Congratulations to Patti LaPlace, Executive Director of the Osher LifeLong Learning Institute (OLLI) on announcing her retirement!
The College of Health and Human Services wishes to congratulate Patti LaPlace on her retirement effective December 2026. LaPlace has served as the Executive Director of the CSULB Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) since 2022, taking over for long-time OLLI Director Barbara White. Patti has also served as a lecturer for the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies.
“The nice thing about working in OLLI is that I have a lot of retired folks I can get good advice from,” LaPlace said. “I come from a rec and leisure background, so I recognize that leisure activities can play a role in redefining yourself in many ways, including in retirement. I see this everyday with OLLI.”
With over 30 years of experience in the mental health field, Patti has been recognized for her work from the City of Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, California Park and Recreation Society, Recreation Therapy Section, Mental Health America, Long Beach Police Department, and VA Long Beach Healthcare System. Much of her work was centered on working with veterans experiencing homelessness.
“I’ve worked in community service all my life, so I always like to have a role where I’m in service or being of help to somebody,” LaPlace stated.
LaPlace got her start in higher education in 1988 with Cal State Dominguez Hills, working in its recreation therapy program, and soon obtained her master’s degree to teach night courses, while also working as a professional recreation therapist during the day. She then came to teach at Long Beach State as a lecturer in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies. One of her favorite classes that she has taught has been the “Aging in Leisure” class, where she impressed upon her students the importance of putting a high value on leisure time, even earlier in life.
“Sometimes people view retirement as forced or obligated to, and they are frightened of it, so they resist it. I think if people in their younger age start to have the mindset of, ‘When I’m not working anymore, what do I really want to do?’ Well, maybe it’s pursuing that passion, and that’s why it’s so important to have a good balance between work and your leisure time now, because during your leisure time, you can work on those other skills.”
Whether it be music, traveling or technical writing, LaPlace has seen numerous older adults come to OLLI to explore and cultivate their personal passions and interests. She also has remained steadfast in her desire to help others.
As Executive Director of OLLI, LaPlace recalls a time when, wanting to inquire about OLLI classes, a woman came to her office. Not knowing where she was at first, the woman was greeted by LaPlace and was given a tour of OLLI on campus.
“She had lost her husband 3 months prior, and was looking for a place to reconnect,” recalls LaPlace.
A widow herself, LaPlace reassured the woman, and got her connected to the OLLI community.
“OLLI is a great program here at Long Beach State, and I’ve been honored to be a part of it here. It’s more than just a Center and a life-long learning program, it’s a community. There is such a community connectiveness with the members here. I see it here on campus, but I also see it when I go visit our community sites that offer OLLI classes – the people in OLLI really support each other -- they form friendships and even check up on each other outside of OLLI.”
LaPlace attributes the success of OLLI at CSULB to the collective effort of its volunteers, staff and community partners.
“We are 98 percent volunteer-run – they bring their expertise, dedication and passion to make OLLI what it is today. We also have more community sites where we are offering classes, like at senior centers, churches, and the Jewish Community Center in Long Beach, which has been a long-time partner -- it truly is an exciting time for us here at OLLI.”
LaPlace says that she would even like to see OLLI grow in membership with some of its younger seniors – even those who are still a part of the workforce. In the future, LaPlace could foresee OLLI playing a role in offering retirement counseling or offering night classes to older working adults to allow them to explore all that OLLI has to offer.
As for what she, herself, would like to pursue in retirement, LaPlace says that among her plans is to come back and volunteer at OLLI. She also would like to pursue and fulfill a myriad of her own personal passions.
“For me, making the choice to retire was a difficult one because I love my job, I love being part of the campus, I like interacting with all the different people and, I like the vibe of the campus -- that’s why you see me here all the time!”
Thankfully, Patti will still be on campus for the foreseeable future as she serves out her OLLI directorship, and promises to come back to volunteer, which is good news for those in the College of Health and Human Services who have worked with Patti and have come to call her a colleague and friend.
