BECOME OUR NEWEST OSHER MEMBER!
Join a community of inquiring and engaging peers age 50+ who thrive on personal fulfillment through education. Whether you are looking for individual classes or a short course series, our programs explore the arts, history, politics, religion, health, social issues and much more. At the same time, you will connect with new friends, discover volunteer opportunities and even find a fresh interest or two!
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
• Choosing your membership option:
- Pay As You Go (with small membership fee)
- Annual Membership for unlimited courses (offered every fall)
• Access to 100+ courses annually
• Free intersession discussion groups
• Instructors who are highly respected educators and subject-matter experts
• Special events and local excursions
• Free student admission to the CSUSM Arts and Lectures program
And did we mention … no tests and no grades?
MONDAY COURSES
4 Pundits, Polls and Politics! The 2024 Election!
4 Schindler's List Revisited: Unknown Facts
4 Why Is Frida Kahlo so Famous?
4 IBM and Its Nazi Partnerships
5 Food: Ordinary, Surprising, Amazing
5 Music of the Post-Romantic Era, the Impressionists and the Jazz Age
TUESDAY COURSES
5 Coen Brothers: Back-to-Back
5 Fighting Fair: Leveraging Personality and Communication Style for Effective Conflict Management
6 Art Timelines
6 Disneyland History: How Walt Disney Built Everyone's Dreams
WEDNESDAY COURSES
6 Joie De Vivre Across Centuries and Cultures
6 The Beatles: 1965 Tour
7 Why Are Día de los Muertos and the Catrina Symbol Significant?
7 Probiotics and Prebiotics: The Care and Feeding of Germs That Keep Us Healthy
7 Consequential Vice Presidents: From Aaron Burr to Kamala Harris
7 The Beatles: 1966 Tour
8 Mother India and the Art of Buddhism
8 All We Did Was Go to the Moon: Apollo and Soyuz
8 The American Colonization Society
8 Robert E. Lee: Hero or Traitor?
9 U.S. Foreign Policy and the 2024 Election
CSUSM Extended Learning 288 Campus Way, San Marcos, CA 92078
9 Directors of Broadway and Movie Musicals
FRIDAY COURSES
10 You Write
FREE LECTURE FOR MEMBERS
10 The Chinatown Orphans on Sonora Street Friday, Sept. 13
DESTINATION LEARNING
10 Carlsbad Walk and Talk Thursday, Oct. 3
10 Welcome to New York! Thursday, Oct. 2 - Monday, Oct. 6, 2025
SPECIAL EVENT
Lunch and Learn
11 Uncovering Hidden History: Ah Quin and the San Diego Chinese Mission School Movement 1870-1946 Friday, Jan. 24, 2025
Parking Tips
In-class meetings require a separate parking fee of $5 per day. New to OLLI? You’ll receive an email from CSUSM Parking Services with your new parking account information and instructions on how to purchase your permit. If you need help with your account, please contact scambra@csusm.edu or asprout@csusm.edu.
San Marcos
Carlsbad
New York City
THE OSHER LIFELONG LEARNING INSTITUTE
RENE W YOUR ENTHUSIASM FOR LEARNING • EXPLORE NE W INTERESTS • MAKE NE W FRIENDS
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) is an organization established to improve the quality of life for adults over 50 years of age through higher education and the arts. OLLI at CSUSM was established in 2004 and is one of 125 Lifelong Learning Institutes supported by the Bernard Osher Foundation. Osher provides a wide array of courses taught by university professors and experts in their respective fields. The program aims to keep learners intellectually active and socially engaged with like-minded peers. If you’d like to renew your enthusiasm for learning, explore new interests and make new friends, Osher is for you!
MEMBERSHIP*
An Osher membership is required to participate in our program.
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP, PAY AS YOU GO
$35 membership fee. Valid 5/1/2024 - 6/30/2025. Pay for classes a la carte. For a la carte classes, if you do not have a current membership, a general membership fee will automatically be added to your shopping cart.
