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Osher Lifelong Learning Institute

Leadership

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Advisory Board

OLLI is a member-driven organization. We are guided by an extraordinary advisory board comprised of members from both chapters of our program with varying years of experience with OLLI and a host of professional and civic engagement. The OLLI Advisory Board includes officers who serve one-year terms and the chairs of our various committees. The members for the 2022-2023 Academic Year are:

  • Annette Sowell, President
  • Dan Davis, Vice President
  • Bill Graham, Past President
  • Allisa Beck, Gulf Park Representative
  • Diane Jeske, Secretary
  • Karrie Pennington, Associate Secretary
  • Wayne Easterling, Hattiesburg Member-at-Large
  • Christine Heath, Hattiesburg Member-at-Large
  • Susan Alford, Gulf Park Member-at-Large 
  • Theresa Ratti, Hattiesburg Art
  • Kay Guiles, Hattiesburg Curriculum
  • Christi Magrath, Gulf Park Curriculum
  • Larry Basden, Finance
  • Nanci Youngblood, Hattiesburg Marketing and Membership     

Director

Paula Mathis
Paula Mathis 
Director

paula.mathis@usm.edu

Thank you for your interest in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at The University of Southern Mississippi. As you navigate the OLLI website, I hope you'll find that OLLI is an open and inclusive community of active adults with wide-ranging interests in art, current events, health and fitness, history, literature, music, religion, technology, science, and much more. We believe that learning doesn't stop when you cross a stage or leave a classroom. Learning, as our motto goes, is for life. Just because you spent your career in finance, physics, or forestry doesn't mean gardening, genealogy, and gallivanting across the state (or beyond!) are off limits. Don't believe me? Come see for yourself.

We strive to create an atmosphere at OLLI that encourages you to explore your areas of interest and provides a vibrant, stimulating community in which to do so.  Our staff and member leaders work tirelessly to bring you courses led by current and retired university faculty, graduate students, and leading community professionals - many of whom are OLLI members themselves. In the midst of all our learning we also like to have a good time. Don't miss out on the social events, special interest groups, and informal gatherings that take place as well.

We hope that you'll come see what OLLI is all about in person. Whether you're in Hattiesburg, Columbia, Laurel, Gulfport, Biloxi, or anywhere in between, we know there's something at OLLI for you. If you're considering relocating to south Mississippi, add OLLI to the long list of opportunities that our corner of the world offers to active adults. We're just a short drive or a phone call away.  Hope to see you soon.

Staff

Tay Baucum
Tay Baucum 
Program Coordinator-Hattiesburg

tay.baucumFREEMississippi

Maryann Herodes
Maryann Herodes  
Program Coordinator-Gulf Park 

maryann.herodesFREEMississippi  

Contact Us

For additional information about the OLLI program, please contact our staff. We are happy to hear from you!

Gulf Park 228.214.3277 or Hattiesburg 601.266.6554.

 

 

Contact Us

Hattiesburg Campus

3601 Pearl Street               Peck House                            118 College Drive, #5055 Hattiesburg, MS 39406     

Campus Map

Email
tay.baucumFREEMississippi

Phone
601.266.6554

Contact Us

Gulf Park Campus

North Academic Building
Room 212              
730 E. Beach Blvd.          
Long Beach, MS 39560

Campus Map

Email
maryann.herodesFREEMississippi

Phone
228.214.3277