Please note that you must have either a UNC Asheville annual parking permit or a visitor permit to park on campus 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year. Visit the Campus Parking for OLLI Members page for instructions on how to purchase an OLLI-subsidized annual parking permit. Daily and monthly visitor permits must be obtained through the UNC Asheville parking site; OLLI does not provide visitor permits.

Winter Catalog

The winter 2026 College for Seniors course schedule and catalog of courses, programs and events are available by clicking on the buttons below. Please be aware that courses, programs and events are subject to change or cancellation, which may not be reflected in the catalog; the online registration system will always include the most accurate locations and other information about our courses, and this page will always include the most accurate information about programs and events. Consult the schedule of upcoming College for Seniors terms (including term dates, catalog availability and registration).

View Winter 2026 CFS Course Schedule View Winter 2026 Catalog

Program Calendar

Unless otherwise noted, programs take place at the Reuter Center and are free and open to everyone.

Please see UNC Asheville’s expectations of mutual respect and care for all for more information/guidance about maintaining a healthy environment for in-person courses, programs and events.

January

Wednesday, January 7, 7 p.m. | WNC Sierra Club
Partner Program: “Our Forests and Trees, One Year After Helene” (in-person + online)
Join the WNC Sierra Club for a discussion with several local experts about what’s ahead for our forests as they recover from the devastation of Helene. Dr. Steve Norman, Dr. Alison Ormsby and Keith Aitken will discuss what’s happened to our forests in the 15 months since Helene, and what that means for the future.
Join online via Zoom and read more on the WNC Sierra Club’s website.

Friday, January 9, 10 a.m.
OLLI Program: “New Member Welcome/Returning Member Refresher” (in-person + online)
Are you considering becoming an OLLI member? Are you new to OLLI at UNC Asheville and the Reuter Center? Are you returning after being gone awhile? Do you want to catch up on organizational developments, learn more about volunteering, figure out how things work and meet new people? Come learn about all that OLLI has to offer at this event held before each of our College for Seniors terms.
Register to participate either online or in person in the January 9 New Member Welcome.

Friday, January 9, 3 p.m.
Drop/refund deadline for CFS winter 2026 term
To drop all courses and request a tuition refund, submit the CFS Winter 2026 Drop Request form on the Forms page

Sunday, January 11, 5:30 p.m. | Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association
Partner Program (in-person + online)
To join online and for more information, visit the CNPA-Asheville Region’s website.

Friday, January 16, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “Humans, Aging and What’s Next: Exploring Our Longevity Potential with the MIT AgeLab” (in-person + online)
How we live, work, play and age is evolving—what does that mean for you? From careers to caregiving to community, population aging and human longevity are reshaping our world in unique ways. Join Taylor Brennan, MSW, MPH from the MIT AgeLab for an engaging and interactive conversation on the AgeLab’s latest research and the changing landscape of quality of life as we age. This program is co-sponsored by the Aging Well SIG at OLLI at University of Georgia, with appreciation to Peter Balsamo, SIG leader.
A research specialist at the MIT AgeLab, Taylor Brennan co-coordinates the MIT AgeLab 85+ Lifestyle Leaders panel, leads AgeLab research on older adult vaccination and preventive health practices, and contributes to research on people’s perceptions of longevity. Her research interests include examining people’s health and well-being practices as they age and exploring work as a social determinant of health. Taylor earned her graduate degrees from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis and her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia; she is currently a doctoral student at Boston College.
Join online via Zoom.

Friday, January 16, 5 p.m. | Death Café
Partner Program: “Death Café”
Death Café is an engaging gathering with storytelling and conversation about a topic that too often alienates people in our death-phobic culture. At Death Café, participants break into small groups of five or six people and discuss personal stories related to the death of loved ones; loss of jobs, relationships or marriages; or loss or death of parts of ourselves. These programs are facilitated by Karen Sanders, Greg Lathrop and Saïd Osio from Third Messenger. Learn more about Death Café by visiting the Death Café website, the Third Messenger website or facebook.com/deathcafeasheville. If you have questions about meetings of Death Café at the Reuter Center, please contact Karen Sanders at 828.778.8882.