ANNUAL ALL-INCLUSIVE MEMBERSHIP
Pay one fee of $560 and select an unlimited number of courses from 100+ offerings throughout the year. This annual membership is valid 7/1/2024 - 6/30/2025. Some exclusions apply.*
WHEN PURCHASING AN ALL-INCLUSIVE
ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP:
• Purchase annual membership on our website at csusm.edu/el/olli before enrolling in classes.
• Allow 24-72 hours for account activation.
• After receiving an email notification from us, log in to your student portal to make class selections. Choose annual or lifetime member and the system will zero-out your balance. (Excludes pop-up lectures, special events and destination learning.)
*Pop-up lectures, destination learning excursions, special events, entrance fees, art supplies, etc., are not included in membership packages. $5 parking fee per day to park on campus.
PROGRAM LINKS
Memberships and registration fees support the program. Sharing links with spouses and friends is prohibited and serves as a detriment to the longevity of the Osher program.
CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS
Please note that all Extended Learning credit card transactions will be charged a convenience fee of 2.65%. The convenience fee is subject to change.
OLLI STAFF
Sherie Cambra , Program Director scambra@csusm.edu 760-750-8716
Amy Sprout , Program Coordinator asprout@csusm.edu 760-750-8613
HOW TO REGISTER BY PHONE
760-750-4020
Note: We can accept eChecks by phone. No mail-in registrations.
ONLINE
csusm.edu/el/olli/howtoregister.html See step-by-step instructions on our website.
Bernard Osher
MEET OUR INSTRUCTORS
CSUSM Osher instructors are leading educators and subject-matter experts in many fascinating fields of study. For a full list of our instructors and their areas of expertise, please visit csusm.edu/el/osher-instructors
DOUG STOWELL has been a Furman University OLLI instructor in Greenville, South Carolina, since 2015 and for OLLI institutes across the U.S. since 2019. His background is in corporate market research and public opinion polling. Career positions include U.S. client director for National Opinion Polling Ltd. in London, and senior client representative with Wirthlin Worldwide Polling in Washington, D.C. In 2008, Stowell opened Market Resource Associates, where he conducts consumer and political issues surveys.
HOWARD KERNER, MA, is a retired English professor who taught at the high school, college and university levels in New York and Florida during his 47-year career. Before and since retirement, his passion project has been discovering and sharing unknown stories about inspiring people who performed brave acts of kindness even during the unlikely period of the Holocaust. He has presented his uplifting programs at OLLI institutes, temples, churches and civic organizations across the country and in Canada. His philosophy is that although there is no bad time to learn about human goodness, there is no better time than now!
PROGRAM LINKS
We appreciate all of our members! Memberships and registration fees support our program. As we continue online access, please keep our program links private. Sharing links with family and friends is a detriment to the longevity of our Osher program.
| MONDAY COURSES
Pundits, Polls and Politics! The 2024 Election!
The 2024 election is here! How can we make an informed choice? Let's 1) review POTUS approval history 1945-2020, 2) explore how better voter polls are done, 3) discuss major 2024 election issues and 4) identify party positions. We’ll review the current polls and do some in-class survey exercises such as a typical Corporate Assessment Model, a tool to rank the issues and the candidates. We will wrap up with a class electoral vote prediction, state-by-state. Let’s be part of the 1 in 20 voters who actually decide an election! A cell phone and some familiarity with QR codes is helpful, but not required. This is a nonpartisan discussion.
MONDAY, SEPT. 9
9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Online via Zoom 1 day $18
Doug Stowell
Schindler's List Revisited: Unknown Facts
For almost 30 years, Stephen Spielberg's masterpiece film Schindler's List has been the public's main source of information about this mysterious man who rescued some 1,200 Jewish people from the Holocaust. But there is so much more to know about Oskar Schindler. In this program, we will learn facts that are not included in the movie about Oskar Schindler's childhood, adulthood, marriage and older years. If you have
not seen the film recently, consider watching it before the program to enrich the class experience.
MONDAY, SEPT. 16
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Online via Zoom 1 day $18
Howard Kerner, MA
Why Is Frida Kahlo so Famous?
