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.

August

Wednesdays, August 6-September 3, 9:20 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Life Transitions Program: “The Gift of Time”
The Gift of Time is a five-session course that is designed to encourage you to think about how to plan and communicate your end-of-life wishes to the important people in your life. The workshop takes place as an extended conversation with trained facilitators as well as invited speakers who will address legal, medical and spiritual issues and offer the tools to prepare an end-of-life plan. Registration is open to OLLI members only. Cost (includes a 2025-2026 OLLI membership, program materials and administration): $175.
Log into the online registration system to register. If you have questions, email Hilary Schroeder, life transitions and special programs manager, call 828.250.3973 or visit the Gift of Time page.

Wednesday, August 6, 7 p.m. | WNC Sierra Club
Partner Program: “Identifying and Replacing Invasive Plants” (in-person + online)
Invasive plants in the landscape often leave gardeners confused and overwhelmed. Some invasives are smothering our trees and threatening to take over the world, and some are still for sale in garden centers. Join us for a discussion about how to identify and remove invasive plants, and how to replace them with native ones.
Bob Gale, retired ecologist and public lands director for MountainTrue, will discuss the ecological problems presented by these non-native invasive plants and provide strategies and methods for dealing with them in backyards, gardens and larger acreages. He will also provide resources for selecting native tree, shrub and groundcover alternatives.
Join online via Zoom and visit the WNC Sierra Club’s website for more information.

Thursday, August 7, 7 p.m. | Astronomy Club of Asheville
Partner Program: “Using James Webb Space Telescope Near Infrared Spectrograph Instrument to Study the Volatile Composition of Centaurs” (in-person + online)
Adam McKay, Ph.D., Appalachian State University
Join online via Zoom and read more on the Astronomy Club of Asheville website.

Sunday, August 10, 5:30 p.m. | Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association
Partner Program: “Through the Lens of Love” (in-person + online)
You have probably chased after images, even images you might have seen searching for inspiration on social media. You may have even created a checklist to be sure you got exactly what you planned for. You have likely gone out with expectations only to be disappointed when the conditions were not right, or you did not find what you had hoped for. Realizing that photography is a creative art form, presenter John Barclay is constantly exploring new ways to connect with his subject. Over the last few years, he has been learning to fall in love with rather than just photograph what he is drawn to. Love? Really? What does love have to do with it? That is what he will disclose. How does the love of John’s subjects influence his photography? It boils down to this: he photographs what makes his heart sing! John will share stories and thoughts from a 20-year journey to where he now looks through the lens of love.
To join online and for more information, visit the CNPA-Asheville Region’s website.

Monday, August 11, 10 a.m.-Monday, August 18, noon
College for Seniors fall 2025 lottery registration
Need help? Volunteers will be available in the OLLI office for in-person assistance Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-3 p.m., or call 828.251.6140.
Read more about the two phases of CFS registration. View step-by-step registration instructions on pp. 36-37 of the fall 2025 catalog of courses, programs and events.

Tuesday, August 12, 1 p.m.
Fall Member Social: “Ice Cream Social”
Join your OLLI friends in the Reuter Center’s lower level to socialize! Grab an ice cream, renew your annual membership and/or parking and get help registering for fall courses.

Friday, August 15, noon
College for Seniors fall 2025 deadline for scholarship requests (lottery registration)
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS fall 2025 scholarship form.

Friday, August 15, 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.

Friday, August 22
Reuter Center and OLLI Offices closed for scheduled power outage
Staff available are via email and phone; see staff directory for contact information.

Friday, August 22, noon
College for Seniors fall 2025 deadline for all payments (lottery registration)
Log into OLLI’s online registration system to access your account.

Thursday, August 28, 7 p.m.
Special program: “Leadership Asheville Forum: The Thucydides Trap and U.S.-China Relations”
The Thucydides Trap describes the dangerous dynamic that arises when a rising power challenges an established power, often leading to war.
Jim Lenburg was born and raised in Indianapolis where he graduated from Butler University. He finished a doctorate in American and modern Chinese history at Penn State in 1973. Jim then took a job at Mars Hill University until he retired in 2006. He was president of the World Affairs Council of Western North Carolina from 2006 to 2009 when be began teaching at OLLI. Jim has visited China on many occasions and in 2004 was a visiting professor at Jilin University in Changchun, China. He lives in Weaverville with his wife.
Read more about Leadership Asheville Forum.

