OLLI Shares & OLLI Day

Sept. 15, 22, 29 and Oct. 6

8:30 – 10:00 a.m.

The ability to delay gratification when tempted and to self-restrain when provoked are necessary skills for successful adaptation. They are not acquired easily! Psych lab-derived principles for self-control and impulse control will be reviewed and illustrated with addiction recovery (temptation) and anger management techniques (provocation).

William “Bill” Confer, Ph.D., ABPP practiced clinical psychology as a psychotherapist for 38 years and is a diplomate of two specialty boards.

Sept. 8, 15, 22, 29

9-10:15 a.m.

Instructor: Dr. Elizabeth Aversa

Although opera originated in Italy, there are wonderful operas from countries such as Russia, Finland, Hungary and even the U.S.! Explore works from far-flung locales and enjoy the music along the way.

Mon/Wed (Twice a Week) (9/15 to 10/1) 6 sessions

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

What was the 2022 Quantum Entanglement Nobel Prize about? The microscopic world is very different from the world we experience. Can a particle be in two places at once–you bet! Are things real if we don't observe them?. Does empty space have anything in it? Is Schroedinger's cat dead or alive? What about the multi-verse? Tune in, sign up and discover the wacky world of quantum physics.

Jim Beaupre received a Ph.D. in theoretical physics at Iowa State University and continued his education as an Atomic Energy Commission Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center.

Ocr. 13 to Nov. 17; 6 sessions

10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

This course will delve into the inner workings of stress and anxiety, practical coping skills, and the practices of breathwork and mindfulness. Classes will consist of a combination of lectures and opportunities to practice various methods of relaxation, coping skills, and mindfulness techniques.

Jess Taylor has a Masters in Clinical Psychology. She has experience with teaching psychology, psychometry, and community-based mental health.

Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30; Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28

1:30-2:45 p.m.

Instructor: Dr. Richard Rhone

Founder George Washington believed political parties were detrimental. Despite Washington's fears and early efforts to avoid, parties soon developed and still dominate American politics. This non-partisan course will trace the evolution of the party system from our founding until our present day by examining and analyzing how parties have emerged, collapsed and reinvented themselves in response to prominent personalities, national crises and societal change.

Sept. 9 – Oct 28 

2:30–4:00 p.m.

Instructor: Mike Reinke 

Discover the origins and evolution of American folk and roots music, with special attention to African-American folk traditions and their commercial separation from Anglo-American folk music. This course also explores the folk music of Alabama, the structure and composition of traditional folk, roots, and blues music, and the lasting cultural impact of influential musicians. For more information, please email the instructor at mikereinke68@gmail.com. 

Instructor Bio: 

Mike Reinke is a retired Auburn University faculty member who taught in the School of Pharmacy for 22 years and received several teaching awards. He has been teaching in the OLLI at Auburn program since 2016. 

Tuesdays, September 9 – October 28

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Instructor: Gary Wagoner

Oct. 1

11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

OLLI at Auburn will host Paul Dewey, son of Alvin Dewey, lead detective in “In Cold Blood.”

Sep 11, 18, 25, Oct 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

2:30 – 4 p.m.

The 1960s were a time of profound social and political transformation in the United States. This course explores the major movements that defined the decade, including the Civil Rights Movement, the Antiwar Movement, the Counterculture, the Women’s Movement, and the rise of the New Right. Participants will examine how these movements challenged traditional norms and reshaped American society and politics through historical analysis and group discussion.

Sep 12, Oct 10, Nov 14, Dec 12, Jan 10, Feb 13

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Join this special OLLI Shares class to explore the work of remarkable Southern authors featured at the Monroeville Literary Festival, taking place February 26–28, 2026, at the courthouse made famous by To Kill a Mockingbird. This collaborative book club highlights the best of contemporary Southern literature, with participating OLLIs focusing on works by distinguished festival authors.



A schedule of talented Alabama voices – including Dr. Don Noble, Professor Emeritus of English at the University of Alabama and host of Bookmark on Alabama Public Television; former Alabama Poet Laureate Jennifer Horne; and Jay Lamar, founding director of the Alabama Book Festival – will lead engaging discussions on the Harper Lee Award and Truman Capote Prize recipients, along with other outstanding Alabama writers.



Book Club Schedule:

Sept. 12: Author – Harper Lee | Facilitators – Nancy Anderson & Wayne Flynt

Oct. 10: Author – Patricia Foster | Facilitator – Zanice Bond

Nov. 14: Author – Honorée Fanonne Jeffers | Facilitator – Jacqueline Trimble

Dec. 12: Author – Tom Spencer | Facilitator – Jennifer Horne

Jan. 9: Author – Anne Byrn | Facilitator – Jay Lamar

Feb. 13: Author – Ace Atkins | Facilitator – Don Noble



This series is part of a collaborative OLLI Shares program with Auburn University, Auburn University Montgomery and the University of Alabama..