By: Aimee Shramko
Posted: November 3, 2025
OLLI Lifelong Learning Program – Girton College at Cambridge University, England
Already interested in learning more about this program?
Join us for:
What: A free information session hosted by Girton Program Director, Nick Godfrey and ASU OLLI Program Coordinator, Jolene Gosling
Where: Tempe Public Library
When: December 4th at 10:30 – 11:30am.
How to Register: Following this link: https://www.asuolli.org/asu/course/course.aspx?catId=103
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August 2025 - “What is it doing? I don’t see anything happening. Do you?” Betty Ann dropped easily into a perfectly balanced squat.
I leaned over her left shoulder to peer into the round, submarine-style window. A retired litigator, Betty Ann had an athletic build strengthened by racing dragon boats (1) with her teammates in Long Beach, CA.
“Nope. No action whatsoever” I said, pushing the start button for the third time. A back-lit blue digital panel flashed “30° Celsius” on top of a symbol that looked like a tub of water.
“Did you select cold wash?” Deborah’s relaxed Australian accent had a friendly, lyrical tone. “Because if you don't, it takes a while for the water to heat.”
“Hey! Does anyone have any spare detergent sheets?” Jo Anne called, opening the door and plopping a large duffel bag on the floor. A refreshing whoosh of cold air streamed in from outside, cutting through the humidity in the room. JoAnne, a former system analyst, had been traveling for ten days in the English countryside before coming to study at Cambridge.
“Maybe we didn’t close the door tightly enough.” I grabbed the knob, twisted, and pulled it open. My timing was perfect. As I pulled, a hiss of surging water rose over the din of the eight giant machines chugging away. A cascade of cold water spilled over the lip of the window onto the floor completely covering the tops of my tennis shoes.
Betty-Ann, Deborah, and I burst into laughter as Jo Anne yelled “Nice going Girton Girls! (2) Bested on Day One by a British washing machine!”
“Welcome to dorm life!” Deborah laughed as she tossed damp clothes into a machine.
Dorm Life! I smiled, finally relaxing after the hectic travel day we’d had. This bonding moment with three other lifelong learners who I’d met just hours ago was exactly the reason I had wanted to come to Cambridge. This was going to be an amazing two weeks!
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I’ll admit I was a bit nervous about traveling alone for the first time to an international destination. And when my 8pm flight was delayed two hours, and then a third after a thunderstorm rolled through the Valley, I had a bit of a freak-out. I was supposed to be traveling with another Phoenician but we’d mis-communicated and she ended up on an earlier flight. I let thoughts of having forgotten something essential overtake me. Would my cat be OK with daily visits from the sitter? Had I remembered to bring a list of important contacts in case my phone was lost?
I called my lifelong friend, Chris, and he reminded me how excited I’d been when I first learned I’d been accepted to the program. At the OLLI presentation last December, I was impressed by the alumni who lit up as they reunited. They hugged, took group photos with the director Nick Godfrey, and enthusiastically shared details of their time at Girton. They talked about the many memorable experiences that made the Cambridge adventure special:
- Performances of Macbeth and As You Like It in a gorgeous forest setting at the Shakespeare Festival
- Day trips to Ely Cathedral, Grantchester, and London with a guided tour of the National Gallery
- Lectures on fascinating topics such as the cancer-resistant naked mole rat (if you haven’t heard of them – you’ll be amazed!)
- Punting on the River Cam
- Formal dinners in the Great Hall preceded by cocktails in the Fellows’ (3) Rooms overlooking the stunning Mistress’ Garden (4)
- Afternoon Teas complete with sandwiches, scones, jam, and champagne
- Evening visits to pubs like the Eagle with a bar at the back dedicated to the members of the RAF (Royal Air Force). The names and squadron numbers of fighter pilots during WW2 remain on the ceiling.
Photos: Afternoon Tea, Lunch at the Almondry with Ely Cathedral as a backdrop
Photos: Punting on the River Cam and Having a Pint at The Anchor Pub
OLLI Program Coordinator Jolene Gosling, who had studied at Girton the previous year, put me in touch with Diane, who like me was recently widowed and traveling alone. We were joined by a third widow, Jeanette, and coordinated our travel arrangements to include several days exploring London before heading to Cambridge.
Photos: The Merry Widows of Phoenix take a London Taxi for a joyride and sample the first of many fish & chips at a pub in the West End of London
On day one of the Cambridge program, the three of us arrived at Girton College just in time for “Sunday Roast”. A traditional British meal typically eaten at midday, it is often the highlight of the week for many families. At Girton, it is served in the cafeteria and enjoyed in the Great Hall, a large, wood-paneled, Victorian dining room reminiscent of those seen in Harry Potter movies. The menu offered roast beef or chicken with Yorkshire pudding, or a vegetarian option of mushrooms in puff pastry. Sides included roast potatoes, steamed vegetables and of course, gravy.
Photos: “Sunday Roast”, and Formal Dinner in the Great Hall
Within minutes we’d met Deborah, a holistic healer with four doctoral degrees, who was also an actress, singer, and director of community theater in her hometown of North Tamborine Mountain in Queensland, Australia. We were joined by Ann, the director of a lifelong learning program in Louisville, KY and Betty Ann, who’d lost her home to the devastating fires in California in January but vowed to keep “living her life”.
