Kathryn Williams, Director

kfw@illinois.edu

Kathryn Williams became the Director of OLLI at Illinois in June 2021. Prior to moving to Illinois, she lived in Buffalo, NY where she was a professor and chair of the classics department at Canisius College.

Kathryn received her BA in history from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her MA and PhD in classical philology from the University of Virginia. She taught in the classical studies department at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro before moving to Buffalo.

In 2017 Kathryn co-founded the Institute for Classical and Medieval Studies with a classics colleague. The institute serves as a consortium of faculty from the departments of art history, religious studies and theology, philosophy, history, and English to collaborate with one another and students in the different departments who share interdisciplinary interests. As director of the institute Kathryn also established a lifelong learning program for people in the Buffalo community to take courses from institute faculty and to attend lectures presented by faculty and students. The joy of her experience with lifelong learners and learning led her to explore Osher Lifelong Learning institutes and to OLLI at Illinois.

Read the Letter from the Director

 

Beth Kirchgesner, Educational Engagement Director

kirchges@illinois.edu

OLLI's Educational Engagement Director, Beth Kirchgesner, started at OLLI in early January 2025. Beth earned her degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and has worked at the University for more than 16 years where she has earned University awards for her public engagement program coordination. At OLLI Beth will work directly with members and instructors and use her expertise in community outreach to strengthen OLLI's community engagement. Her office is located at the end of the hall in the staff suite. Feel free to stop by and say hello! 

 

 

Karina Martinez, Office Support Specialist

karina8@illinois.edu

Our newest staff member, Karina Martinez, started her Office Support Specialist position with OLLI in July 2025. You'll see Karina and her welcoming smile at the front desk of the OLLI suite. Karina was new to the University, but not new to office management, and she quickly picked up new things as she got set up with all the University systems. 

Please join us in welcoming Karina to the OLLI at Illinois community!