National Osher Online
Osher Online was created by the Osher National Resource Center (NRC) at Northwestern University, to expand member access, institute collaboration, sharing of resources, and ensure the legacy of over 120 Osher Institues. These classes are delivered by the Osher NRC, and its staff will provide moderator and technical assistance.
Osher Online classes are $70 each, and available to OLLI members only.
Space is limited. Registration will open August 4 and close September 21.
We hope you enjoy the opportunity to learn from premiere instructors along with OLLI members from across the nation!
Alexander Graham Bell and the Telephone, 150 Years Later
Wednesdays, October 15–November 19, 8:00–9:30 a.m. (PST)
Description
The telephone revolutionized communication and business, but how was it invented? This course explores Alexander Graham Bell’s groundbreaking 1875 concept, his struggles to commercialize it, and his rivalries with Elisha Gray and Thomas Edison. We will also examine AT&T’s rise and fall and the evolution from wired networks to today’s cellular and smartphone technologies.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Bernard (Bernie) Carlson is Vaughan Professor Emeritus of Humanities at the University of Virginia and an expert on invention, entrepreneurship, and the role of technology in society. He has received the Sally Hacker Prize from the Society for the History of Technology and the William Middleton Prize from the Institution of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. Carlson has also filmed Understanding the Inventions that Changed the World. Now based in Ireland, he directs the MS program in AgInnovation at the University of Galway, where he trains adult learners in product development, startups, and sustainable farming.
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American History in Six Songs (Approximately)
Tuesdays, October 14–November 18, 2:00–3:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
Whether you’re in Macon, Memphis, Muscle Shoals, or Massapequa, music matters, and our varied musical heritage is one of the best ways to understand crucial moments in American history. This course will explore Indigenous expressions, colonial invasion, forced African migration, and the cultural shifts of the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. Through the interplay of genres and traditions, we’ll examine how music captures the evolving American experience.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Matt Jennings, PhD is Professor of History at Middle Georgia State University. He has authored several books on Native American and local history, including New Worlds of Violence, The Flower Hunter and the People, and Ocmulgee National Monument: A Brief History with Field Notes (with poet Gordon Johnston). While he specializes in Native American history, he teaches in a variety of fields, including the history of music in America (perhaps as a way of compensating for his sporadic, and sophomoric efforts on the guitar, mandolin, and banjo).
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Creative Conservation
Wednesdays, October 8–November 12, 2:00–3:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
Become educated, entertained, and empowered to become more effective stewards of the natural world. Through real-life conservation stories—drawn from the instructor's personal experiences and her time as host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom—we will highlight the impact of passionate individuals working together to address complex environmental challenges.
This course explores how diverse perspectives and unique skills contribute to conservation efforts, offering participants practical ways to take meaningful action in protecting wildlife and ecosystems.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Stephanie Arne is an international wildlife conservationist, expedition guide, and storyteller. She is the former host of Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom and has appeared on Animal Planet, The Weather Channel, The Harry Connick Jr. Show, and The Drew Barrymore Show. Arne’s expertise in wildlife conservation has earned her a seat on the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Lion SAFE (Saving Animals from Extinction) committee and the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Education and Communication Commission.
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From Bauhaus to Brutalism: Modern and Contemporary Architecture
Mondays, October 6–November 10, 4:00–5:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
Following World War I, architecture shifted from tradition to modern aesthetics, new materials, and evolving societal needs. This course explores key architectural movements, including the Bauhaus, the International Style, Art Deco, Midcentury Modernism, and Postmodernism. Through these styles, we will examine how architecture adapts to social and political change, shaping the built environment.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author who lectures and leads tours worldwide on art and architectural history. She has been named a distinguished instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. Schrader is a Professor Emerita of art and architectural history at Santa Monica College. She has completed graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby’s Institute in London and New York. She has served as a design review commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the board of directors of the John Lautner Foundation.
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Graceful Exits: Exploring the Economics, Ethics & Ethos of Death With Dignity
Mondays, October 20–November 24, 2:00–3:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
This course examines the ethical, legal, and cultural dimensions of Death with Dignity, also known as assisted suicide. From its historical roots to evolving policies on physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia, we will explore key debates and perspectives. Through thoughtful discussion, participants will gain a deeper understanding of end-of-life decision-making and the complex issues surrounding personal choice and public policy.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Aleen Bayard PhD is an adjunct faculty member at Northwestern University, teaching leadership and change management. She played a key role in Northwestern’s partnership with the Spertus Institute for Jewish Learning and Leadership, developing the curriculum for the Certificate in Jewish Leadership and teaching in the program for several years. Bayard holds degrees from Stanford University, Columbia University, and Northwestern University and earned her doctorate from Benedictine University. Through her consulting practice, she develops programs on leadership, culture, employee engagement, and team performance.
