Learning programs for adults age 50 and better at the University of Pittsburgh
Spring 2021 Course Catalog It’s Time for You!
REGISTRATION OPENS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020 • PHONE REGISTRATION OPENS MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2020 Spring 2021 Term Osher Lifelong Learning Institute University of Pittsburgh
TABLE OF CONTENTS DATES AND DEADLINES
Welcome 3 January 7 OLLI Mini-courses begin
Membership and January 18 University Closed (Martin Luther King birthday observance) Registration 4 January 25 OLLI Session 1 begins Scholarships 5 February 5 Add/Drop period for University courses ends Schedule at-a-glance 6, 7 February 26 OLLI Session 1 ends Courses by topic 8, 9
OLLI Session 1 Courses 10 March 1–12 OLLI Break (No OLLI courses meet)
OLLI Session 2 Courses 18 March 15 OLLI Session 2 begins
Mini-Courses, Events April 16 OLLI Session 2 ends and Lectures 24, 25
OLLI By the Numbers 26
How to Audit Undergraduate Courses 27
Instructor Biographies 28
About OLLI The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) is a program in the College of General Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Established in 2005, it is supported by the Bernard Osher Foundation and is one of 123 OLLIs located on college campuses throughout the United States. The National Resource Center for Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, located at the Northwestern University, provides technical assistance to the OLLI programs across the country.
Mission/Purpose The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute aspires to create a dedicated intellectual environment for older adult students, nurturing a lifelong passion for learning. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute fosters lifelong learning through courses and programs that engage the learner, provide social interaction, and enrich lives. OLLI’s faculty, which includes University of Pittsburgh professors and retired faculty, challenge participants to understand the cultural forces of today, to interact socially and intellectually with one another, and to live empowered lives. WELCOME to OLLI at Pitt!
If you are age 50 or better and have a curious mind, join us!
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Pittsburgh offers learning opportunities designed specifically for older adult learners. Reasonable membership fees and generous financial assistance make OLLI membership possible for anyone who would like to join us. Upon becoming a member, you have immediate access to courses, special classes, lectures, and events.
Currently, OLLI courses meet on Zoom, offering members the safety and comfort of learning from home. OLLI members enjoy interacting online with instructors and other members who share a love of learning. Our excellent teachers are from the University and also from the diverse and talent-filled Pittsburgh area.
OLLI at Pitt members want you to know that they are a welcoming and friendly group. No previous affiliation with the University of Pittsburgh and no college experience is needed to become a member. We look forward to seeing you soon!
It’s Time for YOU!
OLLI.PITT.EDU | 3 Membership and Registration An active OLLI membership is required to register for courses
How to Register Choose your membership Due to current circumstances, members and Annual Membership – $225 interested individuals should register online at: (Covers Spring, Summer, and Fall 2021 Terms) https://www.campusce.net/ollipitt/
Term Membership – $125 1. SIGN IN using your username and password— OR— (Covers Spring 2021 Term) create an account if you do not already have one. Click 2nd Installment Membership – $100 on the Sign In link in the upper right-hand side of the (for those who purchased a term membership in page. (After putting in your username and password, Fall 2020, this option adds two additional terms to you will know you are signed in if “Welcome,
NOTE: If you do not see an “Add to Cart” button under a course, there are three possible reasons. 1) Registration has not begun yet. 2) You are a paid, current member and have not signed in. (Check for “Welcome YourFirstName” in the top left-hand corner of the screen) 3) You are not a current member or your membership is expired and you All Spring Term have not added a membership selection to your cart FIRST, 2021 courses before adding a course. and lectures will Difficulties? take place online If there are any difficulties with registrations, please leave a message on our main phone line: 412-624-7308 or via the Zoom email us at [email protected]. Please know that our office is platform. working remotely and will have to return your phone call.
REGISTER AT: WWW.CAMPUSCE.NET/OLLIPITT/
OLLI.PITT.EDU | 4 Scholarships Scholarships for the Osher Lifelong Choose your favorite courses based Learning Institute (OLLI) are based on the topics, days, and times that on financial need and are awarded to people age 50 and older who are interest you! interested in attending our program. The scholarships partially offset the Courses are offered for your exploration, cost of OLLI membership. All OLLI enjoyment, or academic interests. members pay something toward a Academic – these courses are like membership, but our awards can undergraduate college courses with the make OLLI possible for those who instructor lecturing most of the time. might not otherwise be able to join. Exploration – more “hands on” oriented Financial assistance is for one term courses: OR may be an academic topic primarily and must be applied for each term. taught through interactive group discussion and practice. A simple application form is used and must be entirely completed to Enjoyment – most of class is spent with the students discussing the receive consideration. All scholarship topic, practicing a skill, or the primary purpose is for group sharing applications for Spring term 2021 and discussion. must be received by Friday, January 22, 2021. Awards: Scholarships range from $50 - $100 per term. Notification of your award and the amount of the award will be sent within two weeks of receipt of your application. Please contact the office to receive a scholarship application and for more information by emailing [email protected].
Learning is Priceless! Give the Gift of Please support OLLI at Pitt Learning Are you are searching Your donation helps to: for the perfect gift for your friend, neighbor, • support hundreds of courses each year relative, mom or dad in the over 50 crowd? • attract top notch instructors A gift certificate for membership • keep membership fees as low as possible in OLLI at Pitt is a thoughtful and meaningful gift for someone who • help those who need financial assistance to enjoys challenging themselves join OLLI through the Bobenage-Szczepanski and engaging with peers. Gift Membership Fund certificates can be for one term • impact outreach activities in communities or an annual membership. To and neigborhoods where membership purchase an OLLI membership is underrepresented gift certificate,send an email to [email protected] and include your Make a gift by donating online at olli.pitt.edu, or phone number. We will call you by contacting the OLLI office at 412-624-7308. to arrange your purchase. What a memorable gift it will be!
OLLI.PITT.EDU | 35 OLLI Session 1 • Monday, January 25–Friday, February 26 SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE SPRING 2021 morning MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 10–11:30 a.m. 9–10 a.m. 9–10 a.m. 10–11 a.m. 10–11:30 a.m. American Sign Language Chair Yoga Gentle Yoga Dance and Be Fit Empower Your Writing with Sharon Serbin Sally Sherman Jill Clary Roland Ford Poetry: Rhyming Poems The Fundamentals of Editing & 10–11:30 a.m. 9:30–11:30 a.m. 10–11:30 p.m. Sandra Gould Ford Revising Fiction and Nonfiction Beginning Level French: Nature as Muse Beginner Spanish History of the First Essays Communication Strategies Ann Rosenthal Nancy Farber Amendment Ann Hultberg Cathleen Sendek-Sapp 10–11:30 a.m. Beginner Watercolor John Burt Fun with Plants in Winter Beyond Rosa Parks: Women in Artificial Organs: Past, Melissa Tai Intermediate Conversational Doug Oster the Struggle for Civil Rights Present, Future Heroes French: Talking about the How to Be Smart with Your Joan Gundersen Harvey Borovetz Alan Irvine Past (Tense) Cathleen Sendek-Sapp iPhone Experimental Watercolor Local Journalism, Engaged Race Relations and White Richard Fitzgibbon Melissa Tai Community: Reclaiming Supremacy in America Religions of the Book: Symbolic Violence and the Jew The Life and Times of Goya Trust in News Ralph Bangs Judaism, Christianity and in Early Modern Italian Art and Picasso Mila Sanina & PublicSource Islam The Soviet Union: The Sandra Collins Andrea Maxwell Jose Juves Climate Change: Global Revolution and First Decade The Longest Drought Will End Meets Local Charles Hier When Worlds Collide in Rain: The Literature of Hope Hari Mantripragada Orin James Abby Mendelson 10:15–11:15 a.m. Chakra Yoga All Levels Jill Clary afternoon MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 1–2:30 p.m. 1–2:30 p.m. 1–2:30 p.m. 1–2:30 p.m. Advanced Beginner Spanish Advanced Intermediate Aristotle’s Conception of the Advanced Conversational Farber Conversational French: Good Life Spanish From Cause to Effect: The Simply Conversation Gregory Strom Nancy Farber Philosophy of Causation Cathleen Sendek-Sapp A Brief History of Modern August Wilson, Pittsburgher Annika Froese Marx’s Marxism: An Typography and Playwright: The Aunt Intro to Astronomy Part 1: Introduction Megan Kappel Ester Plays The Solar System Javier Vazquez-D’Elia Emily Dickinson Chris Rawson David Nero The Symphonies of Gustav Cliff Johnson Current Art and Architecture: Story of Pittsburgh’s Forests Mahler: Part 2 The Struggle for Equality in Challenging Traditions from Mike “Carya” Cornell Stephen Schultz America: A History of the Fight Here to the Moon Erin O’Neill TED Talks (Section 1) TED Talks (Section 2) for a “More Perfect Union” Kathy Callahan Kathy Callahan Louise Mayo History of Italian Cuisine Tiny Treasures: Making Artist 3–4:30 p.m. Lorraine Denman Books Immunology 101: 3–4:30 p.m. Susan Schneider Understanding Your Immune Women Artists (1400-1700) 3–4:30 p.m. System Saskia Beranek Cyber Literacy: Understanding Tullia Bruno the Cybersecurity Landscape Pioneers of Rock and Roll JoAnne Green Robert Joyce Latin American Literature of Single-novel Study: Barbara the 20th Century through its Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior” Nobel Prizewinners Nicholas Coles Camila Pulgar Machado Masters of Modern Architecture 3 Jeffrey Swoger
OLLI.PITT.EDU | 6 OLLI Session 2 • Monday, March 15–Friday, April 16 SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE SPRING 2021 morning MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 10–11:30 a.m. 9–10 a.m. 9–10 a.m. 10–10:50 a.m. 10–11:30 a.m. American Sign Language Chair Yoga (continued) Gentle Yoga (continued) Dance and Be Fit The Amazon (continued) 10–11:30 a.m. 9:30–11:30 a.m. (continued) Roberta Mendonça De Carvalho An Early Start in the Garden Beginning Level French Nature as Muse (continued) 10–11:30 a.m. Intermediate Conversational Doug Oster (continued) 10–11:30 a.m. Ancient Wisdom, Modern French (continued) As You Like It: Four Aspects Charlemagne and the Gender and Sexuality in the Health Law and Social Change of Love Carolingian Empire Archives Melissa Sokulski David DeFazio Alan Stanford Jared Day Julie Beaulieu Beginner Spanish Muhammad and the Quran Medieval and Renaissance The End of the Trail and the King and Kubrick: Variations (continued) Aliya Khan Art in the Neighborhood Beginning: Native American of “The Shining” Beginner Watercolor The Supreme Court Considers David Brumble Literature J.D. Wright (continued) Slavery & Its Aftermath Abby Mendelson Leonard Bernstein at 102 Forensic Science: Intro to John Burt Experimental Watercolor Owen Cantor Criminalistics 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. (continued) Women in the Hebrew Bible: Edward Strimlan Birding 101 Part 2 The Soviet Union: Chris Kubiak Kimberly Latta The System, WW II and 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. the Collapse Chakra Yoga All Levels Charles Hier (continued) afternoon MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY 1–2:30 p.m. 12:30–2 p.m. 1–2:30 p.m. 1–2:30 p.m. Advanced Beginner Spanish Down These Mean Streets: The American (Minority) Advanced Conversational (continued) Murder Has No Borders Experience Spanish iPhone 2 Ken Boas Saima Sitwat Maria Franco de Gomez Richard Fitzgibbon 1–2:30 p.m. Jews and American Cinema: The British Revival of Intro to Astronomy Part 2: Advanced Intermediate Part 2 Ancient Ethics Stars, Galaxies, and the Conversational French Lucy Fischer Ben Schulz Universe (continued) Making the Most of Micro Cognition and Aging David Nero Hamilton: The Musical Essays Bruce Goldstein Latin America Through Andrew Lotz Laurie McMillan Early Pittsburgh Short Stories Optimizing Health with Mexican Murals Across Alan Irvine Karen Goldman Plant-Based Eating the Americas Financial Planning for a Music: What’s in an Sally Lipsky Paula Pardo Gaviria Stress-Free Retirement Interpretation? 3–4:30 p.m. Philosophy of Action Aaron Leaman Flavio Chamis Forensic Anthropology Gregory Strom Poem Making 5: Writing, 3–4:30 p.m. Allison Gremba 3–4:30 p.m. Clarity & Mystery, Part 2 Fundamentals of Guastavino Structural Tile Mythology of the Ancient Sheila Kelly Neuroscience Vaulting in Pittsburgh and Modern World: Gods Adam Davis Matthew Schleub Marcie Persyn Topics in Medical Ethics Mark Wicclair
OLLI.PITT.EDU | 37 Courses by Topic • Spring 2020 Clicking on each course title will take you to its course description in the catalog.
