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Alumni Discount Codes

We offer discounts for our three alumni association partners: KU, K-State and Washburn. These discounts are only available for paid alumni association members and can only be applied to courses; they cannot apply to special events:

  • KU Alumni Association Member Discount - KUAAFALL2022
  • KSU Alumni Association Member Discount - KSUAAFALL2022
  • Washburn Alumni Association Member Discount - WUAAFALL2022
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Courses & Events

A Medley of Voices

Osher in partnership with Kansas Authors Club presents this author series featuring various books to encourage seniors to share their own stories. Travel to Illinois and witness murders committed in the 70s, take a walk in nature, and learn the joys of hunting and fishing, then cook your prize in delicious recipes. Travel to Vietnam with a monkey named Jo, then make your way into Douglas County Jail to hear voices filled with timeless wisdom and experiences. Get to know teenagers, an Egyptian mummy, and a fundamentalist preacher. Step inside the mind of a gum shoe detective in Wichita, grow up in the 50s and bottle feed a calf. These are just a few of the adventures that await you. Maybe you too have a story to write! Come join the fun. 

Featured guests include: Ann Anderson, "Posts of a Mid-century Kid"; Brian Daldorph, "Words is a Powerful Thing," a 2022 Kansas Notable Book; Hazel Hart, "Cordelia's Journey"; Mike Graves, "Shadows and Sorrows," Books 1 and 3 of his series are Kansas Notable Award Winners; Pete Stone, "Private Investigator - Vol. 4"; Mike Hartnett, "And I Cried, Too: Confronting Evil In A Small Town"; Michael Pearce, "Taste of the Kansas Outdoors," Notable Book of Kansas, 2015; Perry Shepard, "The Hero versus Me and Monkey Jo"; Ronda Miller, "I Love the Child."

October 13-27, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person

A Personal Journey Down the Arkansas River and It Impact on America's Heartland (1803 - the present day)

We will explore this heavily regulated river from beginning to end. From raging rapids to diversion dams for irrigation ditches, to dry streambeds, and finally barge traffic, we will examine the impact this wild, elusive, and embattled river has had on cities, towns and adjacent farmland, starting with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 through to the present day.


Instructor Bio: Hannes Zacharias is the Robert A. Kipp Professor of Practice for the KU School of Public Affairs and Administration following a 35-year career in local city and county government administration. He has served as City Manager of Boonville, Mo., Hays, Kan. and County Manager for Johnson County, Kan.

September 22, 2022 to October 6, 2022, Meadowbrook Park Clubhouse In Person

Athletic Footwear from Converse All-Stars to Freestyles to Air Jordans

Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals in the 1936 Olympics with shoes by the Dassler brothers. We'll explore the design, technology, and materials needed to manufacture active lifestyle footwear and how to market high-end shoes. Finally, factors like forced labor sweatshops needed to keep Air Jordan costs at $25 (retailing at $200) will be examined.


Instructor Bio: Rich Hughes received a bachelor's degree from KU and a master's in computer science from KSU. Hughes worked in various information technology and data analytic jobs and is an avid history buff after retirement. He has written three books rooted in Kansas and American history: Netting Out Basketball, 1936, Hitler's Olympic Festival, and If the Shoe Fits.

October 13-27, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Auschwitz Protocol

Date change: this course will meet on Wednesdays, 9/21, 9/28 & 10/12 and not on 10/5 as listed in the catalog. Learn how two Jewish prisoners escaped Auschwitz with detailed information on how the death camps were methodically run like a factory 24 hours a day. We'll explore how the information was disclosed to the world and discuss the heroism of the people who reported it and the drama that ensued.

Instructor Bio: Russ Hutchins teaches U.S. history, Western civilization, economics, business, philosophy, and business management at Friends University. He is a retired public-school administrator and educator of 40 years.

September 21, 2022 to October 12, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

Bird Banding: The Experience

Bird banding is the scientific practice used to monitor and study wild bird populations. Songbirds are captured in a mist net, aged, sexed and a small band is placed on the leg before its release. Join Janeen Walters, a federal and state licensed bird bander for over 25 years, as she provides a hands-on experience. We'll meet on Washburn University's environmental site outside of Topeka, first established by Karl Menninger in the early 1930's. A tour of Karl's home and science lab will also take place. While we enjoy a catered lunch, Tom Luellen provides a sneak peek into his Osher course, "Birds of a Feather: A History of American Birding." We'll be joined by special guest, Karl Menninger, grandson to Karl, who will provide family history and discuss his grandfather's long-time interest in nature and conservation. Join us for this unique experience.


Janeen Walters has been a federal and state licensed bird bander for over 25 years. She taught science to middle school students for 34 years until her retirement last year. There is plenty of work at Karlyle Woods to keep her busy! She is a zoo docent and a volunteer at Helping Hands Humane Society. Her hobbies include bird watching, nature studies, scuba diving, gardening, and reading. 


Friday, September 30


9:30 a.m. - Arrive at 3440 NW Button Road, Topeka


1:00 p.m. - Depart 


$45 fee includes demonstration, presentations, guided tours, and lunch. 


Refunds will be honored on or before September 15 minus a $15 administrative fee.


This course contains no sessions
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

Birds of a Feather: A History of American Birding

We'll cover John James Audubon and the frontier ornithologists he inspired. Then we'll examine the development of ornithology as a profession and the beginnings of conservation efforts, such as the Audubon Society. Finally, we'll review the popularity of modern birding, which started in 1934 with "A Field Guide to the Birds." 


Instructor Bio: Thomas Luellen recently retired after 31 years in hospital administration and 14 years as an adjunct instructor at Washburn University. He has a master's degree in geography from the KU. His personal interests have always been his native state and its history.