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Impressionism: Color Light and Leisure
Thursdays, October 9–November 13, noon–1:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
Impressionist painters transformed art with luminous color harmonies, unblended brushstrokes, and a focus on modern life. This course explores the work of Monet, Renoir, Degas, Cassatt, and Morisot from the 1860s to 1910s, examining their innovations, influences, and cultural impact. Participants will gain a deeper appreciation for Impressionism’s artistic techniques and its immersive, sensory approach to depicting nature and urban life.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Lauren Weingarden is professor emerita of art history at Florida State University. Weingarden’s publications explore the interrelations between literature and visual arts in 19th century cultural contexts. She is the author of several scholarly books and articles on the American architect Louis Sullivan and on French art and literature, particularly Charles Baudelaire and Édouard Manet. Her interdisciplinary work includes developing an embodied aesthetic model through which art viewers re-experience artists’ immersive encounters with modernity’s fragmentation and nature’s transience—a perspective that deeply informs her teachings on Impressionism.
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In Darwin’s Footsteps: A Journey to the Galapagos
Thursdays, October 16–November 20, 8:00–9:30 a.m. (PST)
Description
From 1831-1836, Charles Darwin circumnavigated the globe aboard the HMS Beagle. In the Galapagos Islands and elsewhere, Darwin collected data that, after decades of study and reflection, formed part of the basis for his publication On the Origin of Species. The ideas presented in that volume remain the foundation of all modern biological thought. Drawing upon original source materials and the instructor’s photos, this course will present the historical and cultural context of Darwin’s era, follow the five-year journey, discuss how Darwin came to his ideas, and explain his theories in detail.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Eric Simon, professor of Biology at New England College, received his PhD in biochemistry from Harvard University. An avid traveler and award-winning nature photographer, Eric leads educational international trips to destinations including Belize, the Galapagos, Tanzania, Cuba, the Amazon River, and Patagonia. Simon is the author of a widely used series of college biology textbooks with over 2 million books in print that help teach biology to students in over 40 countries.
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Inequality and Economic Policy
Tuesdays, October 14–November 18, 10:00–11:30 a.m. (PST)
Description
Economics plays a central role in every aspect of society. This course examines the causes and potential solutions to inequality in the US from an economic perspective. We will explore the history of different types of inequality, the underlying data and evidence, and the policy levers available to address these issues. Each lecture, led by a subject matter expert with a PhD in economics, will stand alone. Topics may include climate change, healthcare economics, economic inequality, economic mobility, discrimination in public policy, and the wealth gap.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Geof Woglom, PhD is professor emeritus of economics at Amherst College, where he taught for over 40 years. He has held visiting positions at Cambridge, Harvard, and the London School of Economics, and was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town and at Nanjing University. He has served as an economic consultant for the International Monetary Fund, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston.
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Languages of the World
Thursdays, October 16–November 20, 10:00–11:30 a.m. (PST)
Description
Explore the world’s linguistic diversity. With more than 7,000 languages spoken today, their evolution reveals insights into human history and civilization. This course examines how languages change, interact, and shape cultures. We’ll uncover linguistic mysteries in different global locations, tracing the migrations and connections that define human communication. We will gain a deeper understanding of human history and what it means to be human.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Asya Pereltsvaig, PhD earned her degree in English and history from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a PhD in linguistics from McGill University. She has taught at Yale and Stanford. An expert in language, history, and their intersections, Pereltsvaig is the author of Languages of the World: An Introduction.
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Legendary Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes: Tales from the Inland Seas
Thursdays, October 9–November 13, 4:00–5:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
Beneath the Great Lakes lie thousands of shipwrecks, each with a story to tell. This course explores legendary wrecks, including the Lady Elgin, Eastland, Western Reserve, and Edmund Fitzgerald. Through vivid storytelling, we’ll uncover the human stories behind these disasters, the forces that doomed them, and the myths that endure today.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Anna Lardinois is an author, storyteller, and history enthusiast with a passion for uncovering dramatic and often chilling tales from the past. She is the author of Shipwrecks of the Great Lakes: Tragedies and Legacies from the Inland Seas (2021) and more than a dozen books on history, folklore, and ghostly legends. Lardinois founded an award-winning tour company specializing in haunted history and previously served as the Pfister Hotel Narrator, chronicling stories from Milwaukee’s most historic hotel. She has hosted the radio show Haunted Heartland and currently leads an online publication focused on entrepreneurship in Wisconsin.
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Peeking Inside the Black Box
Tuesdays, October 14–November 18, noon–1:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
Have you ever felt like scientists are constantly changing their minds? Do you wonder when research can be trusted to guide decisions about health, behavior, or the environment? This course offers a behind-the-scenes look at the scientific process, exploring how modern science developed, what scientists actually do, and what makes research reliable. We will examine the strengths and weaknesses of scientific methodology, uncover common pitfalls, and identify red flags for pseudoscience and untrustworthy findings. Rather than relying on blind faith in science, we will learn how to evaluate research critically—and find trust in the process.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Dr. Johnnie Hendrickson is a Teaching Professor in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University; he holds a PhD in chemistry, and is the author of the textbook Chemistry in the World. His academic work focuses on science communication, the reciprocal relationship between science and society.