Art History and Architecture History, Classics, & Philosophy A Brief History of Modern Typography 14 Aristotle’s Conception of the Good Life 14 Current Art and Architecture: Challenging Traditions Beyond Rosa Parks: Women in the Struggle for from Here to the Moon 16 Civil Rights 11 Guastavino Structural Tile Vaulting in Pittsburgh 20 The British Revival of Ancient Ethics 22 The Life and Times of Goya and Picasso 11 Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire 19 Masters of Modern Architecture 3 13 Early Pittsburgh 23 Medieval and Renaissance Art in the Neighborhood 18 From Cause to Effect: The Philosophy of Causation 10 Mexican Murals Across the Americas 21 Heroes 15 Symbolic Violence and the Jew in Early Modern History of the First Amendment 17 Italian Art 10 History of Italian Cuisine 16 Women Artists (1400-1700) 16 Mythology of the Ancient and Modern World: Gods 21 Philosophy of Action 21 Film, Music & Theater The Soviet Union: The Revolution and First Decade 16 As You Like It: Four Aspects of Love 18 The Soviet Union: The System, WW II, and the Collapse 22 Jews and American Cinema: Part 2 21 The Struggle for Equality in America: A History of the Leonard Bernstein at 102 20 Fight for a “More Perfect Union” 14 Music: What’s in An Interpretation? 19 The Supreme Court Considers Slavery & Its Aftermath 23 Pioneers of Rock and Roll 15 When Worlds Collide 17 The Symphonies of Gustav Mahler: Part 2 12 Language Studies Fitness, Health, & Self-Interests Advanced Beginner Spanish 10 Ancient Wisdom, Modern Health 22 Advanced Conversational Spanish (Farber) 16 Birding 101 23 Advanced Conversational Spanish (Franco de Gomez) 22 Chair Yoga 11 Advanced Intermediate Conversational French: Chakra Yoga All Levels 14 Simply Conversation 12 Dance and Be Fit 15 American Sign Language 10 An Early Start in the Garden 18 Beginning Level French: Communication Strategies 11 Fun with Plants in Winter 10 Beginner Spanish 15 Gentle Yoga 13 Intermediate Conversational French: Talking About the Past (Tense) 17 Optimizing Health with Plant-Based Eating 20 Story of Pittsburgh’s Forests 11 TED Talks (Section 1) 11 TED Talks (Section 2) 12
OLLI.PITT.EDU | 8 Courses by Topic • Spring 2020 (continued) Clicking on each course title will take you to its course description in the catalog.
Literature & Creative Writing Religious Studies As You Like It: Four Aspects of Love 18 Muhammad and the Quran 23 August Wilson, Pittsburgher and Playwright: Religions of the Book: Judaism, Christianity The Aunt Ester Plays 16 and Islam 17 Down These Mean Streets: Murder Has No Borders 19 Science, Technology & Medicine Emily Dickinson 14 The Amazon 23 Empower Your Writing with Poetry: Rhyming Poems 17 Artificial Organs: Past, Present, Future 13 End of the Trail and the Beginning: Native American Literature 19 Climate Change: Global Meets Local 13 The Fundamentals of Editing & Revising Fiction and Cognition and Aging 22 Nonfiction Essays 10 Cyber Literacy: Understanding the King and Kubrick: Variations of “The Shining” 20 Cybersecurity Landscape 12 Latin American Literature of the 20th Century through Forensic Anthropology 20 its Nobel Prizewinners 13 Forensic Science: Intro to Criminalistics 22 Latin America Through Short Stories 18 Fundamentals of Neuroscience 19 The Longest Drought Will End in Rain: The Literature of Hope 12 How to Be Smart with Your iPhone 10 Making the Most of Micro Essays 21 Immunology 101: Understanding Your Immune System 14 Poem Making 5: Writing Clarity & Mystery, Part 2 23 Introduction to Astronomy Part 1: The Solar System 11 Single-Novel Study: Barbara Kingsolver’s “Flight Behavior” 15 Introduction to Astronomy Part 2: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe 18 Women in the Hebrew Bible: Part 2 20 iPhone 2 18 Math and Economics Topics in Medical Ethics 22 Financial Planning for A Stress-Free Retirement 23 Visual & Performing Arts Political, Social Sciences & Society Beginner Watercolor 15 The American (Minority) Experience 21 Experimental Watercolor 11 Gender and Sexuality in the Archives 20 Nature as Muse 13 Hamilton: The Musical 19 Tiny Treasures: Making Artist Books 12 Law and Social Change 23 Local Journalism, Engaged Community: Reclaiming Trust in News 14 Marx’s Marxism: An Introduction 12 Race Relations and White Supremacy in America 15
OLLI.PITT.EDU | 39 OLLI Course Descriptions Session 1: Monday, January 25–Friday, February 26
Fun with Plants in Winter Renaissance periods. We will explore MONDAY art from different regions that either Just because it’s cold outside condoned violence or attempted to doesn’t mean the joy of gardening quell unrest through symbolic violence. 10–11:30 a.m. must end. In this course we will discuss indoor bulbs and growing; Academic • Andrea Maxwell American Sign Language* appropriate outdoor tree and shrub American Sign Language (ASL) is a pruning for winter; a houseplant 1– 2:30 p.m. beautiful, expressive language, with primer including indoor herb gardens its own grammatical order, syntax, and early small seed starting are just Advanced Beginner Spanish* and culture. ASL is much more than some of the things we can do until Members may take only one level of hand shapes and hand movements. the weather breaks. Spanish. Hand shapes, palm orientation, Enjoyment • Doug Oster This 10-week course is for students movement, body shifts, facial who have advanced beyond a expressions and body movement all How to Be Smart with beginning knowledge of Spanish come together for full expression and Your iPhone and wish to further refine speaking, communication. This is a 10-week listening, and reading comprehension hands-on participation class, literally. Many of us have adopted an skills. Classroom practice focuses on Participants must be willing to turn iPhone as our go-to method of the use of complex grammar, syntax, on their video cameras for instruction communication. Are you using your and vocabulary. and class practice to be effective. expensive device to make your life The instructor will get you motivated, easier, or is the frustration level rising? Exploration • Nancy Farber laughing, and very comfortable in Do you need to learn what some using ASL. of those apps are for? This course From Cause to Effect: The develops your confidence level to the Philosophy of Causation Exploration • Sharon Serbin point where you can use your iPhone Causation is everywhere: Turning to assist rather than confound daily the key in a car’s ignition causes The Fundamentals of Editing activities. For class, each student the engine to start. Smoking causes & Revising Fiction and should have an iPhone running the cancer. But what is this thing called Nonfiction Essays latest iOS and a data plan or logged “causation”? In this course we look The writer and editor Arthur Plotnick into WiFi. Everyone is encouraged to at philosophers’ attempts to answer said, “You write to communicate to download and read the user manual this question, with a focus on the the hearts and minds of others what’s (free) from Apple. connection between causation and burning inside you, and we edit to let Exploration • Richard Fitzgibbon responsibility. If my houseplant dies the fire show through the smoke.” A while I’m on holiday, I may hold common definition of editing is that Symbolic Violence and the Jew responsible my housemate who it is a stage of the writing process in Early Modern Italian Art failed to water it. But did her failure in which a writer improves a draft to water my plant cause the plant to by correcting errors and making This class will introduce participants to die? Can omissions ever be causes? words and sentences clearer, more the ways in which Judaism and anti- Could I hold my friend responsible for precise, and as effective as possible. Jewish sentiments were present in Early the plant’s death, even if she did not A common definition of revision is Modern Christian Art. The artworks of cause it? Through weekly readings to reconsider arguments, review Italy (and some Northern European and discussions, we will explore the evidence, refine purpose, reorganize works) explored in this course pervasive role causation plays in our presentation, and revive stale prose. emphasize both the good and bad lives, and reflect on the unspoken Students will learn to apply both skills in humanity—a dichotomy of choices assumptions that inform our thinking to their writing. and beliefs that lingers to this day. Participants will be invited to discover about causation. Academic • Ann Hultberg how this art was implicated in a toxic Academic • Annika Froese blend of theology and violence that marked Italy during the Medieval and
10 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE Introduction to Astronomy, women. Yet women desegregated Part 1: The Solar System TUESDAY trolley companies; argued key cases before the Supreme Court; The universe is unimaginably vast and organized sit-ins; were arrested as wonderful. In this course, we focus on 9–10 a.m. freedom riders; worked as community the solar system: earth and the other organizers; and died for the cause. In planets that orbit our sun. This course Chair Yoga this course we will look at some is Part 1 of a two-part sequence. This gentle form of yoga is practiced of the earliest women pioneers for However, the parts can be taken using a chair as a prop/stabilizer equal rights, and then the many independently and in either order. In for support during standing influential roles women (black Part 1, we start with a discussion of poses or adapted for sitting on a and white) played in the legal the nighttime sky. Next, we relate the chair. It is especially beneficial for struggles, school desegregation, motion of the earth around the sun people concerned with balance or demonstrations, freedom riding, and to the passage of seasons on earth. coordination issues or those who have political actions that were a part of Next, we introduce the terrestrial felt they are unable to participate in the Civil Rights Movement. planets, followed by the Jovian other yoga experiences. The class (gas giant) planets and their moons. includes poses for strength training, Academic • Joan Gundersen Finally, we will discuss the origins of mobility in the joints and more the solar system, ending the course relaxing poses to help steady the Experimental Watercolor* by introducing the ongoing search for mind. Opportunities to intensify, with Members may only take one 10-week life in the universe. modifications to make the poses more art course per term. accessible, will be offered throughout Academic • David Nero In this 10-week course, students with the course so that participants learn previous watercolor experience will to adapt to their personal situations Story of Pittsburgh’s Forests enjoy using household items and and comfort as well as challenge products to produce a variety of No matter where you are in themselves. The course is appropriate textural effects. Each class will open Pittsburgh, you are in a forest. In for all levels. this class, students of all experience with a demonstration using a new levels will explore, connect to, and Enjoyment • Sally Sherman technique. Students will engage in discover the Pittsburgh’s forests. We brainstorming possible applications will uncover our region’s geological 10–11:30 a.m. for the techniques. Everyone will be history, explore nature, and learn how encouraged to share their work at the to read the forested landscape. Beginning Level French: end of class. Communication Strategies* Enjoyment • Mike “Carya” Cornell Enjoyment • Melissa Tai In this 10-week course designed TED Talks (Section 1) for students with little or no prior The Life and Times of Goya knowledge of French, the focus and Picasso Members may register for only one will be on mastering phrases and Francisco Goya and Pablo Picasso section of the course. set structures that may be useful lived in very interesting times and TED (technology, entertainment, and for communicating across a variety harnessed the dynamic of their design), a nonprofit organization that of situations. Students will be respective eras to become two of the promotes “ideas worth spreading”, encouraged to develop strategies to greatest masters of Spanish painting. features talks by some of the world’s try to make themselves understood in Discussing a handful of their works, most engaging speakers on a wide instances where language proficiency this course investigates the personal variety of subjects. The TED website may be lacking. and historical forces behind the lives features more than 2,300 talks on Exploration • Cathleen Sendek-Sapp of these immortals, focusing on how video. In this class, we will discuss, their art reflected their times and in debate, and reflect on a few of these Beyond Rosa Parks: turn influenced our present view of talks each week. Some talks are Women in the Struggle those events. informational, some are just plain fun. for Civil Rights Group members are encouraged to Academic • Jose Juves select talks that inspire or intrigue Women were some of the earliest them to kick off the discussion. and most persistent fighters in the struggle for racial equality, but most Exploration • Kathy Callahan Americans only recognize the names of male leaders and one or two
*LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE OLLI.PITT.EDU | 11 The Longest Drought Will and ideological currents that labeled Group members are encouraged to End in Rain: The Literature themselves “Marxist”, and the select talks that inspire or intrigue of Hope magnitude of the differences that them to kick off the discussion. frequently separated their respective Recently, a critic wrote, “books are Exploration • Kathy Callahan versions of “Marxism”. Marx, not supposed to just ‘give hope’ as if however, famously denied being a they were cheerleaders in print. Books Tiny Treasures: Making Marxist himself. This six-week course should disturb, complicate, and make Artist Books* is organized around two central things uncomfortable to push readers ideas: 1) that the potential for the This five-week hands-on course will to create their own understanding of development of “multiple Marxisms” explore the many facets of creating reality and their own sense of hope.” was already present in Marx’s writings; easy, small, hand-made artist books. Nevertheless, we shall try. We shall and 2) that, as a result, we need to Through a variety of media (including read some excerpts of excellent, revisit those writings to understand pen, markers, colored pencil, and intelligent narratives, fable and fiction, those paradoxical and often optional at-home computer printing), memoir and environmentalism, that perplexing developments. This course students will learn to make artist give exactly what we need in these offers an introduction to the main books, suitable for drawing, poetry, troubled times: hope for ourselves, stages and directions of development travel journals, albums, personal our country, and our world. Andrew of his thought. expression, collections, gifts and Krivak, “The Bear”; Isabella Tree, more.Guidance on adding hand- “Wilding: Returning Nature to our Academic • Javier Vazquez-D’Elia lettering and computer-generated Farm”; David George Haskell, “The text will be offered. Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in The Symphonies of Gustav Enjoyment • Susan Schneider Nature”; Maya Angelou, “Letter to Mahler: Part 2 My Daughter”; Zora Neale Hurston, This class will be an in-depth historical 3–4:30 p.m. “Their Eyes Were Watching God”. survey of the Symphonies of Gustav Academic • Abby Mendelson Mahler. We will concentrate on Cyber Literacy: the second half of his creative life: Understanding the 1–2:30 p.m. Symphonies #6 - #10. It will trace Cybersecurity Landscape the composer’s stylistic evolution Advanced Intermediate during this stage and will clarify the This course will focus on current Conversational French: main characteristics of these pieces. cybersecurity threats, understanding Simply Conversation* The focus of our analysis will be on the entire cybersecurity landscape, the form, harmonic and melodic and how to protect yourself against This 10-week course is designed characteristics, and programmatic and cybercrimes. The course will cover for those who have taken several emotional content of the symphonies. some technical concepts but the French courses and are interested course itself is not technical in nature. in strengthening their speaking Academic • Stephen Schultz Current events will be covered and abilities and comprehension. Each discussed. Every week we will have a week’s lesson centers on a selected TED Talks (Section 2)* course discussion or activity. topic with the goal of building and Members may register for only one Academic • JoAnne Green recalling useful vocabulary. The class section of the course. is conducted for the most part in TED (technology, entertainment, and French. No text is required. design), a nonprofit organization that Exploration • Cathleen Sendek-Sapp promotes “ideas worth spreading”; features talks by some of the world’s Marx’s Marxism: An most engaging speakers on a wide Introduction variety of subjects. The TED website Karl Marx is among the political features more than 2,300 talks on thinkers that most powerfully video. In this class, we will discuss, contributed to shape the political debate, and reflect on a few of these and ideological dynamics of the talks each week. Some talks are past century. Among the most informational, some are just plain fun. perplexing aspects of his influence is the diversity of political movements