Monday, January 19
UNC Asheville, OLLI offices and Reuter Center closed in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
No CFS classes

Tuesday, January 20, 4:30 p.m. | STEAM Lecture Series
OLLI Program: “The Witchery of Wasps” (in-person + online)
Wasps are nature’s apex chemists, architects, detectives, builders, engineers and craft artists. They confounded Darwin, and they perfected evolution. Wasps discovered and used antibiotics 70 million years before humans. They are model parents and are thought to be the biological source of altruism. Some wasps can recognize individual faces, and their social behaviors are disturbingly similar to ours. Wasps have inspired space and horror movie plots, but their own tiny lives are much stranger and more interesting than fiction.
Linda Goodwin is a retired internist and geriatrician. For more than 20 years she specialized in life-expectancy estimation and risks for healthy vs. unhealthy aging. She holds two U.S. patents as coinventor of an algorithm to estimate mortality risk. In college she studied drawing, bronze sculpture, English literature and biology, and happened to fall in love with wasps. With her husband, George Pfeffer, she now creates art from mushrooms, native plants, paper wasp nests and anything else they find.
Join online via Zoom.

Thursday, January 22, 5 p.m.
OLLI Program: “OLLI Authors” (in-person + online)
Fran Ross and Amy C. Simes
Fran Ross has been writing poetry for a few years and loves the discipline. She gave a reading at OLLI three years ago and is excited to be doing it again. A Northerner by birth and upbringing, Fran has lived in Asheville since 2006 with her husband, Mike (a published poet), and their dog, Winnie, who is now 10 years old but still thinks she is a puppy.
Amy C. Simes is a lifelong writer, and, more recently, a recovering academic. She has published chapters, articles and poetry, but The House on the Hill of Time (2025) is her first full-length book. She spent more than 25 years teaching anthropology and religious studies, and she administered international and Fulbright programs at universities in the U.S. and abroad. Her work has taken her to more than 50 countries, and she once worked as the assistant dean on Semester at Sea, spending four months sailing around the world.
Join online via Zoom.

Friday, January 23, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “Not Gauguin: The Dramatic Story of a Self-Exiled German Artist in Tahiti” (in-person + online)
Wolfgang Wolff was incarcerated as an “enemy alien” in Tahiti during World War II, where he documented the experience of fellow prisoners. Following the war Wolff came to the United States, where he became a successful textile fashion designer and created popular Hawaiian fabrics in the 1950s and 1960s that continue to be in demand by collectors.
Goetz Wolff was born in Tahiti, then immigrated to and grew up in the U.S. After completing graduate school at Yale University, he taught at UNC Asheville then the University of California Los Angeles until he retired and returned to settle in Western North Carolina.
Join online via Zoom.

Friday, January 23, 2 p.m.
Life Transitions Program: “Cleaning Out The Basement: Tools and Tips for Downsizing Your Stuff” (in-person + online)
Are you planning to move to a smaller home at some point? Do you want to tackle some of your stuff so your loved ones don’t have to? Are you looking for inspiration when spring cleaning comes around? Join Tanya Fletcher to learn tools for tackling your things with intention.
As owner of Sterling Transitions, Tanya Fletcher has worked with families and corporations to help manage moves, sell unwanted items and make decisions when sorting through a lifetime of belongings. Her methodical approach and expert advice makes what seems like an overwhelming task more manageable. Whether you plan to move now or 10 years from now, she has tips and resources to help you make decisions on what to keep and how to get rid of the rest.
This event is free to OLLI members and the UNCA community, but registration is requested.

