2026 Osher Institutes National Conference
Breakout Session Descriptions
Tuesday, October 6, 9 – 10:15am
Bring Your Strategic Plan to Life
A strategic plan should be a tool, not a document that gathers dust. This hands-on session will focus on how to use your strategic plan to guide decisions, clarify priorities, and sustain momentum over time. Learn practical approaches for translating goals into measurable milestones, monitoring progress, and embedding your plan into everyday workflows, project management, and staff responsibilities. Presenters will share real-world examples of how OLLIs have operationalized their plans to stay focused, adaptable, and forward-looking. Leave with concrete tools and ideas to turn your strategic plan into a living roadmap that supports long-term success.
Presenters
Heather Bristow, Director, OLLI @ Iowa State University
Patti LaPlace, Executive Director, OLLI @ California State University, Long Beach
Tim Meehan, Executive Director, OLLI @ University of Georgia
Building Shared Value: Campus & Community Partnerships
Sustaining and growing your OLLI depends on strong, mission-aligned partnerships, particularly with your host institution. Explore practical strategies for developing collaborative relationships while preserving OLLI’s unique identity. Learn how to align your OLLI’s goals with university priorities, partner with academic departments and alumni offices, and collaborate with community organizations to create shared value. Take home actionable ideas for cultivating partnerships that benefit participants, faculty, students, and your broader university.
Presenters
Dana Thorp Patterson, Director, OLLI @ Boise State University
Peggy Watson, Director, Osher Institute @ University of Richmond
Innovative Courses That Work
Looking for fresh ideas that translate into strong enrollment and engaged members? This fast-paced session will focus on showcasing innovative course models that drive strong enrollment and participant engagement. Explore standout offerings from across the Network, including fine arts, sports, experiential, intergenerational, and activity-based learning, along with the strategies behind their success. Gain practical inspiration, adaptable formats, and replicable approaches to bring back to your own program.
Presenters
Daniel Banyai, OLLI Director & Enrollment, Marketing, and Workforce Development, California State University Channel Islands
Joey Conrad, Executive Director, OLLI @ University of Kentucky
Michelle Crompton, Program Director, OLLI @ California State University, Monterey Bay
Robin Fuxa, Director, OLLI @ Oklahoma State University
Ian MacNeil, Director, OLLI @ Aquinas College
Josh Raney, Director, OLLI @ University of Arkansas
Gabriela Sotomayor, Director of Professional and Continuing Education, California State University, East Bay
Sponsorships, Partnerships, and Alternative Revenue Streams
Membership and course fees remain central to OLLIs, but diversifying revenue can reduce risk and open new possibilities. This idea-rich session will explore practical approaches to sponsorships, partnerships, and alternative revenue streams that enhance your OLLI’s purpose. Learn from real-world examples involving university associations, cultural organizations, and senior living communities, while considering expanded offerings such as co-branded events, shared programs, travel, and fee-based experiences. Leave with concrete strategies and evaluation tools to identify opportunities that fit your Institute’s size, community, and values.
Presenters
Angela Bingham, Director, OLLI @ University of Michigan
Susan Brasseur, Executive Director of Center for Adult Learning, Saginaw Valley State University
Jared Swerzenski, Director, OLLI @ Arizona State University
Messaging, Stories, and Elevator Pitches That Shine
How you talk about your OLLI matters. This interactive session will focus on helping you sharpen messaging to communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. Learn how to craft concise elevator pitches, use storytelling to bring your mission to life, and create consistent messaging across audiences, from campus leaders to potential members and volunteers. Presenters will share practical frameworks and real examples that can be adapted to any Institute. Whether you’re advocating for support, promoting programs, or building relationships, you’ll leave with tools to help your OLLI stand out and be remembered.
Presenters
Megan Bryan, Associate Director and Sandi Meier-Western, Advisory Council President, OLLI @ University of North Texas
Jennifer Juanitas, Program Director, OLLI @ University of the Pacific
Maralie Waterman, Senior Program Manager, OLLI @ University of New Mexico
Tuesday, October 6, 3 – 3:45pm
Using Demographics to Reach New Audiences
How closely does your OLLI reflect the community around you, and how do you know if it is successful? This session will focus on exploring how demographic data can be a practical, accessible tool for outreach, inclusion, and strategic growth. Learn how to identify gaps between current membership and local population trends, interpret key data points, and use those insights to inform outreach strategies. Rather than focusing on abstract diversity goals, this session will frame inclusion through relevance, visibility, and connection. Leave with concrete ideas for using data to expand reach, engage underrepresented audiences, and better align your OLLI with the community you serve.
Presenters
TBD
Start With Why: Purpose-Driven Messaging
Purpose shapes everything, from programs to partnerships to how we tell our story. In this interactive session, you will use Simon Sinek’s Start with Why framework to explore the “Why” within your individual Osher Institute. Through a brief introduction, a screening of Sinek’s TED Talk, and small-group discussions, you will reflect on your Institute’s core purpose and how it informs leadership, community-building, and messaging. The conversation will then broaden to identifying shared themes across the OLLI Network. A group share-back will surface insights with practical implications for marketing, programming, leadership, and member engagement rooted in shared values.
Presenter
Jeanette Toohey, Director, OLLI @ University of North Florida
The Future OLLI Member: What Retirement Trends Tell Us
Tomorrow’s OLLI members won’t look exactly like today's, and that matters for planning right now. This session will focus on examining emerging trends in retirement, aging, work, and adult learning, and exploring what these trends mean for membership, programming, and engagement strategies. Drawing on current research, demographic projections, and real-world observations, presenters will highlight changes in expectations, availability, and motivations among future retirees. Gain insight into how these trends may reshape course design, scheduling, volunteer roles, and outreach. Leave with a clearer picture of the next generation of lifelong learners and ideas for positioning your OLLI to meet them where they are.
