Bringing the best of ASU directly to our OLLI classrooms

Dr. Julia Sarreal

This fall, we are excited to welcome to the OLLI team Dr. Julia Sarreal. Dr. Sarreal is an Associate Professor at ASU's School of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies. Trained as a historian of Latin America (M.A. and Ph.D. from Harvard University) with a background in economics (B.A. from Swarthmore College), her research expertise spans a diverse range of interests in food, drugs, capitalism, and ethnohistory. Her recent research and second book has focused on yerba mate, a drink that she first encountered as a Peace Corps volunteer in Paraguay. Her work tracing the drink's cultural context across history has received a multitude of academic accolades, including the Helen Watson Buckner Memorial Fellowhip, and has been featured in national media.

Be sure to catch Dr. Sarreal at her ASU West campus class, Caffeine Chronicles: From Globalization to Cultural Significance (pg. 21) where she will be leading a fascinating discussion of the historical context of coffee, tea, chocolate, and yerba mate.

Dr. Craig Talmage

Phoenix-native and ASU Sun Devil Dr. Craig Talmage will be teaching two special Zoom courses this fall! Dr. Talmage is the Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship at Hobart and William Smith Colleges where he teaches economics, research methods, and social innovation. He received his PhD in Community Resources and Development from ASU and continues to serve as an ASU faculty associate both with our lifelong learning institute at ASU as well as ASU's School of Public Affairs. His research focuses on community well-being, community development, and mixed methods studies of aging, quality-of-life, and health.

Dr. Talmage will be bringing his experience translating social science theory into accessible learning to our OLLI Zoom classroom this semester. His first class, Building the Age-Friendly University (pg. 9), will invite members to learn about the broader research base surrounding lifelong learning institutes like our OLLI and reflect on their own experiences. His second, brand new class - Misfits & Shady Entrepreneurs: Lessons From Hackers, Saboteurs, & Outlaws (pg. 13) - will journey into the dark sides of entrepreneurship.

Dr. David Schildkret

Beloved longtime OLLI at ASU instructor Dr. David Schildkret, ASU Professor Emeritus, is back this semester to share his musical expertise with our community! In addition to his teaching work, David Schildkret is an active conductor, teacher, scholar, and performer. He is currently Director of Music Ministries at Dayspring United Methodist Church, Tempe, and served as Director of Choral Activities at ASU. He continues to lead the Mount Desert Summer Chorale in Maine as Music Director, a role he has had since 1999. On why we should study music, he notes: “Through music, we explore every facet of our humanity, because music is a uniquely human activity. It reconciles the contradictory aspects of human nature: reason and emotion, introspection and communication, conflict and resolution. Above all, music is joyful.”

Don't miss Dr. Schildkret's breakdown of the rich history behind Handel's Messiah: Musical Rite of the Holiday Season (pg. 27) at Tempe Connections at the library!

Expertise in voting behavior, public policy, and governance

Teaching Rise of the Independent Voter (pg. 15)

Expertise in community development, globalization, and urban planning Teaching Community Art Practice as Catalyst for Community Building (pg. 12)

OLLI Corps Taiwan faculty lead (pg. 34)

Expertise in fashion design, French luxury fashion

Co-teaching The Exciting World of French Luxury Fashion (pg. 23)

OLLI-ASU ILC Paris Trip faculty lead (pg. 35)