Please note that you must have either a 2023-2024 Community Member (OLLI) parking decal or a visitor’s permit to park on campus Monday-Friday, 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact the OLLI office (828.251.6140) to purchase your OLLI annual decal, or use this link for a visitor parking permit to print and display on your dashboard. Beginning Monday 5/13/24, daily visitor parking permits will increase to $5.

Summer Catalog

The summer 2024 catalog of courses, programs and events and the summer 2024 schedule of College for Seniors courses 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.

View Summer 2024 Catalog View Summer 2024 CFS Course Schedule

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 about COVID-19 guidance for courses, programs and events taking place on campus.

May

Monday, May 6, 10 a.m.-Monday, May 13, noon
Lottery registration for CFS summer 2025 courses
Register for courses for CFS’s summer 2024 term.

Tuesday, May 7, 7 p.m. | World Affairs Council
Partner Program: “Security in a Challenging World: Terrorism, Kidnapping and Emergency Evacuations” (in-person + online)
Managing operations in some of the world’s most challenging locations requires an ability to respond quickly and effectively to terrorist incidents, kidnappings, airplane hijackings, and emergency evacuations from countries at war. Real-world case studies reveal the extremely challenging and complex nature of these events and hold lessons that may be surprisingly applicable to our daily lives.
Jonathan C. Tetzlaff has been involved with international risk management since 1980. Throughout his career, he has managed and consulted on complex situations and problems for government agencies, corporate entities and educational institutions. Jonathan provides globally-oriented presentations and training to a wide range of organizations including the U.S. State Department, the University of North Carolina Asheville, the U.S. Army’s Worldwide Long-Range Planners’ Conference, the Conference Board, CISO Executive Summit, Security 500, National Business Aviation Association, the University of Chicago, the International Security Management Association and the National Defense University.
Join online via Zoom.

Friday, May 10, 11:30 a.m. | NOTE NEW TOPIC/SPEAKER
Fab Friday: “The Path to Paris: A Preview of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics” (in-person + online)
College for Seniors instructor Larry Griswold recently completed a history of the summer Olympics course covering highlights of many previous Games. That course, The Path to Paris: History of the Summer Olympic Games, ended with a preview of the upcoming Olympics in Paris. As a long-time Sports Illustrated employee, Larry attended summer Olympics in Atlanta and Sydney, and has also visited summer Olympics sites in London and Berlin. He has taught for CFS since 2011.
Join the May 10 Fab Friday online via Zoom. Find a complete list of spring 2024 Fab Friday lectures.

Friday, May 10, noon
Deadline to submit application for partial scholarship for CFS summer 2024 tuition (lottery registration)
Complete the CFS summer 2024 scholarship application.

Friday, May 10, 2 p.m. | OLLI Inclusion Committee
OLLI Program: “Just Films: Dolores”
This 2017 documentary chronicles the life of labor activist Dolores Huerta as she bucks 1950s gender conventions by starting the country’s first farm worker’s union with fellow organizer Cesar Chavez. What starts out as a struggle for racial and labor justice soon becomes a fight for gender equality within the same union she is eventually forced to leave. As she wrestles with raising 11 children, three marriages, and is nearly beaten to death by a San Francisco tactical police squad, Dolores emerges with a vision that connects her new found feminism with racial and class justice.
The 95-minute film will be followed by a discussion facilitated by Kimberly Nava Eggett, director of the Center for Diversity Education, UNC Asheville.
Register to attend. Read more about the film and about Dr. Eggett.

Sunday, May 12, 5:30 p.m. | Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association
Partner Program (in-person + online)
The Carolinas’ Nature Photographers Association (CNPA) was founded in 1992 to promote nature photography in the Carolinas, to help conserve and preserve the diverse natural ecosystems in the Carolinas and to educate others interested in nature and wildlife photography. The CNPA-Asheville Region’s goal is to develop a group that will more fully experience the beauty of Western North Carolina through photography. Activities in the Asheville region include monthly meetings, photo outings, seminars, workshops, exhibits, photo contests and image critiques.
For more information, visit the CNPA-Asheville Region’s website.

