Volunteer Leadership

Before retiring in 2011, Larry Gerber was a professor of history at Auburn University specializing in twentieth century US history. During his academic career he became deeply involved in faculty governance serving as chair of the Auburn University Senate and then later as national vice president of the American Association of University Professors. He is also an avid collector of antique oriental rugs. He joined OLLI almost a decade ago.

Bill Deutsch is a Research Fellow, Emeritus in the AU School of Fisheries, with degrees in Zoology, Biology, Anthropology, and Aquatic Ecology. He is a member of the Alabama Paleontological Society, and regularly searches for fossils statewide and beyond. He has had a life-long interest in paleontology, and is currently writing a book titled, "Ancient Life in Alabama: The Fossils, the Finders, and Why It Matters."

Rebecca Kelly grew up in South Florida and has lived in Auburn for 38 years. Before retiring, she taught special education, English, and gifted education. Rebecca joined OLLI two years ago, and has thoroughly enjoyed discovering a wide array of new areas of interest as well as getting to know others who have never lost their enthusiasm for learning.

Roberta Jackel retired from Auburn University after serving as the project manager for the Alabama Healthy Marriage and Relationship Initiative. She is an advocate for people with disabilities and a community leader in environmental and civic issues. She has a background in social services and grants management as well as a J.D. from the University of Georgia.

Ken Autrey grew up in Auburn and lived elsewhere for 50 years before retiring and returning home. For many years, he was an English professor at Francis Marion University in South Carolina. He has been a member of OLLI at Auburn for 10 years and teaches OLLI poetry writing courses.

Caroline Gebhard is a Professor of English at Tuskegee University. Her research areas include American Literature and African American and Women’s Studies. She is the co-author or editor of several publications on the Postbellum South.

Ann Beale is a retired medical social worker. Originally from Rochester, New York, she earned her degree at the University of Michigan. She is an active volunteer in the community and serves on the board of the Auburn Public Library Foundation.

Harold Bruner is a native of Indiana and a graduate of Purdue. He held several jobs in forestry, followed by a second career in real estate in Florida. In 2014 he moved to Auburn and enrolled in OLLI. In 2018 he introduced the first OLLI hiking classes. Harold has participated in many OLLI book groups.

Ursula Higgins joined OLLI in 2014 to take classes and teach cooking classes. Having retired from 38 years in the restaurant and catering world, and watching her kitchen being remodeled into a pleasant habitat once more, it was the perfect option.

Mike Akins is a writer with experience in online learning and video. He recently served as Senior Online Course Producer for Emory Healthcare, Atlanta. Mike and his wife Betsy have been OLLI members since 2019 and enjoy living in Opelika.

After more than 40 years as an English faculty member at AUM, in 2015 Nancy Grisham Anderson retired and moved to AUM Continuing Education and Community Engagement. She works on the OLLI at AuburnAUM course schedule, teaches classes, leads book groups, and plans field trips.