Tempe   

What is the definition of a “survivor,” and what were the common denominators for almost all survivors? Certainly, fear, food insecurity/starvation, and trauma. However, it would be erroneous to paint all survivors with the same brush—each experience is unique. This diversity is shaped by pre-war, war, and post-war factors, including age, geography, socio-economic status, family circumstances, and the wide range of wartime experiences. Post-war experiences also had a significant impact on survivors. This presentation includes examples from the speaker’s family, among others.

Unroll a map, grab a pickaxe, and explore the land that set the stage for the Hebrew Bible. Come discover the physical remains—both natural and human-made—that correspond with the epic ancient stories of the Levant. We will examine archaeological sites and key artifacts that illuminate the world behind the Hebrew Bible.

As Abraham Lincoln stated in his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, both sides prayed to the same God and read the same Bible. Indeed, religious language, imagery, and ideas were pervasive during the Civil War era. Americans turned to their faith to explain the causes, course, and consequences of the war. Soldiers and civilians alike found comfort in religion and often viewed the war’s events through the lens of divine providence. The idea of sin—both individual and collective—also became a means of interpreting victories and defeats, including the ultimate outcome of the war.

The essence of humanity—looking up and wondering—is universal. What’s up there? Can we go there? How does it all work? What makes satellites unique? What are orbits? How do I become an astronaut (even at our age)? This course will explore many of these questions in a non-math, non-engineering way, designed to explain our fascination and wonder about space. We are living through a remarkable shift—both government and commercial—toward space exploration. How does this affect you? Could your grandchildren be involved? Might they even go out there? This course will explain it all at a top-level view: orbits, the vacuum of space, and other complexities—all explained through engaging conversations. Please note that parking is the responsibility of the member. 

Presented by the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University at Changing Hands Bookstore, OLLI members are invited to a special reading and conversation with noted novelist Andrew Porter and renowned poet and writer Sally Wen Mao. A recent review of Andrew Porter’s work appeared in The New York Times (“A Novel That Takes On Life’s Greatest Mystery: Our Parents,” April 15, 2025). Sally Wen Mao’s debut novel was recently featured in The Washington Post’s “11 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2024.” Please join us for this special event to hear from these outstanding writers.

Why do we use the term “trial by jury”? The Declaration of Independence indicted King George III for depriving the people of “trial by jury.” The Seventh Amendment preserves the right to a jury trial in civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds $20. Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution mandates that “the Trial of all Crimes... shall be by Jury.” The Sixth Amendment states that in “all criminal prosecutions,” the trial shall be “by an impartial jury.” Each of these references to “trial by jury” implies that there was once another option—and that the choice mattered. This class will trace the history of the jury, showing why it remains as relevant today as ever.

Create a successful painting every time! Art tells a story, expresses an emotion—or both. By using a variety of compositional elements, colors, and color schemes, you can express any feeling with any subject. In this class, taught by Allen Reamer, a longtime art history and art studio teacher, we will work with a variety of pieces of fruit. We'll take a step-by-step approach, exploring the options and decisions involved in planning and producing a successful work of art. You may use acrylics, watercolor, gouache, pastel, and/or colored pencils.

Join OLLI Intergenerational Scholar Allie Thurgood, ASU School of Art MA candidate, for a hands-on, heart-centered workshop where creativity and connection come together. This intergenerational class introduces participants to the basic techniques of hand-building with clay, pinching, coiling, and slab work, while weaving in meaningful dialogue and storytelling. Each participant will create a symbolic clay object that represents a personal value or memory. Then, paired with a partner, they'll work together to co-create a second piece to reflect their conversation and themes that emerge. Rooted in community building and intergenerational exchange, this workshop emphasizes both the technical fundamentals of ceramics and the power of shared experiences. No prior clay experience necessary! Just bring your hands, your stories, and your curiosity.

Humans have been intrigued by Mars since they first gazed into the night sky. In just the past 50 years, we have seen spacecraft orbiting Mars and surface rovers exploring the planet for evidence of past climates and the potential for life. This class will focus on some key unanswered questions about Mars before moving on to the process of how an actual space mission is built. We will follow the steps from the initial concept through the design, fabrication, and testing of spacecraft and instruments. We’ll also examine mission operations and scientific results. ASU has a long history of participation in planetary exploration, including the development of nine instruments for NASA and international missions to explore Mars, asteroids, and Europa—a moon of Jupiter with a subsurface ocean that may contain life. The final class will include a tour of the labs on ASU’s Tempe campus, where these instruments are designed and built!

Join Dr. Kelly Nelson—proudly 50% Finnish-American—for a lively, illustrated exploration of the vibrant contemporary art scene in Helsinki. This 2025 tour includes highlights from the Helsinki Biennial, visits to three standout art museums, and a look at some of the city’s striking new architecture that blends innovation with Nordic design traditions. From there, Dr. Nelson hops across the Gulf of Finland to Tallinn, Estonia, where she covers a few contemporary art gems tucked within this historic Baltic capital.

The vibrant country of Morocco is located at the far western edge of North Africa and the Middle East, less than twenty miles from Europe. We explore its geography and history, then focus on the current society, religion, and political system of this historic kingdom—the first to recognize the United States upon its independence. Note: Dr. Parmentier is leading an OLLI Corps trip to Morocco in May 2026.