Tuesday, May 14, 4:30 p.m. | STEM Lecture Series
Partner Program: “Artificial Intelligence and Human Intelligence: Synergies and Issues” (in-person + online)
We have explored several applications of artificial intelligence in the STEM lecture series this year. In this talk presenter Don Martin will consider the broad aspects of A.I. development and capabilities; how artificial intelligence learns from and can teach human intelligence explore the issues we will face from the growth of AI in our society; and provide an opportunity for those who have participated in the A.I. STEM series to express their thoughts on the potential benefits and harms of A.I. in our future.
Don Martin moved to Asheville in 2001 when he retired from his research and development career in the chemical industry. He then shifted his scientific interests to the biological sciences and neuroscience in particular. In addition to teaching several courses for CFS on the chemistry and physics of life and the science of mind, he has presented several lectures in the OLLI STEM Lecture Series.
Join online via Zoom. The STEM Lecture Series is interdisciplinary with a focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Tuesday, May 14, 6:30 p.m. | Asheville Museum of History
Partner Program: “History Hour: The Town and the Dam – Proctor Revival” (in-person + online)
At the outbreak of American involvement in World War II, the Tennessee Valley Authority began construction of the massive Fontana Dam in Western North Carolina, inundating several communities and requiring the relocation of residents.
Dedicated to the preservation of the history and culture of WNC, the Proctor Revival Organization reveals hidden secrets of WWII’s Manhattan Project and its connections to the construction of the Fontana Dam. Now, after 80 years, PRO gives recognition and honor to those whose sacrifice sealed the success of the war.
In 2007, Judy Andrews Carpenter and Ron Carpenter opened the historic home of Judy’s grandparents using material from a church demolished due to construction of the Fontana Dam and the filling of Fontana Lake. The two developed a site where the unique, intriguing history of their ancestors is on display and where the story of their beloved mountain people is captured, in a unique way, through a living history experience they call the Proctor Revival. PRO, an entity of the Graham Revitalization Economic Action Team, continues to seek out and promote ways to honor the memory of those who made the success of WWII possible and to enhance economic prosperity throughout WNC by promoting this important history.
Tickets: Free for AMoH and OLLI members/$10 for general admission. We also have no-cost, community-funded tickets available. We want our events to be accessible to as many people as possible. If you are able please consider making a donation along with your ticket purchase. These donations are placed in our community fund, which allows us to offer tickets at no cost to those who would not be able to attend otherwise.
Register to attend.

Tuesday, May 14, 7 p.m. | Blue Ridge Naturalist Network
Partner Program: “Bird-Friendly Communities for Migratory Songbirds” (in-person + online)
Twice a year, millions of neotropical songbirds migrate thousands of miles between their breeding and wintering grounds in North, Central and South America. Migrating birds face many challenges during these periods, the greatest of which are human imposed. Fortunately, many of these threats are well understood, and numerous tools are available to help us provide safe passage for songbirds during their perilous migrations. Paulina Jones will provide an overview of neotropical songbird migration, the unique challenges created by human-built environments, and solutions to enhance the bird-friendliness of our communities.
Paulina Jones is a Western North Carolina local working to improve human-wildlife coexistence in her community. She is passionate about science communication and the intersection of wildlife ecology and policy. Paulina is a cofounder of the Coalition for a Bird-Friendly Asheville and, in close coordination with the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter, has been advocating for the adoption of bird-friendly community practices since 2020.
Join the May 12 BRNN program online via Zoom.

Thursday, May 16, 5-7 p.m.
University Program: “Brews & Bequests: Real Estate Gifting Strategies”
This first Brews and Bequests session will be focused on real estate gifting strategies to reduce taxes and increase income, a topic of great interest and importance to many. In a community where real estate values have risen sharply, this can create both challenges and unexpected opportunities in estate planning.
Why Brews and Bequests? Because we live in Beer City USA! There are so many choices in town that it’s hard to keep up, and sampling a few of our favorite beers with you sounds like a great way to spend time together. Whether you’re a local beer expert or a neophyte, we guarantee you’ll find something new to taste. If you’re not a beer lover, no worries, we will also have cider and non-alcoholic options like cold brew coffee and tea available.
Tim Prosser of TIAA Kaspick will be sharing effective strategies to reduce taxes and enhance income through intelligent gifting practices, particularly focusing on real estate. Whether you are a seasoned investor or just beginning to explore the world of real estate, this event promises valuable information for all.
Following the presentations, we invite you to join us in sampling a variety of the coffee, tea, and beers that Asheville has to offer and indulge in heavy hors d’oeuvres as you visit with fellow attendees.
This is a free event by UNC Asheville’s advancement office, and they need to know how many guests plan to attend. RSVP by Friday, May 10th to secure your spot. Space is limited, so we encourage you to respond at your earliest convenience.
Raise a glass to smart investing and financial planning! Find a Brews and Bequests event flier.