Frida Kahlo, the almost mythical painter and activist, is arguably the most famous Mexican woman and a highly regarded artist of the last century, with her influence continuing to resonate internationally today. Her paintings have been displayed in prominent galleries around the world, and her image and name have become iconic, even extending into the commercial and fashion worlds. But what can be said of her intriguing life and times, her obsessions and torments, her love for Diego Rivera, her activism and her time in the United States?
MONDAY, SEPT. 23
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Online via Zoom 1 day $18
Alejandro Castañeda, PhD
IBM and Its Nazi Partnerships
Few may know that American and international corporations such as IBM, Ford and Coca-Cola actively supported Nazi Germany during World War II. In some cases, these companies and others helped facilitate German plans for implementation of the Holocaust. In this fascinating audio/video presentation, we will look into these alliances between international business and the Nazis.
MONDAY, SEPT. 30
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Online via Zoom 1 day $18
Howard Kerner, MA
Food: Ordinary, Surprising, Amazing
We eat for survival and nutrition, of course, but food is involved in many aspects of our lives. We'll explore food in its varieties and colors, food safety, domestic vs. imported foods, air frying, the dangers of microwaving, problems with sea salt, and how to help assure your meals are safe, nutritious and enjoyable.
MONDAY, OCT. 7
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Online via Zoom
1 day $18
Stephenie Slahor, PhD
Music of the Post-Romantic Era, the Impressionists and the Jazz Age
This class is a continuation of the previous two sessions covering the musical style and sound of the main historical eras from Baroque to Romantic.
This course will briefly explore the dramatic changes that took place at the end of the Romantic era in the 1890s through the Impressionist movement, post-Romantic holdovers and into the budding Jazz Age. We will listen to music of composers such as Mahler, Rachmaninoff, Stravinsky and Gershwin. No previous class attendance is required or necessary to enjoy this musical journey.
MONDAYS, OCT. 14 - NOV. 18
(SKIP 11/11)
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Online via Zoom
5 weeks $80
David Lewis, MA
| TUESDAY COURSES
Coen Brothers: Back-to-Back
Long before they swept the Oscars with Fargo, Ethan and Joel Coen had the reputation as a formidable production team. Their commitment as screenwriters and, respectively, producer and director led to a string of impressive movies in a wide range
of genres. The Coen brothers emphasized the collaborative essence of moviemaking—over the singular vision of a director—while conversely establishing a unique storytelling voice that we'll watch for in movies ranging from Blood Simple to The Ballad of Buster Scruggs with consideration of anomalies such as Macbeth and Bridge of Spies that demonstrate their immutable talents.
TUESDAYS, SEPT. 10 - OCT. 8
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 5 weeks $80
Brandon Cesmat, MFA
Fighting
Fair: Leveraging Personality and Communication Style for Effective Conflict Management
The aim of this course is to equip participants with the necessary skills to navigate conflicts constructively. The integration of personality theory and assessment will enhance participants’ self-awareness and understanding of others. With a clearer understanding of their communication styles, participants will learn to manage emotions and negotiate solutions with the goal of fostering healthier relationships.
TUESDAYS, SEPT. 10 - OCT. 8
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 5 weeks $80
Karen Eso, MA
STEPHENIE SLAHOR, PhD, JD, is retired from her law practice and university teaching, and she now focuses on writing, lecturing and creating innovative, informational and fun courses for OLLI programs around the nation. She is also a life member of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.
DAVID LEWIS, MA, is the founder and director of the San Luis Rey Chorale, which he has directed for the past 32 years. He is the director of music at Trinity Episcopal Church in Escondido and also teaches continuing education music classes for MiraCosta College.
BRANDON CESMAT, MFA, has taught cinema at Palomar College and CSUSM since 1992. He earned an MFA in creative writing with correlative study in screenwriting from San Diego State University. He has curated the Cinema Series for Carlsbad Library and received several San Diego Press Club awards for best critical writing about movies. Cesmat is the author of several books of poems and fiction, which include his reflections on movies. His concept album of original music, Califor-Noir, is widely available online. He can be followed @cesmatmusic
*Hybrid courses are offered live in the classroom and via Zoom simultaneously (interactive).
