Lecture Series Overview

Overview

We hold four lecture series each year. During the fall and spring semesters, lectures are held on Friday afternoons from 1:30-2:30 PM. In January and May, we hold lectures on Tuesdays and Thursday mornings from 10:30-11:30 AM. Lectures are either held online or in-person in the Spring Valley Building, 4801 Massachusetts Ave. NW, in Room A off the lobby on the first floor.

Lectures are always free and open to the public. Join OLLI's email list to receive information about lectures.

In the past 30 years, more than 1200 speakers have given a lecture at OLLI. Topics range from art, music, and literature to public policy, economics, and politics to astrophysics, history, and sports. We strive to present experts on a wide range of issues.

View recent lectures.

reservations

Each lecture series is announced several weeks ahead of time through our e-newsletter.

Due to limited seating, reservations are required to attend in-person lectures. Reservations can be made through the website. Each registrant may reserve two seats. Your name must be on the list of registrants to enter the lecture and you must be in your seat five minutes before the lecture starts to guarantee your seat. 

Reservations are not required for online lectures.

Suggest A Speaker

To broaden members' exposure to a wide range of expertise, speakers are drawn from the federal government, universities, arts organizations, media, think tanks, and other institutions in the Washington metropolitan area. The Lecture Committee, made up of 12 to 18 OLLI members, researches and reviews potential speakers. Emphasis is placed on offering a series with a diverse group of speakers and topics.

Study Group Leaders cannot give lectures. Members can register for study groups led by individuals in whom they are interested. Also, since more than 120 individuals serve as Study Group Leaders throughout the year, the lecture schedule cannot possibly accommodate all, or even most of them. 

To recommend a speaker, please call the office at 202-895-4860 or email [email protected].