At Osher, we gratefully celebrate many lights and many helpers, starting with Mr. Bernard Osher himself, who founded and generously endowed our program over 20 years ago. By design, instructors and volunteers are the heart of all 124 of his namesake Osher Institutes. We are blessed with many outstanding participants and are thankful for each and every one of you! We specially recognized three instructors as the 2025 recipients of the Brooke Hopkins Award for Excellence in Adult Education and one longtime Special Events volunteer at our member luncheon last week. They are: Joon Bae, Jeanne Le Ber, Alexander Harrelson, and Pam Wilson.. Please read below for their bios and the classes they will be teaching for winter term. And if you are interested in volunteering at Osher, there are many ways to get involved with our Osher Ambassadors, Special Events, and Osher Behind the Scenes classes this term! | | |
Joon Bae received her BFA in visual arts with an emphasis in painting and drawing from the University of Utah. She began learning traditional Korean ink painting methods during her childhood. After a lifetime of practice and an exploration into Western forms of painting through her studies, she has found her rhythm as an East Asian ink painter. Her work has been collected internationally and exhibited in Utah at the Salt Lake City Library, the University of Utah, the Springville Museum, the Jewish Community Center, and more. She has given countless demonstrations and was featured in the 2019 edition of Sunshine Artist magazine. Joon has taught Korean Ink Painting for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute since 2017 and was selected as the artist in residence for summer 2024 at the University of Utah Taft-Nicholson Center. She is excited to continue teaching and learning through storytelling by putting brush to rice paper.
Joon will be teaching two classes in winter term, Korean Ink Painting Workshop of Basic Elements: The Four Gracious Symbols.
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Jeanne Le Ber has a BA in English Literature and a Master's in Library and Information Science. A passionate bird watcher since 1980, Jeanne has studied and birded with Terry Tempest Williams, Ella Sorenson, Cooper Farr, and Mark Stackhouse. Jeanne regularly participates in local bird counts including the Salt Lake City Christmas Bird Count, the Jordan River CBC (as the lead compiler), and the Brighton Bird Count, held in July. She coordinates Outreach activities for Great Salt Lake Audubon.
Jeanne will be teaching The Joy of Bird Feeding on Mondays starting January 26.
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 | | Alex Harrelson is a 24-year-old tenor pursuing a DMA at the University of Utah. He studies under Dr. Robert Breault. At the U, he has performed as the Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit in A.L.I.C.E., a new opera by Amy Scurria, as well as Marley, Fred, and Cratchitt in A Christmas Carol, King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, the Defendant in Trial by Jury, and Ferrando in scenes from Cosi fan tutte. In addition to operatic performance, Alex performed Schubert's Die Schone Mullerin for his Master's Recital. As a lover of lieder, he has also performed Schumann's Dichterliebe and Beethoven's An die ferne Geliebte. He looks forward to performing Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch in December. With Lyrical Opera Theater, he has performed Le Remendado in Carmen, Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, Parpignol in La Boheme, and Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia. Other notable roles include Gastone in La Traviata and Lindoro in L'Italiana in Algeri. Most recently he performed in Le Roman de Silence, a new opera by Anthony Buck. Alex regularly sings with the Cathedral of the Madeleine and in opera outreach within Salt Lake and Utah counties.
Alex is currently teaching More Operas by Giuseppe Verdi on Mondays at 9:30 am.
| Meet Our New Assistant Director! | |
Please welcome Anne Terry as our new Assistant Director! Anne joined the Osher team on December 1. She will be in charge of coordinating curriculum, supporting and recruiting Osher instructors, and working with volunteers serving on the Osher Curriculum Committee. Anne is passionate about supporting her community and was formerly the Director of Education for Tracy Aviary and the Nature Center at Pia Okwai. Anne taught several Osher classes at both locations in past years.
Anne has a B.S. in Biology with a focus on Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Texas at Austin, where she also completed the UTeach Natural Sciences teacher certification program. She is a lifelong learner and has completed a Free-choice Learning Certification from Oregon State University, a Utah Environmental Educator Certification from Utah State University, and a Change Leader Certification from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. She is in a constant state of birdwatching, and in her spare time she enjoys riding her bike, weightlifting, and goofing around with her husband, son, and two dogs.
Photo caption: Anne holds a Roseate Spoonbill, a species native to where she grew up in South Texas.
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Fidelio is a stirring saga of love, bravery, and the quest for justice. In this heroic tale, Leonore goes undercover, disguised as a guard named Fidelio, to infiltrate a corrupt prison and rescue her wrongfully accused husband, Florestan. It's an emotional journey that reflects Beethoven's idealism, echoing his own conviction that good will triumphs over tyranny. With the hopeful Prisoners' Chorus and soaring overture, Fidelio is a testament to Beethoven's musical genius!
