Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

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Courses & Events

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.

June 12-26, 2024, Jayhawk Area Agency on Aging In Person

Advances in Medicine

Join us as we delve into medicine from the past to learn how far we've come. We'll study modern medicine to learn how we got to this point in treatment of certain conditions such as: congestive heart failure; atherosclerotic coronary, carotid, and peripheral arteries, and valvular heart disease. We'll also explore the advances in congenital heart disease.


Instructor Bio: Alan Forker received bachelor's & doctor of medicine degrees from the University of Kansas. After 12 years in private practice of Cardiology, he spent 32 years in academic medicine, and the last 26 at UMKC. He published 82 articles in medical literature and co-edited 2 books. He was elected Master of the American College of Physicians.

June 24, 2024 to July 8, 2024, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

Alzheimer's and Brain Health: From Treatment to Prevention - Speakers Series

Come learn about the latest developments in Alzheimer's, including advances in how the disease is diagnosed. We'll explore new medications to treat the disease and study how lifestyle modifications may help with prevention. Hear how groundbreaking medical advances may enable early detection prior to the emergence of memory symptoms, paving the way for the application of novel preventative therapies.


Instructor Bio: Jeffrey M. Burns, M.D., M.S. is the co-director of the University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Dr. Burns completed medical school at the University of Kansas Medical Center, neurology residency at the University of Virginia, and a post-doctoral fellowship in Alzheimer's at Washington University in St. Louis. In 2004 he returned to his hometown of Kansas City to start the Alzheimer's program to stimulate research locally while pursuing research investigating how lifestyle factors influence brain aging and Alzheimer's.

Thursday, June 13, 2024, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

Brown v. Board of Education

It has been 69 years since the landmark decision which declared that segregated schools were not Equal, and which ushered in the Civil rights movement and laws of 1964-1970 making it possible for Dr. King and Malcom X to have a great impact. We'll explore this topic and examine the Brown II and Brown III supreme Court decisions that followed and discuss education today regarding race and discrimination. 

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.

April 29, 2024 to May 13, 2024, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

Climate Change: What Will Happen?

Climate change is real and impacts from climate change are emerging. Despite the many efforts under way, we are not winning the battle to save the planet. Our way of life is threatened and the choices we make now are important. The class will highlight current and potential future impacts to thwart climate change, discuss alternative actions we might take, and what might happen.


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 VP level both times. In 2000, he began a career as a professor in KU's engineering management program where he taught finance and strategic planning.

Friday, June 14, 2024, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

Emotional Intelligence: What It Is and How to Increase It

To deepen any relationship requires us to increase our emotional intelligence. Yet it is remarkable how some people get entangled in each other's emotions. This course offers personal insights into your own emotional intelligence and the emotional intelligence of others. Come learn how to recognize emotions and understand what triggers them. 

Instructor: Don Booz is widely recognized for his coaching expertise in the Kansas City area and his ability to help people increase their emotional intelligence. He is a professionally certified coach who teaches people how to develop their emotional intelligence with increased self-awareness. He has mentored and coached CEOs, presidents, directors, managers and staff in a variety of academic and healthcare settings. Don coaches individuals on how to make a difference in this somewhat contentious time. He is a trainer, keynote speaker, workshop presenter and author.

July 16-30, 2024

From Trails to Rails: the Historical Geography of Urbanization in Kansas

Our first segment will examine the early trails of Territorial Kansas and how they gave way to the development of cattle towns at the railheads of Ellsworth, Hays, Wichita and Dodge City. Then we will evaluate how the two most valuable resources in Kansas-oil and natural gas-helped urbanize southeast Kansas and the "oil patch" towns of western Kansas. Our final segment focuses on how early promotional efforts led to the rise of Wichita; how Topeka "captured" the state capital; and how Lawrence became the classic college town.

Instructor Bio: Tom Schmiedeler, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of geography at Washburn University.

April 10-24, 2024, Northland Innovation Center 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.

July 16-30, 2024

High Performing Governance: Bridging the Gap between Politics and Administration

While government structures are designed to separate the arenas of politics and administration, nothing substantial gets done without connecting what is politically acceptable and operationally sustainable. In contemporary environments bridging this gap is becoming increasingly challenging. Being aware that politics revolves around four conflicting democratic values and that politics and administration are different mindsets facilitates working the gap.


Instructor Bio: John Nalbandian, professor emeritus, served for eight years on the Lawrence city commission including two terms as mayor. He is former director of the nationally recognized public administration program at KU and has received numerous awards for his teaching, research, and service.

Friday, June 21, 2024, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility In Person

Historical Movies, How Accurate Are They?

Do you ever wonder if movies that portray history are accurate? We'll explore storylines, costumes, and locales from war movies of the 20th century, American westerns, and cavalry movies, as well as: Ben Hur, Spartacus, Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia, El Cid, and Titanic Be prepared to have a lot of long held myths busted. 

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.

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

Is the American Dream Dead?

The American dream and hope of "leading a better, happier, richer life than your parents regardless of the circumstances of your birth" has energized Americans throughout our history. Today many Americans are challenged to pay their bills, find decent housing, and obtain health insurance. Today's high level of income inequality has led people to believe the American Dream is dead for many. The class will review what happened and how we might fix it.


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 VP level both times. In 2000, he began a career as a professor in KU's engineering management program where he taught finance and strategic planning.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Monarch Conservation Starts in Kansas - Speakers Series

Kansas is home to Monarch Watch, an education, conservation, and research organization at the University of Kansas. Join us for a conversation with Monarch Watch's new director, Kristen Baum. She will provide an overview of Monarch Watch programs that support the monarch butterfly and share ways to get involved.


