Greetings from the NRC........................November 2026 | |
Writing this letter just days after the Osher Institutes National Conference in Minnesota gives me a particularly sweet sense of nostalgia. It was the 17th of these remarkable gatherings presented by the Osher NRC and the eighth managed by our Northwestern University team since the move from our original home at the University of Southern Maine. Once again, it’s obvious what makes this Network extraordinary: our collective camaraderie, generosity, and collegial spirit inspire volunteers and staff to bring their best to this work.
I also write with a personal sense of nostalgia. I’ve recently discussed my plans to retire with Northwestern Dean Tom Gibbons. Yes, I’ll become one of the luckiest people in the Osher Network, an OLLI member. I plan to retire once Dean Gibbons identifies my successor, which we anticipate will happen in the early months of 2027.
When accepting this position in 2015 and moving from Portland, Maine, to Chicago, I privately imagined I would retire around 2020. Of course, life - including a pandemic - had different plans. Looking back, I’m very grateful for the gift of these additional years.
Helping the Osher NRC and local OLLIs navigate COVID, along with a rapidly changing higher education landscape, has been challenging but also profoundly meaningful.
My predecessor, Kali Lightfoot, told me this is a “great gig.” She was spot on. It’s because of the extraordinary people and the life-changing work we’re privileged to do together.
My thank-you list begins with Bernard Osher, whose generous vision transformed lifelong learning for older adults in this generation and those yet to come. I am profoundly grateful to Mary Bitterman, to colleagues at the Osher Foundation, and to the NRC team, whose dedication and hard work continue to move our Network forward. And I deeply appreciate Dean Gibbons and the staff of Northwestern’s School of Professional Studies, whose entrepreneurial spirit, and values of inclusion make it an exceptional host school within a world-class university.
Most of all, what a joy it’s been to work with OLLI staff, volunteers, and members. You are the heart of this nationwide movement. Your energy, kindness, and commitment have made my job one of the most rewarding chapters of my professional life.
Looking ahead, I do so with enormous confidence in the Osher Network. Its future is strong; its possibilities are expansive. I know the network will continue to grow, evolve, and change lives in ways we can scarcely imagine today.
I look forward to seeing you in class!
With gratitude,
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OLLI AT UNIVERSITY OF OREGON
Celebrating Milestones, Memories, and the Joy of Lifelong Learning
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There's always something worth celebrating at an OLLI, especially when it comes to the people and connections that make these communities so special. Two Osher Institutes recently marked milestones with celebrations filled with laughter, memories, and, of course, plenty of food.
OLLI at the University of Oregon in Central Oregon celebrated the 95th birthday of Helen Pruitt, affectionately known as the chapter's “matriarch.” A member for more than 20 years, Helen has served on the Council and spent many years as Program Chair, helping shape the programs and experiences members enjoy today. What began as a regular monthly coffee gathering turned into a surprise birthday party, with 35 members celebrating Helen with cake and a special album of photos and memories from years of classes, field trips, and friendships.
Submitted by: Brenda McDonald, Program Manager, OLLI at University of Oregon
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OLLI AT UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA
Curiosity and Connection: OLLI's Never-Ending Story
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OLLI at University of North Florida kicked off its 20th anniversary year with a celebration themed Curiosity and Connection: OLLI's Never-Ending Story. Founding members shared stories of the vision and determination that brought their OLLI to life, while an improv troupe transformed those memories into hilarious, unscripted performances. The festivities also included a luncheon, a surprise visit from Carnac the Magnificent with predictions for OLLI's future, a community graffiti wall, and commemorative anniversary pins.
Whether celebrating 95 years of life or 20 years of lifelong learning, both occasions remind us that OLLIs are about more than classes. They're about friendships, shared experiences, and wonderful stories created along the way!
Submitted by: Jeanette Toohey, Director, OLLI at University of North Florida
| | | Celebrating the 2026 Osher Institutes National Conference | | |
The 2026 Osher Institutes National Conference held October 5–7 in Eagan, Minnesota, brought the Osher Network together for three energizing days of learning, connection, celebration, and plenty of idea sharing.
