RENAISSANCE MAN JACK UNDERHILL JACK UNDERHILL, THE NEWEST MEMBER of our Board of Directors, joined OLLI about seven years ago, a few years after he retired from the federal government. "A friend of mine talked me into teaching a course at LRI. I selected the topic of cities and the way they meet the needs of their inhabitants since I had slides from my travels to cities all over the northern hemisphere," Jack recalls.  He claims that making the transition from OLLI teacher to student was not difficult since "I am first and foremost a professional student." Jack reads about 18 different newspapers, newsletters and magazines, clips articles on about 40 topics related to social-justice issues and still "has a strong desire to learn, so OLLI fits my needs quite well," he explains.
     Although Jack has no preset agenda for his term on the Board (his appointment expires May 2008), he believes OLLI could "teach more courses in the field of social justice—poverty, homelessness, racism"—one of his major interests. He also would like to see more minority students enroll at OLLI as well as improved and expanded transportation options to and from OLLI.  "Although there are many special transportation programs for low-income people,” he comments, “services are lacking for others in the Fairfax area who cannot drive."
     Born on a sheep ranch in northern California, ("I actually lived in a log cabin for one year") he moved to northern Virginia when he joined the federal government in 1959. The majority of his 33-year career was spent at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, where he worked on the Open Space program, New Communities and programs to help the homeless.
     Jack graduated from the University of California at Berkeley with a BA in International Relations. He holds two masters degrees, one in Public Law and Government from Columbia University in the City of New York and the second in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Just before he retired from the federal government, he earned his PhD in Public Policy from George Mason University. 
     Jack and Jane, his wife of 46 years, raised three children in Holmes Run Acres near Fairfax Hospital where they have lived for 42 years. Jack’s photos of Holmes Run Acres, enhanced by his wood sculpture, charcoal drawings and poetry, are the focus of the OLLI exhibit, "I Saw the Face of God in the Waters," now on view in the social room annex. Travel, church work, and grandchildren further consume Jack’s time.

The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the more complete OLLI Staff Forecast of Non-Class Events. Board, committee, resource-group and 'membership-type' meetings/events are highlighted in bold. OLLI members are welcome at all Board, committee and resource-group meetings (except executive sessions).