Event Summary

Book Notes | ‘The Scarlet Letter’

Event Date: April 19, 2024, at 2:00 PM

Set in the 1600s in a small town in Puritan New England, 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a story of sin, cowardice, and survival. Members of the UMRA Book Club found the writing to be laborious, riddled with many words no longer in use, and wondered why the novel was on high school reading lists.

Alzheimer’s, dementia, and the brain explained

Do you ever wonder whether it’s OK to forget names and nouns but not verbs? During UMRA’s March workshop, neurologist Paul Schanfield, MD, will simplify common neurological conditions related to dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and guide us through identifying symptoms, prevention, treatment, and acceptance. 

Book Notes | ‘The Other Einstein’

Event Date: March 15, 2024, at 2:00 PM

In 'The Other Einstein,' an historical novel about the life of Albert Einstein’s first wife, Mileva Marić, author Marie Benedict speculates that Marić contributed significantly to the papers and relativity theory that are attributed to Einstein. The book raises several questions.

A preview of 2024 Minnesota legislative politics

Melissa Hortman, speaker of the Minnesota House and a 1995 graduate cum laude of the U of M Law School, will be the guest speaker for UMRA’s February 27 Forum. She will help us understand the 2024 legislative session and efforts at bipartisan cooperation.

Knee issues in older adults and what can be done about them

Whether you are contemplating knee replacement surgery or less drastic measures to address knee pain, swelling, and other maladies, you don’t want to miss UMRA’s Living Well Workshop with Elizabeth Arendt, MD. An in-demand speaker who is widely recognized for her clinical expertise, she will be talking to us about issues affecting knees in older adults. 

Knowing Iceland

Event Date: January 24, 2024, at 10:00 AM

For our Armchair Traveler Program on January 24, 2024, Kate Maple took us to western Iceland.  Her photos are incredible and her descriptions are informative and poetic.  She and her friend and traveling companion Michelle Schermann had an amazing experience exploring some lesser-known parts of Iceland and we had an amazing experience hearing all about it and seeing amazing pictures.

Planning for the (un)expected end

Pat Miles, former TV news anchor and journalist, lost her husband suddenly and found the financial and legal challenges to be overwhelming during her time of grief. She wrote a book about her experience, Before All Is Said and Done, incorporating wisdom from other unexpected widows, and will share her learnings for the first UMRA Forum of the New Year.

Book Notes | ‘Fox Creek’

Event Date: January 19, 2024, at 2:00 PM

Set in the Northwoods of Minnesota, 'Fox Creek,' the 19th book in the Cork O’Connor mystery series by William Kent Krueger, is about the conflict between Native and white people in the use of natural resources in both the U.S. and Canada.

Therapeutic approaches to aging

University of Minnesota researchers are exploring therapeutic interventions to treat aging and prevent age-related diseases. Laura Niedernhofer, MD, PhD, leads the Medical School’s Institute on the Biology of Aging and Metabolism and the Biology of Aging Medical Discovery Team and will share her work on aging—and how to slow it down—for UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on Tuesday, January 16, via Zoom. 

Reframing your identity

Event Date: January 30, 2024, at 12:00 PM - January 30, 2024, at 1:30 PM

The first session of the three-part “Reimagining Retirement” series developed by the Association of Retirement Organizations in Higher Education featured University of Toronto sociology professor Michelle Pannor Silver, PhD. She discussed how careful planning for late career transitions can honor one’s lifelong commitment to work. 

Solving the Mystery of a Grandfather’s Death

Event Date: December 6, 2023, at 10:00 AM

Knowing your family’s medical history is important for everyone, especially as we become more aware of the role played by genetics in many medical conditions. See this video of Michelle Casey, previously a senior research fellow in the School of Public Health, Division of Health Policy & Management, as she presents her trek through family medical history.

Beyond the classroom, the student experience today

How are today’s students and their experiences different from when we went to college? Beyond grades, what are the greatest challenges they face to completing their degrees? Guest speakers Calvin Phillips and Maggie Towle from the U of M Office of Student Affairs will share their insights and the latest research on student life today for UMRA’s November forum. Don’t miss this eye-opening conversation.

Showcasing UMRA’s Professional Development Grants for Retirees

The UMRA grants program provides up to $5,000 for University retirees to continue their scholarship or to pursue new projects of interest. Three recent recipients of awards, including Barbara Frey (pictured), will be featured during UMRA’s Living Well Workshop on November 21. 

Book Notes | ‘Strongmen from Mussolini to the Present’

Event Date: November 17, 2023, at 2:00 PM

The topic covered by this well-researched and carefully documented history is depressing but very important as the battle between democracy and autocracy continues around the world today.

Estate Planning

Event Date: November 6, 2023, at 9:40 AM

Overview of all your important financial decisions from taxes to trusts and health care directives.