Winter Term Is Ready to Roll! | | Our new brochures are back from the printers and arriving in mailboxes. Winter registration is off to a great start! With over 100 classes to choose from, both online and in person, there is no reason to suffer post-holiday blues come January. We are pleased to offer 47 brand new classes this term. Read below to meet a few outstanding instructors who are new to teaching for Osher this year. And don’t miss the 21 new Zoom courses from Osher Online™ with Northwestern University. Their lineup includes topics like How the US Immigration System Works, Japanese History, Post Impressionism & Abstraction, The History of Television, and more. Our own Jonathan Duncan and the Osher Integrative Health network are also featured. The deadline to register for Osher Online™ is December 31. Sign up ASAP if you are interested. Where will your curiosity take you in the New Year? | | 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.
| Meet Our New Winter Term Instructors | |
Jim Brusatto has a MS degree in Political Science from the University of Utah and a MS degree in Psychology from Utah State University. He teaches AP and concurrent enrollment (college level classes to high school students) in US Government, Criminal Law, and Criminal Justice for the Granite School District, where he has worked for 30 years. Jim will be retiring in September 2026. He will teach a new class for Osher, a single-session lecture on Revolutionary Aspects of the Declaration of Independence and the Foundations of American Identity. The session explores the Declaration of Independence as a revolutionary statement of political ideals, defining America not just as a place, but as a bold ideology rooted in liberty, equality, and the belief in self-government for all people.
Monday February 23 at 1:30 pm
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Dr. Michael Cena is Professor Emeritus at Weber State University. Mike taught at Weber for 27 years in teacher preparation with an emphasis on early and developing literacy. Prior to being at Weber, he taught mostly upper elementary-school grades in Utah and California. His passions are literature, music, cooking, and service. He will teach Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, providing a structured forum where class participants can explore the music, philosophy, and story of Wagner's work. Class members will learn to identify and describe at least three Ring Leitmotivs, identifying principal characters, or objects, or emotions.
Monday January 26 at 1:30 pm
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Robert Day grew up in Denver, Colorado and received BS in Zoology from Colorado State University and MD degree from University of Colorado School of Medicine. He did his residency in Internal Medicine and completed it at the University of Kansas Medical Center. With a commitment from the National Health Service Corp, Robert was assigned to an underserved area of rural Utah in 1984 and subsequently practiced inpatient and outpatient internal medicine in Provo, Utah.
Due to an interest in the management of diabetes, Robert founded the Diabetes Management Clinic at Utah Valley Hospital (now called Endocrine and Diabetes Clinic) in the mid 1990's and retired from Intermountain Healthcare in 2020. Retirement has allowed for pursuit of his various interests, among them the history of medicine. Most recently, the study of vaccine development has been of interest, and specifically the history of polio and the polio vaccine. Robert lives in Park City Utah and is a member of the Park City Sunrise Rotary Club. He will be teaching Six Diseases That Changed Our World.
Thursday January 22 at 9:30 am
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Shari Seiner grew up in southern California but moved to Utah in 1987 to earn her doctorate in Psychology at the U. She has worked as a Psychologist for IHC, Waterford School, and for a school in Grand Cayman. She retired from the practice of psychology in 2014. Always an avid baker and home cook, she entered the 48th Pillsbury Bake-Off and won the Meier Award for her "Bacon Cinnamon Breakfast Twist" recipe. Shari currently fills her time with charitable work, helping in her late husband's business, and taking Osher classes. She will be teaching Make It for Two...or Just for You where class members will learn some scaled-down recipes that are perfect for two in this two-session demo class offered via Zoom.
Friday February 13 at 1:30 pm
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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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Join experts in healthy aging for a FREE one-hour webinar exploring the science of strength training as we age. Learn how staying strong boosts mood, sleep, and memory, and discover key strategies for success, including the role of protein and everyday ways to incorporate strength training into your routine. Each Zoom session features a live interactive demo, followed by a Q&A to address your questions about possibly joining us for Vivo Fitness classes through Osher in a future term!
Wednesday, December 10 at 1:00 pm
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Join us for a delicious behind-the-scenes experience at Sir Walter Candy. Guests will meet the owners, hear the story behind their craft, and enjoy a guided tour through the facility where all the chocolates and candies are made. The event includes a chocolate tasting, plus fun optional treats like decorated popcorn, strawberries, waffles, and more.
During this event you will receive $10 of store credit and 10% off purchases that day.
Friday, December 12 at 11:00 am
| | 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! | | |
Join a fundraiser for Mazza Café and celebrate at Commercial Club SLC for their 25th Birthday Bash! It's going to be a night to remember filled with music, dancing, and good vibes. Don't miss out on the chance to wish Mazza a happy birthday and make memories that will last a lifetime. Grab your friends and get ready to party the night away!
Tickets for $81.34 include: Dinner, 2 Beverages, Raffle Tickets, Access to Silent Auction
Wednesday December 10 at 6:00 pm
| | 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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