October 10-24, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Burns, Bagpipes & Barleycorn

Three strands of Scottish culture braid themselves together in a class that celebrates the essentials of Scotland. Learn to appreciate the life and poetry of Robert Burns. Learn about the kilt and enjoy a demonstration of bagpipe tunes from different pipes. Get a taste of Scotland itself with a lesson on single malt whisky - regions, flavors, and lore. 

Instructor Bio: Thomas Fox Averill is professor emeritus at Washburn University where he taught Kansas literature, folklore and film for more than 40 years. He is the author of three story collections and five novels, almost all of them set in Kansas. His most recent novel is Found Documents from the "Life of Nell Johnson Doerr: A Novel".

November 22, 2022 to December 6, 2022, Northland Innovation Center In-Person

Donation to the Osher Institute

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at KU was established in 2004 by a grant for the Bernard Osher Foundation as an outreach program of the University of Kansas. Its mission is to offer noncredit enrichment courses and events to folks over 50 years of age, although we welcome learners of all ages. We rely on financial support from our members and the community to create a sustainable program. If you would like to support the Osher Institute, please click the link below. If you have questions, please contact Linda Kehres at 785-864-1373 or linda.k@ku.edu. Thank you.

July 25, 2022 to December 31, 2022

Eugenics: Building the Perfect Race

We'll discuss the scientific validity of eugenics (passing on positive characteristics and eliminating the less desirable) and examine how eugenics enabled sterilization of persons with mental disabilities and anti-immigration statutes, and how Nazi Germany used it to sterilize and kill thousands. We'll also look at its legacy today.


Instructor Bio: Karl Menninger retired from a legal career in federaland state government, mostly dealing with issues concerning persons withdisabilities. He teaches courses on disabilities and the law and the insanitydefense at the University of Missouri - Kansas City School of Law.

September 21, 2022 to October 5, 2022, Northland Innovation Center In-Person

Exploring Reality Beyond Physics - Great Western Philosophers

Religions and science have different concepts of the nature of reality. In this course we will take a quick journey through the history of philosophy from Ancient Greece to modern America. Along the way we will examine the questions such as: does God exist? How can we know the truth? What is reality?


Instructor Bio: James Gaither, Th.D., holds a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Kansas and ThD from Holos University Graduate Seminary. For over 25 years he has taught courses in history of Western thought, world religions, metaphysics and ethics and is currently a "semi-retired."

October 3-17, 2022, New Century Fieldhouse In Person

From Spurs to Silver Screen: Kansas Cowboy Poetry and History

"If there hadn't been a Kansas, there would not have been a cowboy." That is the basis for this class, which will cover our state's role in creating this legendary icon. We'll describe the history of the cowboy and how the cowboy has been portrayed in literature, movies, radio, and television.


Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at K-State.  As a cowboy poet, he was proclaimed "Poet Lariat" by then-Governor Bill Graves.  He serves as secretary of the national chapter of Western Wordsmiths, was named an Ambassador for the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, and is an official spokesperson for the National Day of the Cowboy.

October 3-17, 2022, Riley County Seniors' Service Center In-Person

George Washington Carver: Scientist and Inventor born into slavery

Born enslaved, Carver was raised by his former masters. At 11, he left to pursue his education, in Kansas, graduating from high school before earning a master's degree from Iowa State University. Carver taught for 50 years at the Tuskegee Institute while developing products from plants, sharing advanced techniques with struggling farmers, and advocating for racial harmony. 


Jim Peters, J.D., is director emeritus of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at KU, and author of "Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America's Heroes", which has been the nation's best-selling book on Arlington Cemetery for more than 25 years. He also teaches a course on the Underground Railroad in Northeast Kansas.

September 20, 2022 to October 4, 2022, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person
October 11-25, 2022, Northland Innovation Center In-Person
November 1-15, 2022, Village Shalom in Person

George Washington Carver: Scientist and Inventor born into slavery - Village Shalom Residents

Born enslaved, Carver was raised by his former masters. At 11, he left to pursue his education, in Kansas, graduating from high school before earning a master's degree from Iowa State University. Carver taught for 50 years at the Tuskegee Institute while developing products from plants, sharing advanced techniques with struggling farmers, and advocating for racial harmony. 


Jim Peters, J.D., is director emeritus of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at KU, and author of Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America's Heroes, which has been the nation's best-selling book on Arlington Cemetery for more than 25 years. He also teaches a course on the Underground Railroad in Northeast Kansas.

November 1-15, 2022, Village Shalom in Person

George Washington Carver: Scientist and Inventor born into slavery- Tallgrass Creek Residents

Born enslaved, Carver was raised by his former masters. At 11, he left to pursue his education, in Kansas, graduating from high school before earning a master's degree from Iowa State University. Carver taught for 50 years at the Tuskegee Institute while developing products from plants, sharing advanced techniques with struggling farmers, and advocating for racial harmony. 


Jim Peters, J.D., is director emeritus of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at KU, and author of Arlington National Cemetery: Shrine to America's Heroes, which has been the nation's best-selling book on Arlington Cemetery for more than 25 years. He also teaches a course on the Underground Railroad in Northeast Kansas.

September 20, 2022 to October 4, 2022, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person

German Settlements and Culture in Kansas

German is the most prevalent language after English and Spanish spoken at home in 77 counties in Kansas. Since 1854, thousands of German-speaking immigrants have sought better lives here, including Pennsylvania Dutch, Volga Germans, Mennonites, Austrians and Swiss. German churches dot the prairie, and some rural Kansans still speak a dialect of German.



Instructor Bio: William Keel, Ph.D., is a professor emeritus of German at KU, having taught the history and culture of German settlements in Kansas and Missouri.