ROBIN DOUGLAS, MA, an art professor for 36 years, has served as associate director of the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign. She also served as art education chair, chancellor’s honors faculty, and was on the board of the Spurlock Museum and Krannert Art Museum Council. Her commissioned artwork is in private collections, offices, hotels and university buildings.
KIM KEELINE, PhD, fell in love with Shakespeare’s plays when she was 12 years old. Her PhD in English literature is from the University of Southern California and she has lectured extensively on Shakespeare. She writes mysteries and published two short stories in 2020.
ELENA ROMINE, PhD, received her PhD from Moscow State University and her Diploma in Education from Moscow Linguistic University. She is a published author, fluent in three languages and was a senior lecturer for the Institute of Advanced Training in Publishing in Moscow. Romine has been a crosscultural communication instructor and consultant at UC Riverside Extension for over 26 years.
Art Timelines
1. 5,000 years of the human form in art
2. 400 years of American paintings— from Colonial to contemporary
3. 150 years of Impressionism—France and others
4. 100 years of the art of abstraction
5. Touring art museums—the latest exhibitions
TUESDAYS, OCT. 15 - NOV. 12
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 5 weeks $80
Robin Douglas, MA
Disneyland History: How Walt Disney Built Everyone’s Dreams
Join us for a five-week course on the history of Walt Disney and his theme park Disneyland. Starting with Disney's love of railroads which inspired the park, we'll examine the behind-the-scenes history of Main Street, Audio-Animatronics, and popular attractions like the Haunted Mansion.
TUESDAYS, OCT. 15 - NOV. 12
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
PROGRAM LINKS
We appreciate all of our members! Memberships and registration fees support our program. As we continue online access, please keep our program links private. Sharing links with family and friends is a detriment to the longevity of our Osher program.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 5 weeks $80
Kim Keeline, PhD
| WEDNESDAY COURSES
Joie De Vivre Across Centuries and Cultures
This class will explore the concept of the joy of living, which was brought into literary prominence in 19th century France. The cheerful enjoyment of life will be explored as a philosophy of life that encompasses various aspects of our being: selfrealization, happiness, the joy of connection with people and nature, culinary delights and many other sides of our early being. Students will see how this philosophy manifests through different generations and cultures.
WEDNESDAYS, SEPT. 11 - OCT. 9
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 5 weeks $80
Elena Romine, PhD
The Beatles: 1965 Tour
This lecture begins as the Beatles’ plane lands at JFK Airport in New York City, beginning yet another conquest of North America, including their historic Shea Stadium concert and the birth of the modern stadium show. This time, the Beatles arrive as genuine superstars, with larger stadiums booked to satisfy the evergrowing hordes of fans wanting to see them. The 1965 tour was seminal in birthing the modern stadium show.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 11
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 1 day $18
Chuck Gunderson, MA
Why Are Día de los Muertos and the Catrina Symbol Significant?