Be the first to experience this brand-new production, incorporating modernized dialogue and thought-provoking projections that underscore the power of the human spirit. Utah Opera's preview class will provide insights into the story and the music, as well as the production history of Beethoven's only opera, Fidelio. We will also present fascinating information about Utah Opera's production and its cast. Interested class members can linger after the hour-long class session to observe a rehearsal on-site.
Tuesday January 6 at 1:30 pm
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You joined Osher and paid your membership dues for a year of fun. Now what? This single-session free class will welcome new members, provide a "meet and greet" opportunity to socialize a bit with others new to Osher, and show you the ropes of how to get involved. We will cover the material in our Member Handbook, letting you know how you can get the most out of your membership benefits...everything from where to get your U of U student ID card, to where to use it for discounts, to the many campus amenities available to Continuing Education students. Our program becomes stronger with each new member!
Wednesday January 7 at 11:30 am
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Hippocrates wrote, "Wherever the art of medicine is loved, there is also a love of humanity." Literature is an art that best describes illness, the people who are affected by it, and the people who treat it. We will read and discuss essays, short stories, and poems, written by doctors, patients, and by brilliant authors that may include: Sir William Osler, William Carlos Williams, Mikhail Bulgalov, Jorge Luis Borges, Pablo Neruda, WH Auden, Eudora Welty, May Sarton, Lewis Thomas, Anatole Broyard, Denise Levertov, Richard Selzer, John Stone, Raymond Carver, and Perri Klass.
Tuesday January 13 at 9:30 am
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We are pleased to offer 21 new Zoom courses through our esteemed partnership with Osher Online™ with Northwestern University. This special program allows members from over 50 of the other 124 Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes across the country to participate in shared online courses, thanks to the generosity of The Bernard Osher Foundation. Osher Online™ allows Osher members from different states and institutions to learn with and connect to each other while maintaining membership at their own local Institutes. We hope you will enjoy being a part of the fun!
Registration Deadline: December 31
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Muscle strength and balance are critical to maintaining health and independence as we age. Without additional strength training, most older adults will suffer a loss of muscle mass and strength that can negatively impact their balance and mobility. Vivo, a live, online, interactive strength-building course customized to your fitness level, helps you attain physical fitness.
Vivo exercise sessions consist of cognitive, balance, and strength exercises informed by the latest science and research on exercise for older adults. Certified personal trainers provide modified exercises to meet each student's fitness needs. Whether you are new to exercise or exercise regularly, Vivo will help you build your strength and improve your fitness and mobility. Classes meet once a week for 45 minutes. For best results, sign up for two class sessions per week and choose which days best suit your individual time preference and schedule.
Mondays through Fridays starting January 20
Registration Deadline January 6
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Now that the remodel of the SLC Main Library is complete we will have a chance to see “behind the scenes” spaces of the beautiful Main Library. We'll visit the Creative Lab, see the Audubon The Birds of America, take a look at some of the treasures in the Special Collections Reading Room, and visit the secure storage area of Periodicals housing the oldest volumes. Weather permitting, we will be able to visit the finished remodeled roof and see the city from a different angle. As a bonus for those who want to stay, there will be an acapella group singing holiday music beginning at 5:00 PM.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: December 16
Thursday December 18 at 3:30 pm
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There is actual published research demonstrating improved cognitive function among those who play board games! Thousands of new board games are published each year, and an afternoon at Game Night Games will introduce you to a few of them. Whether you like strategy or cooperative games, those for two persons or groups of 20, you will find something to your taste. Join fellow Osher members in exploring a Salt Lake City location dedicated to playing board games, learn how to play a new one, and get tips for learning how to play other games!
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 9
Tuesday January 13 at 1:00 pm
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Join us for a behind-the-scenes tour of Shriners Children's Hospital SLC and see firsthand the extraordinary care provided to children and families across the Intermountain West. You'll visit their prosthetics and orthotics clinic, wheelchair and seating clinic, and comprehensive therapy department which includes occupational, speech, physical therapy, and the recreational therapies. Visitors will see patients and families, as well as care providers in action and will hear inspiring stories about the children whose lives have been transformed through the care.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: January 6
Thursday January 8 at 2:00 pm
| | Lunch and Learn lectures are wonderful opportunities to experience a sampling of what the Osher program offers, firsthand and for FREE! These lectures open to the general public, as part of our service to the community. If you have a friend who might be interested in Osher, please encourage them to attend and give us a “test drive”. | | |
How to Participate in the America250 Celebration!
