Osher Lifelong Learning Institute announces courses for winter 2026

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Vanderbilt invites the community to a new season of discovery, connection and fun with a dynamic lineup of winter courses and programs to keep your mind active and your spirit warm. 

Whether you’re diving into science, literature or music, or exploring global perspectives through courses on Japan, Sicily and the Abrahamic faiths, you’ll find something to spark your curiosity. This winter also features returning favorites like Tai Chi and Gentle Yoga, new opportunities to learn Mahjong, and creative arts offerings from landscape painting to the always-popular Steel Drum Band and Chorale. 

Enjoy engaging discussions, hands-on experiences and continued access to Osher Online, which brings you exceptional virtual classes from instructors nationwide. 

Vanderbilt faculty and staff are eligible for a discount on course registration, making it more accessible than ever to join the OLLI community. Email oshervu@vanderbilt.edu to learn more.

OLLI at Vanderbilt members visit the WeGo Transit Central bus station during a Lunch and Learn event. (Vanderbilt University)

OLLI at Vanderbilt members engage in a Tai Chi demonstration at the inaugural OLLI Open House on Sept. 11, 2025. (Submitted)

OLLI at Vanderbilt members at the inaugural OLLI Open House on Sept. 11, 2025. (Submitted)

Registration
Registration for winter classes is open Dec. 8–Jan. 4. Classes begin on Jan. 9. Visit OLLI at Vanderbilt to register.   

Winter Courses Offered 

Creative Arts and Music 

• OLLI Steel Drum Band – Beginner is taught by Jordan Morrison. This musical journey to the Caribbean is a hands-on experience where participants learn how to play the steel drums and explore the history and culture of the instrument. Students meet in person on Fridays beginning Jan. 9 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the W.O. Smith Music School, 1125 8th Ave. S. 

• OLLI Steel Drum Band – Intermediate is taught by Jordan Morrison. Expand on foundational steel drum skills with intermediate-level music and cultural study. Students meet in person on Fridays beginning Jan. 9 from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at the W.O. Smith Music School. 

• OLLI Steel Drum Band – Advanced is taught by Jordan Morrison. Refine advanced techniques and musical skills on steel drums while preparing for a concert performance. Students meet in person on Fridays beginning Jan. 9 from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. at the W.O. Smith Music School. 

• OLLI Chorale is taught by Mary Combs. Learn vocal techniques, harmony and musicianship while preparing to perform a selection of songs in a group setting. Students meet in person on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Second Presbyterian Church, 3511 Belmont Blvd. 

• Beginner Ukulele is taught by Theresa Romack. Learn basic ukulele playing skills including chords, strumming and group performance. Students meet in person on Thursdays beginning Jan. 15 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. 

• Intermediate Ukulele is taught by Theresa Romack. Expand your chord vocabulary, explore new strumming and picking patterns and build confidence playing in different keys and styles. Students meet in person on Thursdays beginning Jan. 15 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. 

• Improv Theater is taught by an artist from the nonprofit Unscripted. Discover the joy and connection of improv through playful games that spark creativity, build confidence and foster mindfulness. Students meet in person on Thursdays beginning Jan. 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. 

• Intro to Landscape Painting and Creating Illusionistic Space is taught by Lily Prince. Explore techniques for creating depth and atmosphere in landscape art through studies of master painters and hands-on projects that blend observation, memory and personal expression. Students meet on Thursdays beginning Jan. 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. online using Zoom.  

• Post-Impressionism and the Birth of Abstraction is taught by Lauren Weingarden. Through the work of Cézanne, van Gogh, Gauguin, Seurat and Matisse, trace this movement’s challenge to artistic norms and social values. Students meet on Mondays beginning Jan. 26 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. online using Zoom.  

• English Country Dancing is taught by Susan Kevra. Learn simple, elegant group dances while enjoying light exercise, social connection and a touch of dance history. Students meet in person on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. 

• The Magic Behind Film Scores: Exploring the Role of Music in Great Movies is taught by Mike Agron. Discover how film music enhances storytelling, sets mood and place, defines character and blends styles into powerful cinematic impressions. Students meet on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

• I Speak Therefore I Am: Poetry as Natural Intelligence is taught by Roderick Hofer. Develop your appreciation for poetry through close readings that explore how choice, imagery, echoes, meaning and voice reveal the depth of human creativity. Students meet in person on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. 

• Telling Your Story: A Deep Dive into Memoir Writing is taught by Miriam Mimms. Build practical techniques for crafting a compelling memoir while exploring works by notable authors. Participants will develop a chapter-length piece in a collaborative workshop setting. Students meet on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. online using Zoom. 

Wellness and Recreation 

• Working Virtues: Essential Moral Skills for a Good Life is taught by Larry R. Churchill. Explore the everyday virtues that shape character and guide moral decision-making through reflection, discussion and practical exercises. Students meet on Wednesdays beginning Jan 14. from noon to 1:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

• Tai Chi for Health, Balance and Relaxation is taught by Peter Hodes. Practice gentle movements and breathing techniques to improve health and balance. Students meet on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14 from 1 to 2 p.m. either in person at Second Presbyterian Church or online using Zoom.  