September 22, 2022 to October 6, 2022, Aberdeen Village In Person

Ghosts in the White House: The Men and Women Behind the President's Words

This course examines the changes in White House speechwriting, from the earliest ghostwriters to contemporary presidential speechwriters. We will examine speechwriting drafts from Truman, Kennedy, Carter, and George H. W. Bush as well as speech files from Lady Bird Johnson and Barbara Bush. 

Instructor Bio: Diana Carlin, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita of Communication at Saint Louis University and a retired professor of Communication Studies at KU. She has co-authored a book on gender and politics and taught courses on women as political leaders, the rhetoric of women's rights and communication and gender.

October 11-25, 2022, Brewster Place In Person

Going for Baroque: Getting a Handle on Handel and Traveling Back to Bach

This course introduces the lives, times, and music of Baroque's most famous composers. We'll review Handel and Bach through images, biographical details, music, and patronage in the early 18th century. We will also consider their works in terms of their function, their composition and how to listen to them in a more informed manner. 

Instructor Bio: Paul Laird is professor of musicology at the University of Kansas. He has published widely on musical history topics including four books on Leonard Bernstein. The most recent is the biography of Leonard Bernstein in the "Critical Lives" series from Reaktion Books (University of Chicago Press).

September 20, 2022 to October 4, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Grant, the General: The Civil War Campaigns of Ulysses S. Grant

Historians cite Grant as the first modern general who understood the concept of Total War. We'll review the Civil War military campaigns of Grant and follow him from field commander in his early battles, to master campaigner, and then moving into the Total War strategist. Come learn about his maneuvers. 

Instructor Bio: Robert Smith, Ph.D., is the Director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from KSU and has published numerous articles on military history.

November 2-16, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Great Ballet Music

This course focuses on music composed for ballets. We begin with French ballet during the age of Louis XIV with such masters as Lully, continue with Meyerbeer and Adam, and works by Rossini, Verdi, Ponchielli, and Borodin. We'll include the ballets of Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky and Prokofiev, and finish with American composers Bernstein and Copland, among others. 

Instructor Bio: Don Dagenais has been a preview speaker for the Lyric Opera for more than 20 years, and he teaches classical music and opera courses for local organizations. He enjoys studying American political history and has compiled an extensive collection of memorabilia from presidential political campaigns from 1840 to the present. He recently retired as a real estate attorney.

November 2-16, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

Harmony Around the Universe

Have you ever pondered the significance of the order all around us? Join us as we explore how art, architecture, geometry, nature, numbers, shapes, and symbols are all connected by understanding that nature is written in symbols and signs. We'll learn how the circle, square and triangle came to be. 

Instructor Bio: Carol Page graduated from Kansas State Teachers College (now ESU) and retired from a 31-year career in Real Estate. She has authored two books and taught diverse classes as Color Analysis, Gingerbread House construction, Sewing, making Goat Milk Soap, and now Harmony in the Universe! She has been an active Osher participant for many years.

This course contains no sessions
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

Historic Fort Riley Tour and Visit to Lindsborg, known as Little Sweden U.S.A

Dates have been changed to Thursday, December 15 & Friday, December 16. Fort Riley, established in 1853, is one of the Army's oldest posts. Our visit will consist of a guided tour of the U.S. Cavalry Museum, which chronicles the history of the horse-mounted branch of the service from 1775 to 1950; a guided tour of the newly renovated 1st Infantry Division Museum, the army's oldest and most storied Division; and a tour of the historic Custer House restored to its original 1870s look. We'll see St. Mary's Chapel, the historic Calvary Parade Field, and the gravesite of "Chief," the last cavalry horse of the army, and eat lunch on post.

We'll spend the night in Salina and enjoy dinner at Martinelli's Little Italy before departing for Lindsborg on Friday. We'll start the day with a Community Tour as our step-on-guide shares facts about Bethany College, the Old Mill and Swedish Heritage Museum, and the 1904 World's Fair Swedish Pavilion. Next, we'll be treated to a docent-guided tour at Birger Sandzen Memorial Art Gallery. Weather permitting, a traditional Swedish buffet will be served at Coronado Heights, the southern-most bluff in the Smoky Hills. We'll visit Small World Gallery, home of National Geographic Photographer, Jim Richardson. Then enjoy a guided tour of the Red Barn Studio of folk artist Lester Raymer. We'll end at 350 Degrees to learn more about Swedish holiday foods and purchase tasty treats for the trip home!

Thursday, December 15 and Friday, December 16

7:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park on Thursday and returns Friday by 7:45 p.m.

8:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence on Thursday and returns Friday by 6:45 p.m.

9:35 a.m. - Arrive Manhattan Junction (I-70 & KS-177) on Thursday and return Friday by 5:35 p.m.

$310 per person for single occupancy

$245 per person for double occupancy

 Fee includes coach transportation, lodging, museum and gallery fees, guided tours, presentations, one breakfast, two lunches, and one dinner.

 Refunds will be honored on or before October 20 minus an $80 administrative fee.

All participants must present a government issued ID.



December 15-16, 2022

Historic Kansas City Bus Tour

This tour is sold out. Please see the new offering of this tour on December 2. This guided tour takes us by scores of Historic Sites with photo stops. You'll be treated to a first-person account by Octave Chanute, the civil engineer who designed and built the 1869 Hannibal Railroad Bridge. Learn about the man who mentored the Wright Brothers and has a town in Kansas named in his honor. Explore sites like the Santa Fe Trail Ruts, Satchel Paige's Grave, Case Overlook Park, the Missouri River Boardwalk, Lewis and Clark campsite, and others. Learn the stories behind KC's 8th Street cable car tunnel, Quantrill, Union Station Massacre, KC's first skyscraper, Thomas Swope and his murder, Nell Donnelly Reed's company and her kidnapping, the Battle of Westport, Political Boss Tom Pendergast, the NFL's longest game, and KC as the BBQ Capital of the World. We'll enjoy lunch at Minsky's pizza located in the historic downtown City Market.

