Generation

040 | “Studies Show...” (Or Do They?): Under the Hood of a Scientific Study

064 | The Invisible Thread: 3,500 Years of Global Supply Chain

Phoenix Art Museum

061 | Phoenix Art Museum Presents Kim Chong Hak: Painter of Seoraksan

Maricopa County Election Center

009 | Behind the Ballot: A Tour of the Maricopa County Election Center

Phoenix Symphony

043 | Bows for Stringed Instruments: The History, Development & Significance of the Bow

S’edav Va’aki Museum

077 | S’edav Va’aki’: Ingenuity, Living Legacy & the Power of Partnership

Scottsdale Library - Mustang

053 | Leave the Rockets, Take the Space Elevator!

100 | The Hunt for the Zombie Killer: Why Cold Cases Matter

ASU Skysong

078 | The Cambridge Origins of the USA

Fairway Recreation Center

Sun Health - Freedom Plaza

083 | Understanding & Maintaining Memory

023 | Embracing Al: Enhancing Lives & Communities

067 | Pros & Cons: Al in Medical School Education & Research

Sun Health - Grandview Terrace

020 | Ukraine & Russia I & II: Past, Present & Future

095 | Gettysburg & Midway: Historical Parallels in Command

Sun Health - La Loma

034 | Exploring the Masters of Jazz: Miles Davis

046 | Leisure and Quality of Life: Managing a Healthy Balance

Sun Health - The Colonnade

011 | Travel & Pop Culture: Places Featured in Your Favorite Movies & TV Shows

074 | Crème de la Crème: An Epicurean Odyssey

Tempe Public Library

019 | Remembering Robert Redford

024 | Vivaldi’s Four Seasons: A Journey Through Sound & Story

033 | The Science & Politics of Vaccines

038 | Micro-Memoir & Prose Poetry: Big Stories, Small Containers

059 | How Arizona Became a Battleground: Politics, Growth, & a State in Transformation

062 | Exploring the Masters of Jazz: Great Musicians Play Cole Porter

065 | The Modern Supreme Court: Politics, Polarization & Worldview

066 | The Dark Side of Fun: Exploring Taboo Recreation

075 | Dream Big: An Information Session on the Girton College Summer Program

085 | Life in the Universe: Space Exploration & ASU’s Role in the Search

086 | Three Bags Full: A Cozy Animal Mystery

092 | It’s Your Life: Write Your Autobiography

101 | Erasing Ukrainian Identity as a Tool of War

104 | The Very Long Con: Fakes & Forgeries in Ancient Greece & Rome

111 | Understanding Cancer: From Mystery to Medical Breakthroughs

Tempe History Museum

113 | The Power of Connection: A Celebration of Learning & Community

The Nash Jazz Club

037 | The History of Jazz Saxophone

Western Spirit Museum

028 | Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western

Westward Ho

110 | The Emperor Nero: Monster, Myth, or Misunderstood?

Zoom

004 | Chemistry in the Real World

005 | Your Guide to OLLI at ASU

007 | The Future of War: The Paradox of Accuracy

008 | Discover Citizen Science: Learn, Explore, & Contribute to Real Research

010 | Fortunato Film School: “Jaws”

013 | Nothing New Under the Sun: America Then & Now

014 | 107 Days at Sea: The Journey That Changed Everything

018 | The Fall of the Roman Empire

025 | Water Insecurity: Hidden Challenges in a Thirsty World

026 | Nutrition & Brain Health: What You Eat May Change How You Think

048 | Samuel Adams: The Father of the Revolution

052 | The Search for an American Sound

054 | America’s Immigration Dilemma: Past and Present in Perspective

070 | Apache History and Culture: From the Bering Strait to Geronimo

084 | From Personal to Global: The Best of Alfred Hitchcock, Part 3

090 | Smartcracker: Dorothy Parker’s Enduring Wit

105 | Modern & Historical O’odham Culture

116 | E Pluribus Unum: Religious Pluralism in America

120 | Are All Calories the Same? Macronutrient Strategies for Weight Management

Keep Up-to-Date:

Scan the QR code with your phone camera to follow our Facebook.

You can also visit: facebook.com/olliasu/

OLLI at ASU Multi-Year Donors

This year we are proud to recognize members whose generosity has helped sustain OLLI at ASU for years. We celebrate our loyal donors who have supported OLLI for five or more years, and we offer special recognition to our Legacy Donors who have given nine or more years.

OLLI at ASU thrives because of members like you. As an independent, self-supporting program, we rely on the generosity of our community to keep lifelong learning accessible and affordable. Tuition and fees cover only a portion of our costs, making donor support essential to our success.

We would be honored to add another year to your legacy of support. Please consider making your 2026–2027 pledge today. Every gift, at every level, helps strengthen our community and ensures that OLLI continues to inspire, connect, and enrich the lives of lifelong learners.

