OLLI@DU / 2023 FALL / MEET OUR FACILITATORS MEET OUR FACILITATORS

We count on great facilitators who bring our OLLI members deep into the content of robust course offerings, while encouraging connections and discussion. As always, we are here for learning and not for grades or college credit. We offer over 300 courses and webinars a year via in-person, online and hybrid formats. Course types include deep dives into a multitude of subjects with different formats, including multimedia presentations, books, movies, art and photos.

The joy of learning and the fascinating courses our facilitators lead are exactly why our members come back year after year. And so do our uniquely qualified facilitators!

Gregory Adams-

Gregory Adams has a career as an awardwinning chef with multiple restaurants, serial entrepreneur, advocate for organic and biodynamic agriculture, which has evolved, in the last 20 years, into even more deeply socially conscious work. With a degree in Philosophy and a deep emphasis on Cultural Anthropology, Greg served as Director of Economy for the Common Good USA from 2017 to 2022, Future Impact Partners LLC, and CeresNexus LLC. and is currently facilitator for his third class at OLLI at DU. Life, though, has always been in balance with his love for the piano and music history. First prize winner at the Concours des Grandes Amateurs in Paris in the early 2000’s, Gregory’s performance of Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a theme by Paganini with the Orchestra of the Republican Guard at the Sorbonne was met with much acclaim. Performing occasionally in Europe and the United States, Gregory’s love for music and family, includes a small piano studio in Castle Rock, Colorado.

Barbara Adams-

After obtaining a PhD in Neuroscience/ Psychology, Dr. Barbara Adams continued her career in research science at the University of Arizona, being active in the fields of research in oncology, gastrointestinal, women’s health, HIV, cardiovascular, and Alzheimer’s Disease. As her own practice grew over 20 years, she became known as a primary Principal Investigator for sleep disorders, Alzheimer’s, and psychiatry. It was due strictly to her efforts that Zolpidem CR (Ambien) was approved by the FDA and able to be marketed. She was a principal in the development of Namenda for Alzheimer’s, and Seroquel for psychiatric disorders. As a Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adams oversaw 10 offices worldwide including substantial work in China. Some awards include the Congressional Medal of Distinction, Business Woman of the year for 2006 and 2007, Senatorial Inner Circle Commission, and the Jeanette Holm Aerospace Education award. Retired now, she lives in Denver and is still active in stem cell therapy research.

Neil Adelman-

Neil Adelman is a retired attorney who recently moved to Denver from Chicago. He has lectured on opera for many years, including 11 years as a community lecturer for Lyric Opera of Chicago. In the winter term he conducted a webinar for OLLI on Erich Wolfgang Korngold’s opera Die Tote Stadt. In the Spring term he facilitated A Day at the Opera, in which he lectured on four operas. Neil was an OLLI member in Northwestern University’s OLLI program in Evanston, Illinois for 18 years where he facilitated classes on opera, history, law, film, and religion.

Rowena Alegria-

Rowena Alegría is Denver’s Chief Storyteller, founder and director of the city’s first Office of Storytelling, a citywide storytelling and cultural preservation project. She leads an award-winning team that has recorded hundreds of stories since 2019. She served as Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock’s Chief Communications Officer after working many years as a journalist. Alegría has won numerous writing fellowships and residencies and is writing a novel that plays with form and the history of the Southwest.

Danielle Anderson-

Major Danielle Anderson, DPT, is a Physical Therapist currently assigned to the Johnson Space Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. She delivers a spectrum of neuromusculoskeletal care preparing and supporting both US and International Astronauts for long duration space flight aboard the International Space Stations.

Carol Anthony-

Carol Anthony received her BS in English Education and MA in English Literature from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL. She migrated to Denver and taught English at Westminster High School for 32 years. She has pursued post graduate studies in Old and Medieval English Lit. at CU and has developed an extensive background in classical and Norse mythology, ancient Mediterranean civilization and culture, and the history of language. For fun she sings with a performing show choir, the Northland Chorale (yes, really).

Gordon Appell-

Gordon Appell, Diamond Facilitator, has facilitated a wide variety of OLLI courses in public affairs and current events. He worked for much of his career with the City and County of Denver as a principal city planner which involved him in the planning for the redevelopment of the Central Platte Valley downtown, Stapleton, and Lowry, as well as neighborhood planning, transportation planning, regional planning, in cooperation with RTD and DRGOG. He is a political independent but continues to have a reform point of view even in retirement. He has lived in NYC, North Carolina during the Civil Rights Era, Chicago during the Mayor Daley years, St. Louis, and overseas.

Maria Arapakis-

Maria Arapakis is a psychologist, international trainer, and author with over 35 years of experience training people around the world on how to manage minds, emotions, actions, and relationships. For the last 13 years, she has helped her fellow and sister seniors feel more comfortable and become more successful at making better use of the astounding powers of “All Things Apple”.

Maria’s classes, both via Zoom and in person, are fun, eye-opening, and highly motivating. You can find out more about her background, areas of expertise, and teaching style as a psychologist/trainer and as an Apple Mentor on her website: applementor.com/othertestimonials

Sandi Ault-

Sandi Ault is an award-winning bestselling author of the WILD Mystery Series, has taught writing workshops through public education programs (e.g., Front Range University) as well as privately at expensive writing conferences. She is on the faculty of Northern CO Writers, Tony Hillerman Writing Conference, and more. Her workshops typically sell out and are standing room only. Recent releases are WILD MYSTIC and SHATTERING GLASS.