Wednesday, November 16

8:00 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence and returns by 4 p.m.

9:00 a.m. - Coach arrives Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park and returns by 3 p.m.

$95 fee includes coach transportation, tour guide, and lunch. 

Refunds will be honored on or before November 1 minus a $20 administrative fee.



This course contains no sessions
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.

Historic Kansas City Bus Tour - December 2

This guided tour takes us by scores of Historic Sites with photo stops. You'll be treated to a first-person account by Octave Chanute, the civil engineer who designed and built the 1869 Hannibal Railroad Bridge. Learn about the man who mentored the Wright Brothers and has a town in Kansas named in his honor. Explore sites like the Santa Fe Trail Ruts, Satchel Paige's Grave, Case Overlook Park, the Missouri River Boardwalk, Lewis and Clark campsite, and others. Learn the stories behind KC's 8th Street cable car tunnel, Quantrill, Union Station Massacre, KC's first skyscraper, Thomas Swope and his murder, Nell Donnelly Reed's company and her kidnapping, the Battle of Westport, Political Boss Tom Pendergast, the NFL's longest game, and KC as the BBQ Capital of the World. We'll enjoy lunch at Minsky's pizza located in the historic downtown City Market.

Friday, December 2

8:00 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence and returns by 4 p.m.

9:00 a.m. - Coach arrives Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park and returns by 3 p.m.

$95 fee includes coach transportation, tour guide, and lunch. 

Refunds will be honored on or before November 18 minus a $20 administrative fee.



Friday, December 2, 2022

History of Lecompton: Birthplace of the Civil War

We'll start the day in Lecompton with a reenactment of the 1850s Town Hall meeting while watching the "Bleeding Kansas" play, featuring unique characters who shaped Territorial Kansas. Next, we'll tour the 1882 Territorial Capital Museum, housed in Lane University, where President Eisenhower's parents were married. Lunch will be served at the 1884 Methodist Church (Windsor Hotel) home to the famous 1885 Chickering Grand Piano. We'll then enjoy a short walk past downtown shops to 1856 Constitution Hall, the National Historic Landmark and Kansas' oldest wood frame building. We'll end the day with a presentation by Historian T. Kevin Griffin (retired Major) and discuss the impact the Lecompton constitution, written in the most famous unknown room in America, had on Lincoln, Douglas and pre -Civil War USA.

Friday, October 21

9:15 a.m. Arrive at 640 E. Woodson Ave., Lecompton

2:00 p.m.  Depart

$50 fee includes "Bleeding Kansas" play, museum fees, guided tours, presentations, and lunch.  

Refunds will be honored on or before October 6 minus a $15 administrative fee.


Friday, October 21, 2022

History of the World from the Hadean to the Holocene

Following the Big Bang 13 billion years ago, particulate matter began to coalesce forming the Earth 4.6 billion years ago. We'll review the Earth's evolution from hot molten mass of magma at 2,000°F, to the formation of single-celled organisms, to increasingly complex life forms culminating in the rise of man during the Holocene epoch. 

Instructor Bio:  Daniel Cudnik is a retired board-certified Plastic Surgeon from Ohio who has resided in Kansas for the past nine years. He formerly served as President of the Medical Staff and sat on various boards of trustees He has a passion for history and shares his knowledge with others, actively presenting for civic groups on historical topics mixing medicine with history.

Friday, November 18, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

How Hitler Came to Power

Amidst the frequent fears today for democracy's survival, this course shows how Adolph Hitler was able to transform Germany's Weimar Republic into a world-threatening dictatorship. It describes his rise, his use of propaganda, the world-wide depression, and the machinations of politicians that enabled him to turn a democratic country into the Nazi dictatorship. 

Instructor Bio: Vincent Clark holds a doctorate in modern European history. His graduate work included a Fulbright Graduate Fellowship at Germany's University of Heidelberg. He was history professor and chair of the history department at Johnson County Community College and has published articles and books in his field.

October 10-24, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Kansas City: The Adoption Hub of America and the Willows Maternity Sanitarium

This course will share the reunion of a mother and daughter 66 years after being separated at birth at the Willows Maternity Sanitarium. We will delve into the history of the Willows and dozens of other maternity homes that brought more than 100,000 young women shrouded in secrecy to Kansas City.


Instructor Bio: KelLee Parr holds bachelor degrees in agriculture and education plus a master's degree in adult and occupational education from Kansas State University. He has taught elementary school many years in Topeka and now writes science curriculum for Nancy Larson Publishers.

October 12-26, 2022, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging In Person

King Coal in Kansas

We'll explore the development of sub-surface coal mining in Crawford and Cherokee counties, making them the center of "King" Coal and resulting in milestones such as Pittsburg reaching 50,000 residents and UMWA membership exceeding 16,000, making it the world's zinc smelting capital. We'll also examine the emergence of area tycoons such as Mackie, Clemmons, and Spencer. 


Instructor Bio: Ken Crockett was born in Pittsburg, Kansas in a second-generation family of coal miners. He was educated at Central Missouri State University (BA degree) and Washburn University of Law (Juris Doctor). He is the author of two books relative to Kansas mining (Missouri Coal Miners Strike and Kenneth and Helen Spencer, Champions of Culture & Commerce In The Sunflower State).

October 11-25, 2022, Senior Resource Center for Douglas County In-Person

Living a Narrative Life

We'll celebrate life by exploring our stories across the arc of life and discuss the importance of understanding and valuing them. Our common stories have the power to draw us together and build community. We'll learn and use narrative principles as we participate in exercises and reflect on how our stories influence other arenas of life. 