Thursday, May 16, 5:30 p.m. | Alzheimer’s Association – Western Carolina Chapter
Partner Program: “Grief and Loss with Alzheimer’s and Dementia: Understanding the Grieving Process for Caregivers and Their Loved Ones”
Often people think that grief happens when someone dies; however, it is possible to grieve deeply for someone who has a progressive cognitive illness. A grief coordinator from Four Seasons Grief Services will explore myths and truths of grief and loss as Alzheimer’s or dementia progresses and offer strategies for effective coping, prior to and following the death of a loved one, followed by an opportunity for dialogue and connection.
Amy Entwistle, a board-certified music therapist, is an adult, child and adolescent grief coordinator at Four Seasons Hospice. Amy graduated with an undergraduate degree in music performance with a minor in psychology from High Point University. She earned a graduate degree in music therapy from Appalachian State University. She has worked as a hospice music therapist and bereavement counselor. Amy uses a body-mind-centered approach and various creative art modalities to meet the needs of grieving adults, children, adolescents and their families.
This program is presented by the Alzheimer’s Association – Western North Carolina Chapter in partnership with Four Seasons Hospice.
Alzheimer’s Association programs are free and open to everyone. Find a list of all Alzheimer’s Association programs being offered at the Reuter Center during spring 2024.

Friday, May 17
Last day of College for Seniors spring 2024 term

Friday, May 17, 11:30 a.m.
Fab Friday: “Lifestyle Medicine and the Gut Microbiome” (in-person + online)
We will explore the interplay between our gut bacteria and many of the major chronic diseases seen among Americans, such as coronary heart disease, obesity, diabetes, dementia, cancers and mood disorders. We will discuss what lifestyle behaviors enhance or diminish the risk of developing or worsening these diseases. Optimizing health through interventions like whole food, plant-centric nutrition, physical activity, sleep optimization and stress management will be reviewed.
Brett Senor, MD is a board-certified internal medicine practitioner who has incorporated lifestyle medicine as the foundation of his practice. He has witnessed remarkable health transformations in many of his patients who have adopted the evidence-based healthy behaviors espoused in lifestyle medicine. Brett speaks regularly to various groups beyond his practice in an effort to raise awareness of the hope lifestyle medicine offers.
Join the May 17 Fab Friday online via Zoom. Find a complete list of spring 2024 Fab Friday lectures

Friday, May 17, noon
Deadline to pay CFS summer 2024 tuition fees (lottery registration)
Check the status of your online registration account or make a payment.

Friday, May 17, 5 p.m. | Death Café
Partner Program
Death Café is an engaging gathering with storytelling and conversation around a topic that is often avoided or feared. Participants discuss personal stories related to the death of loved ones, loss of jobs, relationships or marriage, or loss of parts of ourselves. Programs are facilitated by Karen Sanders, Greg Lathrop and Saïd Osio from Third Messenger.
For more information visit the Third Messenger website or visit the Death Café of Asheville and Hendersonville Facebook page.

Tuesday, May 21, 7 p.m. | Blue Ridge Audubon
Partner Program: “The Secret Lives of High-Elevation Birds in the Southern Appalachians” (in-person + online)
Anthony Squitieri of the Wild Bird Research Group will share information about WBRG and highlight their exciting research goals to study the regional movement and behavior of high-elevation bird populations like the northern saw-whet owl in the Southern Appalachians of North Carolina. Northern saw-whet owls still maintain a small breeding population in the Black Mountain Range near Asheville and in other local montane spruce-fir forests. Their breeding behavior, habitat utilization and movements are still poorly understood. Using nanotag transmitters, these owls can be tracked through their habitat year-round which will enable researchers to optimize habitat protection of these tiny, threatened owls.
Anthony Squitieri is an avian ecologist and environmental educator with 20 years of field research and bird banding experience. He is a co-founder of the Wild Bird Research Group, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to conduct and support research that benefits birds and their habitats. Anthony works with regional institutions including UNC Asheville, where he assists with field labs and sources technicians; the North Carolina Arboretum, where he manages a MAPS banding station and conducts educational programing; and the North Carolina Wildlife and Resources Commission, where he collaborates with building Motus infrastructure for research in WNC.
Join online via Zoom. Visit the Blue Ridge Audubon Chapter’s website to learn more about free monthly programs and bird walks.

Friday, May 24, 5 p.m.
CFS summer 2025 schedules sent to lottery participants
Log into your online registration account to see a list of your courses.

Monday, May 27
UNC Asheville and OLLI offices closed for Memorial Day holiday

Tuesday, May 28, 10 a.m.
Open registration for CFS summer 2025 courses begins
Register for courses for CFS’s summer 2024 term.

Friday, May 31, 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.