12 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE Latin American Literature of 10–11:30 a.m. the 20th Century through its WEDNESDAY Nobel Prizewinners Artificial Organs: Past, In this course we will study texts by 9–10 a.m. Present, Future the Chilean Gabriela Mistral (the first This course considers artificial organs Latin American to receive a Nobel Gentle Yoga and their clinical usage. The basic Prize in Literature in 1945), Pablo This 10-week course is geared for physiology of three organ systems Neruda (Chile, 1971), Gabriel García those new to yoga or those who are will be reviewed (heart, lung, blood Márquez (Colombia, 1982) and interested in a gentle practice. It vessel) and the medical/engineering/ Octavio Paz (Mexico, 1990), exploring includes a combination of meditation, societal considerations for organ the images these authors create breath work, and flowing movement replacement systems discussed. The about Latin America, its problems, intended for all abilities. This class plusses and minuses of commercially culture, history and identity. We offers nurturing, kindness, and available artificial organs will be will review the Nobel verdicts of compassion for the body, regardless considered leading to discussion as the Swedish Academy, interviews of a student’s physical abilities, age, to possible improvements of existing and talks given by each writer, and or experience. You will experiment artificial organs. Emphasis will be documentaries about them. Lectures with balance, strength, flexibility, and placed on the numerous challenges and discussion will center on short stillness while practicing mindfulness patients with artificial organs and their writings in which we can observe the and meditation techniques. families face on a day-to-day basis; authors’ relationships and dialogue Enjoyment • Jill Clary and how this will impact the future of with the entity that is Hispanic these technologies. America, and with the idiosyncrasies 9:30–11:30 a.m. Academic • Harvey Borovetz of their diverse countries of origin. We will dedicate a class to each writer Nature as Muse* Climate Change: Global and a class to the Nobel Prize itself. Meets Local (We will use bilingual texts as much as Members may only take one 10-week possible, but all will have an English art course per term. This course explores one of the most translation.) In this 10-week course, you will pressing problems facing humanity – global climate change caused Academic • Camila Pulgar Machado discover artists who have taken nature as their muse and then translate what by anthropogenic greenhouse gas you have learned into making your emissions. Topics include—scientific Masters of Modern evidence behind climate change; Architecture 3 own artwork. Every style, technique, and approach from realism to major causes including energy-climate This six-week course, continues abstraction has drawn on nature in its nexus; regional and global effects; the survey of modern architects, countless forms--color, shape, texture, technological mitigation (clean energy which began with the world’s and pattern; earth, air, fire, and water; options, carbon capture, etc.) and first steel-framed skyscraper in plants, animals, and ecosystems; adaptation solutions (management Chicago, concludes with a broad molecules and the cosmos. Each of extreme weather events). Pros look at contemporary architecture. week, we will explore one or and cons of different mitigation Beginning with Philip Johnson and more artists and art periods, learn strategies will be discussed from a “Postmodernism” concluding with techniques, and you will make your technological, economic and policy the Chinese firm of Neri & Hu, we own art. This is not about copying but, standpoints. Climate policies followed will examine examples from the rather, discovering how art and nature at local, national and global level kaleidoscope of approaches to can inspire your work. Take a grand are also discussed. The course will design and the introduction of new romp through art history up to the predominantly be lecture with some technologies to create buildings present and fuel your creative process! discussion and suggested reading. that challenge our preconceptions Academic • Hari Mantripragada and excite our senses. Striking Enjoyment • Ann Rosenthal photography and video will illustrate the adventure. Lively discussions will be strongly encouraged. Academic • Jeffrey Swoger
*LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE OLLI.PITT.EDU | 13 Local Journalism, Engaged conception of the best way to live The Struggle for Equality in Community: Reclaiming Trust with a philosophical sophistication America: A History of the in News and rigor that remains unsurpassed. Fight for a “More Perfect In this course, we will study this Where would we be without a free Union” challenging and exciting text, giving press? And where will this dire This class will examine the history of particular attention to Aristotle’s crisis in journalism take us? How do reform movements in America. The comprehensive account of the powers journalists do their jobs and inspire emphasis will be on those efforts of the human mind in Book VI. civic engagement? In the age of fake to realize the ideals of “liberty and news why is fact-based journalism so Academic • Gregory Strom justice for all” and “all men (people) important? How does it play out on are created equal” and “endowed by the local level? You will get a chance A Brief History of Modern their creator with certain inalienable to meet local journalists covering Typography rights including the rights to “life, environment, local government and Times New Roman. Helvetica. liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” other issues of public importance for Papyrus. Comic Sans. Some may read Academic • Louise Mayo nonprofit newsroom PublicSource.org. these words and think: “You mean Learn how you can stay informed, fonts? Who cares about fonts?” But 3–4:30 p.m. engaged and become a champion for to others, these words open portals local journalism that seeks accountability to a vast world of design, history, and Immunology 101: on the most pressing issues of our purpose. In this course, we’ll step Understanding Your Immune time and serves as a platform for the through those portals to examine System community’s diverse voices. how typefaces impact our world Our immune systems are trained at and influence our perceptions. Each Academic • Mila Sanina and an early age to recognize foreign week we’ll discuss pivotal moments PublicSource journalists invaders, target them specifically in typographic history, examine how and eliminate them from our type has pioneered new movements 10:15–11:15 a.m. bodies. Further, our immune system in design, and take a deep dive into remembers these foreign invaders the life of one specific font. A close Chakra Yoga All Levels for enhanced responses upon re- cousin to the previous OLLI course This 10-week course moves through infection. Given the global pandemic “The Psychology of Book Covers,” traditional yoga poses (or asanas) surrounding COVID19, this course this course offers brain games, fun that align each individual chakra, will cover the importance of our exercises, and discussion to better moving up the spine from the root immune system in fighting foreign understand our cultural and individual chakra to the crown chakra. Chakras invaders. We will cover the basics of relationships with typefaces and are energy centers located across immunology, how immune responses appreciate how such a seemingly small different points on our spinal column. are generated naturally or with design choice isn’t so small after all. When energy becomes blocked a vaccine, and some challenges in a chakra, it triggers physical, Academic • Megan Kappel surrounding effective immune mental, or emotional imbalances that responses in the context of viral and manifest in symptoms such as anxiety, Emily Dickinson bacterial infections as well as cancer. lethargy, or poor digestion. This class Dickinson’s verse penetrates our We will accomplish our learning from is for the student who likes a fluid, consciousness and sticks like a lecture, interactive discussion and mindful practice that links alignment, burr. Each poem is a finely-wrought reading, and demonstrations. For movement and breath. Participants jewel. Her great themes are death, some weeks, reading or assignments should wear comfortable, loose-fitting immortality, and the beauty of the may be incorporated for fruitful clothing and have a yoga mat. everyday. The reclusive life of the learning and discussion. Enjoyment • Jill Clary lady in white will always be a mystery. Academic • Tullia Bruno Did she suffer from agoraphobia or 1–2:30 p.m. epilepsy? Was her love for her sister- in-law, Susan Gilbert, homoerotic? Aristotle’s Conception of the Why did she always wear white and Good Life stay away from her father’s funeral? Was she a religious rebel? We will try Aristotle’s “Ethics” is the crowning to plumb these mysteries as a clue to achievement of ancient Greek her unique verse. philosophy, a work in which Aristotle lays out a complex and nuanced Academic • Clifford Johnson
14 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE Pioneers of Rock and Roll Heroes THURSDAY Elvis Presley may have been the Throughout history, larger-than-life King of Rock and Roll, but five major heroes have fought monsters and artists were seminal in making the 10–11 a.m. villains, sought treasure, defended music more mainstream for radio and the weak, striven for justice. Or have younger audiences in the late 1950’s. Dance and Be Fit they? We will examine how the role Little Richard, Fats Domino, Jerry This 10-week course engages all age of the hero developed in Western Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry and Buddy groups and all ability levels with fun culture from its earliest incarnations Holly forged the road to assuring the and easy dance and fitness routines. through the Greeks, Medieval legends world that “rock and roll is here to Learning basic dance and fitness and onto modern day incarnations stay.” This course will be a chance to moves will help participants take like Batman and Superman. We will learn about these five pioneers, their more steps toward a healthier lifestyle consider why heroes play such an musical contribution to Rock and Roll and get you moving. No experience important role in human culture. Alan and their legacy and inspiration left or special skills are needed. Great will start each week telling some for generations of musicians to follow. for beginners as well as veteran hero stories. Academic • Robert Joyce dancers, the course can be adapted Academic • Alan Irvine to anyone’s unique needs. Single-Novel Study: Enjoyment • Roland Ford Race Relations and White Barbara Kingsolver’s “Flight Supremacy in America Behavior”* 10–11:30 a.m. This course will highlight and expand In this course, we will read one on key points in the one of the best important novel, slowly and Beginner Spanish* books ever written on race: “Race closely, attending to its author’s art Members may take only one level in America”, 2nd edition, 2019, and vision, its historical context, of Spanish. by sociologists Matthew Desmond and contemporary significance. This 10-week course is for and Mustafa Emirbayer. “Race in Kingsolver’s much-praised “Flight beginners and it focuses on Spanish America” takes a new approach. It Behavior” (2012) was one of the pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, analyzes systems of racial relations first accounts of climate change in and useful expressions for travel. in each area of social life: political, U.S. fiction, addressing how science, Participants can expect classroom economic, residential, educational, religion, politics, media and social practice to include speaking, reading, aesthetic, associational, and intimacy. class affect our local understanding and listening comprehension. The book shows that throughout of this global crisis. It tells the story society white supremacy has become Exploration • Nancy Farber of a Tennessee farm family coping institutionalized, naturalized, and with a depressed economy, weird invisible to many people. There Beginner Watercolor weather patterns, and the anomalous will be much time in each class for mass-migration of Monarch butterflies Members may only take one 10-week questions and comments. art course per term. to their woods. The course will consist Academic • Ralph Bangs of lectures and discussion, enhanced Enjoy the beauty, quirks and happy by author-interviews and video clips surprises watercolor painting can of relevant events. We will read bring! In this course, a new online about 100 pages per week of this lesson and demonstration, followed 400-page novel. by discussion, will be presented each Academic • Nicholas Coles week. Topics will include: washes, brush work, color, perspective, composition and much more. Participants will be encouraged to submit photos of their own watercolor works for group discussion, questions, and suggestions. Individual feedback from the instructor will be provided to participants. This course is appropriate for beginners and those with less than one-year watercolor experience. Enjoyment • Melissa Tai
*LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE OLLI.PITT.EDU | 15 The Soviet Union: The August Wilson, Pittsburgher History of Italian Cuisine Revolution and First Decade and Playwright: The Aunt In this course, students will learn In this course we will examine the Ester Plays about the history of the Italian social and political grievances that Reading August Wilson is a pleasure, peninsula through the lens of food, sparked the Russian revolutions in but he also has never been more agriculture, and cuisine. Italian cuisine 1917. We will explore the impact of culturally relevant. One of the is renowned around the globe, but the revolutions and the ensuing civil greatest American playwrights, how did it develop and how did it war that killed as many Russians as Wilson drew on his Pittsburgh years eventually conquer the world? In all the deaths of all the combatants to create his stirring 10-play cycle - addition to learning about what of WWI. The government policy mixing comedy, tragedy, melodrama people grew, raised, and consumed, immediately following the civil war, and deep insight. In this course, we we will also explore representations the New Economic Policy, was a will read the four plays involving the of food in Italian art and literature, complex compromise between iconic Aunt Ester, see some video, from banquet scene in frescoes in the interests of a relatively tiny enjoy some actors and take a Zoom Etruscan tombs to the role of food in working class and a peasantry which tour of August Wilson’s Hill. The four Boccaccio’s “The Decameron”, to the constituted 5/6 of the population. plays will be “Two Trains Running,” “Futurist Cookbook” of the 1930s. In We will study this turbulent and “Gem of the Ocean,” “King Hedley addition, each week we will focus on interesting eight or nine-year period. II” and “Radio Golf.” (This course is one recipe from the relevant period Academic • Charles Hier distinct from the course previously that can reasonably cooked at home. taught in the Spring 2020 term) Academic • Lorraine Denman 1–2:30 p.m. Academic • Christopher Rawson 3–4:30 p.m. Advanced Conversational Current Art and Architecture: Spanish* Challenging Traditions from Women Artists (1400-1700) Members may take only one level of Here to the Moon Recently, significant scholarly Spanish. In this course, we will examine attention has been paid to women This is your chance to practice notable contemporary work of working as artists during the your Spanish skills in a friendly local and international artists Renaissance and Early Modern atmosphere. The course strengthens and architects, exploring five period, resulting in a number of high your vocabulary, improves your chronological themes that challenge profile museum exhibitions (some pronunciation, and gives cultural artistic traditions. We will discover regrettably cancelled in 2020.) Join background (history, customs, that these works could be enchanting this course to take a closer look at foods, music) about several Spanish- or a harsh confrontation to accepted women working in the arts during speaking countries. All effort is rules and practices. The course the Renaissance. Gain a deeper designed to get you to speak and will begin with recent notable understanding of some artists who understand Spanish better. examples and focus on our regional may be more familiar and discover fine art institutions, then each class new artists who are only just Exploration • Nancy Farber progressively expands to infinite beginning to be better understood. explorations, literally into space! Academic • Saskia Beranek Academic • Erin O’Neill
16 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE Intermediate Conversational When Worlds Collide FRIDAY French: Talking About the This course examines episodes of Past (Tense)* cultural collision, moments when 10–11:30 a.m. In this 10-week course, we will be different world views—ideas about looking at the formation and use of human origins, cultural values Empower Your Writing with various past tenses in French and and practices, systems of politics, Poetry: Rhyming Poems* applying them in classroom activities. theories of science—encounter one In this course, students will learn, Class time also includes working with another. We will study instances examine, and practice a special few passages from a selected reader. of cultural collision and exchange of the over sixty types of poems. This course is geared to students to consider some fundamental Students will practice tools essential who have difficulty in comfortably questions: How are human to poetry, understanding that these delivering simple sentences in French. knowledge, values, and beliefs techniques improve all writing. Some prior knowledge of French is shaped? How do they evolve and Specific forms to be covered include expected. Advanced speaking skills spread? What can we learn about the clerihew, couplet, triplet, quatrain, are not required. values and belief systems of different limerick, rap, rendeaux, and sonnet. Exploration • Cathleen Sendek-Sapp cultures when they come into contact Exploration • Sandra Gould Ford with one another? What can we learn Religions of the Book: about ourselves by exploring our History of the First Judaism, Christianity, and encounters with other cultures? Amendment Islam Academic • Orin James From a historical point of view, This course is a general introduction in this course we will carefully to three major “religions of the Book” survey the explicit protections of (that is, those religious traditions that the First Amendment to create an claim allegiance to and dependence understanding of why the framers upon the Bible): Judaism, Christianity included them and excluded others. and Islam. We focus on key concepts The course will take an historical germane to each such as religious view of how public events, the law, gender, social guidelines and Congress and the federal courts restrictions as well as historical have shaped the ongoing meaning developments, and contemporary of the Amendment. issues. Throughout the course, we Academic • John Burt also examine interactions among these religious traditions, especially the movement out from Judaism into both Christianity and Islam. The course also serves as a foundation for further study of Christianity, Islam and/or Judaism. Academic • Sandra Collins
*LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE OLLI.PITT.EDU | 17 OLLI Course Descriptions Session 2: Monday, March 15–Friday, April 16
Medieval and Renaissance Art Introduction to Astronomy MONDAY in the Neighborhood Part 2: Stars, Galaxies, and There is a lot of Medieval and the Universe 10–11:30 a.m. Renaissance art in the neighborhood. The focus of this course is on stars, Pittsburgh’s Frick and Carnegie galaxies, and the universe. We start American Sign Language museums have a good deal to offer. with a description of our star, the (Continued from Session 1) Columbus has some interesting sun. Next, we look at the properties offerings, less than three hours away. of other stars, how stars are born An Early Start in the Garden And Cleveland’s art museum offers and die, black holes, neutron stars, Many gardeners wait until after many wonders. We’ll be looking at and white dwarfs. We will examine Mother’s Day to put in their garden. sculpture and paintings depicting our own galaxy, the Milky Way, and In this course we will show how scenes from classical mythology, and compare it to other galaxies. Along to choose the right flowers and we’ll be looking at a lot of Biblical art. the way, we introduce the mystery of vegetables to extend the season. We’ll be talking about the art not as dark matter. Finally, we investigate Starting now will mean harvests mere illustrations of mythological and how the observed expansion of the and blooms when most “normal” Biblical stories, but as interpretations universe leads us to Big Bang theory. gardeners are just getting started. of the stories. Art from outside We speculate how the universe may “the neighborhood” -- Veronese, eventually come to an end, and Enjoyment • Doug Oster Caravaggio, Bosch, etc. -- will aid our whether there could be multiple understanding. universes. As You Like It: Four Aspects of Love Academic • David Brumble Academic • David Nero “As You Like It” is undoubtedly one 1–2:30 p.m. Latin America Through Short of Shakespeare’s most enduring and Stories well-loved comedies. It has been Advanced Beginner Spanish This class provides opportunities described, quite simply, as a play (Continued from Session 1) about love. Over four sessions, we for learners to develop an in-depth understanding of contemporary will examine the four ‘aspects of love’ iPhone 2 with which Shakespeare fills the play; Latin America through reading and romantic, idyllic, spontaneous, and This course is a follow up to the “How discussing significant works of short carnal. We will examine the way by to Be Smart with Your iPhone” course narrative in English translation. We which each of the principal characters for those who have already taken the will examine the literary currents approaches love, and how they deal first class and want to learn more. of the late 19th and 20th century, with its consequences. We will also We will continue to explore the iOS Modernismo, the Vanguards, the examine how Shakespeare uses operating system and various apps so-called “Boom,” “magical realism,” two clown characters in the play to from Apple and some others that help and postmodern feminism. We will make a commentary on the nature to make your life more interesting also consider some trends of 21st of mankind. and fulfilling. We will be hands-on century writing. We examine major with Mail, Contacts, Calendar, Maps, authors such as Echeverría, Darío, Academic • Alan Stanford Safari, Podcasts, Camera and Photos, Machado de Assis, Quiroga, Borges, Music and iTunes, Clock, Reminders, Bombal, Guimarães Rosa, Rulfo, Messages, and Notes. All participants Cortázar, García Márquez, Ferré, will need an iPhone running the Valenzuela, and others. latest iOS, knowledge of their iCloud Academic • Karen Goldman identity and password, and at least one active e-mail account. This is not a beginner course and you should come knowing and competent in basic functions of your iPhone. Exploration • Richard Fitzgibbon
18 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE Music: What’s In An Experimental Watercolor Interpretation? TUESDAY (Continued from Session 1) This course will provide a comparative 9–10 a.m. study between several different 12:30–2 p.m. approaches to the exact same musical Chair Yoga score, and how different artists Down These Mean Streets: (Continued from Session 1) insert their creative insights into the Murder Has No Borders relatively strict framework provided 10–11:30 a.m. This course will focus on international by the composer. Carefully chosen Detective Fiction. We will read and examples of solo, orchestral, and Beginning Level French: discuss novels from around the world, vocal works will be heard, including Communication Strategies each featuring a hardboiled detective comparisons between performances following the twisted, yet somehow (Continued from Session 1) on original and modern instruments. connected paths through his or her Additionally, the instructor will Charlemagne and the society. Corruption, political power, provide the musical and historical Carolingian Empire violence, and, of course, greed lead context of the selected works, which the way in each case. Our detective may also include some jazz, Brazilian This course examines the rise and not only struggles to restore a and even pop oldies. legacy of one of Europe’s most semblance of justice by the end of the critical leaders of the Middle Ages. Academic • Flavio Chamis novel but also to reveal and expose When he was crowned emperor in the corruption at the heart of society. 800 A.D., Charlemagne (or Charles 3–4:30 p.m. Academic • Ken Boas I “the Great”) would rule the largest Fundamentals of European empire since the fall of 1–2:30 p.m. Neuroscience Rome in the 6th century A.D. His rule would serve as historic starting points Advanced Intermediate The human brain remains the most for the medieval states of France mysterious part of our bodies. This Conversational French: and the Holy Roman Empire and his Simply Conversation course explores what we know of precedents would become essential (Continued from Session 1) the functions of the nervous system, references for European emperors, the command center of our bodies. monarchs and presidents for the next Hamilton: The Musical Topics include the organization of 1200 years. the nervous system, the anatomy “Hamilton: The Musical” has been Academic • Jared Day and functions of the brain, how a breakout success, and this course our senses work, information End of the Trail and the explores everything about it: from processing, cognition, memory, Beginning: Native American its staging and music to the political sleep, dreams, and select nervous Literature ideas that it raises. Don’t miss this system pathologies and disorders, opportunity to get a seat in “the room such as depression, Alzheimer’s, and Following a popular previous Osher where it happens” for this course. course, we’ll explore a brilliant, Parkinson’s disease. Academic • Andrew Lotz visionary mythological past. A Academic • Adam Davis tortured, bloody history. A literature of loss and redemption, privation and perseverance. Native American narratives run the gamut—and render haunting, incandescent fiction and non-fiction. In the course, we will look at: excerpts from Pat Kramer, “Totem Poles”; S.C. Gwynne, “Empire of the Summer Moon”; Tommy Orange, “There There”; Louise Erdrich, “The Justice Trilogy” (“The Plague of Doves”, “The Round House”, “LaRose”), “The Night Watchman”; N. Scott Momaday, “The Ancient Child”. Academic • Abby Mendelson
*LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE OLLI.PITT.EDU | 19 Optimizing Health with structural tiles, innovations in thin King’s creation. Participating members Plant-based Eating shell construction, fire-proofing, should read “The Shining” before the metal reinforcing, herringbone first session of class. Plant-based eating can prevent or patterns, skylighting, acoustical and improve chronic health problems Academic • J.D. Wright polychromatic tiles. (including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, autoimmune Academic • Matthew Schlueb Leonard Bernstein at 102 diseases, and cancer). Discover what In an interview, Sam Bernstein, an a plant-based diet is and why it is so immigrant to New England from important for physical and cognitive WEDNESDAY Rovno, Ukraine, was criticized for health. Classes focus on practical ways allegedly not giving more early for incorporating plant-centered eating encouragement to his talented son. into daily life. Topics include: easy 9–10 a.m. “How was I to know he would grow steps for preparing meals, shopping up to be LEONARD BERNSTEIN?” suggestions, reading food labels, tips Gentle Yoga Samuel replied. Louis/Leonard for dining out, simple yet tasty recipes, (Continued from Session 1) Bernstein was arguably the leading and helpful resources. This is a hands- figure of American music in the on, workshop-type course, with “try-it- 9:30–11:30 a.m. twentieth century. Thirty years after out” homework activities. his passing and a century after his Nature as Muse Exploration • Sally Lipsky birth, we can review his complicated, (Continued from Session 1) fabulous life with some perspective. 3–4:30 p.m. Classical music, Broadway, early 10–11:30 a.m. television and politics: Bernstein Forensic Anthropology was a genius and “force of nature”. Gender and Sexuality in Together we will delve into this Forensic anthropology is the study the Archives exciting story and fascinating life. of human skeletal remains with Archives hold a tremendous goals of identifying demographic Academic • Owen Cantor amount of information about our characteristics, trauma, time since collective past, including histories death, cause of death and individual Women in the Hebrew Bible: of early gay activism, debates in identification. The material will Part 2 feminist movement, trans history/ be presented through lecture and community, the development of The course will take a feminist- examples. During the final class the LGBTQ communities via written and historical perspective and will students will work to solve a forensic visual culture, and more. This course consider the political-economic case. By the end of the course the invites participants to engage with forces that shaped representations of students will be able to recognize these topics and more, using primary women in the Hebrew Scriptures. The features of the skull, pelvis and materials from Pitt’s Archives and course will focus primarily on Rahab, general pathology, and apply the Special Collections. the daughters of Jephthah, Deborah, appropriate methods to identify and Jael, Delilah, Tamar, Bathsheba, categorize characteristics of skeletal Academic • Julie Beaulieu Abigail, Zeruiah, Athalia, Naomi, remains. and Ruth. While this course picks up King and Kubrick Variations Academic • Allison Gremba where we left off in the first section of of “The Shining” this course, students do not need to Guastavino Structural Tile Stephen King’s masterpiece of Gothic have taken the first section to join and Vaulting in Pittsburgh horror, “The Shining” (1977), captured benefit from this one. the fertile imagination of Stanley Architect Rafael Guastavino and his Academic • Kimberly Latta Kubrick, inspiring the filmmaker to son emigrated to the United States produce one of his greatest works, in 1881, bringing the traditional 10:15–11:15 a.m. “The Shining” (1980). In this course, construction method of structural tile we will explore each of these essential vaulting from their Catalan homeland, Chakra Yoga All Levels works individually and also consider thereby transforming the architectural (Continued from Session 1) their relationships with one another, landscape from Boston to San including the history of conflict Francisco. This course will examine between the two artists over the their works in Pittsburgh, illustrating nature of Kubrick’s adaptation of the vaults and domes made with