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) in Mexico is a monumental celebration transcending religious and social boundaries. It gained prominence after the Mexican Revolution, especially with the introduction of the now famous La Catrina symbol, which began as a political statement. Once a private domestic affair where families honored their loved ones in nearby cemeteries, Día de los Muertos has evolved into a national event filled with parades and festivities. Often associated with the celebrations, La Catrina is a popular figure depicted as an elegantly dressed female skeleton.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 18
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid*
1 day $18
Alejandro Castañeda, PhD
Probiotics and Prebiotics: The Care and Feeding of Germs That Keep Us Healthy
Beneficial bacteria populate the outside and inside of our bodies, improve our immunity, lower cholesterol and provide energy. Recent research has uncovered links to brain disorders such as autism and Parkinson’s disease, even depression. There is much that individuals can do to safeguard this critical resource.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 25
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 1 day $18
Philip Goscienski, MD
Consequential Vice Presidents: From Aaron Burr to Kamala Harris
One vice president famously described the vice presidency as being “not worth a bucket of warm spit” (although he didn’t say “spit”). That’s not quite fair—some of the 49 vice presidents have been consequential, beginning with Aaron Burr, who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804 and was charged with treason for an alleged act of war against the U.S. in 1807. This class will look at Burr and several of his successors, right up to Kamala Harris, the first woman, first Black American and first South Asian American to serve as vice president.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 2
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 1 day $18
Mark Stadler, MPA
The Beatles: 1966 Tour
As the Beatles prepared for what would be their final tour of North America, John Lennon set off a firestorm in the United States with a controversial statement. Lennon’s seemingly flippant comment offended parents, city officials and religious leaders, all of whom called for a boycott of the group. This lecture will discuss death threats, Ku Klux Klan protests, firecrackers tossed onstage, and the only rain out in Beatles touring history, which ended the group’s stage career forever.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 9
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 1 day $18
Chuck Gunderson, MA
ALEJANDRO CASTAÑEDA, PhD, holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in communications, the latter from Università Internazionale Dell’arte and Università Statale di Firenze in Florence, Italy. As a consultant, professional corporate trainer and keynote speaker, Castañeda has taught at USD, SDSU, CSUSM, the Universidad Anáhuac and Universidad Iberoamericana.
PHILIP GOSCIENSKI, MD, retired from the Navy with the rank of captain and was head of the Infectious Diseases Branch in the Department of Pediatrics at the Naval Regional Medical Center in San Diego. A former clinical professor of pediatrics at the UCSD School of Medicine, Goscienski invests his expertise today in writing newspaper and magazine articles.
MARK STADLER, MPA, has had a longstanding interest in politics since 1972, when he walked precincts for George McGovern’s ill-fated presidential campaign. Undiscouraged by the results that year, he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science from UCSD. Mark maintained his interest in politics while working first as a journalist and then as a water policy wonk at the San Diego County Water Authority, where he learned that water is all about history and politics.
*Hybrid courses are offered live in the classroom and via Zoom simultaneously (interactive).
DOUGLAS R. BARKER, MA, is an art historian, a professional metaphysical worker and an avid world traveler. He holds a master’s degree in art history from the University of Chicago. Barker has traveled extensively in nearly 40 countries, and much of his expertise derives from spiritual experiences in sacred sites around the globe.
GIDEON MARCUS, PhD, is the founder of Journey Press, an independent publisher focused on unusual and diverse speculative fiction. He is a professional space historian and has just finished Hyvilma, the third book in The Kitra Saga. His short fiction can be found in Dark Matter Utopia Simultaneous Times and more. Marcus lives in San Diego County with his writer/editor wife and their polymath artist daughter.
FRANK TURNER, MA, received both his BA in history and MA in digital history from CSUSM. He is an instructor at Palomar College and San Diego Miramar College, where he teaches United States and Ancient World History. Turner is the vice chairman and historian for the Oceanside Historical Preservation Advisory Commission.
Mother India and the Art of Buddhism
India is the spiritual source of many religions and Buddhism would prove to be a fertile source of art and architecture, new social values and enlightened spirituality for much of Asia. We’ll first explore the Indus Valley civilization and the influx of the Indo-Europeans—nomadic herders from the central Asian plains. There follows the impact of Buddhism: the story of the Buddha, the development of his teachings and the wonderful art monuments of Buddhist India: the rock-cut temples of Bhaja and Bharhut, the Great Stupa at Sanchi, the Gupta period—the classical age of Buddhist sculpture, and the painted caves of Ajanta. Come join art historian Douglas Barker for an exotic art and spiritual journey through India!
WEDNESDAYS, OCT. 16 - OCT. 23
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 2 weeks $35
Douglas Barker, MA
PROGRAM LINKS
We appreciate all of our members! Memberships and registration fees support our program. As we continue online access, please keep our program links private. Sharing links with family and friends is a detriment to the longevity of our Osher program.