Monday, January 26, 6:30 p.m. | Science Book Club
Partner Program: “Music as Medicine: How We Can Harness Its Therapeutic Power by David Levitin”
In recent decades there has been a great deal of research into the workings of the human brain and the nature of human health and disease. This book explores the scientific basis of music’s healing effects on the brain and the rest of the human body. The author details how music can improve mood, boost cognitive function, strengthen the immune system and aid recovery from debilitating health conditions. The book pulls together cutting-edge research and insights from musicians.
Author Daniel Levitin studied at MIT, Berkley College of Music and Stanford University before earning his doctorate from the University of Oregon. His twin interests in neurology and music have led him to write books like This is your Brain on Music and Music and Medicine. He is professor emeritus at McGill University in Montreal as well as a member of many professional academic and scientific associations. He has been a consultant on a wide range of projects in the fields of psychology and music. He has also had a long career as a performing musician.
Moderator John Stephen Thomas did undergraduate and graduate studies in both philosophy and computer science at Edinboro University, Barry University and the University of Minnesota. He has a graduate degree in computer systems from Barry. These studies led to his day job as a mainframe database administrator in Miami, and an adjunct college instructor in philosophy in the evening. He was part of a rotation of book club moderators in Miami for 20 years. He has participated in several book clubs since moving to Asheville nine years ago.

Tuesday, January 27, 7 p.m. | Asheville Museum of History
Partner Program: “The Kingdom of the Happy Land” (in-person + online)
In Henderson County on the border of North and South Carolina, there were a group of freed people who had a dream of a land that could bring them peace, hope and a beginning of a dream. Their dream was rooted in an ancestral tribal memory and sustained by the hope for a promised land. The land on which they settled came to be known as the Kingdom of the Happy Land. Come hear the facts of the story as it has been researched, documented by the Black History Research Group of Henderson County. Hear about the documents that surround those families that resided there, presented by Ronnie Pepper.
Register to attend, and learn more on the Asheville Museum of History’s website.

Friday, January 30, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “Transforming Senior Oral Health: The Story Behind S.O.S. Preventive Oral Care for the Dependent Elderly Population” (in-person + online)
S.O.S. Senior Oral-Health Services was founded by a team of registered dental hygienists with more than 50 years of combined experience serving patients in Western North Carolina. Over decades of providing care in the same practice, they have built long-term relationships with their patients—often seeing them through every stage of life.
Pat Wagner is the owner and care services director for S.O.S. Senior Oral Health Services. She has more than 30 years of experience working and managing in the areas of finance, IT, supply-chain management and marketing. She received her graduate degree in business administration in 2001. Pat’s background has been in management with large corporations and manufacturing facilities. “The diversity and many varied areas that I have worked have fueled my dedication for working with people and improving processes. Working with the S.O.S team to grow and bridge the gap for dependent elders and excellent oral care is what I am passionate and excited about. Good oral care and helping others is important to me,” she says. Pat grew up in New York and moved with her family to Asheville in 1986 to enjoy warmer weather and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. In her free time she loves to hike and explore new and adventurous areas with her family and friends.
Join online via Zoom.

Friday, January 30, 2 p.m.
AARP North Carolina, Mountain Region + Just Conversations: “Food Insecurity Among People Age 60+ in Western North Carolina: A Well-Kept Secret” (in-person + online)
AARP North Carolina, Mountain Region completed a major project in 2025 focused on food insecurity for older adults in our region. The project includes photographs of and quotes from the more than 50 people interviewed by AARP volunteers who traveled to nine different sites—food pantries and congregate dining facilities—throughout WNC to interview their clients. Join AARP North Carolina, Mountain Region to learn more about this pervasive problem and how to support your local agencies providing food to hungry elders.
This event is free to OLLI members and the UNC Asheville community, but registration is requested.