Friday, August 29, 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 in 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 the 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.

Friday, August 29, late afternoon
College for Seniors fall 2025 preliminary schedules sent to lottery participants
Log into OLLI’s online registration system to access your account.

September

Monday, September 1
OLLI offices and Reuter Center closed in observance of Labor Day

Tuesday, September 2, 10 a.m.
College for Seniors fall 2025 open registration begins
Need help? Volunteers will be available in the OLLI office for in-person assistance 10 a.m.-3 p.m., or call 828.251.6140.
Read more about the two phases of CFS registration. View step-by-step registration instructions on pp. 36-37 of the fall 2025 catalog of courses, programs and events.

Friday, September 5-Sunday, September 7
Reuter Center Closed for Paths to Creative Retirement Weekend
Hilary Schroeder and Catherine Frank will be busy in the workshop, but all other OLLI staff will be in the office answering phones and email. Contact us at 828.251.6140 or olli@unca.edu if you have any questions.

Monday, September 15
College for Seniors fall 2025 deadline for scholarship requests (open registration)
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS fall 2025 scholarship form.

Tuesday, September 16, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Wednesday, September 17-November 12, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Wednesday November 19, 2-6 p.m.
OLLI Program: “Leadership Asheville Seniors”
LAS is in its 39th year, although the program was cut short in fall 2024 by Hurricane Helene. Some sessions take place onsite at the Reuter Center, but most meet offsite in the community. Cost (includes 2025-2026 OLLI annual membership, program materials, lunches and program administration): $500. For more information or to inquire about scholarships, visit the Leadership Asheville Seniors page or email Laurel Jernigan, LAS program manager. Log into the online registration system to register.

Friday, September 19, 10 a.m.
OLLI Event: “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!

Friday, September 19, 1 p.m.
College for Seniors Information Session: “Preparing to Be a Class Representative”
Have you signed up to be a class rep to support one or more of your CFS instructors? We will review the role of these important classroom volunteers and practical matters such as how to work the lights and microphones, where to pick up and drop off attendance clipboards, how to check in course participants and when and where to get help if needed. This info session is especially geared towards new class reps, but experienced class reps are welcome to attend as well.
Register to attend in person.

Friday, September 19, 1 p.m.
College for Seniors Information Session: “Zoom Café”
Are you planning to participate in an online or hybrid course, program or event? Have you signed up to be a Zoom assistant? This info session is a great opportunity to learn basic skills and improve your experience of our video-conferencing software! We will review how to install and update the Zoom app on your device, log into a meeting, change your Zoom name and background, mute/unmute, post/respond in the Chat box, use the “raise hand” function and reactions, move into and out of breakout rooms, participate in polls and more. We will also leave plenty of time for your questions and to troubleshoot your device.
Register to attend online.

Friday, September 19, 3 p.m.
College for Seniors fall 2025 deadline to drop all courses for a full refund
Visit the Forms page to access the CFS fall 2025 drop request form.

Sunday, September 21
Osher Online fall 2025 priority registration/drop request deadline
Visit the Forms page to access the Osher Online fall 2025 drop request form.

Friday, September 26, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “Sometimes Better, Sometimes Worse: How Local Weather is Modified by the Mountains” (in-person + online)
Conventional wisdom says that the mountains protect us from bad weather. This presentation will focus on weather examples when this is true. However, our mountains also make societal impacts worse under certain weather scenarios. The presentation will also focus on weather examples when the mountains make our outcomes more severe than if we lived in the “flatlands.”
Douglas Miller, Ph.D., is a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at UNC Asheville. His research focuses on situations where mountains influence the weather to make it have a high impact on humans compared to other situations when mountains diminish the chances of high impact weather.
Join the September 26 Fab Friday online via Zoom.

October

Friday, October 3, 11:30 a.m.
ab Fridays: “Why Are My Keys in the Refrigerator? Comparing Normal Aging with Dementia” (in-person + online)
It’s normal to misplace things or forget names occasionally, especially as we get older. But how do we know when forgetfulness might be a sign of something more serious, like dementia? This engaging and informative presentation explores the differences between typical age-related memory changes and warning signs of cognitive decline. We’ll discuss how the brain changes with age, what kinds of memory lapses are considered normal, and which behaviors might warrant further evaluation. Whether you’re concerned about yourself, a loved one or simply want to be informed, this session will provide practical insights, tips for promoting brain health and guidance on when to seek professional help.
Mary Donnelly is a nationally known dementia consultant, educator and trainer with MemoryCare in Asheville NC and with national dementia expert Teepa Snow. She provides family consulting and staff training on dementia care across the U.S. and is a dynamic speaker on dementia-related topics.
Join the October 3 Fab Friday online via Zoom.