20 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE 1–2:30 p.m. Throughout the course, an attempt Philosophy of Action will be made to relate the role of Jews In the middle of the 20th century, in the American cinema to broader The American (Minority) philosophers realized that, “We are cultural concerns. Experience still far from pondering the essence Academic • Lucy Fischer This 6-week course will explore the of action decisively enough,” as Heidegger put it, and that sorting out experiences of minorities in the Making the Most of Micro certain questions about action—in United States through the lens of Essays literature. The focus of our study will particular, concerning the complex be the voice and themes in the works Make the most of short essays for relationships between the concepts of some of the leading American memoir or stand-alone pieces. We’ll of action, intention, reason, and writers as well as emerging voices, of explore the ranges of short-form causation—is indispensable for our times. Together, using challenging nonfiction, how restraint enhances the a proper understanding of the literary pieces from indigenous, Black power of prose, inspired by readings foundations of ethics and the and immigrant authors and journalists, and prompts. We’ll have in-class philosophy of mind. In this course we we will attempt at discovering the writing and sharing in a supportive, will study essential contributions to experience of growing up as a fun environment. We’ll deal with the this field from the analytic tradition, minority in America. Towards the inner critic and explore ways to keep with a special emphasis on Elizabeth end, we will try to answer the most us writing. By the end of the course Anscombe’s sublime and seminal pertinent question of our times- Who you could have five polished essays work “Intention” (1957). (less than 1000 words). gets to be an American? Academic • Gregory Strom Academic • Saima Sitwat Exploration • Laurie McMillan 3–4:30 p.m. Jews and American Cinema: Mexican Murals Across the Part 2 (1960s-2000s) Americas Mythology of the Ancient and Over the course of American film This course explores the history of Modern World: Gods history, Jewish-Americans have played mural painting produced by Mexican Cultures throughout the world have an important role in the cinema, artists throughout the Americas been telling and retelling the same both on- and off-screen. According between 1920 and 1940. By focusing stories for centuries, even millennia— to historian Neal Gabler, it was each session on one single artwork though geographically distant or largely a group of Eastern European located in a specific building, we temporally removed, many myths Jewish immigrants who “invented” will emphasize the mobility of ideas still share similar themes, ideas, and Hollywood and its studio system. and individuals that have informed subjects. Part 1 of this course will Beyond them, Jewish-Americans have Latin American muralist history examine gods, creation myths, and often achieved prominence as actors and aesthetic references. We will what happens when gods and mortals and directors in the American cinema. examine the visual composition of mix. We will explore a diverse range In the first category, are such figures the vastly intricate murals produced of myths from the ancient world, as John Garfield, Al Jolson, Eddie by “the three big” (los tres grandes) studying genre, the art of retelling, Cantor, Sylvia Sydney and Edward Mexican muralists: Diego Rivera, and the repurposing of legends. G. Robinson; while, in the second José Clemente Orozco, and David Our aims will be: 1) to form habits of category, are such artists as Mike Alfaro Siqueiros. The exploration active reading and critical discourse; Nichols, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks, of the artistic networks that they 2) to analyze recurrent mythological Steven Spielberg, and Barbara consolidated will allow us to study motifs; 3) to interpret and respond to Streisand. This course will consider the relationships between their murals primary texts among peers. and the artworks of other artists, the topic from the 1960s through Academic • Marcie Persyn the contemporary era, focusing on including Frida Kahlo, Lola Álvarez such issues as: the specter of the Bravo, Bernard Shaw, and Jackson Holocaust in 1960s film, Jewish humor Pollock, among others. in the movies, the female Jewish film Academic • Paulina Pardo Gaviria director, and works that consider a struggle with Jewish identity.
*LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE OLLI.PITT.EDU | 21 Topics in Medical Ethics Beginner Watercolor The British Revival of Ancient The course will cover a broad (Continued from Session 1) Ethics range of ethical issues related to In the 1930s and 40s, three close medicine. Topics will include the Forensic Science: Intro to friends—Elizabeth Anscombe, doctor-patient relationship and the Criminalistics Philippa Foot and Iris Murdoch—were respective roles of each in relation to This course will provide an overview students together in philosophy at medical decision-making; decision- of the role of criminalists from crime Somerville College in Oxford. All three making for patients who are unable scene through laboratory analysis. This women were fiercely independent to decide for themselves; physician includes the collection of fingerprints, thinkers, and each went on to make aid in dying (assisted suicide and shoeprints, other impressions, ballistic a profound and lasting contribution euthanasia); the definition of death and trace evidence (hair, fiber, glass, to contemporary philosophy. In this and the criteria for determining when paint). The course will include the course, we will consider the role of a patient is dead; allocation of scarce identification, collection, preservation, these three remarkable women in health care resources; and human documentation and analysis of reshaping the post-war philosophical enhancement. When taught online, evidence. Special topics related to landscape, especially in reviving the course will be mostly lecture, but pathology will be poisoning, DNA, ancient ideas of Plato and Aristotle in student will be given an opportunity blunt force trauma, stabbing, time-of- the study of ethics. to ask questions and offer comments. death determination, issues relating Academic • Ben Schulz Lectures will be supplemented by to firearms, natural and man-made cases (actual or hypothetical) that disasters. Cognition and Aging illustrate ethical issues. Academic • Edward Strimlan Do you feel as if your memory isn’t Academic • Mark Wicclair what it once was? Are you finding The Soviet Union: The it more difficult to pay attention System, WW II and the to what’s happening on the road Collapse THURSDAY while you’re driving? If that’s the In this course we study the leadership case, join the club. You’re aging! struggles within the Communist Party; But although negative changes 10–11 a.m. the debates within the Party over how in memory, attention and other to modernize; the almost overnight cognitive functions do occur as we Dance and Be Fit industrialization and collectivization age, the amount of change differs for (Continued from Session 1) during the Five-Year Plans in the 30s; different people, and it is possible to the Great Purges at the end of the 30s; optimize your cognitive functioning 10–11:30 a.m. the Soviet ordeal during WWII; and the by engaging in “critical lifestyle leadership of Khrushchev and Brezhnev. activities.” This six-session course tells Ancient Wisdom, Modern We will end with the collapse of the a story through lecture, short videos, Health Soviet Union under Gorbachev. and class discussion, which begins by In this course we will examine ancient Academic • Charles Hier considering questions such as “What medical philosophies and practices is the mind?” “What is the connection from China and India and apply them 1–2:30 p.m. between mind and brain?” “How to our health. We’ll discuss concepts does memory work?” and “How does of energy flow and qi, the body clock, Advanced Conversational aging affect memory?” In the second five elements, 8 principles, and the Spanish half of the course, we consider how three body types - or doshas. We critical lifestyle activities - eating right, will learn how these concepts can The course’s focus is Spanish reading getting sleep, exercising mind and be used to optimize health including and conversation as well as group body, socializing, meditating, and conditions such as insomnia, blood discussions based on short stories being mindful - can help keep your sugar regulation, weight loss, and from young Latin American writers. mind sharp as you age. even COVID-19. The weekly readings will form the basis for the class content. The class Academic • Bruce Goldstein Academic • Melissa Sokulski and discussions will be conducted in Spanish; therefore, participants Beginner Spanish should have a significant knowledge (Continued from Session 1) of Spanish. Exploration • Maria Franco de Gomez
22 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE Early Pittsburgh prerequisites for this course. Novice Muhammad and the Quran poets are welcome. Bring passion and We all know Pittsburgh as the Steel The course will look at the interplay a commitment to write! City, but what came before that? between the life of Prophet Through a mix of storytelling and Exploration • Sheila Kelly Muhammad and the Quran. The lecture, we will explore the first 150 Quran does not retell the life of years of Pittsburgh history, from Muhammad, but uses the events from Pittsburgh’s origins in the French his life as teaching moments for the and Indian War through the Whiskey FRIDAY emerging Muslim community. We will Rebellion, the keelboat era, and on to look at the major themes from the the great Homestead Strike of 1892 10–11:30 a.m. Mecca and Medina years, and the which laid the foundations for the rise legacy left for later generations. The Amazon of the steel industry. Academic • Aliya Khan Academic • Alan Irvine What do you know about the Amazon? Yes, it is the more extensive rainforest The Supreme Court Considers Financial Planning for a in the world; it also concentrates Slavery and Its Aftermath the highest tropical biodiversity, Stress-Free Retirement Article Three of the Constitution comprising half of the remaining Planning for retirement is an created the Supreme Court which is global rainforest, and known as the incredibly complex process, as living the definitive judicial branch of the ‘lungs of the planet’. The Amazon comfortably in retirement may also federal government. During the first region extends for nine countries in be. You need to ensure that your half of the nineteenth century, the Latin America. Sixty percent located income needs will be met for your slavery issue demanded attention in Brazil, where we will concentrate on entire lifetime, that your assets will be before the Court. After the Civil War, this course. Up to this day, it has lost structured safely and prudently, and the status of freed African Americans over 20% of forest cover. This region that whatever legacy you’ve worked demanded the Court’s attention. For is continuously threatened and faces to build for future generations will be the most part, the Court’s decisions uncountable challenges. This course there when they need it. This course constitute painful chapters in introduces you to the history, ecology, will review all aspects of financial American legal, social, political, and geography, social and environmental planning for retirement, from picking cultural history. profile, and contemporary issues the best stocks and bonds to creating regarding conservation and local Academic • John Burt a proper estate plan. We’ll learn development. about income, annuities, pensions, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. social security, taxes, insurance and Academic • Roberta Mendonça De all the varied big-picture (and small Carvalho Birding 101 detail) elements that go into creating the perfect financial plan for your own Intermediate Conversational Birding 101 will teach the basics of the personal circumstances. French: Talking About Past wonderful past-time of bird watching Tense (otherwise known as birding). The Academic • Aaron Leaman (Continued from Session 1) course will focus on developing birding skills through visual Poem Making 5: Writing Law and Social Change impression, birding stories and life Clarity & Mystery, Part 2 histories, conservation, understanding This course investigates the A human mind can be lucid within habitat and seasonality and the tools interrelationships between change its maze of images, feelings and of the trade (optics such as binoculars, in society and change in legal contradictions. Poems can be clear field guides and the “life list”). We rules. Legal change is studied as or elusive. Hopefully both. We will will focus on birding during spring an outcome of social change. In look at 90 poems through the lens of migration in the mid-Atlantic states this course, directed social change balancing clarity and mystery to help such as Pennsylvania. Students will because of legal change, or social discover our own “sweet spot” while be asked to voluntarily submit weekly engineering, is also examined, and writing poems. Students will write in sighting lists for class to discuss. the mutual ongoing interactions each class and be invited to share Finally, we will introduce Birding between legal and social change writing in a positive, non-judgmental Citizen Science programs where you are investigated. Classical and atmosphere. Students will receive out- can put your developing skills toward contemporary theories related to of-class writing prompts. There are no research and conservation. these areas will be introduced. Enjoyment • Chris Kubiak Academic • David DeFazio
*LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE OLLI.PITT.EDU | 23 Mini-Courses, Events and Lectures Registration is required for all events. Events open to guests will be marked as such. All guests must be registered. Details at olli.pitt.edu.
