‘Behind the Blue’: Learning doesn’t retire with UK’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 4, 2026) — Each spring, the University of Kentucky celebrates a new class of graduates stepping into the next chapter of their lives. But at UK, learning doesn’t end at commencement.
On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” host Kody Kiser talks with Joey Conrad, director of the UK’s Office of Lifelong Learning (OLLI), and Sue Oatey, an OLLI class participant, about OLLI and the community it creates for adults ages 50 and older.
OLLI at UK offers educational and enrichment courses, forums, shared interest groups, trips, events and more for adult learners. Conrad said the program is designed for engagement and connection, with opportunities that encourage participants to explore new interests, revisit long-held passions, and build friendships through shared learning.
Oatey, who moved to Lexington after retiring nine years ago, shares how she discovered OLLI through a friend and quickly found it became a gateway to learning and community. She describes taking courses ranging from bourbon and wine appreciation to geology and constitutional topics, and says the program helped her build a network of friends and ongoing experiences in a place that was once new to her.
The conversation also highlights the Office of Lifelong Learning’s Donovan Scholarship program, which helps Kentucky residents ages 65 and older take University of Kentucky academic courses. Conrad explains how participants can audit courses or pursue degrees, and how the office helps adult learners navigate the enrollment process and connect with campus resources.
OLLI at UK has sites in Lexington and Morehead and supports a growing community of learners. Conrad notes the program continues to expand course offerings and access, including online options that allow participants to learn from across Kentucky and beyond.
To learn more about OLLI at UK, visit olliatuk.uky.edu.
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“Behind the Blue” is a production of the University of Kentucky. Transcripts for most episodes are now embedded in the audio file and can be accessed in many podcast apps during playback. Transcripts for older episodes remain available on the show’s blog page.
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This interview has been edited for time and clarity.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and healthcare. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $1.02 billion research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.