Instructor Bio: Kristen Baum is the director of Monarch Watch and senior scientist and professor at the University of Kansas. She has worked with pollinators for more than thirty years. Her research interests focus on the effects of land use and management practices on monarchs and other pollinators.

Thursday, June 27, 2024, Osher Institute, St. Andrews Office Facility In Person

Quick and Easy Content: Anyone Can Create Anything

If you desire to promote a business or a hobby, producing content is a must. Social media videos, posters, logos, ads, and web pages that used to require a graphic designer, video producer, brand manager, and social media expert no longer do! Do it yourself for free with built-in templates and AI tools to make your work professional, and unique.

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.

April 29, 2024 to May 13, 2024, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

Smartphone Filmmaking

With the help of an inexpensive app, we can shoot and edit film-quality videos with our smartphones, easily up to the standards of social media, commercial and brand video work, and documentary and narrative film work. Gain the control and capabilities of professional cinematographers and design the look, color, lighting and framing of every single shot in a smartphone film. This course is suitable for aspiring filmmakers, entrepreneurs, video storytellers, social media content creators and content producers. Note: Students will be required to purchase and install the Filmic Pro app on their phones. You can purchase it directly through your mobile device or on your home computer, through either the Google Play Store (Android) or through the App Store (iPhone). 


Instructor: Stephen Knifton is an Emmy-award winning TV news producer, credited for creating and producing engaging and highly rated news programming. Steve moved onto the digital content world and created work for museums, engineers, architects, designers, hospitality + tourism and business development clients. For the past few years, Steve has (remotely) taught video storytelling and smartphone filmmaking at a number of colleges. Steve lived and worked in both New York and Toronto and teaches in both Canada and the U.S.

July 16-30, 2024

Summers of Love: 1967-69, Monterey, Woodstock, Altamont (formerly Woodstock at 50) - Tallgrass Residents

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, A.E., B.A., M.A., 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.

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

The Bill of Rights

The Bill of Rights is often cited to defend one's political position. But how many of us really know what it protects? The Founders of our country wrote the document to keep the power and authority under control through the system of checks and balances. So why the need to immediately add 10 Amendments?

Instructor Bio: Shari Tarbet has been an educator for over 30 years, she holds an MA/ PhD in Mythological Studies and Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, and a BSE English/History Education, and BSJ Broadcast Journalism from Kansas University. Her writings and lectures cover a wide variety of topics on myth, dreamwork, the Bill of Rights, and the Sacred Feminine.

April 10-24, 2024, Zoom Facilitated Sessions

The Spencers of Kansas: Champions of Culture and Commerce

Three generations of Spencers led Kansas to the forefront of coal mining and chemical manufacturing. John, his son, Charles, and the grandson, Kenneth, developed a coal/chemical empire from 1867 to Kenneth's death in 1960. During that century they became the world's leaders in mechanized mining and agricultural fertilizer. We'll also examine the Spencer Foundation's contributions to the arts and culture.

Instructor Bio: Ken Crockett was born into 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).

April 10-24, 2024, Claridge Court In Person

Travel to Hawaii

We will begin with the history of Hawaii from its Polynesian roots as far back as the 8th century. Westerners came to Hawaii for the first time a thousand years later in the 18th century. On January 18, 1778, Captain James Cook went ashore at Waimea on Kauai. He called his new discovery the Sandwich Islands, after the First Lord of the Admiralty. We will explore some of the first kings and queens of Hawaii and how Hawaii evolved to a U.S. Territory and then statehood in 1959. We will look at Oahu's past and present the highlights of things to see and do on this island, including Pearl Harbor and the changes there for touring the last few years. We will focus on Honolulu, the state capital. We'll then delve into the islands of Maui and Kauai and if there is time, Molokai and Lanai. Lastly, we discuss the Big Island, Hawaii. Since all the other islands would fit in the Big Island, there is much to talk about from history to places to see and many activities unique to this island. Volcano National Park will be highlighted. 

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.

June 25, 2024 to July 9, 2024, KU Edwards Campus, 163 Regnier Hall, In Person and Online

United States Vice President: Insignificant Position or Second Most Powerful Office?

We'll explore U.S. Constitutional requirements and powers given to U.S. vice presidents as we study the evolution of the position from someone "waiting in the wings" performing ceremonial duties, to becoming an influential and respected advisor. We'll examine how the relationship between the president and vice president has changed over the years.

Instructor Bio: Anita Tebbe is a retired professor of the Legal Studies Department at Johnson County Community College. She earned an undergraduate degree in history, a graduate degree in education and a juris doctor degree in law. Anita is a Kansas licensed attorney and has more than 40 years at the high school and college levels.

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

United States Vice President: Insignificant Position or Second Most Powerful Office? - Brewster Place Residents

We'll explore U.S. Constitutional requirements and powers given to U.S. vice presidents as we study the evolution of the position from someone "waiting in the wings" performing ceremonial duties, to becoming an influential and respected advisor. We'll examine how the relationship between the president and vice president has changed over the years.

Instructor Bio: Anita Tebbe is a retired professor of the Legal Studies Department at Johnson County Community College. She earned an undergraduate degree in history, a graduate degree in education and a juris doctor degree in law. Anita is a Kansas licensed attorney and has more than 40 years at the high school and college levels.

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