JANUARY MINI-COURSE SERIES LECTURES AND EVENTS
This is a new course series in advance of Session 1 Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 1–2:30 p.m. includes two 3-week mini-courses 30 Years, a Zoo Photographer Speaker: Paul Selvaggio Thursdays, January 7, 14, and 21, 2021 10–11:30 a.m. Join Paul Selvaggio, the conservation photographer for the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, as he shares Drop by Drop: Exploring the Nature of Water his beautiful wildlife photography. For more than three in Western Pennsylvania decades, Selvaggio has captured special moments of Western Pennsylvania is blessed with abundant water major zoo happenings, animal events, and research resources that we often take for granted, and sometimes projects. From African elephant calf births, to gorillas find problematic. Our local landscapes hold many enjoying coconuts, to tiger cubs being hand-raised, challenges and mysteries when it comes to water. Have Paul’s photographs have helped to tell and celebrate you ever wondered where the water from your roof the incredible stories of the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG ultimately goes, or been mesmerized by the splendor Aquarium. Additionally, he will share some of his favorite of a dragonfly and wondered where it came from? We’ll videography of the Zoo’s animals, enrichment activities, explore watersheds from the tip of your faucet to the and amazing moments provided by Mother Nature. bottom of local streams, including issues of storm water, Paul Selvaggio served as creative director, a graphic designer, water quality, and land use impacts, as well as introduce and as the Zoo’s volunteer photographer for decades to build some of the remarkable tiny denizens of local streams the Zoo’s award-winning Creative Services Department. In and why they matter. An introduction to new regional 2020, he took on a new role as the Zoo’s first conservation initiatives and on-line tools, as well as things you can do photographer. He now dedicates his time supporting the Zoo’s at your home to help protect local waterways will translate mission with his photography and videography. the abstract to the practical. Mary W. Wilson is the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Monday, January 11, 2021, 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Steward Program Coordinator in Allegheny County. A native What Does a Costume Designer Do? Pittsburgher, much of her career has concentrated on Speaker: Rachel Parent environmental education and volunteer management in a variety of venues. Ms. Wilson will be joined in the presentation This lecture will focus on the costume design process and of the course by several Master Watershed Stewards who have the day to day run of a show. You will hear about working completed a 40-hour training program. with the director, the actors, the production team, and the stage crew. Finally, Ms. Parent will have examples of Thursdays, January 7, 14, and 21, 2021 costume renderings and built costumes. 1–2:30 p.m. Rachel Parent graduated from Carnegie Mellon in 2012 with Women Gone Wild: 20th Century Quilts of an MFA in Costume Design. She has since lived and worked Art and Necessity in Chicago as a costume designer and wardrobe supervisor. Credits include Second City, Navy Pier, Metropolis Performing Examine 20th century history through the lens of American Arts, PICT and a wide variety of others. quilts. We will start with Crazy and move to Modern with stops in stylized kits and quilts of necessity, then transitioning into wartime quilts. We will continue through political and social activism and conclude with Studio art when quilts jumped off beds and onto gallery walls. Eye candy will predominate, just bring along a cup of tea. Jan Tiernan Rodgers has a Masters degree in textile history with an emphasis on quilt history and an undergraduate degree in fine arts. She is a docent at Carnegie Museum of Art and has given numerous talks to regional guilds about both general and 20th century quilt history. (continued next page)
24 | OLLI.PITT.EDU Lectures and Events (continued)
Friday, January 15, 2021, 1–2:50 p.m. Tuesday, March 2, 2021, 10 a.m. –Noon Pittsburgh Bridges The Wonders that are Birds Speaker: Todd Wilson Speaker: José Juves Bridges are a ubiquitous and sometimes romantic part From their role in ancient myths and folklore to fascinating of the Pittsburgh landscape. The area’s challenging us with the magic of flight, birds have long inspired topography of deep ravines and mighty rivers - set the human imagination and curiosity. This seminar will stage for engineers, architects, and contractors to conquer illuminate the origins and physiology of the winged Aves the terrain with a variety of distinctive spans. Many were class, of which there are about 10,000 species. Do they designed to be beautiful as well as functional. Join us as sleep during migration? Are they really descendants of Todd Wilson takes a comprehensive look at the design, dinosaurs? Do they have hollow bones for a reason? construction, and, sometimes, demolition of the bridges How is flight possible? This seminar will go behind the that shaped Pittsburgh, ranging from the covered bridges mere observational aspects of birdwatching to show the of yesterday to those that define the skyline today. anatomy and physiology that explain bird behavior. If you Todd Wilson is an award-winning professional engineer enjoy learning about wildlife, this seminar is sure to impart in Pittsburgh who has been photographing and writing wisdom – and wonder – to your birdwatching. about bridges his entire life. He graduated from Carnegie José Juves is a life-long student of natural history who has Mellon University with a double major in civil engineering taught at OLLI on subjects such as evolution, physiology and and engineering and public policy. He serves as a trustee of genetics. He was a docent at the Carnegie Museum of Natural Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. History for ten years and for the last three years he has been a naturalist at a nature reserve park in Florida. Wednesday, January 20, 2021, 10–11:15 a.m. Meet the Author: “Sophie, The Incomparable Friday, March 12, 2021, 1–2:30 p.m. Mayor Masloff” From Intergalactic Space to Speaker: Barbara Burstin Minimalist Tiny Space Join us as historian and author Barbara Burstin, PhD, Speaker: Diane Turnshek discusses her latest book about Sophie Masloff, the first In 2019, Diane Turnshek moved into a 560-sq-foot house female and first Jewish mayor of Pittsburgh who served built by ex-convicts. It was assembled in a warehouse on from 1988-1994. Through photographs and caricatures the Southside, then slowly driven through the city (past by contemporary cartoonists, we’ll enjoy recalling some the Cathedral of Learning) on a nine-hour journey with a of the highs and lows of Sophie’s life and the impact she police escort until it was deposited on its foundation in had on the city and the region. Drawing on newspapers eight acres of woods off a dead-end road in the City of accounts and interviews, including with Sophie herself, Pittsburgh. The house incorporates many clever trappings Dr. Burstin presents the first comprehensive biography of of the tiny house movement. It has Murphy beds, 3.5-inch- Mayor Masloff’s remarkable life. wide cabinets inside the walls, a tankless water heater, Barbara Burstin, PhD, teaches at both the University of fold-down kitchen bars, vent-less and compact appliances, Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University, and has written about and a net loft sleeping area. Sustainability features the Jewish community in Pittsburgh. include a water reclamation roof and cistern, reclaimed barn wood, a glass south facing side, phase-change wall materials, an earth tube, Hügelkultur mounds and a rain garden. The cement kitchen countertop is a black, gray and white swirled Milky Way Galaxy set with hundreds of fiber optic glowing “stars.” Join us for a virtual, live, guided tour through a unique abode while we discuss the history, science, popularity and local politics of the tiny house movement. Diane Turnshek is an astronomer at Carnegie Mellon University whose passion is quelling the spread of light pollution. She sets up Physics Department laboratory experiments and demonstrations, and organizes public education and outreach. In 2003, she founded “Triangulation”, Pittsburgh’s themed annual anthology of genre short stories, which she also edits. “Triangulation: Habitats” (2021) is about sustainable housing.
OLLI.PITT.EDU | 25 Fiscal Year 2019-20 By the Numbers
Revenue and Income: $403,229 Memberships & fees 66% 1,727 Endowment income 22% CURRENT MEMBERS
Donations 11% Other income 1% 9.6% OLLI’s revenue and income was lower this year as a result of the pandemic. This related to reduced fees INCREASE IN collected for events, tours, trips and other income. MEMBERSHIPS As OLLI transitioned to online courses for the Summer term, we offered a one-time “digital pilot” membership. This significant discount to normal term membership fees allowed both members and instructors a chance to get familiar with our new Zoom SCHOLARSHIPS environment. That said, OLLI at Pitt membership increased by over 9% during the 2019/2020 fiscal 32 AWARDED year. Other sources of revenue were stable and OLLI started the fiscal year with healthy reserve funds during this critical time of the pandemic.
Operating Expenses: $444,958
Staff & OLLI’s operates with three full-time instructors 61% salaried staff members and several hourly student workers. This, along with instructor and faculty compensation Benefits 15% and benefits, typically is the largest expense to operate the program and is stable from the previous fiscal year. Space rental 3% The University of Pittsburgh generously Trips, tours, travel 4% provides significant in-kind assistance Printing & mailing 3% to support OLLI. Additionally, in this fiscal year, OLLI secured a new online Computer/technology 7% registration system. There were reduced Misc. operating 7% expenses for printing, trips and travel.