All We Did Was Go to the Moon: Apollo and Soyuz
In May 1961, a youthful president tossed his hat over the fence, announcing that by 1969 the United States would put a man on the moon and bring him safely back. So began
a mad scramble for Earth’s celestial neighbor, which engaged the scientific and productive resources of two superpowers—and which would claim the lives of six astronauts and two cosmonauts before the race was won. Join award-winning space historian and science fiction author Gideon Marcus on a tour of the Apollo and Soyuz programs, and how they changed the course of human history.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 30
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 1 day $18
Gideon Marcus, PhD
The American Colonization Society
Slavery was a hot topic in early 19th century America. If the slaves were freed, what would happen to them next? The American Colonization Society’s goal was to recolonize free Black individuals—people of African descent who weren’t enslaved prior to the Civil War—and emancipated slaves back to Africa. Many people, including Abraham Lincoln, felt this was the best answer to this question. But many others completely disagreed. What were the arguments on both sides of this issue?
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 6
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 1 day $18
Frank Turner, MA
Robert E. Lee: Hero or Traitor?
People who grew up in the United States in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s learned that Robert E. Lee was an American hero, even though he commanded an army that fought against the United States to defeat them. What are the facts? Was Lee a good guy or a bad guy?
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 13
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid* 1 day $18
Frank Turner, MA
U.S. Foreign Policy and the 2024 Election
What world events will have the greatest effect on this fall’s U.S. elections, and how could the elections affect world events? Join fellow students for discussions led by a retired American diplomat with decades of experience around the world and across the U.S. political spectrum, to sort through the questions and challenges posed by Gaza, Ukraine, China and more. We’ll look before and after the election about the options for U.S. voters and what the results may mean. Together, we will focus on understanding the relevant players and their policies from different viewpoints and make sense of it all through stories, analyses and mutual respect.
WEDNESDAYS, OCT. 16 - NOV. 13
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid*
5 weeks $80
David Bame, MAT
| THURSDAY COURSES
Art Reveals Truths
It is with eyes and mind wide open that we will experience four exciting, challenging and colorful exhibitions in San Diego County and two unusual exhibitions at the Denver Art Museum on Zoom. New insights and understanding of the artistic process and its unpredictable creations will deepen our appreciation of art. There will be one online Zoom class and four museum visits.
THURSDAYS, SEPT. 12 - OCT. 10
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Online via Zoom Museum Visits
5 weeks $80
France-Marie Haeger, MA
Origins and Development of Monotheism
This course covers the same historical periods, but with the focus on the ideological development of monotheism during that time, the challenges and backsliding that typified the period, and the emergence of monotheism in the post-Biblical period.
THURSDAYS, OCT. 17 - NOV. 14
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Online via Zoom
5 weeks $80
David Meir Levi, MA
Directors of Broadway and Movie Musicals
When you enter the world of a musical, you enter a world embracing fantasy with beautiful singing voices, glorious dancing, vivid color and vitality. Who created this world? An important part of the creative team behind a musical is the director. Using clips from various shows, we’ll explore the world of such famous directors as Vincent Minelli, Stanley Donan, Harold Prince, George Abbott and others.
THURSDAYS, OCT. 17 - NOV. 14
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Online via Zoom
5 weeks $80
Sam and Candy Caponegro
DAVID BAME, MAT, is a retired U.S. Foreign Service officer (diplomat) with a career spanning 29 years in more than 30 countries as well as in Washington, D.C. He has worked on key U.S. national security policies around the world, especially the Middle East and Europe. Bame has lectured in Austria, Iraq, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom and many U.S. and foreign universities.
FRANCE-MARIE HAEGER, MA, ATRBC, is an artist, a fine-arts instructor and a registered board-certified art therapist. She has more than 40 years of experience in the arts, including designing and facilitating an art therapy program in her native Switzerland and several expressive art therapy programs in San Diego.