January 21, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Ronald Fox, Co-Chair of Utah America250, Former Director in the Office of Presidential Advance for Six U.S. Presidents, and Author
This presentation will outline planned events for the America250 celebrations. We will highlight opportunities to participate and discuss events being held across the country. Mr. Fox will also speak about American history and Utah's history.
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Type 2 Diabetes: Causes, Prevention, and Management
January 28, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Sarah Zou, MPH, RDN, CDCES, Clinical Dietitian, University of Utah
This presentation serves as an introduction to type 2 diabetes, including a review of the underlying physiological cause, risk factors, prevention strategies, and lifestyle management.
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100 Women Who Care: Small Donation, Large Impact!
February 4, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Lisa Evans, Member, Community Activist, Musician, and Singer Songwriter
This presentation will explore the history of 100 Women Who Care, a charity group started by a woman named Karen Dunnigan in Jackson, Michigan. There are now 700 chapters, or giving circles, called 100 Women Who Care located across the US and Canada. Today, Lisa Evans, the woman responsible for bringing this charity to Salt Lake City in 2014, will discuss the efficient, high-impact way their group raises thousands of dollars in one hour, four times a year, and what happens at their meetings. Their average collective donation, made together to benefit one chosen group, is $25,000. Lisa will share some heart-warming experiences the group has had that make them love serving our community and how they appreciate the way service unites us all in community. She will also compare the donations made by 100 Women Who Care to donations to other well-known donors and philanthropists in Salt Lake City and Utah.
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FBI Salt Lake Outreach Program
February 11, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Muhammad Khan, FBI Community Outreach Specialist, Salt Lake City Division
The presentation will provide a baseline overview of the FBI's role as a federal law enforcement agency, an overview to the Salt Lake City Division, and details about the FBI's Community Outreach Program. Presentation will further highlight details about the role of community outreach in the FBI and efforts to mitigate evolving threats impacting the community to include concerns with cyber, fraud, hate crimes, etc.
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Unearthing Alta: The Lost Stories of a Mining Boomtown
February 18, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Ian Wright, Utah's Public Archaeologist, State Historic Preservation Office
Recently, the mining ghost town of Alta, Utah, was excavated for the first time after a construction project uncovered thousands of artifacts that hadn’t seen daylight in more than 150 years. The State Historic Preservation Office partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to document the site and recover as many artifacts as possible before winter storms shut down access. This presentation explores the remarkable history of a once-booming mining town through the objects its residents left behind and the stories those artifacts still have to tell.
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Lessons Learned in a Blessed Life of Sharing Utah and American Stories
February 25, 2026, 12:00-1:00 pm
By Craig Wirth, ABC Channel 4 Feature Reporter
Craig Wirth has been blessed to discover that the history of Utah (and America in general) is the history not just of buildings, cities, or places (although they are cool), but of people...and what those people have done in daily life. Some stories are amazing feats, some humorous, but most are just someone doing something unique or being that rare person who actually does follow their dream. Craig’s dream was to meet them, observe them, and be the lucky guy who gets to tell their stories.
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Most lectures from our previous terms were recorded and will be kept in our archives for re-watching. Enjoy them anytime and feel free to share the link with a friend! | | Did you know? Our online brochure each term features a handy calendar at the end! Our team of graphic designers and Osher staff carefully creates this calendar every term to help you schedule your classes. Click the link below, scroll to the bottom, and take a look! | | In this season of giving, please consider donating to help keep our Osher Institute growing and thriving. The University of Utah provides administrative support, our Bernard Osher Endowment funds 35%, and 65% comes from your Osher memberships and tuition. Every dollar helps us create outstanding new courses, support our dedicated instructors, plan exciting special events, grant scholarships, and so much more! Your contribution shows us that you value Osher in your life and ensures that we can continue to grow, offering 350+ courses each year, building a vibrant community of curious adults, ages 50 and better, who bring a wealth of life experiences to our very special program. Your donations make all the difference, particularly to those members who receive generous scholarships to attend our classes. Thank you to all our many donors, supporters, and volunteers who make this outstanding and unique program so special! | | Stay Connected by Joining Us on Social Media | | The Osher Instagram and Facebook pages are a great way to stay connected. We highlight the accomplishments of Osher instructors and members. Special Events are updated, posted, and featured here too. Please like us to stay up to date and share with your friends who would enjoy all that Osher has to offer! | | |
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
801-581-6461 | osher@utah.edu
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