• Gentle Yoga is taught by Staci Smith. Practice slow, flowing movements and stretches to promote flexibility, balance and mindfulness. Students meet in person on Thursdays beginning Jan. 15 from noon to 1 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. 

• Let’s Mahjong! A Six-Week Beginner Course is taught by Joy Marini. Learn the rules, strategy and play of American Mahjong in a beginner-friendly environment. Students meet in person on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 27 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. 

• Mahjong 102: Playing with Strategy and Confidence is taught by Joy Marini. Build your speed, strategy and confidence in Mahjong through guided play and practical instruction designed to take you from beginner to confident, table-ready player. Students meet in person on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 27 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. 

History and Global Perspectives 

• The Civil War Hospitals of Nashville is taught by Brandon Hulette. Learn about the military hospitals in Nashville during this period and how their innovations impact modern-day medicine. Students meet in person on Mondays beginning Jan. 12 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4715 Harding Pike. 

• Navigating the Turbulent Waters: Pirates of the Slave Trade is taught by Angela Sutton. Explore the connections between piracy, the Atlantic slave trade and U.S. history and how they continue to shape our society. Students meet in person on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 13 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church. 

• Heroes of the Holocaust: Lights in the Darkness is taught by Howard Kerner. Hear the uplifting stories of ordinary people who defied laws, resisted hate and acted with moral clarity and compassion in one of humanity’s darkest chapters. Students meet on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

• How the U.S. Immigration System (Usually) Works is taught by Michele Waslin. Examine the history, structure and future of U.S. immigration through engaging discussions on identity, belonging and national responsibility. Students meet on Fridays beginning Jan. 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. online using Zoom. 

• More than Parks: A History of American Conservation is taught by Fraser Livingston. Trace the history of American conservation from the 19th century onward, gaining a deeper understanding of how Americans have fought to preserve, and define, the natural world. Students meet on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 20 from noon to 1:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

• Japanese History Through the Lens of Shōgun is taught by Megan McClory. Explore Japan’s transition from civil war to peace between the 15th and 18th centuries, uncovering the leaders, social groups and cultural shifts that inspired the 2024 FX miniseries Shōgun. Students meet on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 20 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

• John James Audubon and the Birds of America is taught by Eric Simon. Explore the art and legacy of John James Audubon, whose Birds of America masterfully united art and science, leaving a lasting impact on American natural history. Students meet on Thursdays beginning Jan. 22 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. online using Zoom. 

• History of Sicily is taught by Douglas Kenning. Journey through 3,000 years of Sicilian history to uncover how this legendary crossroads of heroes, conquerors and culture helped shape Western civilization. Students meet on Mondays beginning Jan. 26 from noon to 1:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

• Judaism, Christianity and Islam: A Comparative Exploration is taught by Jeremy Fackenthal. Explore the rituals, beliefs and writings of the Abrahamic religions through a comparative lens. Students meet on Thursdays beginning Jan. 29 from noon to 1:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

• Legendary Foods of Southern and Western Europe is taught by Larry P. Canepa. Discover how geography, history and culture have shaped some of the world’s most enduring and influential dishes. Students meet on Mondays beginning Jan.12 from noon to 1:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

Science, Technology and Discovery 

• Beginning Digital Photography is taught by Eli Vega. Learn the fundamentals of photography, from mastering your camera’s settings to composing compelling shots and refining your images through editing and feedback. Students meet on Mondays beginning Jan. 12 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. online using Zoom. 

• Beyond the Genius: Nobel Stories of Passion and Controversy in Science is taught by Charles Brau and Virginia Shepherd. Discuss the lives and science of Alfred Nobel and several controversial Nobel Prize laureates. Students meet in person on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 13 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at St. George’s Episcopal Church. 

• From Triangles to Circles: The Hidden Stories Behind Everyday Math is taught by Tekin Karadag. Trace the history of Pi and calculus from Archimedes to modern mathematics while uncovering the logic behind familiar formulas. Students meet in person on Thursdays beginning Jan. 15 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Second Presbyterian Church. 

• Invisible Intelligence: The Unseen Algorithms Reshaping Your Daily Life is taught by Eliot Bethke. Learn how AI systems work, the ethics behind machine decision-making, and the impact of these technologies on our world. Students meet on Thursdays beginning Jan. 15 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

• Using Google Workspace Tools with Confidence is taught by Chelsea King. Learn the core features, basic navigation and practical applications of Google tools like Drive, Gmail, Calendar, Docs, Sheets and Slides for personal and professional use. Students meet on Wednesdays beginning Jan. 21 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

• Einstein Without Tears: His Theories Explained Without Math and in Everyday Language is taught by Andrew Fraknoi. Discover Einstein’s groundbreaking ideas—from time travel to black holes—in an accessible exploration of how his theories continue to shape modern science. Students meet on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 27 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. online using Zoom. 

 All class meeting times listed are Central time. For more information, visit vanderbilt.edu/olli or call 615-343-0700. The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute is part of Vanderbilt’s Division of Government and Community Relations.