Instructor Bio: Keith Herron has a foot in two worlds and explores the line between Spirit and Self. He has a doctorate in pastoral counseling and psychotherapy and a background as a local pastor. He is semi-retired and the author of "Living a Narrative Life: Essays on the Power of Stories".

September 22, 2022 to October 6, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person

Making Tracks: American Railroads Then and Now

We'll explore the economic, political, and cultural impact of U.S. railroad corporations, passenger, and freight trains, as well as workers who built, ran and maintained them. We'll focus on years from the Civil War to the present and view film clips, read book and magazine excerpts, listen to railroad songs, and see photos from the instructor's own collection. 

Instructor Bio: Carl Graves, Ph.D., holds a master's degree in U.S. history from KU and a doctorate from Harvard. He taught at the university and community college levels, and at Kansas City's Pembroke Hill School

November 22, 2022 to December 6, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person

Mobile Storytelling

No matter what you do, you need a voice on social media to promote your business, your interests, your hobbies, or your cause. In Mobile Storytelling, we learn to tell stories with our smartphones from shooting, to producing, to design and formatting, learn to create content that engages the communities on social media platforms. 

Instructor Bio: Stephen Knifton is an Emmy-winning TV news producer, creating and producing engaging and highly rated news programming. Steve also created work for museums, engineers, architects, designers, hospitality + tourism, and business development clients. He has taught (remotely) video storytelling and smartphone filmmaking at several colleges and has lived and worked in New York and Toronto, distance-teaching in Canada and the U.S.

October 31, 2022 to November 14, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

Mother Teresa: A Powerful Presence in the World

Join Marlene as she chronicles Mother Teresa's life in costume, celebrating her simplicity, brilliance, and ultimate dedication. Mother Teresa became a woman of the ages doing what we know must be done but seems impossible to do considering daily time constraints. There was no glory or money given, instead she was compensated in happiness and the love she felt with the human bond. 

Instructor Bio: Marlene Katz, a graduate from the University of Missouri was an adjunct professor at UMKC where she taught English and literature. Marlene has a 28-year teaching career and has been involved in storytelling for 20 years. Women in History is her specialty and Marlene has performed in a five-state area and has lectured at various groups, often in costume and speech of the character she is portraying.

Monday, November 28, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

Oodles of Noodles

For thousands of years, Chinese noodles and Italian pasta have been a significant and inseparable part of culture. And like both country's kaleidoscopic culture, customs, and languages, diverse and unique pasta can be found everywhere and is a unifying element. Come explore the mythology, folklore and fascinating story of noodles and pasta. 

Chef Larry Canepa is a Certified Culinary Educator with over 40 years of food and beverage experience and 20 years of teaching cooking, food and culture, and STEAM-focused classes. He has taught culinary classes at Le Cordon Bleu, the International Culinary School at the Art Institute, corporate wellness events, libraries, community centers and other venues.

Wednesday, November 30, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

Opportunities Await in Oklahoma

Steeped in western influence and infused with warm Southern hospitality, Oklahoma City (OKC) is a growing cosmopolitan center with plenty to do! The history, cowboy culture, art, parks, high adventure, and unique districts make it a fantastic place to visit. On our way to OKC we'll stop by Guthrie, known for its large historic downtown district and enjoy a catered lunch at The Guthrie Depot in the old Santa Fe Depot, a former "Harvey House." We'll be treated to a presentation from the Guthrie tourism department before heading on to the Oklahoma City National Memorial, to see its recent $10 million renovation with state-of-the-art technology, hands-on exhibits, new artifacts, and detailed information on the investigation. We'll hear from a National Park Service Guide before our self-guided visit, followed by an exclusive First-Person Stories of Hope discussion where a survivor, family member or first responder will share their story with our group. After checking into the hotel, we'll take a playful boat ride and cruise along the Bricktown Canal with a tour guide providing historical insight. We'll enjoy dinner at Old Spaghetti Factory before returning to the hotel.

Friday, we begin the day with a guided tour at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Then we'll move on to the Oklahoma City Museum of Arts, which boasts one of the most comprehensive collections of Dale Chihuly glass in the world, including the 55-foot Eleanor Blake Kirkpatrick Memorial Tower in the atrium. We'll spend time in the galleries before enjoying tasty modern indigenous cuisine at Thirty-Nine Restaurant inside the First Americans Museum which just opened a year ago. Next, we'll be treated to a guided tour of the museum which showcases state-of-the-art exhibitions in First American history, culture, and art.

Thursday, October 6 and Friday, October 7

7:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Edwards Campus, 12600 Quivira Rd., Overland Park Thursday and returns Friday 8:45 p.m.

8:30 a.m. - Coach departs the Osher Institute, 1515 Saint Andrews Drive, Lawrence Thursday and returns Friday 7:45 p.m.

$440 per person for single occupancy

$370 per person for double occupancy

Fee includes coach transportation, lodging, museum and gallery fees, guided tours, presentations, one breakfast, two lunches, two dinners and snacks.

Refunds will be honored on or before September 21 minus an $80 administrative fee.


October 6-7, 2022

Osher Institute Gift Certificate

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Kansas offers noncredit short courses and special events developed especially for folks over 50. Give the gift of learning through an Osher Gift Certificate which enables the recipient to attend one Osher course for free! Our courses are taught two hours each week for three weeks. To give someone an Osher Gift Certificate, please click the link below. If you have questions, please contact Linda Kehres at 785-864-1373 or linda.k@ku.edu.

