Distance-Delivery   

(IN-PERSON SECTION)

Session II Add-On: Apr. 15
Wednesday 12:15 - 1:30 pm (one meeting)
Discover methods used to count, track, and describe wild animals by an early woman biologist as she relates experiences conducting field research across varied landscapes and biologist as she relates experiences conducting field research across varied landscapes and waters of Alaska, collecting information under sometimes harrowing conditions to ensure that conservation measures sustained fish and game for the community's well-being. Research on such animals as sockeye, chum, and Chinook salmon, caribou, moose, and red king crab will be discussed as well as the impacts of a changing climate on these populations.
Instructor Margaret F. Merritt, Ph.D. is a retired biologist and adjunct assistant professor at UAF, public speaker, and author who resides in Fairbanks, Alaska.

(ZOOM SECTION)

Session II Add-On: Apr. 15
Wednesday 12:15 - 1:30 pm (one meeting)
Discover methods used to count, track, and describe wild animals by an early woman biologist as she relates experiences conducting field research across varied landscapes and biologist as she relates experiences conducting field research across varied landscapes and waters of Alaska, collecting information under sometimes harrowing conditions to ensure that conservation measures sustained fish and game for the community's well-being. Research on such animals as sockeye, chum, and Chinook salmon, caribou, moose, and red king crab will be discussed as well as the impacts of a changing climate on these populations.
Instructor Margaret F. Merritt, Ph.D. is a retired biologist and adjunct assistant professor at UAF, public speaker, and author who resides in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Session II Add-On: Apr. 13
Mondays 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one meeting)

*OLLI membership is not required. This course is free to attend.
Do you want to give back to OLLI? Do you have some talent, skills or knowledge to share but are not quite sure how to organize and run a class? This class will take you from your idea all the way to writing and submitting a class proposal. This two hour class will examine some aspects of putting together a great class and time to develop your ideas with the other attendees.
Instructor Mary Burtness is a retired teacher who loves to teach and help others discover the joy of teaching for OLLI.

(ZOOM SECTION)

Session II Add-On: Apr. 13
Mondays 1:00 - 3:00 pm (one meeting)

*OLLI membership is not required. This course is free to attend.
Do you want to give back to OLLI? Do you have some talent, skills or knowledge to share but are not quite sure how to organize and run a class? This class will take you from your idea all the way to writing and submitting a class proposal. This two hour class will examine some aspects of putting together a great class and time to develop your ideas with the other attendees.
Instructor Mary Burtness is a retired teacher who loves to teach and help others discover the joy of teaching for OLLI.

Session II Add-On: April 13, 14, 15
Mon, Tues, Wed 10:30 - 11:45 am (3 consecutive meetings)

*OLLI membership is not required.
Learn how easy it is to plan your estate and leave gifts to people and charities that mean the most to your family! Philanthropic advisors for the UA Foundation will discuss giving through your retirement and estate planning and other strategies. All attendees will receive a printed will planning guide. Bring your laptop, and we will show you how to use UA’s FreeWill software. If you’ve never had time to meet with an estate planner or advisor, please feel free to schedule an appointment with Harry, Scott, or Miranda – questions are welcome, but they can give you more in-depth advice during one-on-one appointments.
Facilitator: Miranda Miller, Development Coordinator, with UAF. Presenters: Harry W. Need, Senior, and Scott Taylor.

(ZOOM SECTION)

Session II Add-On: April 13, 14, 15
Mon, Tues, Wed 10:30 - 11:45 am (3 consecutive meetings)

*OLLI membership is not required.
Learn how easy it is to plan your estate and leave gifts to people and charities that mean the most to your family! Philanthropic advisors for the UA Foundation will discuss giving through your retirement and estate planning and other strategies. All attendees will receive a printed will planning guide. Bring your laptop, and we will show you how to use UA’s FreeWill software. If you’ve never had time to meet with an estate planner or advisor, please feel free to schedule an appointment with Harry, Scott, or Miranda – questions are welcome, but they can give you more in-depth advice during one-on-one appointments.
Facilitator: Miranda Miller, Development Coordinator, with UAF. Presenters: Harry W. Need, Senior, and Scott Taylor.

Session II Add-On: April 13, 15, 17
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:15 - 10:15am (3 meetings)
Join us as we dive into varying different topics within the umbrella of sustainability science alongside UAF undergraduate students, participating in their presentations, and fostering a sense of intergenerational learning. Come ready to ask questions and learn more about sustainability!
Your instructor Associate Professor Katie Spellman will have various UAF undergraduate students present during each of these meetings.
 

SOC-09-Z (distance delivered)
Session II Add-On: April 16, 17
Thursday and Friday 10:30 - 11:45 am (2 consecutive meetings)

*OLLI membership is not required.

Title: Guide to Retirement

Presenter: Jordan Hendry, Financial Advisor, MBA, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ®

Date: Thursday, April 16

Course Description:

We will discuss general guidelines to retirement principles that include,  saving, spending, investing, gifting, Social Security, health, and planning opportunities to minimize taxes in retirement.  We’ll explore the relationship between IRA withdrawals, Roth IRA conversions, taxability of Social Security and Medicare part B premiums, and how to leverage your giving power with Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from your IRA. We would encourage those attending to bring their statements or have them available to participate in this activity.

Title: The Psychology of Investing: Discipline, Emotions, and Meaningful Giving

Presenter: Ethan Daniels, Financial Advisor, MSPFP, CFP®
Date: Friday, April 17 

Course Description:
Explore how behavioral biases such as envy, regret, and loss aversion shape the way we invest and make financial decisions. This session also highlights how emotions influence charitable giving and how donors can create intentional, tax‑efficient strategies that align with their values. Attendees will learn practical ways to stay disciplined during market turbulence while building an investment and giving plan that supports both their long‑term goals and the causes they care about.

