Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Oklahoma State University names new director
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Media Contact: Kirsi McDowell | Communications Coordinator | 405-744-8320 | kirsi@okstate.edu
The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Oklahoma State University (OLLI at OSU) begins
its next chapter under the leadership of newly appointed director Dr. Robin Fuxa.
Geared toward active senior adults aged 50 or better, OLLI at OSU is a Bernard Osher Foundation program that brings people together to expand intellectual experiences and socialize through non-credit classes, travel opportunities and more.
Fuxa brings with her a commitment to education and valuable experience in community engagement.
With more than 15 years of service as OSU faculty and through her advocacy work for the teaching profession, Fuxa has earned numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Service Award (2020), the Jane M. Morse Award for Leadership (2021) and the 2022 Ted Gillespie Advocacy Award, all from the Oklahoma Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (OACTE).
Dr. Gina Peek, associate dean of extension and engagement, said she is excited to welcome Fuxa as the new OLLI director.
“Under her leadership, I anticipate that OLLI will continue to grow, offer fresh and relevant programs and reach even more program participants across the state,” Peek said.
Q and A with Dr. Fuxa
What is your background?
After serving as a public school classroom teacher and library media specialist in Oklahoma for several years, I began as faculty on the OSU-Tulsa campus in 2008 in elementary education and literacy education. I returned to Stillwater to serve as clinical practice coordinator, then as director of professional education for six years before serving as faculty in literacy education. My teaching and research focused on literacy pedagogies, equity in education and teacher quality.
Most recently, in my time at OSU, I served as national Chair for the Advisory Council of State Representatives that focuses on state-level advocacy within the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education and was a member of the AACTE Board of Directors until I left my faculty position in January of 2024 to seek public office.
What made you interested in working with OLLI?
I’ve been a fan of OLLI for many years. The ability to nurture our curiosity and creativity at every age is so very important to individuals’ well-being and to a thriving community. I’m so excited to lead this work of offering experiences that bring joy, foster great conversation and build community while we learn together.
I have been very fortunate in my work life to always enjoy my work, so I was seeking something in my next position that would present an exciting new challenge and, frankly, would be fun work that would serve my own curiosity and creativity. When I saw the listing for the OLLI Director, at the risk of sounding cheesy, it felt meant to be. And I love that I get to come back home to CEHS. All of my work thus far has been rooted in every person’s right to high-quality education, so OLLI is a natural next step!
What are your hopes or goals for OLLI under your new leadership?
As a lifelong learner myself, I am thrilled to accept the baton from my amazing predecessors at OLLI at OSU to continue offering an incredible variety of arts-focused, academic and civic experiences. The focus on learners 50+ fills a demand that in all too many communities goes unanswered. With that in mind, I’m very excited to consider ways we can expand access, both by reaching out to new areas of the state as well as expanding offerings and increasing participation in each of the current OLLI hubs.
Last but not least, when I accepted this position and began sharing the news with friends and family, I was surprised that the most frequent question I got was, “What’s OLLI?” I am eager to make that question far less common by expanding with intention the ways we promote our opportunities for both participants and prospective instructors!
OLLI at OSU offers courses online and in four locations across Oklahoma: Bartlesville, Oklahoma City, Stillwater and Tulsa. Local leadership committees support each area.
For more information about OLLI or to register for upcoming course sessions, visit olli.okstate.edu.