DAVID MEIR-LEVI, MA, is an Americanborn Israeli currently living in Palo Alto, California. He holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and an MA in Near Eastern Studies from Brandeis University. He taught archaeology and Near Eastern history at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and at the University of Tel Aviv in the 1960s and 1970s, during which time he completed his service in the Israeli military. Most recently, he lectured on the Middle East and Israel in the Department of History at San Jose State University and on Biblical studies and archaeology at Santa Clara University.
*Hybrid courses are offered live in the classroom and via Zoom simultaneously (interactive).
LAURIE RICHARDS is a lawyer who has turned her analytical skills to the craft of writing. She has served as the director of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild, judged the San Diego Book Awards and received numerous awards for her short stories. Richards is also the assistant editor of Narrative Magazine online.
RUSSELL N. LOW, MD, is a physician with a passion for discovery and storytelling. Growing up in central California, his connection to Chinese culture and history was incomplete. His discovery of a 1903 Hong family photograph sparked a decades-long search for the stories behind the photograph, which were presented in his book Three Coins. Low also is the author of Avengers, Wildcats and Crickets and The All-American Crew, and he is working on a sequel to Three Coins. He frequently lectures on Chinese American history, and his family’s story has been featured on The History Channel, National Public Radio, the Smithsonian Museum of American History, and more.
| FRIDAY COURSES
You Write
A workshop to inspire participants who are writing and willing to share their stories with others. Participants will sharpen skills and techniques that will enhance creativity in a supportive, fun environment.
FRIDAYS, SEPT. 13 - NOV. 15
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Online via Zoom 10 weeks $155 Laurie Richards
| FREE LECTURE
The Chinatown Orphans on Sonora Street
| DESTINATION LEARNING
Carlsbad Walk and Talk
Join us on this one-hour walk as we stroll through historic Carlsbad along the main drag and State Street. We will spend as much time as people are interested. Stops will include the New Village Arts Theatre, which was redone last year, and along the way observing the glass blowing from outside. Afterward, we can lunch at Village Faire, with lots of indoor and outdoor choices. This is a great opportunity to get a little exercise, meet new friends and have a delicious lunch!
THURSDAY, OCT. 3
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Free
Parking information will be emailed prior to event Volunteer Jan Bandich
Welcome to New York!
Join us for four days in America’s most exciting metropolis: Spotlight on New York City by Collette!
PROGRAM LINKS
We appreciate all of our members! Memberships and registration fees support our program. As we continue online access, please keep our program links private. Sharing links with family and friends is a detriment to the longevity of our Osher program.
The Chinatown Orphans on Sonora Street offers a poignant journey into the Fong family in Stockton, California, from the 1920s through WWII. Fong Wy, himself an orphan, nurtures his seven children with boundless affection, fostering joy through simple pleasures like roller skating, and shared moments over Sunday comics and cupcakes. However, tragedy strikes for the seven children as both parents pass away by the time Rose— the oldest—was just 12. Left to fend for themselves, the seven siblings drew on their father’s teachings of resilience to navigate Depression-era challenges, surviving on free wieners, watermelon and joyful singing. Books will be available for purchase in class.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 13
1:00 - 3:00 p.m.
CSUSM ELB 470: Hybrid*
Free for Members
Registration required for free parking
Russell Low, MD
Stay in the heart of the city while you enjoy a getaway filled with shopping, sightseeing and endless entertainment. Stroll through Greenwich Village, the Wall Street district and Central Park. Board a ferry for a cruise of New York Harbor to visit the Statue of Liberty, the global symbol of freedom, and Ellis Island, where 12 million people realized their dream to start a new life. Reflect at the poignant 9/11 Memorial and take a self-guided tour at the 9/11 Museum. Enjoy two Broadway shows during this exciting excursion. With the perfect mix of guided tours and free time to explore on your own, this will be an unforgettable adventure!
OCT. 2 - 6, 2025
For more information: Contact Sherie Cambra Osher at CSUSM scambra@csusm.edu
| SPECIAL EVENT
Uncovering Hidden History:
Ah Quin and the San Diego Chinese Mission School Movement, 1870-1946
This is a special lunch and learn event. No discounts apply.