26 | OLLI.PITT.EDU How to Audit Undergraduate Courses
After obtaining email permission from the course’s One membership benefit of OLLI at Pitt is the ability to audit instructor or head of the department, forward it to preapproved undergraduate courses. To “audit” a course means that [email protected]. It must include the following information the student does not receive a grade nor credits and generally does so that we can register you for the correct course: not participate in exams or homework. Each term OLLI arranges for hundreds of undergraduate Pitt courses to be preapproved for • Course title and department members to audit. • Course Number (5 digits) Auditors are guests in the course for which they register and • Catalog number (4 digits) participation can be limited or restricted by the professor or • Instructor name and email address department. Members may audit two courses per term as a benefit of membership. Additional courses audited are charged $25 per course. This information can be found on Pitt’s registrar course listing search: https://psmobile.pitt.edu/app/catalog/ For the Spring 2021 term, OLLI members may ONLY audit Web-based classSearch courses. No exceptions. REQUESTS THAT DO NOT INCLUDE THE ABOVE FOUR ELEMENTS REQURED WILL NOT BE PROCESSED. Audit Course Registration Procedures KEEP IN MIND THAT YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED • View Upcoming Classes: View full course descriptions FOR A COURSE UNLESS YOU RECEIVE AN EMAIL online at: https://psmobile.pitt.edu/app/catalog/ CONFIRMATION WITH THE COURSE LISTED. classSearch You can also check for which courses you are registered at • Register to Audit Preapproved Courses: The list of any time by signing in to the registration website (https:// preapproved audit courses can be viewed on the OLLI www.campusce.net/ollipitt/account/signin.aspx), then website and on our registration website. clicking “My Account,” and “Class List.” No member may attend and/or audit a course for which they are not registered. Please be aware: Pitt is adjusting a lot of courses, events and plans due to the campus’ fluctuating status, so there Online Registration Process for Preapproved may be many changes since original course listings were Audit Courses made, and in the future. The most accurate and updated 1. Log in at: www.campusce.net/ollipitt information will always be found on the class listing for 2. If you need to pay your membership, click on Pitt, so double-check that they are still being held on Pitt’s “Add/Renew Membership” area and add a membership registrar course listing search: https://psmobile.pitt.edu/ to your cart. app/catalog/classSearch 3. From home page, click on “Audit Courses” 4. Click the department to see its list of preapproved Conduct Expectations for Course Auditors courses 1. Never attend a course or a class for which you are not 5. Select your course of interest, and if desired, click on officially registered. “Add to Cart” 2. Introduce yourself as an OLLI student to the instructor. 6. If you wish to add more audit courses continue Seek permission from them if you wish to verbally exploring and adding to your cart. participate in the course, do written assignments, or 7. When finished, go to your cart and click on “Check exams. Respect their response. out” button and proceed to payment processing. 3. Arrive on time to class and stay for the entire class. 4. If the instructor permits your verbal participation, do Registering to Audit Non-preapproved Courses not monopolize discussion. Auditing is ONLY allowed when there is space available 6. If issues arise, notify the OLLI office immediately. in “lecture-type” WEB-BASED undergraduate classes. 7. Pay attention to dates and deadlines pertaining to “Lecture type” classes are those in which students can undergraduate courses and the University academic observe the delivered lecture of material by the professor. calendar. Auditing is NOT permitted in: computer science, film 8. Formally drop the course if you find out it is no longer production, physical education, studio arts, laboratory of interest. courses, creative writing, honors college courses, or NOTE: Auditing is a privilege, not a right. OLLI reserves performance courses. Auditing also is NOT permitted in the right to remove any member from an audit course for law or medical school classes or online hybrid courses. any reason. The rule that audit requests for non-preapproved courses For more information on auditing a course, go to the must be submitted in hard copy form has been suspended member area of the OLLI website at: olli.pitt.edu due to OLLI Administration working remotely.
OLLI.PITT.EDU | 27 OLLI INSTRUCTOR BIOGRAPHIES (Listed alphabetically by last name)
Ralph Bangs*, PhD, MPA, taught John Burt* is a retired history Composers Forum in Bennington, race at the University of Pittsburgh, teacher and lawyer, and he served Vermont and has served as a board Carnegie Mellon University and in as a featured speaker in “Safe member and advisor to many study abroad and was associate Harbor,” a public television award- Pittsburgh musical organizations. director of the Center on Race and winning documentary on the Social Problems at Pitt. His most underground railroad in Western Flavio Chamis* is a native of Sao recent book is “Race and Social Pennsylvania. Since 1986, he has Paulo, Brazil and is an acclaimed Problems: Restructuring Inequality.” lectured on the history of American music conductor and composer He has received Racial Justice and reform movements, especially throughout the world, winning many Race Leadership Awards. the abolitionist movement and awards and honors. In the 1980s, conducted tours connected with Chamis was conducting assistant to Julie Beaulieu*, PhD, is a Lecturer in underground railroad activities. Leonard Bernstein for several tours. the University of Pittsburgh’s Gender, A frequent guest lecturer, he has Sexuality, and Women’s Studies David Brumble*, PhD is an emeritus given presentations on Brazilian and Program where she earned her PhD professor of English at the University classical music at universities, cultural in Literature with a certificate in of Pittsburgh and recipient of both of and educational organizations across GSWS. She teaches courses in gender Pitt’s most prestigious teaching prizes. the country. and sexuality studies. Dr. Beaulieu Two of his five books are on Medieval is currently working on a grant for and Renaissance art and literature, Jill Clary* has been practicing yoga the LGBTQ Archival Education and he has also published articles on since 2003, has completed a 200-hour Project, helping make archives the Bible. yoga teacher training program, and more accessible to researchers and is registered with Yoga Alliance. Her community members. Tullia Bruno, PhD, is an Assistant classes are a blend of different yoga Professor in the Department of styles but all focus on a slow flow with Saskia Beranek*, PhD, is a returning Immunology at the University of longer holds. OLLI instructor after several years Pittsburgh and a faculty member in absence. She is a specialist in the Tumor Microenvironment Center Nicholas Coles, PhD, is Associate the art of Northern Europe in and the Cancer Immunology and Professor Emeritus of English at the the seventeenth century, and has Immunotherapy Program at the UPMC University of Pittsburgh where he previously taught courses in the Hillman Cancer Center. She obtained teaches and writes about working- Northern Renaissance, Rembrandt her PhD in Immunology from Johns class culture, environmental literature, and Global Trade, Vermeer and Genre Hopkins in 2010 and completed and detective fiction. His books painting, and other related topics. her postdoctoral fellowship at the include the anthologies “Working She is currently a faculty member at University of Colorado in 2015—both Classics: Poems of Industrial Life” Illinois State University. with a focus in tumor immunology. co-edited with Peter Oresick. Coles is a member the Pittsburgh-based Ken Boas*, PhD, was formerly Kathy Callahan* retired from acoustic band Smokestack Lightning. an instructor in the University of management consulting to Fortune Pittsburgh Kenneth P. Dietrich 200 companies, specializing Sandra Collins*, PhD, focuses on School of Arts and Sciences, in executive and leadership women in the Old Testament at the Department of English. development and performance University of Pittsburgh. She has improvement. An experienced also taught for Carnegie Mellon Harvey Borovetz, PhD, is a faculty facilitator and trainer, she is inspired University, Duquesne University and member at the University of to share the TED Talks discussion currently teaches at the Byzantine Pittsburgh for 45 years following group experience with OLLI at Catholic Seminary as well as online completion of his PhD degree at Pitt’s members. for the Graduate Theological Union in Carnegie Mellon. His research Berkeley, CA. specialization is artificial organs. Owen Cantor*, DMD was founder He has taught both undergraduate, and music director of the Summerfest graduate, and lay courses on this Chamber Music Festival, which topics for many years. presented 14 summers of great chamber works in Fox Chapel; was a trustee at the Chamber Music and
28 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *Instructor has previously taught OLLI courses. Mike “Carya” Cornell* has always Nancy Farber*, MA, taught Spanish and economics at the University of loved the outdoors, and had a desire in the Pittsburgh Public Schools for Oxford (BA, 2011) and philosophy to share that passion with others. more than 25 years. at University College London Mike works as a Naturalist Educator – (MA, 2012). Interpretive Specialist at the Pittsburgh Lucy Fischer*, PhD, is distinguished Parks Conservancy, providing an entry professor, emerita of English and Sandra Gould Ford* is an author point for others to explore their world. Film Studies at the University of and educator who presents arts One of Mike’s key beliefs is we are Pittsburgh, having received the experiences to encourage, refresh, never too young or old to gain an Provost’s Excellence in Mentorship enrich creative thinking, and inspire. appreciation for, and strengthen our Award and Chancellor’s Distinguished She holds an MFA in creative writing connection to, the earth. Research Award. She is author of from the University of Pittsburgh and many books on film, held a curatorial belongs to the Author’s Guild and Adam Davis*, MA, is an associate position at the Museum of Modern Science Fiction Writers of America. professor of biology at CCAC and Art, and held fellowships from the Sandra established a writing program teaches the History of Science National Endowment for the Arts at a mega-jail and published an at Duquesne University. He and Humanities. international literary journal. received his BS in archaeology, biological anthropology, and Richard Fitzgibbon* is a former Bruce Goldstein*, PhD, taught in forensic anthropology from teacher with 35 years of experience the psychology department at the Mercyhurst University, and his MA in the Riverview School District, and University of Pittsburgh from 1969 – in paleoanthropology from the was technical coordinator for the 2010. He received the Chancellor’s University of Pittsburgh, and has been district for 10 years before he retired. Distinguished Teaching Award from teaching since 2005. Since retirement, he is a frequent the University of Pittsburgh for his volunteer at Computer Reach classroom teaching and his two widely Jared Day*, PhD taught American where he assists in refurbishing and used college textbooks – Sensation & history at Carnegie Mellon University recycling computers. Perception and Cognitive Psychology. in Pittsburgh for sixteen years. His areas of specialization are U.S. Roland Ford* is a certified personal Karen Goldman, PhD, has her political, urban, and cultural history fitness trainer, group exercise doctorate in Spanish and Latin as well as world history from the late instructor, certified dance instructor, American Literature from Columbia eighteenth century to the present. He choreographer, and marathon runner. University. She has taught courses is the author of several books along He has developed a dance and in Spanish and Latin American with numerous other popular and fitness curricula for schools, churches, literatures and cultures at numerous peer-reviewed articles. senior groups, community centers, colleges and universities, including corporations and special needs the University of Pittsburgh. Her Lorraine Denman, PhD, is a Senior populations. Award winning Ford recent scholarly work focuses on Lecturer and is the Italian Language teaches dance and fitness courses Spanish and Latin American cinema Program Coordinator at the University and presentations throughout the and representations of Latinos in U.S. of Pittsburgh, where she has taught Pittsburgh region. popular culture. language and culture courses in Italian and English since 2002. Lorraine Maria Franco de Gomez*, MA, is JoAnne Green is a University of holds a doctorate from Pitt’s School of a retired instructor of Spanish at Pittsburgh adjunct faculty member. Education and her research interests Penn State New Kensington where She has worked at both La Salle include second language acquisition, she served as Spanish coordinator. University and the National Defense classroom language instruction, and Her career as a faculty member University as the Director of Academic Italian food studies. includes a substantial record of Technology. JoAnne currently works academic service, solid scholarly as the Strategic Operations Director David J. DeFazio* is a private activity, and very strong evidence of for Phase Consulting (Federal attorney whose practice focuses on outstanding teaching. Government Contractor). litigation and has spanned the legal spectrum from death penalty cases Annika Froese is projected to receive to routine family law trials. DeFazio her PhD from the University of has been an adjunct instructor at the Pittsburgh’s Philosophy Department University of Pittsburgh since 1987. in 2022, where she has been teaching Nancy Farber*, MA, taught Spanish in since 2016. Before coming to Pitt, the Pittsburgh Public Schools for more she studied philosophy, politics, than 25 years.
