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.

Fall Catalog

The fall 2025 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 Fall 2025 CFS Course Schedule View Fall 2025 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.

October

Tuesday, October 21, 4:30 p.m. | STEAM Lecture Series
POSTPONED: OLLI Program: “The Witchery of Wasps” (in-person + online)
Wasps are the apex chemists, architects, detectives, builders, engineers and craft artists of nature. They confounded Darwin, and they perfected evolution. Wasps discovered and used antibiotics 70y 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 estimating life expectancy 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.
This program has been postponed. A rescheduled date will be announced soon.

Thursday, October 23, 7 p.m.
University Program: “Earth 2.0: The Quest for Other Worlds and the Diverse Scientists Who Will Find Them” (in-person + online)
Astronomers have now found thousands of confirmed exoplanets — planetary worlds orbiting other suns — including now dozens of Earth-like planets orbiting Sun-like stars. These discoveries are transforming our understanding of how common are planets like our own and our knowledge of the potential habitability of these worlds as well as ones much stranger than our own. We will present a number of extraordinary planetary discoveries from NASA’s TESS mission, which has discovered these distant worlds by remotely sensing the slight diminution of starlight that occurs when a planet orbits in front of its parent star as seen by us here at Earth 1.0. This quest to discover Earth 2.0 is also transforming the field of astrophysics by providing new incentives for recruiting, training, and mentoring a new generation of scientists whose contributions will also be highlighted in this presentation.
Keivan Stassun is the Stevenson Professor of Astrophysics at Vanderbilt University. He is a current member of the National Science Board, a 2024 MacArthur fellow and a recipient of the 2025 National Medal of Science. He is the founding director of the Fisk-Vanderbilt Masters-to-PhD Bridge Program, which has become one of the nation’s top producers of PhDs to underrepresented groups in the physical sciences. He is also the founding director of the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation in Vanderbilt’s school of engineering, which focuses on advancing science and engineering through the engagement and workforce development of autistic individuals and those with other forms of neurodiversity, and has awarded more PhDs to autistic scientists and engineers than any other program.
This program is a collaboration of the Astronomy Club of Asheville and UNC Asheville Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Join online via Zoom.

Friday, October 24, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “All About Bulldog Athletics” (in-person + online)
Learn about UNC Asheville’s high-achieving Division I athletic program from athletic director Janet Cone! More than 270 of UNC Asheville’s enrollment are student-athletes participating in a variety of sports. Learn how the program keeps the focus on their academic studies and community impact while giving them ample opportunities to excel in athletic competition. Get the news about facilities improvements, recent successes, ongoing fall sports and those coming up in winter and spring. Learn about ways that you can get involved through mentorship, game attendance, volunteer work and more.
Janet R. Cone, UNC Asheville’s director of athletics who oversees all 16 Division 1 sports on campus will present, plus members of the coaching staff and some student-athletes, as available. Janet has served as UNC Asheville’s director of athletics since 2004. Bulldog teams have won over 30 Big South Conference championships since then. Among NCAA Division I schools our Bulldogs stand out for a graduation rate and grade point average higher than for the overall student body, the result of Janet’s philosophy of “champions in athletics and leaders in life.”
Join the October 24 Fab Friday online via Zoom.

Friday, October 24, 2:30 p.m.
University Program: “Health and Performance Assessments at UNC Asheville”
We will learn about the variety of health and performance assessments offered within the health sciences department at UNC Asheville including a comprehensive cardiovascular fitness assessment, iDXA testing for body composition, iDXA testing for bone density and osteoporosis risk, maximal aerobic capacity and lactate threshold. This discussion will include descriptions and rationale for each test as well as scheduling and pricing information. Time will be allotted for Q&A.
This program is free and open to OLLI members and members of the University community, though registration is requested. Read more about the Wellness Evaluation and Lifestyle Lab (“The WELL”) at UNC Asheville.

Sunday, October 26, 3 p.m. | Asheville Senior Chorus
Partner Program: “Magical Moments: The Music of David Bates”
Read more about Asheville playwright and songwriter Dave Bates and find an event poster for “Magical Moments: The Music of Dave Bates.”
The performance is free, but donations are gratefully accepted at the door.

Monday, October 27, 7 p.m.
Special Program: “The Cigarette Surfboard documentary screening”
After a young designer realizes that a surfboard – which he crafted from thousands of littered cigarette butts picked up off California beaches – could captivate the eyes of millions across the globe, he decides to use it as the impetus to do something more. The “cigarette surfboards” become a platform to spark ocean stewardship and the symbol of a campaign to hold Big Tobacco accountable for their toxic, plastic waste. Surfing is the medium, but the message is universal.
Join us for a screening and discussion with filmmaker Ben Judkins and creator of the “cigarette surfboard,” Taylor Lane. We hope to have some of the boards on hand.
Register to attend, watch the trailer and read move about the film.

