Page 34 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2026

Faces of OLLI
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Southern Miss is an extraordinary community of active adults who are 50 and older. The first value they celebrate is lifelong learning. Its members thrive
on courses that challenge and inspire—from exploring artificial intelligence to discovering treasures along the Mississippi Coast. And there’s another component that’s essential to the OLLI community: fellowship.
These faces are friends who have laughed together in classrooms, shared stories over coffee, and built a community that feels like home—now in OLLI’s very own dedicated space on the Gulf Park campus in Long Beach. Each face reflects a unique story filled with curiosity and camaraderie.
OLLI is not just about what they learn; it’s about who they learn with. Every face represents a commitment to growth and a willingness to
embrace new ideas. This photo captures that spirit—a reminder that learning never ends, and friendship makes the journey richer.
If you’re curious, if you love good company, and if you believe learning should be fun, then OLLI is your place. Join them and they’ll make sure your face is in the photo next time. As they often say, “Come for the courses—stay for the connections (and maybe the coffee and cookies)!”
Osher Lifelong Learning Institute The University of Southern Mississippi
730 East Beach Blvd., Long Beach www.usm.edu/lifelong-learning
olli@usm.edu
34 | January 2026
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