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Public Health in Action: Addressing Stress, Equity, and Solutions
Wednesdays, October 15–November 19, 4:00–5:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
In this course, participants will explore the social determinants of health, the physiological mechanisms of stress, and the effects of stress on health and well-being. They will also examine stress- and health-related theoretical frameworks. Through this course, participants will gain an understanding of the factors that influence health and engage in discussions on the importance of equitably promoting health and well-being across populations.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Faith Ogungbe is a doctoral candidate in Public Health at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Northwestern University in anthropology and biotechnology. Ogungbe is deeply committed to health equity and passionate about addressing issues that promote the overall health and well-being of all individuals. Her research interests include maternal and child health, and female reproductive health.
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The African American Military Experience: From Revolution to Civil Rights
Tuesdays, October 7–November 11, 4:00–5:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
African Americans have served in every US military conflict, fighting both for their country and for equality. This course explores their contributions from the Revolutionary War to World War II, highlighting their bravery in battle and their struggles against segregation and discrimination at home. Through their service, Black soldiers helped shape American history despite a nation that often failed to recognize their sacrifices.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
John Langellier has spent decades researching African Americans in the US military, beginning in the 1960s. His work includes articles and books such as More Work Than Glory: Buffalo Soldiers in the United States Army, 1866–1916 and Buffalo Soldiers in Arizona, and an extensive National Park Service study on Buffalo Soldiers from the Eastern Seaboard to Hawaii. He has consulted and produced documentaries on African Americans in the armed forces for A&E and PBS, curated museum exhibits, developed curricula, and delivered programs across the US and Europe.
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The Films of John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands: Innovation in Filmmaking and Performance
Fridays, October 10–November 14, 8:00–9:30 a.m. (PST)
Description
This course examines the groundbreaking collaboration between John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands, two pioneers of independent cinema. Cassavetes revolutionized filmmaking with raw, character-driven storytelling, while Rowlands’ deeply expressive performances set a new standard in acting. We will explore Cassavetes’ unconventional techniques, his rejection of Hollywood norms, and their lasting impact on independent film, offering participants a deeper understanding of their artistry and influence.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Heather Brown holds a PhD in English with a concentration in rhetoric and composition from the University of Maryland, an M.A. in English from the University of North Carolina–Wilmington. She has taught courses in academic writing, English literature, language and linguistics, women’s literature, feminist theory, and rhetorical criticism. Brown works as a learning designer, specializing in graduate and professional studies programs, including Northwestern University. She is also an adjunct associate professor of academic writing at the University of Maryland Global Campus.
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The Life and Times of Nikola Tesla
Mondays, October 6–November 10, noon–1:30 p.m. (PST)
Description
This course explores the life and innovations of Nikola Tesla, from his early experiments in electricity to his groundbreaking work in wireless technology. We’ll examine his collaborations and rivalries, the “War of the Currents,” and his ambitious Wardenclyffe tower. Tesla’s later work—including his wireless experiments, military research, and the mystery surrounding his secret papers—reveals the genius and intrigue behind one of history’s most visionary inventors.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Marc Seifer, PhD is the author of more than 100 articles and a dozen books, including the acclaimed Wizard: The Life & Times of Nikola Tesla, Ozone Therapy for the Treatment of Viruses, and Tesla: Wizard at War.
A frequent speaker on Tesla and technological history, Seifer has lectured at every International Tesla Conference and has presented at institutions including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic, West Point Military Academy, and the United Nations. His work has been featured in many major publications and has appeared on the BBC, NPR, and in The Tesla Files, a five-part History Channel series which has aired in 40 countries.
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The Magic of Motown
Tuesdays, October 28–December 2, 8:00–9:30 a.m. (PST)Description
Explore Motown’s golden era from the late 1950s to the 1970s, a period marked by groundbreaking songwriting, iconic artists, and profound social influence. Discover how Motown’s innovative production methods shaped its timeless sound, broke racial barriers, and adapted to shifting cultural landscapes to achieve worldwide acclaim. Featuring legendary artists and curated tracks and videos, this course concludes with a celebration of Motown’s transformative first 25 years. Join us to experience the enduring magic of Motown and its lasting impact on music and culture.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Mike Agron grew up in LA, the heart of the recording and entertainment industry. He loved music so much he wanted to become a recording engineer. Fate had different plans, and he ended up with a successful career in hi-tech, including founding a webinar marketing agency. He has fulfilled his musical and entertainment passions by offering his varied and uniquely popular seminars to learners across the country.
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The Power of One in Steven Spielberg Films
Mondays, October 20–November 24, 10:00–11:30 a.m. (PST)
Description
This course explores the recurring theme of moral choices and redemption in Steven Spielberg’s films. Through scene-by-scene analysis, we will examine how characters’ beliefs and actions shape their worlds. Films include Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Lincoln, Bridge of Spies, Saving Private Ryan, Munich, and Schindler’s List.
About YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Bernard (Butch) Epps earned his undergraduate degree from Loyola Marymount University, graduating cum laude as an award-winning film production major. He received his MFA from the UCLA School of Film and Television’s graduate Producers Program, where he specialized in story development and working with screenwriters. At UCLA, he served as academic liaison to the MFA Producers Program faculty, including studio heads, development executives, and industry professionals. Epps has taught film appreciation courses with a strong emphasis on story analysis.