Presenters
Phyllis Moen, Emeritus Professor, University of Minnesota
Kate Schaefers, Director, OLLI @ University of Minnesota
Using AI to Streamline OLLI Operations
OLLI leaders face growing administrative demands, rising expectations, and limited staff and volunteer capacity. This interactive session will focus on exploring how AI tools can help streamline operations while preserving the personal touch central to OLLI’s culture. A panel of Institute leaders will share examples of ethical and practical AI use in membership analysis, program planning, communication, and reporting. A live demonstration will show how AI can assist with your everyday tasks like drafting emails, writing course descriptions, organizing data, generating marketing content, and coordinating volunteers. You will also discuss emerging AI trends and how they may shape recruitment, programming, and engagement in the years ahead.
Presenters
Kevin DeCoux, Program Manager, Osher Online, Osher National Resource Center
Pete Kikta, Assistant Director, OLLI @ Indiana State University
Katie Reynolds, Executive Director, Special Programs and Continuing Education, University of Dayton
Volunteers Reimagined: Roles, Recruitement & Support
Expectations among volunteers have changed, and OLLIs are feeling the impact. This interactive session will focus on examining today’s volunteer landscape and offering practical models for building a sustainable and engaged volunteer pipeline. Explore strategies for redesigning roles, improving recruitment and onboarding, and supporting volunteers through change without overwhelming staff. The session will highlight successful approaches such as volunteer academies that build confidence and leadership capacity, as well as a programming-driven “pitch” model that turns member ideas into new offerings. Leave with tools and a draft plan to strengthen volunteer engagement, reduce burnout, and foster meaningful collaboration between volunteers and staff.
Presenters
Angela Bingham, Director, OLLI @ University of Michigan
Carol Allman-Morton, Executive Director, OLLI @ Berkshire Community College
Wednesday, October 7, 8:15 – 9:30am
Digital Tools that Streamline, Simplify & Support
Wondering which digital tools are worth your time and money? This practical session will focus on highlighting apps and platforms OLLIs are using to streamline operations, manage communication, enhance instruction, and improve the member experience. From Google Workspace efficiencies to scheduling, communication, and AI-assisted tools, presenters will share uses and lessons learned. Understand what’s working, what to avoid, and which tools may be worth adopting next. This session will be ideal for staff looking to modernize workflows, reduce administrative burden, and make smarter use of technology, without losing the human touch central to OLLI.
Presenters
Melannie Pitoscia, Administrative Assistant, Osher National Resource Center
Mary P. Szaroleta, Director, OLLI @ Eckerd College
Beyond the Classroom: Social Events that Matter
Social events do more than create fun; they strengthen relationships, deepen social engagement, and support recruitment, retention, and even fundraising. This session will focus on exploring how OLLIs design experiences with intention, from picnics and receptions to campus-hosted gatherings, partnerships, and informal learning opportunities. Presenters will share practical strategies for aligning events with program goals and adapting ideas for Institutes of different sizes and structures. Leave with fresh, doable ideas to energize your OLLI’s social calendar, foster connection, and reinforce the OLLI experience well beyond the classroom.
Presenters
Catherine Lawless, Assistant Director Continuing Education, Bradley University
Tarilyn McBride, Coordinator, OLLI @ Louisiana State University
Fundraising that Lasts: Smart Strategies and Meaningful Recognition
Sustainable fundraising is about relationships, not just requests. In this session, participants will share practical strategies for building long-term donor engagement from project-based campaigns and campus partnerships to creative approaches. Just as important, this session will dive into donor recognition and stewardship practices that are authentic, mission-aligned, and personal. Learn how to help donors see their impact, feel valued, and stay connected over time. Leave with adaptable templates, recognition ideas, and a draft strategy you can tailor to your Institute’s culture and capacity.
Presenters
Tara Hamilton, Director, OLLI @ Vanderbilt University
Michael Long, Director of Development, University Libraries and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, Florida Atlantic University
Lisa Sharfstein, Director, OLLI @ University of Pittsburgh
Marketing Through Campus & Community Partners
Your best marketing allies may already be around you. This session will focus on exploring how campus units and community organizations can help extend your OLLI’s reach through shared messaging and trusted networks. Learn how to identify potential partners, build collaborative relationships, and co-market programs in ways that benefit everyone involved. Presenters will showcase real-world examples of successful partnerships and provide replicable strategies for distributing materials, aligning messaging, and reaching new audiences. Leave with ideas for amplifying visibility and strengthening your Osher Institute’s presence through strategic collaboration.
Presenters
Beth Leconte, Executive Director, OLLI @ University of Rhode Island
Veronica Maxwell, Director, OLLI @ University of South Florida
Lynn Provenzano, Executive Director, OLLI @ University of Texas at El Paso
Lauren Traister, Assistant Director, OLLI @ University of Vermont
Diversifying Your OLLI's Programming
Looking to expand your programming beyond traditional lectures? This session will focus on diving into the nuts and bolts of Special Interest Groups, experiential learning opportunities, and peer-led programming. Presenters will cover structure, staffing, scheduling, member support, quality control, and sustainability, sharing what works and what to watch out for. Whether you’re launching new formats or refining existing ones, this session will offer practical guidance to help you diversify offerings, increase engagement, and broaden participation. Leave with concrete ideas and operational insights to confidently manage alternative learning models.
Presenters
Emily Ferrin, Director, OLLI @ Northwestern University
Heather Inghram, Administrative Director, OLLI @ Southern Oregon University
Danielle Gervasio, Staff, OLLI @ Yavapai College