Friday, October 31, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “Epilepsy and Aging” (in-person + online)
Leslie Grayson, M.D., will join us to talk about the fastest growing segment of people living with epilepsy in the U.S.: older adults. One in four new epilepsy diagnoses in America occur in a person age 65 or older. Leslie will explain why adults are more likely to develop epilepsy later in life, outline the challenges of recognizing, diagnosing and treating epilepsy in older adults, and provide valuable information for older adults living with epilepsy and their caregivers. The presentation will include information on the latest medical and surgical treatment for epilepsy in older adults.
Dr. Leslie Grayson is a neurologist and epileptologist who has been in practice for more than 10 years. A graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, she began her career as assistant professor of neurology at UAB. During her six-year tenure at UAB she focused on epilepsy and rare diseases, cannabinoids as a treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy, functional neurological disorders and transition care in the adolescent population. In 2021 she relocated to Asheville where currently serves as the epilepsy medical director for Mission Hospital.
Join the October 31 Fab Friday online via Zoom.

Friday, October 31, 2:30 p.m. | Council on Aging of Buncombe County
Partner Program: “Introduction to Medicare–Understanding the Puzzle”
The Council on Aging of Buncombe County, in conjunction with the NC Department of Insurance’s Seniors’ Health Insurance Information Program invites you to explore how Medicare works, the enrollment process, how to avoid penalties and ways to save money. People who are new to Medicare, caregivers and others who help senior citizens with their Medicare insurance should consider attending this free, informative class. The information presented is unbiased and accurate. No products are sold, recommended or endorsed.
Register to participate.

November

Saturday, November 1
Last day to proposal a course for College for Seniors spring 2026 term
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS spring 2026 course proposal form.

Wednesday, November 5, 7 p.m. | WNC Sierra Club
Partner Program: “Life in the Floodplain: Post-Helene Resilience and Reality” (in-person + online)
Lisa Raleigh, executive director, RiverLink
Email organizer Ken Brame for information about location or to receive the Zoom link. Read more about the November meeting on the Sierra Club WNC website.

Thursday, November 6, 7 p.m. | Astronomy Club of Asheville
Partner Program: “James Webb Space Telescope: The Story So Far” (in-person + online)
Maggie Connelly, planetarium specialist, Roper Mountain Science Center
Join online via Zoom and read more about the November 6 Astronomy Club Lecture on their website.

Friday, November 7, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “The Historical MacBeths” (in-person + online)
Upon the Corner of the Moon (March 2025, Regal House) is the story of the Macbeths you have never known: Destined to unite Scotland, they first had to survive as pawns in a dynastic struggle. While closely following recorded history about the rise of this rightful king who ruled for 17 years, it also speculates on the heritage of his wife Gruach, drawing on the Neolithic settlement of Alba and the mysterious legacy of the Picts. This two-book project begins with the childhoods and young adulthoods of Macbeth and Gruach and delineates the complex political, social and religious life of early medieval Scotland between the Viking incursions and the Norman conquest.
Valerie Nieman is a graduate of West Virginia University and Queens University of Charlotte. She has held National Endowment for the Arts and regional fellowships, including a South Arts grant. Now professor emerita of creative writing at NC Agricultural and Technical State University, she was a founding editor of two literary magazines and continues to teach at writers’ workshops. Valerie is the author of a short fiction collection, three poetry books and six other novels including In the Lonely Backwater, winner of the 2022 Sir Walter Raleigh Award, which was called “not only a page-turning thriller but also a complex psychological portrait of a young woman dealing with guilt, betrayal and secrecy.” Her novel Blood Clay won the Eric Hoffer Prize in general fiction. To the Bones, a horror/Appalachian/eco-justice novel, was a finalist for the 2020 Manly Wade Wellman Award and now has a sequel, Dead Hand. Upon the Corner of the Moon, Valerie’s debut historical novel, will be followed by the second book, The Last Highland King, in 2027.
Join the November 7 Fab Friday online via Zoom.