Friday, January 30, 2:30 p.m. | Council on Aging of Buncombe County
Partner Program: “Introduction to Medicare: Understanding the Puzzle”
In workshops presented by the Council on Aging of Buncombe County in conjunction with the North Carolina Department of Insurance Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program, learn how Medicare works, the enrollment process, how to avoid penalties and ways to save money. Anyone who is ready to join Medicare or is a caregiver or family member helping older adults with Medicare insurance may want to attend this informative session.
To register visit the Council on Aging of Buncombe County’s website or call 828.277.8288.

February

Sunday, February 1
Last day for CFS summer 2026 course proposals
Submit a CFS Summer 2026 Course Proposal via the Forms page

Sunday, February 1, 2:30 p.m. | The Autumn Players/Readers’ Theatre Showcase
Partner Program: “The Chalk Garden by Enid Bagnold”
The Autumn Players of Asheville Community Theatre bring seasoned talents to the forefront with script-in-hand readings, emphasizing story and character. The Readers Theatre Showcase blends classic and lesser-known works for accessible theatrical experiences. A testament to the enduring spirit of theatre, the Autumn Players capture audiences with both time-honored tales and fresh narratives. The Autumn Players’ Friday and Saturday performances take place at ACT, with Sunday performances at the Reuter Center. Purchase tickets online via the Autumn Players’ website for $11; any remaining tickets will be sold for $11 (cash only) at the door beginning at 2 p.m. prior to each performance.

Tuesday, February 3, 7 p.m. | World Affairs Council
Partner Program: “Amabassador Patrick Duddy” (in-person + online)
Ambassador Patrick Duddy was one of the Department of State’s most senior Latin American specialists with exceptionally broad experience in trade, energy, public affairs and crisis management. From 2007 to 2010 he served as U.S. Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela for both President Bush and President Obama. Prior to this, Ambassador Duddy served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State (DAS) for the Western Hemisphere, responsible for the Office of Economic Policy and Summit Coordination, which included the hemispheric energy portfolio, as well for the Offices of Brazil/Southern Cone Affairs and of Caribbean Affairs. During his tenure as DAS, he played a lead role in coordinating U.S. support for the restoration of democracy in Haiti. He is presently a visiting senior lecturer at Duke University.
Join online via Zoom.

Wednesday, February 4, 7 p.m. | WNC Sierra Club
Partner Program (in-person + online)
The WNC Sierra Club is active in educating leaders, the public and the media about environmental issues at the local, state and federal level in order to promote environmental leadership. All meetings are offered in person and on Zoom. To learn more, visit the Sierra Club’s website.

Thursday, February 5, 7 p.m. | Astronomy Club of Asheville
Partner Program (in-person + online)
The Astronomy Club of Asheville is dedicated to helping people of all ages understand and enjoy astronomy at all levels of interest. OLLI members may attend club meetings featuring an interesting lineup of speakers, as well as stargazes, with club members on hand to advise and assist them in the basics of astronomy and the techniques of observing celestial phenomena.
Join online via Zoom. For more information, visit the Astronomy Club of Asheville’s website.

Friday, February 6, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “The Many Lives of Carl Sandburg” (in-person + online)
This program tells the story of Carl Sandburg’s life in a one-act reader’s theatre production. There will be dramatic and humorous readings from his poetry and prose, and a singer will perform songs from Sandburg’s American Songbag. There will also be an overture of images of Sandburg and his circle projected on a screen. This informative, entertaining, and thought-provoking 75 minutes celebrates Sandburg’s remarkable spirit and amazing accomplishments.
John W. Quinley is a retired college administrator and teacher who served as a docent for the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. He authored the book Discovering Carl Sandburg, the print series Letters from a Sandburg Docent, and the play The Many Lives of Carl Sandburg. He has given talks about Carl Sandburg to large audiences as well as teaching classes about Sandburg at UNC Asheville, Furman University, and North Carolina State University.
Join online via Zoom.