Bill Baird-

Bill Baird is a Master OLLI facilitator, returned Peace Corps Volunteer and Auburn University Professor Emeritus of Science Education. He recently facilitated Terra Nova at OLLI.

Don and Gracie Batt-

Don and Gracie Batt, retired high school English and Theatre teachers in Cherry Creek Schools, have facilitated courses on Irish literature and literature of the American West with OLLI for several years.

Catherine Beeson-

Catherine Beeson holds a master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music, has been a Colorado Symphony violist for nearly 25 years, and an OLLI facilitator since 2010. She has extensive professional experience as a performer and educator, and a warm, friendly delivery style. Catherine is excited to bring her insider knowledge of classical music to curious adult learners.

Anne Bennett-

Anne Bennett is a master facilitator. She has facilitated classes in multiple areas, including science, medicine, nutrition, poverty, history of medicine, TED Talks and others. Anne has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nutrition and Public Health from Montana State University and University of Minnesota respectively. She completed her dietetic Internship at Yale New-

Haven Medical Center and has worked at YNHH, Texas Children’s Hospital and was Director of Nutrition/WIC at Tri-County Health Department. She has a keen interest in cooking, food science and nutrition.

Heidi Boerstler-

Heidi Boerstler Dr.PH, JD, MLA is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Colorado Denver, where she teaches health care law, ethics, and transformational leadership. She has degrees from Northwestern University, Yale University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

John Bowen-

John Bowen is a long-time observer of international affairs with particular interest in Eastern Europe. After practicing law for many years in unrelated areas, he now has time to study international relations in greater depth and has tried to keep abreast of military technological developments.

Shaun Boyd-

Shaun Boyd is the Curator of Archives at History Colorado. She has been an archivist for more than 25 years and is a Past President of the Society of Rocky Mountain Archivists. She sings in the Trinity United Methodist Church Choir in Denver, where she also serves on the board of trustees.

Joseph Brady-

Joseph Brady MSTCM, Dipl. OM, is a nationally board-certified practitioner of Oriental Medicine and an internationally recognized expert on healthy aging. Joe has spent over 25 years teaching at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and Metropolitan State University. Joe is currently adjunct professor at the Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the University of Denver’s University College. A former columnist on heathy aging for the Rocky Mountain News, Joe has presented at many scientific and medical conferences and is currently on an NIH working group called Bridge2AI. He has twice been a featured presenter at the Oxford International Roundtable at Oxford University U.K.

Sue Bramley-

Sue Bramley is a music lover extraordinare! She specializes in rock, jazz & blues. In her fall course, she pushed the envelope to introduce you to some unique ideas.

Larry Canepa-

Chef Larry P. Canepa is a Certified Culinary Educator and Le Cordon Bleu Chef, author, researcher, food historian, and lecturer of culinary topics. Chef Larry has a dynamic, innovative, and engaging style that incorporates food history, culinary arts, education, and ‘food-tainment’ into every class and event.

Diane Carter-

Diane Carter, RN, MSN, FAAN is a Registered Nurse with over 45 years of experience in long-term care support and services working with government, the public and private sector, as well as with nonprofit organizations. Diane has a unique history and perspective on the intersection of interests of consumers of long-term care, providers of long-term care, and the healthcare workforce and industry. In 1998, Diane founded and, until recently, was the president and CEO of the American Association Post-Acute Nursing, a professional nursing organization that represents some 17,000 long-term care nurses nationwide providing education and advocacy for Post-Acute Care Nurses. Her knowledge and experience in the field includes clinical practice, health policy research, development of data systems, and development and implementation of programs across the post-acute care continuum. She has worked extensively in nursing homes and assisted living policy and care. She holds bachelors degrees both in English and nursing, and a Master of Science in nursing administration and a clinical specialty in psychiatric nursing.

Terry Casey-

Terry Casey has a BA from St. Anselm College (Manchester, NH), a MA in History from UConn and a Master’s in Urban Affairs & Policy Analysis from The New School for Social Research (NYC). He has been a County Administrator in New Hampshire and since 1986 a Managing Director in the Capital Markets office of Dain Bosworth which became RBC Capital Markets in the early 2000s. His clients over the years included the states of Colorado and Wyoming, many of the major K-12 school districts in Colorado, Colorado Springs Memorial Hospital, Wyoming Medical Center (Casper), Cheyenne Memorial Hospital, Aspen Hospital and the Wyoming Student Loan Corporation. He retired from RBC in 2011.

Wayne Cassell-

Wayne Cassell has facilitated several classes at OLLI, mostly in-person history classes. He has facilitated at South, East, Central, and West. He took the Beginner American Mahjongg class at South in Spring 2018 and played on average once a week until the shutdown in 2020. He has been playing weekly again since January 2022. He taught American Mahjongg for Beginners at South in Fall 2022 and Winter 2023 and Intermediate Mahjongg in Spring 2023. He has helped establish weekly groups with students from his beginners’ class.