Education Matters | Connecting the Community: Lifelong Learning through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Ringling College

By Ryan G. Van Cleave | Photos by Karen Arango | December 2022

In 2019, Ringling College of Art and Design joined the ranks of colleges and universities such as Duke University, Johns Hopkins, and Tufts University, as well as all of the Ivy League and Big 10 schools, in having a lifelong learning program with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) designation. Today, OLLI at Ringling College is a thriving and vibrant membership-based community of adults aged 50 and better who are passionate about learning. Since OLLI educational experiences have no tests, no grades, and no degree requirements, it is the ideal environment to explore new topics with other interested adults…merely for the joy of learning.

In March of 2022, OLLI at Ringling College hired Dr. Phyllis C. Brown to take things to the next level. It’s clear why this was a match—throughout her career, Brown had worked in numerous academic jobs, including most recently serving as associate dean/campus director at Tampa’s School of Professional and Continuing Studies at Springfield College. Prior to that, she had administrative or teaching roles at Goddard College and Lesley University. 

Brown’s credentials, too, are practically tailormade for her role as a director of a lifelong learning program that’s connected to an art and design college. She earned a Bachelor of History degree from the University of Rhode Island, a Master’s Degree in Management of Human Services from Brandeis University, and a Doctorate in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her interest in history, education, and community came together through her work with local organizations such as the Manatee Literacy Council, Friends of the Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Library, and the Family Heritage House at State College of Florida.

“I’ve been to several lectures and events at Ringling College, so I was very familiar with the College before I took the job at OLLI,” Brown says. “I see myself as an emerging artist so that connection made an already attractive opportunity even more so.” 

 She’s been delighted with how things have worked out so far and is eager to build on OLLI’s past success to deliver educational opportunities for personal enrichment that range from traditional college subjects to eclectic topics. 

Since Brown has only been here for eight months, she’s still admittedly in the learning-and-assessing phase. There are a couple of things that make OLLI at Ringling College unique. Located on the Ringling College Museum Campus, Sarasota’s OLLI chapter is the only OLLI out of 125 nationwide affiliated with a college of art and design and the only OLLI housed at an art museum. Brown says this uniqueness allows them to offer their students behind-the-scenes access to Sarasota Art Museum’s exhibitions and galleries. 

“Even with the benefits of being associated with a college of art and design and being located in a museum, I continue to hear that there are still many people who don’t know about OLLI or have never heard about OLLI.” 

Something Brown is focusing on is raising the visibility of OLLI and extending lifelong learning opportunities in Sarasota and Manatees communities. Some of the communities they have partnered with include Sarasota Bay Club, The Center of Anna Maria Island, and Glenridge. “Our goal is not only to get people to come to our campus but for us to get out into the community and offer courses and lectures,” Brown says. 

One of OLLI’s signature programs that Brown is especially excited about is “Listening to Women.” The series was founded by Holly Freedman, an OLLI Advisory Council member. The program features women whose innovations and accomplishments are having a local, regional, and global impact. Brown adds that “each of these events allows us to meet and learn from women who are driven by a cause and have the passion, drive, and determination to achieve outstanding success.”

Another beloved program founded by Julie Cotton, who’s also an OLLI Advisory Council member, is the documentary film series, CONNECTIONS, which was a popular part of Ringling College’s Lifelong Learning Academy—the organization that became OLLI in 2019. Having facilitator-led conversations about the film’s content, relevance, and impact after a communal viewing has proven to be a great vehicle to discuss contemporary issues. 

Brown is thinking big because “Sarasota is a booming city, growing by leaps and bounds every day,” so she’s looking to expand and meet the needs of the growing population. “We are planning to create some one-day conferences, develop a distinguished speaker’s series, and launch programs to attract newly retired people.” 

OLLI offers 14 different topic areas, and of those History, Arts & Entertainment, Music Appreciation, Literature, and Science are some of our most popular subject areas. Highlights of their winter semester include iPhone Photography, Basic Genealogy, The New Yorker Magazine: Conversation, Opera Heroines: Resolute and Resilient, and Science Wednesdays.

“Lifelong learning is for everyone,” Brown says. “We invite lifelong learners and those who are curious about lifelong learning to explore OLLI. We invite you to sit in on a class or a lecture. We’ve got something for everyone.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION on OLLI at Ringling College, please visit www.OLLIatRinglingCollege.org or call 941.309.5111.