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Osher Online is a program from the Osher National Resource Center (NRC) at Northwestern University. These classes are delivered by the Osher NRC via Zoom, with participants from all over the country. All times listed are Eastern time.
OLLI at BCC is excited to be a part of this program. Registration closes on March 16 Osher Online classes are $60 each, and available to OLLI at BCC members only. Each class has a limit of 13 students from each participating OLLI. Osher Online classes are not recorded. After you register for Osher Online classes, you will receive a welcome email from the Osher NRC. This email will include an Osher Online username and password as well as a link to the Osher Online Website, through which you will access your classes. You will also have access to a pre-class orientation, where you'll get helpful information for accessing your class. There you'll find the class Zoom link, syllabus, discussion board and Customer Care contact information. It is recommended that you test your ability to log in before the start date of your class. On class days, you are also encouraged to log on 10-15 minutes before the start time. That will give you ample opportunity to get tech support and troubleshooting from the NRC if you need it. Osher Online classes are separate from our OLLI at BCC Winter Courses.
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Ghosts in the White House: The People Behind Presidential Speeches
Mondays 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Eastern time Zoom | Have you ever wondered who writes presidential speeches? This course traces the evolution of speech writing from George Washington’s administration to today. Yes, Hamilton helped draft Washington’s Farewell Address, but no, Lincoln did not scribble the Gettysburg Address on an envelope. We will study the writing process presidents used and examine drafts from FDR, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, and George H.W. Bush. We will view clips from speeches and from former White House speechwriters describing the process. Diana Carlin, PhD is Professor Emerita of communication at Saint Louis University. For 30 years, she has taught courses on and written about First Ladies. She is the co-author of U.S. First Ladies: Making History and Leaving Legacies and Remember the First Ladies: America's History-Making Women. Carlin has published articles and book chapters on a variety of First Ladies and researches and writes on the topics of women in politics, presidential communication, and political debate. |
From Leo XIII to Leo XIV: History of 20th and 21st Century Popes |
Tuesdays 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Eastern time Zoom Six Sessions: 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12 | The death of Pope Francis and the election of the first US born Pope have been in the news repeatedly in the last few months, capturing the imagination of many people, including non-Catholics. Who are these men? What are their life stories? How were they similar to and different from each other? In this course, we will discuss the lives and dominant perspectives of the last ten Popes, exploring their most significant positions and their influence on world affairs. Oliva Espín, PhD, is Professor Emerita of Women’s Studies at San Diego State University and the California School of Professional Psychology. She completed her postdoctoral work at Harvard and is a pioneer in feminist therapy with women from diverse cultural backgrounds. Her recent books include Women, Sainthood, and Power: A Feminist Psychology of Cultural Constructions and My Native Land is Memory: Stories of a Cuban Childhood (2021 San Diego Book Award). She received APA’s Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology Award. |
Frank Lloyd Wright and Modern Architecture |
Tuesdays 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Eastern time Zoom Six Sessions: 4/21, 4/28, 5/5, 5/12, 5/19, 5/26 | Frank Lloyd Wright designed nearly 1,000 buildings and helped define modern architecture. This course explores highlights of his practice, from Prairie houses to Fallingwater and the Guggenheim Museum, alongside lesser-known projects like affordable housing and city planning. We’ll examine how Wright’s work reflected cultural shifts in technology, science, and politics, offering a deeper understanding of his lasting influence on architecture and modern design. Jennifer Gray, PhD, is vice president of the Taliesin Institute at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. Her research explores how modern architects used design to advance social change at the turn of the 20th century. She has curated major exhibitions, including Frank Lloyd Wright at 150 at MoMA and The Imperial Hotel at 100, which toured Japan. Gray has taught at Columbia, Cornell, and MoMA, and formerly served as Curator of Drawings and Archives at Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library. |
Music: Controversies and Curiosities |
Wednesdays 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. Eastern time Zoom Six Sessions: 4/15, 4/22, 4/29, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20 | Music has long provoked debate, from Beethoven and Stravinsky’s bold innovations to Broadway works like Annie Get Your Gun and South Pacific, now revisited through modern concerns about race, consent, and gender. Is political correctness enriching art or erasing cultural heritage? We will also examine plagiarism and borrowing in pop and film music, with cases involving The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Peter Frampton. This course blends audiovisuals, anecdotes, and humor to explore music’s most controversial moments. Emanuel Abramovits, MBA, is a mechanical engineer and has also been a concert promoter for over two decades. He is directly involved in events by international artists like Itzhak Perlman, Gustavo Dudamel, Sarah Brightman, Roger Hodgson, ASIA, Journey, Kenny G., and many more. Abramovits has designed and staged many original orchestral events, including an Event of the Year winner and several world premieres. He served as the cultural director at Union Israelita De Caracas from 2008 to 2019, releasing books and organizing film cycles, concerts, and art exhibits. He consistently teaches online and in-person across the US. |
AI for Regular People |
Thursdays 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Eastern time Zoom Six Sessions: 4/2, 4/9, 4/16, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7 | Back by popular demand, this updated course offers a clear, engaging introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it’s rapidly transforming our world. From self-driving cars to chatbots and precision medicine, we will explore how AI works, where it’s headed, and what it means for society. No tech experience needed—just curiosity! With fresh examples and timely updates, participants will gain a solid understanding of the opportunities and challenges AI presents today. This course is co-taught by Hod Lipson, PhD, Professor of Engineering and Data Science at Columbia University, and author and technology analyst Melba Kurman. There is no video preview of this class. |
OLLI: the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Berkshire Community College OLLI at BCC Sponsors include: Berkshire Health Systems
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