OLLI Fall Sampler
Thank you for joining us!
We’re grateful to everyone who attended the OLLI Fall Sampler and helped make it such a lively, engaging event. It was a wonderful preview of the kinds of high-quality courses and intellectually stimulating opportunities the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) offers throughout the year.
If you weren’t able to attend—or if you’d like to revisit the highlights—please relive the event with this recording! Afterward, feel free to peruse the Fall Course Guide, and don't forget about the fall-only special for new members!
Sampler Topics and Speakers
The American Revolution and the Reimagining of the Atlantic World
We all know 1776 launched a new nation—but where did the revolution come from, and why did it inspire others across the West? This talk explores how one British colony helped ignite a wave of upheaval that challenged monarchies and accelerated the end of Atlantic slavery.
Kara Barker, an OLLI Scholar and History PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota, focuses on empire, gender, culture, and ideology in British history. She teaches at UMN and local colleges and loves engaging others in conversations about history and its lasting impact.
Barker will teach Revolutionary Currents: The Atlantic Revolutions in Global Context in fall 2025.
Becoming a Wise Elder
Aging offers a chance to grow whole—finding peace, perspective, and deeper meaning. This talk introduces Gerotranscendence, a model that shows how changing mindsets can lead to well-being, wisdom, and a stronger sense of connection as we grow older.
Tom Rinkoski is a retired educator with a rich background spanning elementary teaching to community education. Throughout his moves with family, he also explored roles as a professional storyteller, caregiver, writer, and actor. He holds an M.Ed from Boston College.
Rinkoski previously taught Discovering Gerotranscendence and Six Pillars of Brain Health.
Creative Arts and Healing
Over the past decade, research has confirmed the powerful impact of the arts on our health and well-being. This talk explores key findings and highlights healing practices—like music, dance, visual art, and poetry—that offer lasting benefits for mind and body.
Jenzi Silverman, PhD, is an educator and researcher who designs and teaches courses on music, the brain, and wellness. She serves on the graduate faculty at the University of Minnesota’s Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing and holds a doctorate in Educational Psychology.
Silverman taught Creative Arts and Healing: A Sampler in summer 2025.