Friday, February 6, 2 p.m.
OLLI Field Trip to the North Carolina Arboretum: Trolls: A Field Study
Join fellow OLLI members for a field trip to see the special exhibition Trolls: A Field Study at the North Carolina Arboretum. This winter, 12 friendly and fanciful troll sculptures by Danish artist Thomas Dambo are embarking on a curious journey to learn about humankind and ways of life in Western North Carolina! Through their observations, the trolls reveal a fresh perspective on what makes us human. Cost (includes private tour/guided discussion but does not include transportation or parking): $15.
Space is limited; registration is required. To register, log into our online registration system through January 22.

Sunday, February 8, 5:30 p.m. | Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association
Partner Program (in-person + online)
To join online and for more information, visit the CNPA-Asheville Region’s website.

Friday, February 13, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “Building Connection and Purpose as We Age” (in-person + online)
Loneliness and social isolation are growing public health concerns for older adults—but they are preventable. This session will explore the importance of connection, purpose, and engagement for healthy aging, including local opportunities for volunteering, learning, recreation, and community building. We’ll share both big-picture strategies and small, practical actions that can make a real difference.
Elizabeth Williams is the Executive Director of Mountain Aging Partners, a nonprofit formed through the merger of MountainCare and the Council on Aging for Henderson County. With over 20 years of experience in aging services and nonprofit leadership, Elizabeth builds sustainable programs that support older adults and their caregivers.
Join online via Zoom.

Tuesday, February 17, 4:30 p.m. | STEAM Lecture Series
OLLI Program(in-person + online)
The STEAM Lecture Series presents interdisciplinary lectures with a focus on science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

Friday, February 20, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “The Past, Present and Future of the French Broad River” (in-person + online)
Over the past 40 years, RiverLink has been instrumental in helping to transform the French Broad River corridor. Founder Karen Cragnolin championed the once neglected and highly industrialized river, turning it into a thriving environmental and economic engine for Asheville and the region. Following Helene’s impact and destruction, RiverLink is partnering with our local jurisdictions and communities once again to help reimagine how to be in our floodplains with more resilience and to better manage our risk and losses—all while advocating for our rivers and streams in our ongoing recovery. Please join RiverLink’s Water Resources Manager, Renee Fortner, and Executive Director, Lisa Raleigh, for a lively conversation on the history of this transformation and the opportunities and challenges the river faces today in Helene’s wake. The presentation will explore what we need to do as a community to ensure the river’s ongoing health and vitality, including post-storm bank restoration and repair, and reducing the sediment loading and stormwater runoff impacting our watershed.
Join online via Zoom.

Friday, February 20, 5 p.m. | Death Café
Partner Program: “Death Café”
Death Café is an engaging gathering with storytelling and conversation about a topic that too often alienates people in our death-phobic culture. At Death Café, participants break into small groups of five or six people and discuss personal stories related to the death of loved ones; loss of jobs, relationships or marriages; or loss or death of parts of ourselves. These programs are facilitated by Karen Sanders, Greg Lathrop and Said Osïo from Third Messenger. Learn more about Death Café by visiting the Death Café website, the Third Messenger website, or facebook.com/deathcafeasheville. If you have questions about meetings of Death Café at the Reuter Center, please contact Karen Sanders at 828-778-8882.

Tuesdays and Thursdays, February 24-March 12, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Life Transitions Workshop: “Exploring Continuing Care Retirement Communities”
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs), also called Life Plan communities, are an attractive residential option for active older adults. CCRCs offer a full continuum of independent housing, assisted living and skilled nursing care within a single campus setting. There are a variety of these kinds of communities, each with a different financial model, various health and wellness options and services, and varied amenities. Navigating your way through all of the choices to find a community that is right for you can be a challenge. A Life Transitions program, Exploring CCRCs is designed to help you assemble the relevant information and ask the right questions to see whether a CCRC is a living option that meets your needs and in turn help you choose among the options available to you.
Cost (includes program materials and program administration): $150; a 25-26 OLLI membership is required to register for this workshop.
For more information and registration instructions, visit the Exploring Continuing Care Retirement Communities page on OLLI’s website.