Mediation is the practice by which a third-party neutral helps people and organizations work through conflict. But these skills are applicable to everyone—from workplace disputes to conflicts with friends or family. In this two-part series led by the ASU Lodestar Center's Kristyn Carmichael, we will discuss and practice the basic techniques of a mediator, as well as how to negotiate at the table as one of the parties. You will learn how to help people navigate conflict, negotiate agreements, and find mutually agreeable solutions.

Join Dr. Thom Reilly for an examination of the roots and consequences of public sector corruption, drawing from his book "The Failure of Governance in Bell, California: Big Time Corruption in a Small Town." We’ll explore how weak oversight, disengaged citizens, and a lack of institutional accountability allowed widespread corruption to take hold in a small municipal government. The course also delves into the ethical complexities of leadership, highlighting “right vs. right” dilemmas—situations in which competing values both carry moral weight. The discussion concludes with a practical framework for sustaining ethical governance and preventing corruption at all levels.

First in a series of cozy mysteries set in modern-day Singapore, this fun and accessible book follows “Aunty” Rosy Lee—a “kaypoh” (busybody) widow, restaurateur, and amateur detective—who serves up mouth-watering dishes in her café while solving local crimes on the side. When a tourist’s body washes up on the beautiful beach of Sentosa, Aunty Lee is on the case, doling out advice alongside the secrets of Peranakan cooking in equal measure. Yu’s novel tackles important themes such as family, aging, love, and tolerance while providing a complex portrayal of the Southeast Asian island nation, where “money flows freely and people of many religions and ethnicities co-exist peacefully, but where tensions lurk just below the surface.” Students will obtain their own copy of Aunty Lee’s Delights (2013) by Ovidia Yu, available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible editions.

Is beauty truly only skin deep, or can it be understood as a measurable trait, similar to features like blue eyes or blonde hair? To what extent do humans differ from birds and other mammals in selecting mates based on physical appearance? In this class, we will examine human mate preferences alongside those of other species, drawing on evolutionary biology and psychology to gain deeper insights into the concept of beauty and its underlying significance.

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Step into the shadowy corners of the ancient Mediterranean, where gods weren’t the only ones pulling strings. From curse tablets hidden in graves to love spells inscribed on lead, ancient Greeks and Romans turned to magic to bind enemies, attract lovers, and ward off evil. This session explores the fascinating world of sorcery, omens, and everyday superstition—where priestesses, witches, and household spirits shaped fate. Join us for a journey into the mystical mindset of antiquity, where the boundary between religion and magic was anything but clear.

 

Shakespeare lived during the Scientific Revolution, a time of rapid advancement in scientific understanding. For the first time, academics were writing in English rather than Latin, making these revolutionary ideas accessible to the average educated person—Shakespeare among them. From hidden praise for Galileo in Cymbeline to the possibility that one of his plays serves as an allegory for the shift toward heliocentrism, Shakespeare’s work reveals a deep awareness of contemporary science. This class is designed for lovers of both literature and science!

Current students from Dr. Rosemarie Dombrowski’s Medical Humanities course at ASU (HON 394 Poetry & Medicine) will lead this intergenerational session exploring the efficacy of reading and writing poetry as a means of navigating aging, illness, and loss, while promoting wellness and healing. Students will share excerpts from studies, lead discussions of selected poems, and engage attendees in short reflective writing exercises.

Join us as we welcome Dr Nick Godfrey, director of the summer program at Girton College (part of Cambridge University) to speak to our OLLI community. We are excited to have him visit us in Arizona and he will announce a new exclusive offer for OLLI at ASU members. He will give a short presentation on the August 2026 Girton College Lifelong Learning Summer Program and will explain why and how you can participate. 

In addition, several OLLI at ASU members who attended this year's program will be on hand to share some of their experiences. You will hear why the stay at Girton was so much more than just "summer school" and what made it a "bucket list" experience!

Light refreshments served. The event is Free but you must register to attend as space is limited. Add this to your cart for no charge and complete payment process to RSVP and reserve your space.

The essence of humanity—looking up and wondering—is universal. What’s up there? Can we go there? How does it all work? What makes satellites unique? What are orbits? How do I become an astronaut (even at our age)? This course will explore many of these questions in a non-math, non-engineering way, designed to explain our fascination and wonder about space. We are living through a remarkable shift—both government and commercial—toward space exploration. How does this affect you? Could your grandchildren be involved? Might they even go out there? This course will explain it all at a top-level view: orbits, the vacuum of space, and other complexities—all explained through engaging conversations. Please note that parking is the responsibility of the member. 

This Special Interest Group will explore US and Global Leadership issues.ToUsing materials provided by the Foreign Policy Association (fpa.org), and facilitated by Jim Stephens, Ph.D. and Kathleen Adamson, this SIG is a discussion group where all members are expected to prepare in advance, and be willingly share experiences, readings, and cultural perspectives in a civil environment. This is a small group providing opportunities for all to share in the discussion. We will meet at the Tempe Public Library, the fourth Saturday of each month, September through December. The first topic will be—American Policy in the Middle East (# 8 in the 2025 FPA edition). The reading booklet is purchased at www.fpa.org/great_decisions for $35.

One-time FEE: $10 per member, paid directly to Facilitator at first meeting, to rent library room for the semester.