Friday, November 7, 2 p.m.
Special Program: “The Power of Scenery: Frederick Law Olmsted and the Origin of National Parks book talk” with author Dennis Drabelle (in-person + online)
Wallace Stegner called national parks “the best idea we ever had.” As Americans celebrate the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone, the world’s first national park, a question naturally arises: Where did the idea for a national park originate? Published in time to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Yellowstone National Park on March 1, 2022 and the 200th birthday of Frederick Law Olmsted on April 26, 2022, The Power of Scenery tells the fascinating story of how the national park movement arose, evolved and has spread around the world.
Dennis Drabelle was born and raised in St. Louis, where he graduated from St. Louis University. Dennis earned a graduate degree in English and a law degree, both from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He moved to Washington, DC, where his favorite job as a lawyer was counsel to the assistant secretary of the interior with responsibility for the national parks. By then, he had developed a passion for wilderness—both hiking in it and reflecting on its importance to the human spirit. While working as a contributing editor of the Washington Post Book World from 1984-2015, Dennis squeezed in as much backpacking as he could, ranging from Patagonia to Baffin Island, with many visits to the American West in between. Dennis now lives and writes in Asheville with his spouse, Mike Bell, who doubles as first editor (unpaid but far from unappreciated) of everything he writes.
This event is free and open to everyone, but registration is requested. Register to attend and read more.

Sunday, November 9, 2:30 p.m. | The Autumn Players/Readers’ Theatre Showcase
Partner Program: “Fallen Angels by Noel Coward, dir. Ellen Pappas”
In this raucously intoxicating 1920s comedy of bad manners, best friends Jane and Julia find themselves in a hilarious tizzy and a tussle when a former lover Maurice arrives on the scene.
Read more about Fallen Angels and 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.

Sunday, November 9, 5:30 p.m. | Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association
Partner Program: “Member Portfolio Presentations” (in-person + online)
To join online and for more information, visit the CNPA-Asheville Region’s website.

Tuesday, November 11, 7 p.m. | Blue Ridge Naturalist Network
Partner Program: “Creating an Ecologically Sustainable Landscape” (in-person + online)
Lisa Wagner, Ph.D., plant ecologist, gardener and educator
Using plants in ways that create pleasing and attractive gardens can be as simple as using nature for your inspiration. By including a diversity of native plants and focusing on species that support a wide range of wildlife, your landscape can become not only sustainable but attractive and easily maintained. We will learn how to choose plants that naturally work together using a plant community approach, reflecting the aesthetic of natural Blue Ridge landscapes.
Join online via Zoom and learn more on the Blue Ridge Naturalist Network website.

Wednesday, November 12, 5 p.m.
OLLI Event: “Welcome to Improv”
Do you love the Upright Citizens Brigade, “An Evening at the Improv” or NPR’s “Whose Line Is It Anyway”? Join us for an improvisational comedy show hosted by participants in Bob Sack’s fall 2025 course, Introduction to Improv, for an hour of unscripted laughs.

Friday, November 14, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “Acute Stroke Care in WNC” (in-person + online)
Acute stroke is a medical emergency. Time to treatment is critical to long-term recovery. We will focus on local hospitals in Western North Carolina and their capability to care for acute stroke. The discussion will include national and state protocols that guide EMS and hospital response to acute stroke.
Robin Jones is a registered nurse with more than 40 years of acute stroke care experience. She is a member of the NC Stroke Advisory Council and co-contributor for the NC Stroke System of Care, as well as a certified stroke RN by the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.
Join the November 14 Fab Friday online via Zoom.

Friday, November 14, 2 p.m.
Inclusion Committee Program: “Just Conversations: The Current Immigration Landscape in WNC: What Is Pisgah Legal Services Doing for Our Immigrant Neighbors Right Now?” (in-person + online)
Join the OLLI at UNC Asheville Inclusion Committee for a conversation on the current immigration landscape in Western North Carolina. Pisgah Legal Services staff will be on hand to talk about their work in civil legal aid, including their Justice for All Program, which serves immigrants in WNC. The presentation will include “know your rights” information that audience members can share with others who may be in need of Pisgah Legal’s services. Immigration attorney Hannah Michalove will share the latest information about immigration law and the changes that have been made by the current administration. There will be time for Q&A, so be sure to jot down any questions that come to mind about this timely topic.
This event is free to OLLI members and the UNC Asheville community, but registration is requested.

Sunday, November 16, 3 p.m.
OLLI Event: “Original Stand-Up Comedy”
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of comedy performed by your fellow OLLI members! Comedians were participants in Randy Robins’ fall 2025 course Performing Original Stand-Up Comedy.

Wednesday, November 19, 7 p.m.
University Program: “The Lost Mary with author James Tabor”
Join renowned biblical scholar James Tabor for an eye-opening journey into the life of Mary, not as the familiar figure of Christian devotion but as the first-century Jewish mother living in a world shaped by Roman occupation, prophetic expectation and spiritual resistance. Drawing from archaeology, early texts and his latest book The Lost Mary: Rediscovering the Mother of Jesus, Tabor will reintroduce us to one of history’s most misunderstood women. Presented by the Center for Jewish Studies at UNC Asheville.
The evening will include a book signing and is free and open to everyone, but seating will be limited.

Friday, November 21, 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.