12 Years

Marcia Colliat

Dr. Richard & Janet Knopf

11 Years

Aaron Carreon Ainsa & Gloria Aguilar

Anonymous Donor 1

Barbara Orr

Ronald Sassano

Robert & Shirley York

10 Years

Anonymous Donor 2

Anonymous Donor 3

Katherine Manker & Bruce Gardner

Anonymous Donor 4

Sydney Holtan

Nan Jeannero

Julie & Douglas Newton

Judith Novak

Donald & Sandra Weir

Howard & Noreen Wernick

9 Years

Penny Boone Darell & Rosemary Case

Bill & Donna Dehn

Nancy Foster

Deloitte Foundation

Anonymous Donor 5

James Hartman

Wendy Hultsman

Richard & Heather Marmor

Dennis & Kathryn Myers

Daniel & Sari Nagle

Kathleen Padula

Claire Sinay

Marcia Whiteside

8 Years

Kathleen Adamson

Marcia Colpas

Lawrence Conway

Donna & Bill Dehn

The Ayco Charitable Foundation

Rex & Beverly Gulbranson

Martha McLane

Janice & John Overdorff

Dewey & Sharon Reay

Douglas & Shirley Schermer

Patrick & Sandra Shannahan

Carol Smetana

William & Nancy Wolter

7 Years

Catherine & Frederic Ammann

Anonymous Donor 6

Kerry Wangberg & Elaine Cardwell

Thomas & Carol Crosby

Anonymous Donor 7

Martha Freeman

Stephen Tuttle & Susan Giamportone

William & Mary Grady

Stephanie & James Hayes

Anonymous Donor 8

Mary Horton

Joyce Keller

Alan & Karen Kranzberg

Manuel Leifer

Shirley Lowman

Judith Muller

Anne Owens

Manley & Barbara Perkel

Frederick & Mary Povinelli

Scott & Vicki Ruby

Susann Ruttenberg

Barry & George-Ann Silverman

Jack Slovisky

Charleen & David Thomas

Sally & Antolin Underwood

William & Elaine Vandenbosch

6 Years

Barbara Backes

David & Lois Berg

Maria Salvucci & Daniel Bernstein

Alispa Cain

Robert Caldwell

Stewart Carlough

Anonymous Donor 9

Lesley & Gregory Flaks

Jolene & David Gosling

Samuel & Toba Haberman

Judy & R. Hawkins

David & JoAnn Hopper

Diane Hughes

Marvin & Joyce Johnson

Howard & Trudy Kandell

Rosemary Kist

Jack & Cassandra Larsen

Jerald & Diane Lindfelt

Karen MacKenzie

David Meek

Michael Morris & Wendy Burnham Morris

Allen Nelson

Jeffrey Berg & Debra Paget

Dennis Parker

Thomas & Mary Anne Reyman

Eugene Severino & Carol Scarafiotti

Carol Scharlau

James & Margaret Schnur

Carol & Peter Seidl

Robert Stewart

Emilie Sulkes

Sara & Thomas Turner

Andrea Umlas

Valerie Vivian

Mary Jo & Martin Whalen

Josephine & Gerald Wilson

5 Years

Zale and Judy Asbell

Judith Bailey

Ron Brinkman

Estate of Hilda J. Brown

Harold & Judith Feldman

Ralph & Kathryn Flores

Harvey Gerstein

Cathleen Gorham

Ann & James Heimarck

Curtis & Julie Jackels

Michael & Susan Karlson

Paul Kent

Douglas & Rosalie Kirkman

Rachel Lawrence

Philip & Betty Leavitt

Arthur Lubin

Patricia MacGillivray

Matthew & Jo Ann Madonna

Patricia Magrath

Karolyn McCain

Gayle Pincus

Patricia Rocha & Francisco Ramirez

Cynthia Riley

Ruth Roman

Barbara & Zacc Russell

Bernard & Susan Salembier

William & Ann Seybold

Katherine Swartz

Anonymous Donor 10

A) ASU Chandler Innovation Center

249 E Chicago St, Chandler 85225

B) ASU Health Futures Center 6161 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix 85054

C) Desert Foothills Library 38443 N School House Rd, Cave Creek 85331

D) Fairway Recreation Center 10600 W Peoria Ave, Sun City 85351

E) Foothills Recreation & Aquatic Center 5600 W Union Hills Dr, Glendale 85308

F) Fountain Hills Community Center

13001 N La Montana Dr, Fountain Hills, 85268

G) Friendship Village 2645 E Southern Ave, Tempe 85282

H) Glendale Foothills Library 19055 N 57th Ave, Glendale 85308

I) Mesa Arts Center 1 E Main St, Mesa 85201

J) Mirabella at ASU 65 E University Dr, Tempe 85281

K) Scottsdale Library - Civic Center 3839 N Drinkwater Blvd, Scottsdale, 85251

L) Scottsdale Library - Mustang 10101 N 90th St, Scottsdale, 85258

M) Sun Health - Freedom Plaza 13373 N Plaza Del Rio Blvd, Peoria 85381

N) Sun Health - Grandview Terrace 14515 W Granite Valley Dr, Sun City West, 85375

O) Sun Health - La Loma Village 14154 W Denny Blvd, Litchfield Park, 85340

P) Sun Health - The Colonnade 19116 N Colonnade Way, Surprise, 85374

Q) Tempe Public Library 3500 S Rural Rd, Tempe 85282

R) Westward Ho 618 N Central Ave, Phoenix 85004

#1 Arizona Science Center

600 E Washington St, Phoenix 85004

#2 ASU Kerr Cultural Center 6110 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale 85253