Join us for an enlightening lunchtime with Professor Susie Lan Cassel as we dive into the previously untold story of the Chinese Mission schools in early San Diego. Long thought to be a minor movement, Cassel’s meticulous research reveals a vibrant educational network of over a dozen schools across multiple Protestant denominations.
Through Ah Quin’s diary entries, historic maps and other rare documents, discover how Ah Quin— often considered the informal mayor of San Diego’s first Chinatown—and his family played a crucial role in shaping these evangelical efforts. This talk reexamines the way we connect with our past. Why were local Protestants so invested in the Chinese community? What did this mean for Chinatown and the city at large? Join us as we rediscover part of San Diego’s rich, multicultural heritage in this fascinating exploration of community, evangelism and education.
FRIDAY, JAN. 24, 2025
10:00 - 11:30 a.m.
Lunch will follow lecture
CSUSM ELB 470
$30
Susie Lan Cassell, PhD
Co-produced with the San Diego Chinese Historical Museum
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In-class meetings require a separate parking fee of $5 per day. New to OLLI? You’ll receive an email from CSUSM Parking Services with your new parking account information and instructions on how to purchase your permit. If you need help with your account, please contact scambra@ csusm.edu or asprout@csusm.edu
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For more information on how to participate, please contact Sherie Cambra at scambra@csusm.edu or 760-750-8716
Refer a Friend, Get Free Parking!
Share your love of Osher by referring a friend. If your friend purchases a membership, you’ll receive FREE parking for one term. It’s a great way to introduce friends to our vibrant explorations of art, history, music, culture and more, and get a bonus that pays every week for a full term.
SUSIE LAN CASSEL, PhD, is an awardwinning full professor in the Literature and Writing Studies Department at CSUSM, where she has taught for 28 years. Born to an American Air Force colonel and a Chinese mother from Vietnam, Cassel’s heritage has inspired her scholarly pursuit of Chinese American literature and history. For over two decades, she has dedicated herself to studying the Ah Quin Diary, one of the San Diego History Center’s most important holdings. This talk draws on her forthcoming article on San Diego’s Chinese Missions and is part of her extensive research for a trilogy of Ah Quin publications.
*Hybrid courses are offered live in the classroom and via Zoom simultaneously (interactive).
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2023 MATCHING DONOR
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DESTINATION NEW YORK
WELCOME TO NEW YORK!
October 2 – 6, 2025
Join us for four days in America’s most exciting metropolis: Spotlight on New York City by Collette!
Stay in the heart of the city while you enjoy a getaway filled with shopping, sightseeing and endless entertainment. Stroll through Greenwich Village, the Wall Street district and Central Park. Board a ferry for a cruise of New York Harbor to visit the Statue of Liberty, the global symbol of freedom, and Ellis Island, where 12 million people realized their dream to start a new life. Reflect at the poignant 9/11 Memorial and take a self-guided tour at the 9/11 Museum. Enjoy two Broadway shows during this exciting excursion. With the perfect mix of guided tours and free time to explore on your own, this will be an unforgettable adventure!
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Sherie Cambra Osher at CSUSM scambra@csusm.edu
California State University San Marcos
333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road San Marcos, California 92096-0001
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| SPECIAL EVENT Lunch and Learn
Friday, Jan. 24, 2025 | CSUSM ELB 470
Uncovering Hidden History: Ah Quin and the San Diego Chinese Mission School Movement, 1870-1946
Dive into the previously untold story of the Chinese Mission schools in early San Diego with Professor Susie Lan Cassel. Long thought to be a minor movement, Cassel’s meticulous research reveals a vibrant educational network of over a dozen schools across multiple Protestant denominations. Through Ah Quin’s diary entries, historic maps and other rare documents, discover how Ah Quin and his family played a crucial role in shaping these evangelical efforts. This talk reexamines the way we connect with our past. See page 11 for more information.
760-750-4020
Note: We can accept eChecks by phone.
csusm.edu/el/olli/howtoregister.html