For 20 years, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at University of the Pacific has invited members of the community to keep asking questions, exploring ideas and building relationships.

“The focus has really been on offering programs that benefit our community, but then in turn, helps the university,” said OLLI Program Director Jennifer Juanitas.

That reciprocal relationship has become one of the defining features of OLLI at Pacific as the program celebrates its 20th anniversary.

Established in 2006, OLLI at Pacific offers noncredit learning opportunities primarily for adults 50 and older, although membership is open to adult learners of all ages. Courses and experiences connect members with Pacific faculty and staff as well as community educators and leaders.

Over the years, programming has grown to encompass lectures, courses, shared-interest groups, arts and culture, health and wellness, technology, outdoor activities, travel and online learning.

The current course catalog offers watercolor, gardening, pickleball, American history and more. Next year, travel opportunities include trips around the world, from Japan to the Azores. 

For members, there is also more to the programming than the learning that happens.

“OLLI allows these members to come and do things they like to do, but it also gives them new friends,” said Kayleen McMillen, program coordinator for OLLI. “OLLI creates a community for them to be part of.”

The connections and community have helped sustain the program. Juanitas credits dedicated members and volunteers with much of OLLI’s longevity, noting that word of mouth remains the program’s leading source of new members. After membership fell below 400 during the pandemic, OLLI finished the most recent academic year with 509 members, surpassing the program’s 500-member goal.

Mutual learning

OLLI members bring just as much value to Pacific as they receive.

That exchange is evident in the classroom. Mike Wurtz, head of Pacific’s Holt-Atherton Special Collections and Archives and longtime OLLI instructor, said members contribute their own histories and experiences to discussions.

“I’ve been doing OLLI talks for over a dozen years, and the rewards go both ways,” Wurtz said. “They learn some history and the value of archives from me, and I learn from their firsthand accounts of living in that history.”

Those conversations can even influence what he brings back to Pacific students.

“OLLI is a great sounding board for new topics and presentations that I plan to give to students,” Wurtz said. “The members provide feedback and stories that enrich the experience of our next generation of Pacific Tigers.”

The relationship extends beyond intellectual exchange. Since OLLI’s inception, more than 500 donors have contributed over $400,000 directly to strengthen and enhance the program.

The two-decade milestone also comes as OLLI programming continues to expand how and where members learn. OLLI now connects participants with experiences across campus and the Stockton community, while Osher Online allows Pacific members to learn alongside members from across the 123 OLLI programs in the country. Some of those instructors include OLLI at Pacific instructors who are now reaching this national audience as well.

While the programming has evolved, Juanitas says the enduring value of OLLI at Pacific is how it brings people together to continue learning.

Learn how to become an OLLI at Pacific member and register for classes