*Instructor has previously taught OLLI courses. OLLI.PITT.EDU | 29 Allison Gremba*, PhD, received her Orin James, M.S., is an Assistant art galleries and believes generative doctorate in Anthropology from the Professor of Biology in the division writing in groups can be a source of University of Pittsburgh in the Spring of Health and Biological Sciences at healing, connection with others and of 2020. Her doctoral research the University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, growth in craft. examined the relationship between where he has taught for the past middle ear disease and structural seven years. In addition to biology, he Aliya Khan*, MS, received her violence. Additionally, she has an teaches hybrid courses that include master’s in Public Policy and interest in forensic anthropology and discussions of social philosophy, Management from Carnegie Mellon received her M.S. in Forensic Science determinism, colonialism, race, sex University, as well as a BA in English and Law from Duquesne University and gender to individuals of all ages. from Barnard College. She is part in 2008. of the outreach committee for the Clifford R. Johnson*, PhD received Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, and Joan Gundersen* is professor his doctorate in English and American is actively involved in different emeritus of history at California State Literature from the University of interfaith initiatives. University San Marcos. Author of Virginia. His major publication deals seven history books, and numerous with the 18th-century English novel, Chris Kubiak* is the Education scholarly articles, she taught women’s and he taught at the University of Director at the Audubon Society of history for more than 30 years at a Pittsburgh; the University of Kassel, Western Pa, and has been an active variety of institutions. She has been Germany; and Concord University in birder for 25 years. At Audubon, Chris a Visiting Scholar in Women’s Studies West Virginia. He retired after over 25 teaches programs focused on birds at the University of Pittsburgh. years as a certified financial planner. and nature, including Basic Birding Gundersen recently retired as the and the Master Birder program. Archivist for the Episcopal Diocese José Juves* is back at OLLI, albeit Before coming to Audubon, Chris was of Pittsburgh. remotely, after a three-year hiatus. an adjunct history professor, and has His interests remain history and an MA in American history at Slippery Charles Hier*, PhD, studied Soviet science. José has continued his Rock University. history at the University of Houston, teaching experiences as a lecturer at Boston College and the University of the Renaissance Academy in Naples, Kimberly Latta*, PhD is a scholar Pittsburgh, receiving his PhD from the Florida. He is also a docent at the Six of early modern literature in English latter in 2004. He has taught history Miles Cypress Slough preserve in who has published on religion, courses at a number of universities Ft. Myers. economics, history, and science in in and around Pittsburgh for more late 17th- and early 18th-Century than 20 years. Robert Joyce has over 30 years of English literature. She has taught teaching at Augustana University and at UC Berkeley, Rutgers University, Ann Hultberg taught high school the University of South Dakota, UC Vassar College, Saint Louis University, English for 34 years and has been and is a popular OLLI presenter with and, most recently, as Assistant an adjunct composition instructor a history of over ten years of Professor of English, at the University at the University of Pittsburgh presenting at other Osher Lifelong of Pittsburgh. at Bradford since 2006. Her Learning Institutes. undergraduate degree from IUP is Aaron Leaman* is a Chartered in English Education with a minor Megan Kappel*, MFA, is director of Financial Analyst (CFA®) and the in Educational Psychology and her the University of Pittsburgh’s Public Chief Investment Officer of Signature graduate degree in Education is from and Professional Writing Program, Financial Planning, where he manages St. Bonaventure University. a branch of the Department of over $450 million in assets for English. She earned her master’s in institutions, municipalities and high- Alan Irvine* PhD, is a professional screenwriting from Hollins University net worth investors. He has made storyteller who has a lifelong and bachelor’s in creative writing from numerous media appearances to fascination with the Arthurian tales. Allegheny College. She has worked as discuss markets and investing, and His CD “The Red Dragon: Tales of a script consultant in Pittsburgh, Los won national public speaking awards King Arthur” won a Storytelling World Angeles, and Qatar. as a member of his intercollegiate Honors award. He has his doctorate in debate team. sociology and taught many courses at Sheila Kelly*, MA, is a retired several area universities. psychotherapist who writes poems and plays. She leads workshops in libraries, community centers, and
30 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *Instructor has previously taught OLLI courses. Sally Lipsky, PhD, has a doctorate Abby Mendelson*, PhD, has been Marcie Persyn, PhD, completing in Language Communications a writer, editor, and educator for her doctorate at the University & Adult Education, University of nearly 50 years. He has published of Pennsylvania and is Assistant Pittsburgh, and was a professor at both fiction and nonfiction works on a Instructor in the Department Indiana University of Pennsylvania, variety of topics and has taught both of Classics at the University of with emeritus status. She earned a writing and literature at universities Pittsburgh. There, she endeavors Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition and colleges throughout the to teach classics to all, but ancient from T. Colin Campbell Center Pittsburgh area. mythology is one of her favorite for Nutrition Studies (delivered by courses to teach because the impact eCornell), completed Food for Life Roberta Mendonça De Carvalho, of mythology shapes our lives every Program Training, and Culinary Rx PhD, has her doctorate in Geography day as these stories continue to plant-based wellness course. from the University of Florida and is on withstand the test of time. faculty in the Urban Studies Program Andrew Lotz *, PhD is lecturer and at the University of Pittsburgh. Her Camila Pulgar Machado, PhD has her academic advisor in the University of research focuses on the urbanization doctoral degree in Cultural Studies Pittsburgh Kenneth P. Dietrich School process in the Amazon. from the Central University of Venezuela of Arts and Sciences, Department of in Caracas, where she was a Professor Political Science. David Nero*, PhD, is a lecturer in the of Latin American Literature for twenty department of Physics and Astronomy years. She researched and taught about Hari Mantripragada, PhD is a Senior at the University of Pittsburgh. He is the ways Hispanic American literature Research Associate in Chemical always on the lookout for ways to use has been integrated into the western Engineering at the University of technology to improve education in literary tradition. Pittsburgh. His research interests large-enrollment classes. include topics on energy, environment Christopher Rawson*, is and climate, specializing in techno- Erin O’Neill is currently the Client an emeritus member of the economic analyses of energy systems. Manager of the Art on the Walls at the University of Pittsburgh’s English He received his PhD in Engineering Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council and Department. Additionally, he is the and Public Policy from Carnegie Director of Outreach for the MoonArk longtime senior theater critic at the Mellon University. at Carnegie Mellon University, a moon “Pittsburgh Post-Gazette” and KDKA- bound, mini museum. He has been TV. Rawson has written extensively Andrea Maxwell* is currently a sixth- immersed in the arts community for about August Wilson, taught year PhD candidate in the History of 26 years as an independent curator, undergraduate courses about him, Art and Architecture department at artist, juror, educator, conservation and serves on the Board of August the University of Pittsburgh. Andrea technician, fine art preparator, registrar, Wilson House. completed a Master of Arts in Art arts administrator and entrepreneur. History at Kent State University. She Ann Rosenthal* has more than 30 has previously taught courses for Doug Oster* is the home and garden years of experience as an artist, OLLI at Pitt, Carnegie Museum of Art, editor for the “Tribune-Review” and educator, and writer. Her work has and undergraduate courses at both “Everybody Gardens” and co-host been shown locally at the Andy the University of Pittsburgh and Kent of The Organic Gardener’s Radio Warhol Museum, the Mattress Factory, State University. Program, a weekly show on KDKA. and SPACE, and has been featured He received the 2009 Outstanding in exhibitions across the U.S. and Louise Mayo*, PhD, is professor Documentary Emmy for “Gardens of internationally. emerita at the County College of Pennsylvania,” written and produced Morris, New Jersey, with over 30 for WQED. His gardening books Mila Sanina is Executive Director of years of college teaching experience include “Tomatoes Garlic Basil” PublicSource, a nonprofit newsroom in American history and American published in 2010. covering the Pittsburgh region. government. She is the author of Previously she was the deputy “James K. Polk: The Dark Horse Paula Pardo Gaviria*, Ph.D., managing editor at the “Pittsburgh President,” among other books. specializes in modern and Post-Gazette”, and has worked at contemporary art history from Latin “The PBS Newshour” and CNN Laurie McMillan has been writing and America and, more specific, in International. teaching all genres for years and is contemporary art from Brazil. She finishing an MFA in fiction. She was the graduated from the University of co-founder of the Pittsburgh Writers Pittsburgh in summer 2020. Studio and Pittsburgh Memoir Project. She leads therapeutic writing circles.
*Instructor has previously taught OLLI courses. OLLI.PITT.EDU | 31 Matthew Schlueb* is a licensed Department of Health and Human University of Pittsburgh since 2004, architect practicing architecture for Development. She is a certified yoga with a brief stint (2011-2013) at the over two decades, with a private instructor and has led yoga trainings University of Sydney. Most of his practice specializing in residential across the globe. philosophical energies are spent architecture. He holds a Master of thinking about how to live a good life Architecture from Pratt Institute and Saima Sitwat* is a writer, educator and do the right thing. a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and speaker. Her work has been from Ohio State University, has published in the “Pittsburgh Post- Jeffrey Swoger* is a retired graphic authored ten books on architecture. Gazette”, PublicSource and Dawn designer with a lifelong interest in He has taught numerous architecture (Pakistan). She has served as the the arts, specifically: design, music, courses for the Osher program. first woman President of the Muslim architecture and film. Much of his Association of Greater Pittsburgh life was spent in Chicago where Susan Schneider* is a Certified (MAP) and facilitated conversations he was involved with the Chicago Zentangle Teacher (CZT) and an on race, religion and identity Architecture Foundation, designing experienced artist, teaching and politics. She is also the author of their logo and printed materials. exhibiting in Pittsburgh and western the memoir; “American Muslim: Pennsylvania for many years. An Immigrant’s Journey.” Melissa Tai* enjoys sharing her love of art through teaching at many Stephen Schultz*, called “among the Melissa Sokulski is a licensed venues in Pittsburgh. She strives most flawless artists on the Baroque acupuncturist having graduated to create a warm and supportive flute” by the “San Jose Mercury from New England School of environment for students to learn News” and “flute extraordinaire” Acupuncture in 1996 with a Masters and experiment. by the “New Jersey Star-Ledger”, in Acupuncture. Additionally, Melissa plays solo and principal flute with the assisted in teaching anatomy, tui Javier Vazquez-D’Elia*, PhD has Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and na massage, ear acupuncture, a PhD in political science from Musica Angelica. As a solo, chamber, and Japanese acupuncture at the the University of Pittsburgh. He is and orchestral player, Schultz appears acupuncture school until coming currently a researcher at the University on over sixty recordings. to Pittsburgh in 2000, where she Center for International Studies. practices acupuncture, massage, Throughout the last 10 years, he has Ben Schulz, PhD, has taught and Chinese herbal medicine. taught at Pitt, California University philosophy at the college level since of Pennsylvania, Penn State, and the 2007, first at the University of New Alan Stanford*, is Artistic and Indiana University of Pennsylvania. South Wales, and in recent years at Executive Director of PICT Classic the University of Pittsburgh, where in Theatre, has a 50-year career as a Mark Wicclair, PhD received his 2015, Schulz received the Elizabeth director and actor. A leading expert doctorate in philosophy from Baranger Excellence in Teaching in the works of Shakespeare, Wilde, Columbia University. He was a Award and in 2019 received his Dickens, and Beckett, he has adapted professor of philosophy at West doctorate degree. several works for the stage. Virginia University for 40 years, and is currently an adjunct professor of Cathleen Sendek-Sapp*, MFA, Edward Strimlan, MD is Adjunct medicine and part-time instructor has her master’s degree in French Professor for forensic science at in the Masters in Bioethics program language and literature. She has several area universities. He is the at the University of Pittsburgh. His taught French at the University of former chief forensic investigator primary field of specialization is Pittsburgh as a teaching fellow and for Allegheny County’s Office of the medical ethics. part-time instructor as well as for Medical Examiner, bringing to the noncredit lifelong learning. classroom real stories and years of J.D. Wright*, PhD, received his experience conducting more than doctorate from the University of Sharon Serbin* earned a bachelor’s 2,000 death scene investigations. Pittsburgh in 2015 and has taught degree in Psychology from the Each summer, he leads a CSI Summer a wide range of courses for the University of Pittsburgh in 1991. Camp for high school students. Osher program, including a course She works with Deaf individuals as on Stephen King short stories. A a Communication Assessor, and a Gregory Strom*, PhD, studied longtime fan of both King and Communication Specialist. philosophy at the University of Kubrick, Dr. Wright has published Chicago (BA, 2002) and the University a well-received article on the Sally Sherman, PhD, is a faculty of Pittsburgh (PhD, 2011), and has relationship between the two artists’ member and yoga researcher at been teaching philosophy at the work in their respective versions of the University of Pittsburgh in the “The Shining.”
32 | OLLI.PITT.EDU *Instructor has previously taught OLLI courses. College of General Studies 1400 Wesley W. Posvar Hall 230 South Bouquet Street Pittsburgh, PA 15260
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