That evening at orientation we learned that Girton is just one of the thirty-one colleges under the University of Cambridge umbrella. Founded in 1869 by Emily Davies and Barbara Bodichon, it was the UK’s first residential institution to provide university-level education for women – (aka “Girton Girls”). Although the foundation of Girton was a pivotal step in the fight for women's equality in education, full degrees were not granted to women until 1948. Girton remained an all-women's college until 1976 when it transitioned to a co-educational environment.
Photos: Dining Hall at Girton College and Girton Accommodations & Offices
During an interview, Nick shared that “each summer Girton has over 20 residential programs, mostly for undergraduate students.”
Girton began hosting lifelong learning programs in 2018, which are Nick’s “favorite, as participants tend to really appreciate Cambridge as a pretty extraordinary place - without the undergraduate stress of having to do exams!”. Exactly as I experienced, Nick commented “it’s always such a lovely group – people come from different places, but with a common interest in travel and learning, friendships form quickly and conversations are always interesting!”
Students are not required to be members of OLLI and do indeed travel from every corner of the globe. You can opt to stay one or two weeks and enroll in between two and four classes – although you are welcome to attend other lectures, time permitting.
Girton is about a 15-minute taxi ride from the City Centre where most of the other Cambridge Colleges such as Pembroke (the prettiest one, I think), Kings (famous for its Gothic architecture), and Trinity (the largest and the Alma Mater of the most Nobel Laureates) are located. The City Centre has a plethora of excellent pubs and restaurants, chic stores like Sweaty Betty (similar to Lululemon), museums, and libraries.
Photos: Trinity and Pembroke Colleges
This past August, 54 lifelong learners participated in the program, nine of whom were from Arizona. The school also welcomed students from Valencia, Spain; Mumbai, India; Auckland, New Zealand; Ontario, Canada; and multiple cities across the United States.
While there, attendees lived in the dorms at the college and were joined by undergraduate students who were part of their own unique programs. This summer we shared the dining and lecture halls with 120 students from China who were participating in one of three programs: Deep Learning/AI, International Medicine & Health, or Economics, History & Culture.
Facts and figures aside, what impressed me most were the amazing lifelong learners who joined me. Former college professors, psychologists, lawyers, librarians, advertising executives, and most importantly – people who’ve remained CURIOUS – about travel, politics, art, literature, and are the first to want to know MORE.
There were some with mobility challenges who, despite needing canes and an occasional arm to lean on, made the trek to Cambridge motivated by their thirst for knowledge and new experiences. Quite a few needed to follow strict diets but navigated the expertly prepared cafeteria food without complaint. A handful of students were in their 80s, including a former Disney Studio executive, and my new friend, Helen, who came by themselves without hesitancy because, “my friends back home are so boring! They never go anywhere or do anything different!”.
Photo: Me & Helen from Auckland, NZ dining out in Eddington, a Cambridge suburb
While there I was enrolled in The Novel in England & Ireland, a survey, lecture-based course taught by the passionate Dr. Imogen Free. It covered thirteen novels including Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, and Virginia Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. By stark contrast, Cambridge Poets Through the Ages taught by Dr. Alex Wong was almost entirely focused on discussion and the students’ interpretation of the material. I also took The Stones of Cambridge: An Introduction to Architectural History and The History of Art in Cambridge Collections, both of which included multiple afternoon excursions to Cambridge Colleges, Libraries and Churches.
Photo: Class in the gorgeous Stanley Library
OK, so there is no way I’m going to be able to tell you everything about how amazing the Girton experience is – so please – do come to the free information session!
What: Session hosted by Girton Program Director, Nick Godfrey and ASU OLLI Program Coordinator, Jolene Gosling
Where: Tempe Public Library
When: December 4th at 10:30 – 11:30am.
How to Register: Follow this link: https://www.asuolli.org/asu/course/course.aspx?catId=103
Light refreshments will be served!
I’ll also be there to answer your questions and – bonus – the first one to mention this article will receive a surprise Cambridge-themed gift!
Cheerio!
About the Author: Aimee Shramko, a former advertising executive, grew up in Santa Monica, CA and received her undergraduate degree from UCLA. She met her late husband and earned a master’s degree in international management at the Thunderbird School for Global Management (now part of ASU). A resident of the Valley of the Sun for fifteen years, she devotes her time to supporting OLLI, the arts, and exploring new destinations.
REFERENCES:
- A dragon boat is a long, human-powered canoe, traditionally adorned with a dragon's head and tail, used in the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing. The sport, which originated in ancient China, involves a team of 20-22 members, including paddlers, a drummer to set the stroke cadence, and a steerer to guide the boat. The team paddles in unison to the rhythm of the drum, requiring excellent teamwork, timing, and strength to propel the boat forward. Betty Ann’s team consists entirely of breast cancer survivors.
- Girton Girls – “Oh Those Girton Girls!” https://www.thehistoryreader.com/cultural-history/oh-those-girton-girls/ “Girton College was very controversial indeed, and the phrase “Girton Girl” struck terror into the hearts of traditional parents….pulling women away from the home and thereby threatening family as the basis of all social order.”
- Fellows at Cambridge are senior academic members of the university’s colleges such as Girton are frequent lecturers or professors
- The Mistress is a term used to describe (usually) a female head of a college. The head of Girton has always been a woman. Because of the history of the college, should a man become the head of the college, the title Mistress will apply to him.
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