July 25, 2022 to December 31, 2022

Poetry Appreciation, Memorization, and Movement

Reading Edwardian-era poets such as A.E. Housman, Henry Newbolt, and W.B. Yeats will broaden the imagination and stretch the mind through memorization. We will also work the body through senior-centric muscle, breath, and balance work, resulting in stronger integrative health. 

Instructor Bio: McKay Stangler is a former college professor and current conservation fundraising professional. He holds a bachelor's degree in Russian literature, a master's in journalism, and a doctorate in classical rhetoric. He is also a certified personal trainer and certified group fitness instructor who focuses on senior fitness.

October 11-25, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

Sharing Poetry from Incarcerated Individuals - A Look Inside the Douglas County Jail

We'll bring to light the work of fifty talented writers whose poetry speaks of "what really matters" to all of us. The class provides insight into the role that creativity plays in aiding survival and bringing positive change for those incarcerated.. You'll see inside life at a county jail and understand how inmate education in the U.S. corrections system is often one of the few lifelines available.

Instructor Bio: Brian Daldorph is creative writing instructor at the Douglas County jail and senior lecturer in the English Department at KU. He is an award-winning author of seven books including "Ice Age, Kansas Poems", and others.

Tuesday, October 4, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person

Significant United States First Ladies of the Modern Era

We will look at eight U.S. first ladies who lived in the 20th and 21st centuries. They are not as well-known as some of the other first ladies, but they made impressive contributions to the United States. We will study Lou Hoover, Bess Truman, Mamie Eisenhower, Lady Bird Johnson, Pat Nixon, Rosalynn Carter, Barbara Bush, and Laura Bush. 

Instructor Bio: Attorney Anita Tebbe is a retired a professor of legal studies at Johnson County Community College.

September 22, 2022 to October 6, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Small Spaces in High Places: The Geography of Andorra, Liechtenstein, and San Marino

We'll explore common geographic threads between these states including their political status, their relatively high per capita incomes grounded firmly in tourism, the role of ethnicity in nationhood and corruption related to status as tax havens. We also examine how they have managed to survive as independent states since the Medieval Period.
 
Instructor Bio: Tom Schmiedeler, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of geography at Washburn University.

November 3-17, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Stargazing with John C. Tibbetts

We'll review more than 35 years of celebrity interviews across the entire spectrum of filmmakers and actors (Steven Spielberg, Lauren Bacall, Jim Henson), musicians (Joan Baez, Julie Andrews, Philip Glass), theater people (John Kander, Mary Martin, Carol Channing) and authors (Stephen King, Ray Bradbury). The worlds of film, music and theatre come alive in these presentations.

Instructor Bio: John Tibbetts is emeritus professor at KU, where he taught courses in film history, media studies, and theory and aesthetics. He is an author, educator, broadcaster, artist, and pianist. He holds a Ph.D. from KU in multi-disciplinary studies and was awarded the Kansas Governor's Arts in Education Award in 2008. In class he draws upon his book, Composers in the Movies (Yale, 2005).

October 12-26, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall

Texas: A Revolution and A Republic?

We'll explore the history of Texas from the initial call for Mexican Independence to forming the Republic of Texas. We'll examine forces leading to American settlement in Texas after 1821 and the Texas Revolution which formed the Republic of Texas. Learn about the mythology of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto along with leaders of the time. 

Instructor Bio: Lindy Eakin has his doctorate in history from the University of Kansas. He has taught classes in Native American history, the Spanish Frontier in North American and U.S. history. He has published on native peoples in Spanish Texas.

November 22, 2022 to December 6, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Thanksgiving & Indigenous Foods: A Celebration

In 1492, the "discovery" of the Americas made for the incredible and continuing exchange of foods between the Eastern and Western hemispheres. From the first legendary Thanksgiving, when Indigenous people shared harvest with Pilgrims, we have celebrated with American foods. Join us for a history and a tasting of the rich larder of the New World.

Instructor Bio: Thomas Fox Averill is professor emeritus at Washburn University where he taught Kansas literature, folklore and film for more than 40 years. He is the author of three story collections and five novels, almost all of them set in Kansas. His most recent novel is "Found Documents from the Life of Nell Johnson Doerr: A Novel".

November 1-15, 2022, Brewster Place In Person

The 1950s: A Decade of Prosperity and Change

In the'50s, American led the free world as we witnessed the move to the suburbs, the birth of Rock' n' Roll, the space race, a baby boom, hot rods, and drive-in movies. We'll examine the rebuilding of Europe, its division into the free West and the Soviet-dominated East, and the end of colonialism in the Far East.


Instructor Bio: Robert Smith, PhD, is the Director of the Fort Riley Museum. He has a doctorate in history from KSU and has published numerous articles on military history.

November 14-28, 2022, Lenexa City Hall at City Center and Online

The Art & Culture of the Dutch Golden Age

The 17th century was the Netherlands' Golden Age. We'll explore its history, culture and art, including botanicals, churches, landscapes, seascapes, everyday life and portraits. Long considered a tolerant society, we will see how Dutch art reflected those values as well as their hegemony over the sea, extensive trade, and Protestant religion. 

Instructor Bio: Janice Stuerzl enjoys art history. After retiring from a 20-year career in social work, she became a docent at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. She has contributed research on French decorative arts for interior design books and has been field editor for interior design articles in national magazines.

October 31, 2022 to November 14, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

The Contested Plains--The Making of a Docu-drama

Deb Goodrich is the co-writer of  "The Contested Plains", just released on streaming services which recounts the story of John and Lydia German and their seven children, traveling through western Kansas in 1874 when five were killed and four taken captive. Co-writer and director, Ken Spurgeon and others will join the conversation. Among the stars are Mo Brings Plenty and Buck Taylor. 

