Political science professor honored for outstanding service to OLLI at UNT

Created in 2023, the award recognizes an OLLI instructor who consistently goes above and beyond in their efforts to create illuminating and unforgettable experiences for members of OLLI at UNT, a program that offers an extensive array of learning opportunities curated by and for adults age 50 and better. The award is presented by UNT Provost Michael McPherson during the longstanding OLLI at UNT faculty appreciation dinner, which this year also featured remarks from senior director Jordan Williams and UNT Regents Professor Emerita M. Jean Greenlaw.

“Dr. Greig has been a mainstay of OLLI at UNT since its Emeritus College days,” says McPherson, who served on the Emeritus College Board of Directors from 2014 to 2017. The program officially joined the network of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes in 2016.

“His classes consistently rank among OLLI at UNT’s most well-attended and highly rated, and he’s known for giving presentations that are so up to date they include news and information from that very day,” McPherson says. “He is passionate about making his classes relevant, engaging and fun, but it’s his passion for people that truly embodies the spirit of OLLI at UNT. Our OLLI members bring vast life experiences to the classroom, and Dr. Greig takes great joy in listening to their stories, getting to know them and learning from them.”

Greig is a highly sought-after commentator on current events due to his research expertise in international security and conflict resolution. He joined UNT in 2002 and received the prestigious J. H. Shelton Excellence in Teaching Award in 2018.

“Teaching OLLI classes is among my favorite things to do at UNT,” says Greig, who is leading two courses this spring — one about foreign policy under the new presidency and one about the research side of political science. “I come away from each class inspired by the interactions that I get to have with OLLI students.”

Greig has taught at five OLLI classroom locations and offered presentations to online learners over Zoom, and his reach and impact continue to grow. Within the last year, he participated in two OLLI panels on current events with other political science faculty.

“OLLI is important because it embraces the essential idea that people of all ages thrive when they stoke their curiosity and challenge themselves to learn new things,” he says. “We live in challenging and complex times, so the shared learning opportunities that OLLI creates for faculty and participants are important in helping each of us to equip ourselves to navigate these challenges.”

About OLLI at UNT

UNT has offered non-credit courses to the public for decades, but the journey to OLLI at UNT officially began when James R. Miller, former dean of UNT’s College of Education, founded the Emeritus College in 2009. His goal was to one day earn designation as an Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Powered by Miller’s vision and UNT’s strong community partnerships, Emeritus College grew rapidly. In 2016, UNT’s program joined the network of Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes, and OLLI at UNT was born.

Backed by a $1 million endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation and led by senior director Jordan Williams, OLLI at UNT continues to expand its reach and innovative curriculum. Its more than 1,300 members can enjoy virtual or in-person classes with faculty, area professionals and passionate subject matter experts at satellite classrooms in Denton, Frisco, Dallas, Lantana, Flower Mound and Keller.