Contact Information


Director's Message

Welcome to the Web site of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Brandeis, OLLI at Brandeis, informally known as BOLLI.  BOLLI is an interaction of a social community and a learning program, a learning community. No tests, no papers and no judgment – people come to BOLLI simply for the love of learning, and to gather and commune with other warm, interesting, interested and vital peers.

A hallmark of most lifelong learning institutes (LLIs) is that they (we) are member-driven meaning members do much and in some programs all, of the work to create, run, evaluate and improve the program. BOLLI operates on the basis of shared governance. We have a “council” of members elected to help shape program policy, about 15 committees (e.g., curriculum, membership, day trips, luncheon speakers, and technology) and two full-time staff. As part of the Rabb School for Continuing Studies, BOLLI benefits from the many opportunities and resources provided by our home-host, Brandeis University.

The heart of our learning community is, of course, learning. All courses at BOLLI are led by our members. Some are experts in their subjects, e.g., retired college professors and other educators, attorneys leading courses on the Supreme Court, physicians leading courses on medical ethics and computer professionals teaching computer classes. Others courses are led by “peer leaders” meaning individuals with a passion for a particular topic develop, lead and facilitate discussion in that course. This is based on the notion that the best way to learn is to teach. 

Other opportunities for learning at BOLLI include our Lunch & Learn activity in which one of an eclectic range of speakers gives a talk each day our program meets. In addition, our “interim” Intensive Programs are led by current members of the Brandeis faculty. BOLLI members are also invited to attend most Brandeis-sponsored lectures, museum activities, concerts and theatre programs. Finally, BOLLI members organize and lead groups on a wide range of off-campus day-trips and other activities.

There is a movement of LLIs developing across the country, close to 500 now. Two Internet-based resources to explore if you are looking for a program are: 

On behalf of Brandeis, the BOLLI Council and our staff, we wish you healthy, meaningful and joyful learning in whatever venue you choose.

Sharon Sokoloff, PhD’91
BOLLI Director from 2001-2011