Instructor Bio: Deb Goodrich, the host of the TV show "Around Kansas," and the Garvey (Texas) Foundation Historian in Residence at the Fort Wallace Museum, chairs the Santa Fe Trail 200. She has appeared in many documentaries including "The Road to Valhalla," "Aftershock," and "American Experience" on Jesse James, and the series, "Gunslingers" on AHC. She wrote and produced the docu-drama, "Thof's Dragon.

October 11-25, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

The Critical Self-talk Solution: How to Manage Unwanted Negative Self-talk

Many of us have experienced an inner critic we try to hide from others. Come learn about the different types of unwanted thoughts to better understand why these thoughts keep getting stuck and uncover ways to break out of the vicious cycle to navigate life more effectively. 

Instructor Bio: Don Booz is an executive coach. He is recognized for his expertise in linking emotional intelligence and self-awareness to personal goals. He is an author, speaker, and trainer, He is also a Master Practitioner in Neuro-Linguistic Programming and trainer for Jack Canfield's Success Principles.

November 1-15, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

The Experiences of Six African American U.S. Army Officers in the Trenches of World War

The personal stories of African American Army Officers who lead combat troops in WWI are not well known. We'll examine the experiences of six African American commissioned officers and discuss how they used their education and training to survive in the trenches of France during the war. 

Instructor Bio: Bernard F. Harris Jr., Ph.D., is a retired military veteran and graduate of Kansas State University. An adult educator and historian, his work is found in the Ethnic and Racial Minorities in the U.S. Military: An Encyclopedia; a co-authored book titled Savannah 1779, and in the Annals of Iowa Journal.

Wednesday, October 5, 2022, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

The Federalist Papers: a Blueprint for the American Government

The Federalist Papers were written to promote ratification of the Constitution. Jefferson described them as "the best commentary on the principles of government, which ever was written." Supreme Court decisions have quoted them at least 291 times. We'll review some of the most important decisions in which they are cited.
 
Instructor Bio: Tom Coleman holds a bachelor's degree in business and economics from Washburn University and is a retired Federal Contracting Officer.

December 2-16, 2022, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging In Person

The History and Meaning of Veterans Day

Join us as we explore the founding of Veterans Day and learn how it evolved from Armistice Day at the end of World War I on November 11, 1918. Colonel Bernie Kish, a veteran of the US Army for over 29 years, will share personal reflections of the many who gave their lives for our country. Kish will describe the role he played in terms of informing next of kin regarding the death of a loved one. Kish will also recount the death of his own personal family member during World War II, and three of his friends who perished in the Vietnam War. This fascinating lecture will be coupled with a discussion from a panel comprised of veterans who represent World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, and most recently, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.


Thursday, November 10


6:30-8 p.m.


Osher Institute

1515 St. Andrews Dr., Lawrence


$25 fee includes talk and reception.


Refunds will be honored on or before November 3 minus a $5 administrative fee.


Thursday, November 10, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person

The History and Tradition of KU Athletics

Come learn about KU Olympians who participated in the Olympic Games. We'll focus KU Athletes - John Hadl and Gale Sayers - and explore outstanding KU Basketball coaches enshrined in Springfield, Mass, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, to include Dr Naismith, Phog Allen, Larry Brown, Roy Williams and Bill Self. We'll study Haskell Indian Nation's participation in the games. 

Instructor Bio: Bernie Kish has taught sport management classes at KU since 2005. He has authored the chapter on KU Athletics in the recently published book Transforming the University of Kansas: A history, 1965- 2015. Kish is a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving on active duty for over 29 years and completing his service as a full colonel.

November 1-15, 2022, Osher Institute In-Person

The Land Between the Mountains: Palouse, Great Basin, and Colorado Plateau

These regions named in reference to rivers have long been inhabited by humans yet are the least populated areas of the lower forty-eight states We'll study geology and how these areas came to their present form and explore how humans lived, interacted with, and now threaten these areas.

Instructor Bio: James Showalter has seven years of experience with historic preservation and 31 years of teaching history at the university level. One of several areas of expertise he has developed is the history of religion worldwide.

September 19, 2022 to October 3, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

The Literary Resistance to Nazism

Nazi Germany's rise spurred many efforts by writers to expose the sources of the regime's power and bear witness to its bloody conquest. We'll examine the personal memoir as it was produced by these authors: German lawyer Sebastian Haffner's "Defying Hitler",  published in 2000 but written in 1939; German-Jewish writer Lion Feuchtwanger's "The Devilin France", published in 1942; and Italian-Jewish chemist Primo Levi's "Survival in Auschwitz", published in 1947. All three testify to the struggle to maintain one's humanity in the face of terror. 

Instructor Bio: Eliah Bures holds a Ph.D. in history from UC Berkeley. He is a fellow at Berkeley's Center for Right-Wing Studies and the author of multiple essays and scholarly articles on far-right politics.

November 3-17, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

The Medical History of the American Presidency

This course details the impact injuries and illnesses have had on the American presidency. We'll examine the diagnoses, treatments and controversies surrounding the presidents, including Andrew Jackson, James Garfield, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower, and John Kennedy. And we'll review the role the media played in covering-and uncovering-these ailments. 

Instructor Bio: Dr. Jay Murphy is a retired cardiologist who practiced in Johnson County, Kan. for 40 years. He graduated from Denison University and The Ohio State College of Medicine then completed post graduate training at KU. He is the author of What Ails the White House, An Introduction to the Medical History of the American Presidency.

September 20, 2022 to October 4, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

The Politics of Public Health

Health is one of our most commodified social goods. This course examines several public health controversies, including health care access and cost; inequity across economic class, race, and gender; the politics of defining what is a disease; mental health access; conflicts surrounding individual rights in public health initiatives; and Covid-19. 

