Instructor Spotlights

• Gerald W. Flinchum

  Instructor | History

  For Gerald Flichum, teaching at OLLI is the realization of a forty-year dream. A lifelong student of history and avid reader with more than a thousand books in his personal library, Gerald brings both passion and energy to the classroom. Having been encouraged to join OLLI by fellow instructor Josh Langston, he now teaches an impressive fifteen courses. His classes are known for their dynamic, participatory style—far more than just lectures. The more he teaches, the more he enjoys sharing his love of history with OLLI’s engaged community of learners.

• Charles Leahy

  Instructor | Literature

  After retiring in 2015, Charles Leahy returned to his academic roots in English literature, eager to share his love of the written word with others. Before joining KSU’s OLLI program, he designed and developed courses at Emory University, and now brings that same thoughtful creativity to OLLI’s classrooms. His courses explore subjects such as the travel narratives of colonial exploration and banned books, inviting discussion and reflection. Charles seeks out energetic adult learners—people with unique life stories and perspectives—and has found his teaching home among OLLI’s enthusiastic and genuine community of students.

• Suzanne Litrel

  Instructor | Latin History

  Historian and published author Suzanne Litrel specializes in world and Latin American history and maintains an active research agenda. With over twenty years of teaching experience, Suzanne’s enthusiasm for history stems from an unexpected place—she once disliked the subject in high school until discovering its richness through historical fiction. Now, she channels that same storytelling spirit into her courses, believing that history is best understood through the power of narrative. At OLLI, she thrives on lively discussions with students who share her curiosity about the people and events that shaped our world.