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)
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
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
July 16-30, 2024
From Trails to Rails: the Historical Geography of Urbanization in Kansas
Instructor Bio: Tom Schmiedeler, Ph.D., is professor emeritus of geography at Washburn University.
This course contains no sessions
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.
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?
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
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
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
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
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.
This course contains no sessions
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The Spencers of Kansas: Champions of Culture and Commerce
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).
This course contains no sessions
Click here to be notified about the next scheduled program.
Travel to Hawaii
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?
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
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United States Vice President: Insignificant Position or Second Most Powerful Office? - Brewster Place Residents
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.