Instructor Bio: Patrick Miller, associate professor of political science at KU, directs the Washington, D.C. Internship Program specializing in political psychology, public opinion, electoral behavior, survey methods, and statistics. He received his B.A. from the College of William & Mary in Virginia, and his Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

October 13-27, 2022, Washburn University Henderson Learning Center and Online

The Roaring Twenties

The 1920's brought us modern advertising, supermarkets, buying on credit, commercial radio and flight, culture wars, short skirts, voter apathy-even television. Prosperity and mass media expanded their reach to more Americans than ever before, but this was also a type of anxiety about health, morals, crime, terrorism, corruption and race relations. This course will discuss them. 

Instructor Bio: Will Haynes has a doctorate in history from the University of Kansas. He plans, manages, and promotes public programming at the Watkins Museum of History, the headquarters of the Douglas County Historical Society.

October 10-24, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Three Powerful Women of the Populist Movement

An examination of the influence and differing styles of Kansans Mary Elizabeth Lease, Annie Digges, and the significance of Mrs. S.E.V. Emery's book, "Seven Financial Conspiracies". Although they did not have the vote, women were welcomed into the Populist Movement and played significant roles, none more so than these three Kansans. 

Instructor Bio: Lynda Beck Fenwick lives a life fueled by curiosity, as a teacher, attorney, and author. She has published three books, one of which she was named nonfiction Georgia Author of the Year. Her new book is, "Prairie Bachelor, the Story of a Kansas Homesteader, and the Populist Movement".

Tuesday, November 1, 2022, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

Three Ship Disasters of the 20th Century: The Titanic, the Lusitania, and the Andre Doria

Ocean liners were the primary mode of intercontinental travel from the mid-19th century until they began to be supplanted by airliners. Advances in design and technology resulted in steamship companies proclaiming their ships to be "unsinkable," a claim proved false by the sinking of these three ships. We'll study the ships and the hubris underlying these claims. 

Instructor Bio: Paul Post, a native Kansan, received a B.A. in History from KSU and a law degree from the KU Law School in 1974. Now retired he is a member of the Topeka Landmarks Commission and was Commission Vice Chair in 2018. He has authored essays on the history of SBA Hill/ former Menninger Campus in Topeka; Topeka's Bates Family; The Fred Harvey Company; and on Duke Ellington.

November 22, 2022 to December 6, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Travel To Europe

We will explore some of the best quaint locations in western Europe. Discover the ways to travel from someone who has done everything from backpacking alone to attending group tours by bus, rain or river boat.  Countries will include Italy, France, Portugal, Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Norway and England. Many learning experiences from over 26 trips to Europe will be shared with the class. Find out the "do's" and "don'ts" of travel that will make your trips more rewarding.


Instructor Bio: Georgia Klein is a retired secondary educator from the Shawnee Mission School District. She has been to Europe 26 times and has presented workshops on travel to other continents. She has also been a guide for Road Scholars on a walking tour of the Country Club Plaza in Kansas City, MO.

November 21, 2022 to December 5, 2022, Roeland Park Community Center In Person

Trust the Science: Francis H. Snow and His Faculty Colleagues

KU's first natural history professor began a tradition of dynamic research and teaching that nurtured the careers of men and women as committed as he was to scientific advancement and service to their fellow Kansans. In this course we examine their contributions to KU and their fields of expertise. 

Instructor Bio - Since retiring as a journalist and editor, Evie Rapport has made a special study of KU founders and early faculty.

October 11-25, 2022, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility and Online

Woodstock at 50

Rock music during the 1967-69 countercultural era started with the Summer of Love and ended tragically just two years later. We will explore cultural and political events of the time from the Monterey International Pop Music Festival, through the Woodstock Music and Art Fair, and ending at the Altamont Speedway Festival. While Monterey introduced the world to many soon-to-be famous performers, Woodstock gave its name to a generation, and Altamont brought the era of love and trust to a sad end. Join the conversation as we recall this seminal time in American history.

 

Instructor Bio: Steve Lopes, AE, BA, MA, M Ed, was an educator for 15 years prior to 30 years of advocating for teachers as a Kansas-NEA organizer. He enjoys researching Rock 'n' Roll history and sharing it with Osher participants.

October 12-26, 2022, Eudora Community Museum In Person

World Politics Today: What's Going On?

We'll explore how the U.S. is dealing with a changing global landscape and attempt to interpret the lessons historians have documented for centuries. We'll discuss contemporary issues such as terrorism, forced immigration, cybercurrency, nuclear weapons, and the U.S.'s relationships with China, Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.

Instructor Bio: Charles "Chick" Keller is a retired senior executive and retired professor. He worked 15 years each at Sprint and Black and Veatch in strategic planning and strategic marketing rising to vice president. In 2000, Chick became a professor at the University of Kansas, Master of Engineering Management program where he taught Finance and Strategic Planning.

October 11-25, 2022, Mission Chateau In Person
November 3-17, 2022, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person

World Politics Today: What's Going On? - Tallgrass Creek Residents

We'll explore how the U.S. is dealing with a changing global landscape and attempt to interpret the lessons historians have documented for centuries. We'll discuss contemporary issues such as terrorism, forced immigration, cybercurrency, nuclear weapons, and the U.S.'s relationships with China, Europe, Russia, and the Middle East.

Instructor Bio: Charles "Chick" Keller is a retired senior executive and retired professor. He worked 15 years each at Sprint and Black and Veatch in strategic planning and strategic marketing rising to vice president. In 2000, Chick became a professor at the University of Kansas, Master of Engineering Management program where he taught Finance and Strategic Planning.

November 3-17, 2022, Tallgrass Creek Retirement Community In Person