More than 260 attendees, including staff and volunteer leaders representing all 123 Osher Institutes, gathered alongside guests, speakers, and representatives from The Bernard Osher Foundation. The mix of staff and volunteers reflected the strength of the Osher Network.
The conference kicked off with a road trip-themed welcome, inviting attendees to consider both how far the Network has traveled and where it is headed next. The Osher NRC shared its new strategic direction and priorities for supporting a strong, sustainable Network in the years ahead.
Featured plenary speaker Christopher Farrell, senior economics contributor for Marketplace and Minnesota Public Radio, explored “unretirement” and the search for purpose in life’s next chapter. The conference concluded with award-winning storyteller and coach Scott Whitehair, who demonstrated how OLLIs can turn powerful stories into tools for strengthening their programs and communities. Breakout sessions tackled topics ranging from strategic planning, volunteerism, and university partnerships to fundraising, programming, marketing, AI, and digital tools. Peer learning extended well beyond the formal sessions through membership roundtables, regional gatherings, facilitated table topics, and Idea Jams designed to surface and share the Network’s best ideas.
Celebration was also on the agenda. The ever-popular “Woo-Hoos” showcased standout accomplishments from 91 Institutes, while the inaugural Newt Minow Peer-Led Learning Award recognized excellence in member-driven learning. OLLI at the University of Dayton was named the award’s first recipient.
Throughout the conference, attendees exchanged ideas, renewed friendships, made new connections, and discovered approaches they could take home to their own OLLIs. That spirit of collaboration remains one of the Network’s greatest strengths.
Deep appreciation goes to The Bernard Osher Foundation, whose continued generosity made this fully funded gathering possible.
Held every 18 months, the National Conference remains a cornerstone of the Osher Network. The Osher NRC is grateful to everyone who made the journey to Minnesota and looks forward to seeing where the ideas, connections, and momentum from 2026 take the Network next.
View a slideshow of photos from the 2026 Osher Institutes National Conference on the Osher NRC website.
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INNOVATIVE COURSES AND CONTENT DELIVERY
Curriculum Corner
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Osher Institute at University of Pittsburgh
"Heroism and Friendship in the World of Schulz's Peanuts"
Course Length: Five weeks (five sessions)
Course Instructor: David Fetterman
Course Delivery: Online Lecture
Course description: Beneath the simple panels of Charles Schulz's Peanuts lies a profound meditation on failure, hope, loneliness, and connection. Rather than traditional heroic figures, Schulz portrays ordinary individuals who wrestle with courage, loyalty, disappointment, and hope. This course uses the comic strip as a lens to explore two of humanity's most enduring themes: heroism and friendship. We will ask: What does it mean to be brave when you always lose? How do we sustain friendships marked by misunderstanding? And why does a beagle dreaming atop a doghouse move us so deeply?
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WOO-HOOS FROM THE 2026 OSHER INSTITUTE'S NATIONAL CONFERENCE
Quick Tip - A New Home for OLLI at Auburn University
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What is a Woo-Hoo? A Woo-Hoo is one of those wonderful, amazing, out of the box OLLI experiences. All Osher Institutes have the opportunity to submit and showcase their Woo-Hoo for peer Institutes at the Osher National Conference. The Woo-Hoos are shared during general conference sessions, and attendees vote on their favorites. The following is one of the top six winners from the 2026 Osher Institutes National Conference held in Minnesota in October.
A New Home For OLLI
OLLI at Auburn University raised two and a half million dollars in gifts and commitments from 338 donors in just 23 months to support construction of a dedicated new building. The building will provide much-needed classroom space for growing membership and expanded programming. This community-driven achievement will help OLLI at Auburn continue creating connections for generations to come.
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CAREER OPENINGS IN THE OLLI NETWORK
Job Board
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National Resource Center for Osher Institutes, Northwestern University
Wieboldt Hall, Sixth Floor, 339 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611
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