(IN PERSON SECTION)

Session II: Mar. 18, 25, Apr. 1, 8
Wednesdays 3:45 - 5:00 pm
What aspects of earthquake science are globally unique to Alaska? We will contemplate future earthquakes by exploring 26 amazing facts about earthquake science in Alaska. Students wanting a greater appreciation should also enroll in Session I: Alaska Plate Tectonics: Foundations for Alaska Earthquake Science Facts.
Instructor: Carl Tape (see SCI-02)

(ZOOM SECTION)

Session II: Mar. 18, 25, Apr. 1, 8
Wednesdays 3:45 - 5:00 pm
What aspects of earthquake science are globally unique to Alaska? We will contemplate future earthquakes by exploring 26 amazing facts about earthquake science in Alaska. Students wanting a greater appreciation should also enroll in Session I: Alaska Plate Tectonics: Foundations for Alaska Earthquake Science Facts.
Instructor: Carl Tape (see SCI-02)

HIS-05 (in-person)
Session II : Mar. 17, 24, 31, Apr. 7, 14
Tuesdays 2:15 - 3:30 pm (5 weeks)
*Please only register if you weren't able to attend the previous Beringia course in Fall 2025. Let others have a chance to enjoy it!
This class revisits unique past events that gave character to extreme NW North American and NE Asian landmasses, as discussed during the UAF-OLLI class in Fall 2025. Spreading fascination with Beringia's origins and development remains the aim of this course.
Instructor Dave Norton is a retired UAF Adjunct Research Faculty member.

HIS-05 (distance-delivered)
Session II : Mar. 17, 24, 31, Apr. 7, 14
Tuesdays 2:15 - 3:30 pm (5 weeks)
*Please only register if you weren't able to attend the previous Beringia course in Fall 2025. Let others have a chance to enjoy it!
This class revisits unique past events that gave character to extreme NW North American and NE Asian landmasses, as discussed during the UAF-OLLI class in Fall 2025. Spreading fascination with Beringia's origins and development remains the aim of this course.
Instructor Dave Norton is a retired UAF Adjunct Research Faculty member.

FF-06-Z (distance-delivered)
Session II: Mar. 19, 26, Apr. 2, 9
Thursdays 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Growing Roses in Alaska at the UAF-GBG, by the Georgeson Botanical Garden rose crew. Guest speakers planned!
Instructor Janet Matheson has been a rose grower since 1974 (test panelist for Jackson & Perkins, master gardener, & GBG rose crew since 2014; Millie Peek - rose grower, master gardener, & leader of GBG rose crew). 

LIT-03-Z (distance-delivered)
Session II: Mar. 17, 24, 31, Apr. 7, 14
Tuesdays 12:00 - 2:00 pm (5 weeks)
Our discussions of several "tales of best sentence and most solaas" (i.e., instruction and entertainment) by Geoffrey Chaucer will mostly feature modern-English translations. Nevertheless, I encourage frequent exposure to the original Middle-English text; its verbal grace and vibrant nuances are charming. David Wright's excellent verse translation is in Oxford World's Classics. Online is poetryintranslation.com. Original and translated texts are side-by-side in librarius.com. Bantam Classic paperback (2006), edited by Peter G. Beidler, has facing-page versions. Other expert options are in W.W. Norton, Penguin, Signet, Hackett, Vintage, and Insignia.
Instructor Joe Dupras, Professor Emeritus of English (UAF 1979-2010), has taught OLLI classes featuring novels as well as surveys of poetry. 

LIT-04-Z (distance-delivered)
Session II: Mar. 19, 26, Apr. 2, 9, 16
Thursdays 12:00 - 1:00 pm (5 weeks)
We will end up reading five books: two about the race for the North and South Poles; two about the search for the Northwest Passage. The fifth book will be a philosophical novel about exploration.
Instructor Toby Widdicombe specializes in Tolkien studies, American and British literature, Shakespeare, textual studies, critical theory, film, and utopianism. He has published books on (among others) Tolkien, Edward Bellamy, Utopianism, Shakespeare, Shakespeare and film, Raymond Chandler, Max Nettlau, and Anglo-American travel writing. One of his current projects studies the rhetoric of polar exploration. 

MUS-05-Z (distance-delivered)
Session II: Mar. 16, 23, 30, Apr. 6
Mondays 3:45 - 5:00 pm
Music has great power to restore us to feeling calm and happy. It is the best antidepressant and anti-anxiety medication I know. In this class we’ll listen to some of the great music from the movies: musicals, theme songs, great singers, etc. Come take a break from this uncertain and unstable world to enjoy one of the good things in life and to rejuvenate yourself.
Instructor Larry Moen provides comprehensive therapy services as a Licensed Professional Counselor in his private practice, Uncommon Therapy (https://www.utherapy.net/). Previously he has been acting coordinator of the counseling center in Utqiagvik, manager of adult services at Fairbanks Community Behavioral Health Center, treatment director of Children's Services on the North Slope, Dean of Students at Ilisagvik College, and the creator of the social skills curriculum used by Job Corps.

Session II: Mar. 20, 27, Apr. 3, 10
Fridays 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Weather drives wildfire behavior in Alaska and across the world. Learn about Alaska's classic weather patterns during the wildfire season and how every season has its own personality. Historic Alaskan wildfires will be investigated, with emphasis also given to impactful fires burning outside Alaska such as the August 2023 wildfire in Lahaina, Hawaii and the January 2025 wildfire in Los Angeles, California.
Instructor Eric Stevens worked as a meteorologist in Alaska for over 30 years, with time at the National Weather Service, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Alaska Fire Service.