June

Sunday, June 2, 2:30 p.m. | The Autumn Players
Partner Program: “Enchanted April by Matthew Barber”
To escape the cold rain and melancholy of post-WWI London, four unlikely traveling companions share the cost of renting a seaside castle in Italy. In this romantic comedy, the women—surrounded by color and light—open up to the unexpected and experience a magical month of discovery and renewal.
Read more about the play and purchase tickets online via the Autumn Players’ website for $8; any remaining tickets will be sold for $8 (cash only) at the door beginning at 2 p.m. prior to each performance.

Tuesday, June 4, 6:30 p.m. | Science Book Club
Partner Program: “Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty and Achieve Peace by Carl Safina”
Becoming Wild combines storytelling and the latest research to show us that non-human animals have cultures too. Elders may pass on knowledge to succeeding generations and mediate disputes. Individuals may make tools, communicate, love their families and seek beauty, behaviors that are complexly related to natural selection. Guided by expert researchers, author-ecologist Carl Safina observes the diverse cultures of three very different species: scarlet macaws in the Amazon, sperm whales in the Caribbean and chimpanzees in Uganda.
This program will be moderated by Dr. Barbara C. (Kitti) Reynolds. Kitti graduated from the University of Georgia with a doctorate in ecosystem ecology. Her research focused on the relations between canopy arthropods, soil arthropods and nutrient transfers in forested ecosystems in Western North Carolina. She joined the faculty at UNC Asheville in 2000, where she taught a variety of ecology and humanities courses. Her research continued on soil microarthropods and later, hemlock woolly adelgids. Since her retirement Kitti has enjoyed many birding trips around the country and the world. She also loves studying piano, gardening, riding her horse and walking her dog.
Contact Sue Studlar or Steve Thomas for more information and meeting dates.

Friday, June 7-Sunday, June 9
OLLI Program: “Creative Retirement Exploration Weekend”
Have you, a family member or friend considered relocating in retirement? Discover the challenges and opportunities of choosing where and how to relocate in retirement at the Creative Retirement Exploration Weekend (CREW). CREW is an educational program that gives participants an understanding of retirement lifestyle choices. Participants will gain increased confidence in whether, where and how to relocate, no matter where they are thinking about moving. For those interested in the Asheville area, we offer an optional Sunday program that includes information sessions and virtual tours. Cost: $500 per person for Friday and Saturday sessions only; $575 per person for Friday and Saturday sessions plus optional Sunday program; cost includes program administration, materials and most meals but not lodging or transportation.
Read more and register.

Monday, June 10
Deadline to submit application for partial scholarship for CFS summer 2024 tuition (open registration)
Complete the CFS summer 2024 scholarship application.

Friday, June 14, 10 a.m.
OLLI Program: “New Member Welcome/Returning Member Refresher” (in-person + online)
Are you new to OLLI at UNC Asheville and the Reuter Center? Are you returning after being gone awhile? Do you just want to catch up on organizational development, learn more about volunteering, figure out how things work and meet new people? Come learn about all that OLLI has to offer at this event.
Join online via Zoom.

Friday, June 14, 3 p.m.
Deadline to drop all courses and request a full refund of CFS summer 2024 tuition
Complete the CFS summer 2024 drop request form.

Tuesday, June 18, 6 p.m.
Special Program: “Behind the Curtain” (in-person + online)
Join us for an evening with Heather Maloy, founder and artistic director of Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance. Enjoy video clips of prior performances and learn about the company’s 21-year history of producing exquisitely entertaining and thought-provoking performances that have become an integral part of Asheville’s performing arts scene.
Terpsicorps proudly showcases high-caliber professional ballet dancers from across the country and beyond. These exceptional artists converge in Asheville each summer to share their talents with our community and bring Heather’s innovative choreography to life. Heather will also discuss the creative process and share her plans for the world premiere of “Before the Scream,” coming to the Diana Wortham Theatre this July 25-27.
Join online via Zoom.

Monday, June 17
First day of CFS summer 2024 term
Register for courses for CFS’s summer 2024 term.

July

Friday, July 26
Last day of CFS summer 2024 term

August

Thursday, August 1
Deadline to submit CFS winter 2025 course proposals
Submit a course proposal for CFS’s winter 2025 term.

September

Friday, September 6-Sunday, September 8
OLLI Program: “Paths to Creative Retirement”
Let us help you create a meaningful retirement that matches your values and priorities. This highly interactive three-day workshop helps you achieve your desired personal goals in retirement. With guidance and support from facilitators and other participants, you will discover your values, identity and long-deferred dreams. In the process, you will gain valuable insights and inspiration to create tangible next steps.
Read more and register.