Learning for the sake of learning Ellen Luken, right, speaks with an OLLI at Duke member during a gathering. Photo courtesy of OLLI at Duke

Many members discover OLLI after retirement, but Director Rhonda Parker encourages Duke staff and faculty to explore it sooner. The program is available to all current staff and faculty, as well as community members.

“This is a community they can participate in now and later, both as learners and potentially as instructors,” Parker said.

What makes OLLI different from a traditional academic program is that there are no grades, no tests and no degrees.

“This is your chance to learn for the joy of it,” Parker said.

That idea resonated with Luken, who has taken classes on everything from astrophysics and foreign governments to the history of tea.

“The only challenge I sometimes have is trying to decide what courses to take because there are so many things that pique my interest,” she said.

Luken also has served on and chaired the OLLI Advisory Council the past two years, finding purposeful work with other members and the OLLI staff to advance OLLI's offerings and organization.

The joy of learning – and teaching

For retired Duke IT professional Alonzo Felder, OLLI offered a different opportunity: the chance to teach.

After retiring from Duke following a 40-year career, Felder became an instructor, leading a family history discovery course that helps students uncover and preserve their family stories.

Alonzo Felder

“My goal is to help people who may know little about their family history become the elders who can pass that history on to their grandchildren — so they know where they came from and who they are,” Felder said.

The experience has given Felder a view of the enthusiasm OLLI members bring to learning.

“These are active, highly engaged students,” Felder said. “They come in, and they're ready to learn.”

OLLI can provide a glimpse of what life after work might look like — as a transition into new interests, friendships and opportunities.

For some, like Felder, that means sharing knowledge. For others, like Luken, it means finally having time to explore subjects they never had the chance to study before.

And that's exactly the point.

“It's learning for the fun of it,” Luken said. “And it's such a cool thing.”

OLLI at Duke offers nearly 250 courses and programs annually. Membership is open year-round, with the largest selection of courses available during the fall and winter terms. Learn more at learnmore.duke.edu/olli or email olli@duke.edu.

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