Director's Message

Welcome to OLLI at Illinois - a member-driven community of adult learners that is supported by the Bernard Osher Foundation, the University of Illinois Office of the Provost, and the generous donations of OLLI members and community partners.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) was launched in the fall of 2007 with eleven courses and 297 members. News of this exhilarating program dedicated to the pursuit of lifelong learning spread quickly: I am pleased to report that OLLI began the spring 2012 semester with a slate of thirty courses and more than 1,000 members. In addition to classes, OLLI offers a dynamic schedule of programs and activities that includes lectures, study groups, travel opportunities, and collaborations with the University of Illinois campus and the Champaign-Urbana community.

It is a pleasure and a privilege to begin my position as OLLI Director, following the dedication that Founding Director Kathleen Holden, the OLLI staff, and the members have brought to the establishment and growth of the program. I am delighted to be a part of this exciting adventure in learning for the pure joy of it. As a past OLLI instructor, I have found the classroom experience to be challenging, stimulating, and always (perhaps especially) great fun. The value of lifelong learning speaks directly to the mission at the heart of the University of Illinois - and to the vitality and inquisitive spirit that OLLI members bring to everything we do here.

OLLI brings together a diverse, lively community of teachers and learners - and I invite you to join us as we continue to grow in exciting new directions. Membership information can be found on the pages of this site. Please feel free to contact me at catanzar@illinois.edu or (217) 244-9141 with your questions or ideas, and I hope to see you at OLLI soon!

Best wishes,

Christine Catanzarite Director, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute University of Illinois