Friday, October 3, 4:30 p.m.
OLLI Event: “Fall Member Social”
Join your OLLI friends in the Reuter Center’s lower level to socialize! Enjoy a casual cookout-style supper, drinks and music.

Friday, October 10, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Fridays: “Hope After Helene: Rebuilding Lives, Repairing the World” (in-person + online)
NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster is the only national Jewish organization providing sustained, direct recovery services after natural disasters. They serve all communities, regardless of faith, as part of their commitment to Tikkun Olam (the Jewish value of repairing the world through action). NECHAMA will talk about their response in WNC after Hurricane Helene, the impact of their volunteers, and how putting Jewish values into action helps build bridges and push back against antisemitism in communities that have little or no Jewish presence.
Tzlil Bandy McDonald has over a decade of experience in program management, nonprofit leadership and community engagement. She has held leadership roles at organizations such as the Jewish Federation of Central Alabama, the Israeli American Council and the Jewish Agency for Israel, where she managed multiple programs in both North America and Israel. Tzlil holds degrees from Ben Gurion University and The George Washington University, as well as certification in Conflict of Interest from the i-Center. Tzlil is passionate about building bridges with diverse faith communities to combat all forms of hate and discrimination.
Join the October 10 Fab Friday online via Zoom.

Monday, October 13, 2 p.m.
College for Seniors Information Session: “You Too Can Teach!” (in person + online)
Are you interested in (or curious about) teaching a course at the College for Seniors? You may have never thought that you could be an OLLI instructor, but you too can teach! Our instructors run the gamut from retired teachers and professionals to those with deep knowledge of a certain topic. The common thread with all our instructors is passion for their subject matter and a desire to share it with peers. The process of becoming an instructor is not daunting. In this information session, current CFS instructors will introduce what teaching at OLLI is all about and demystify the process from having an idea for a course through creating a good proposal. All your questions about teaching will be answered!
Register to attend in person or online.

Friday, October 17, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Friday: “Palliative Care Might Just Save Your Life: How I Decide to Recommend Heart Transplant for One Person and Hospice for Another, but Consider Both to be Palliative Care” (in-person + online)
Ray Barfield, M.D., will speak to the differences between palliative and hospice care and the benefits of each. Ray is a physician at Mission Hospital where he has been the Medical Director for Palliative Care for the last three years. Prior to this he focused on pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant, first at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and then at Duke University where he was a tenured Professor of Pediatrics and Christian Philosophy. After twenty years of this, he woke up and realized he wanted to get out of the academic goldfish bowl and shape his medical practice in a way that was more community-associated. His whole family lives in Asheville and he grew up in Highlands, NC, where his father was the minister at the Presbyterian church, so he jumped at the chance to move back to the Smoky Mountains. He wanted to write philosophical novels rather than research papers, if only to justify the years he spent earning a Ph.D. in philosophy from Emory University instead of earning an income. So far, he has published three novels and four books of philosophy, including a philosophical critique of corporate medicine called The Practice of Medicine and Being in Time. His mother, along with a handful of other people, have purchased copies of his books. His wife is an Episcopal priest at St. Andrews in Canton, and he is sure this helped her patience when he finished medical school at Emory and then said he would like to study philosophy for a while instead of moving on with his career. They have two kids and one grandson. If he ever retires from medicine, he hopes to land a retirement job playing guitar and trying to imitate his favorite musician, Tommy Emmanuel, in small local pubs on non-busy nights since he gets stage fright whenever he plays in public.
Join the October 17 Fab Friday 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, 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 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 United States: older adults. One in four new epilepsy diagnoses in America occur in a person age 65 or older. Dr. Grayson 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 the University. 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.

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.

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’ve 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. Nieman 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/ecojustice novel, was a finalist for the 2020 Manly Wade Wellman Award and now has a sequel, Dead Hand. Upon the Corner of the Moon, Nieman’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 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. This presentation 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 NC Registered nurse with over 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 (SCRN) by the American Association of Neuroscience Nurses.
Join the November 14 Fab Friday online via Zoom.

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.