#3 ASU Skysong 1365 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale 85257

#4 Ballet Arizona 2835 E Washington St, Phoenix 85034

#5 Grow Sciences

43rd Ave & Camelback (Exact details will be provided in a reminder email)

#6 International Dark Sky Discovery Center 12845 N La Montana Dr, Fountain Hills 85268

#7 Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center

510 S 3rd Ave, Phoenix 85003

#8 Musical Instrument Museum

4725 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix 85050

#9 Phoenix Art Museum 1625 N Central, Phoenix 85004

#10 S’edav Va’aki Museum 4619 E Washington St, Phoenix 85034

#11 Tempe History Museum 809 E Southern Ave, Tempe 85282

#12 The Nash Jazz Club 110 E Roosevelt St, Phoenix 85004

#13 The Phoenix Symphony 75 N 2nd St, Phoenix 85004

#14 Western Spirit Museum 3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale 85251

Find Our Locations

Scan the QR code with your phone camera

Click Hyperlink Below: OLLI Locations

Our Team

Jared Swerzenki Director jared.swerzenski@asu.edu

Jared has helped shape OLLI ASU through years of leadership advancing lifelong learning and healthy aging.

Tracy Grewe Business Operations Manager tmgrewe@asu.edu

Tracy manages business operations for OLLI at ASU, driving lifelong learning through efficient program support.

Kristi Schneider Program Coordinator kristina.schneider.1@asu.edu

Kristi coordinates ASU Health Futures Center, SIGs, email correspondance, and northeast partnerships.

Jolene Gosling Program Coordinator jolene.gosling@asu.edu

Jolene has been the cornerstone of building the Tempe Library location and a beloved historian of OLLI at ASU.

Susie Rego Program Coordinator srego93@asu.edu

Susie coordinates West Valley locations, Cave Creek, partnerships throughtout the valley and provides suport on the phones.

Lindsay Braun Program Coordinator lbraun21@asu.edu

Lindsay coordinates all Zoom programming, the Mesa Arts Center, Sun Health, and Downtown Phoenix locations.

Joanna Arteaga Ferrin Program Coordinator jferrin1@asu.edu

Joanna oversees OLLI at ASU social media, graphic design, marketing materials, and the production of the seasonal catalogs.

Abigail Murray Program Coordinator Abigail.J.Murray@asu.edu

Abigail coordinates East Valley locations, including Tempe and Chandler, while cultivating new community partnerships.

Registration

OLLI at ASU is a membership-based program. We have three membership options. OLLI membership gives you access to purchase classes and attend member-exclusive events.

The OLLI Membership also includes the following benefits:

• Discounted tickets and special exclusive member offers from Community Partners

• Educational Travel Opportunities

• Special Interest Groups

• Special Invitation to ASU Events

• Co- Generational Programs with ASU Faculty and ASU Students

Membership Options

Important Note: Registration for membership and class fees is per person, not per household. Additionally, OLLI at ASU does not record classes and we cannot guarantee that instructors will share their presentations.

001 | Annual Membership - $75

The Annual Membership gives members access to all in-person and Zoom classes and events offered by OLLI at ASU for three full semesters (fall, spring, summer).

Additional Benefits:

• Early registration for each semester

• Save money on membership fees

• Save time and purchase one membership each year

• Limited time purchase Jul. 15th - Oct. 30th

002 | Fall Semester Membership - $35

The Fall Semester Membership gives members access to all in person and Zoom classes and events offered by OLLI at ASU for one semester. Note: If you purchased an annual membership, you do not need to purchase a semester membership.

003 | Annual ZOOM Membership - $65

The Annual Zoom Membership gives members access to all Zoom classes only and events offered by OLLI at ASU for three full semesters (fall, spring, summer).

Note: If you purchased an annual or semester membership, you do not need to purchase a separate annual Zoom membership for each semester.

Additional Benefits:

• Early registration for the Fall semester

• Save money on membership fees

• Save time and purchase one membership each year

• Limited time purchase Jul. 15th - Oct.

30th

More Information

Member ID Cards: If you purchase an OLLI membership by Aug. 31, 2026 you will receive a physical ID card in the mail by Sep. 18, 2026. Any membership purchased after Aug. 31 will receive a digital ID card by email only.

Refund Policy: Membership fees are nonrefundable. Class fees are non-refundable, except in the event a class is canceled. Refunds will not be available in instances of double-booking (selecting classes that take place simultaneously).

Class Waitlist: If a class is full, you may join the waitlist. The class fee will appear in your shopping cart, but you will not be charged unless a seat becomes available. An OLLI program coordinator will contact you if a spot opens. Please do not attend a waitlisted class unless you have received confirmation from a coordinator.

If your plans change and you can no longer attend a class, please email olli@asu.edu as soon as possible so your seat can be offered to someone on the waitlist.

Register Online: www.asuolli.org

Contact Us: 602.543.6440 or olli@asu.edu