Profile: Stuart Wells of Duke Today - A True Friend of OLLI at Duke
By Barbara McLean
Stuart Wells is a person you will be delighted to know. He is the voice of OLLI at Duke for the Duke News. “I shepherd the distribution of Duke News to the media”, he states. And what a terrific spokesperson he is! As Garry Crites puts it,”we are so fortunate - he has adopted us”!
Stuart, a tall, happy looking, soft spoken man, a self reporting “news junkie” has been writing for the paperless (online) DUKE TODAY since 1995. Duke Today is produced jointly by The Office of News and Communications (ONC) and The Office of Communications Services (OCS). Articles are produced by staff and faculty across the university and health system to comprise a one-stop-shop for news from around Duke. This publication is available to all of the Duke Community, and provides current information on all Duke activities and programs.
Stuart’s responsibilities involve news release production and distribution, news clippings coordination, and Duke continuing education and a quarterly list of books written by faculty and staff. His enthusiasm for OLLI is apparent as he discusses the articles about our program that he has written quarterly for TODAY. He writes about our current course offerings, general convocations, and he looks for stories about instructors and students of interest to the community. Stuart adds,”it’s exciting to write about lifelong learners. Their enthusiasm is astonishing”. Duke employees can and do become OLLI members as they become eligible for our classes so the articles are a benefit to them as well. His writings about OLLI incorporate his “learning while relaxed” description of our classes – a great definition! Stuart’s contention that many people come to the Durham area because of the diverse cultural offerings here, of which OLLI is a major player, has lead him to suggest that the Visitor’s Bureau look into writing an article on our classes and opportunities. We are, indeed, an integral cog in the learning wheel of this area. But then, we all know that!
Stuart writes on his computer, usually from notes, and regards his piece as “a puzzle” when he ties all of the strands of an article together. He enjoys his writing and is currently working on a personal project - to develop an issues blog – a community dashboard - focused on indicators of community well being. It would “park” information in one place and focus on local indices of things such as traffic problems, air quality, school performance, and hospital emergency room wait time among other issues. This would create a list of community needs and concerns and could map progress made in solving problems.
To add to his already busy schedule, Stuart is publicist for his Watts Street Baptist Church and also serves as deacon and church coordinator for Families Moving Forward. He is truly an active community member who uses his skills to benefit others.
If Stuart could take an OLLI class, he says it would probably be World Today. He believes this class echoes his search for constructive, in-depth solution oriented news coverage. It would fit right in with his constant reading of news and his zeal for tracking events and people all over the world via the many forms of media available today. “The OLLI at Duke Catalog of classes is like being in a candy store”, he says, “and its robust listing of available learning is outstanding. A lot of people search the OLLI book table at the Regulator and pause to gain an understanding of what books are being suggested by your instructors”.
How can OLLI assist with stories about our adventures in learning that Stuart could use in his writing, we asked. He had many ideas suggesting that an instructor could encapsulate a course through “a minute “of mining the essence of a class or a student could put into words their enthusiasm or investment in specific learning in just “a minute “of recording at the TODAY studio. It is not only the student who develops a business as the result of an OLLI class, but the quiet joy celebrated by a student learner that gives OLLI meaning. And, classes that identify content current in the news are especially interesting to TODAY readers as they spotlight older learners who truly involve themselves in today’s world and its issues.
Contact Garry Crites at garry.crites@duke.edu. to share your ideas and interest in DUKE TODAY and he will pass them along to Stuart’s office Stuart will welcome your contributions. To find DUKE TODAY aim your browser to https://today.duke.edu/
OLLI is indeed fortunate to have Stuart Wells as a spokesman for our program. A man of conviction, an enthusiastic learner himself, and a person with talent and wisdom, he is totally committed to enhancing communication within Duke’s entire community. How lucky we are!
Stuart, a tall, happy looking, soft spoken man, a self reporting “news junkie” has been writing for the paperless (online) DUKE TODAY since 1995. Duke Today is produced jointly by The Office of News and Communications (ONC) and The Office of Communications Services (OCS). Articles are produced by staff and faculty across the university and health system to comprise a one-stop-shop for news from around Duke. This publication is available to all of the Duke Community, and provides current information on all Duke activities and programs.
Stuart’s responsibilities involve news release production and distribution, news clippings coordination, and Duke continuing education and a quarterly list of books written by faculty and staff. His enthusiasm for OLLI is apparent as he discusses the articles about our program that he has written quarterly for TODAY. He writes about our current course offerings, general convocations, and he looks for stories about instructors and students of interest to the community. Stuart adds,”it’s exciting to write about lifelong learners. Their enthusiasm is astonishing”. Duke employees can and do become OLLI members as they become eligible for our classes so the articles are a benefit to them as well. His writings about OLLI incorporate his “learning while relaxed” description of our classes – a great definition! Stuart’s contention that many people come to the Durham area because of the diverse cultural offerings here, of which OLLI is a major player, has lead him to suggest that the Visitor’s Bureau look into writing an article on our classes and opportunities. We are, indeed, an integral cog in the learning wheel of this area. But then, we all know that!
Stuart writes on his computer, usually from notes, and regards his piece as “a puzzle” when he ties all of the strands of an article together. He enjoys his writing and is currently working on a personal project - to develop an issues blog – a community dashboard - focused on indicators of community well being. It would “park” information in one place and focus on local indices of things such as traffic problems, air quality, school performance, and hospital emergency room wait time among other issues. This would create a list of community needs and concerns and could map progress made in solving problems.
To add to his already busy schedule, Stuart is publicist for his Watts Street Baptist Church and also serves as deacon and church coordinator for Families Moving Forward. He is truly an active community member who uses his skills to benefit others.
If Stuart could take an OLLI class, he says it would probably be World Today. He believes this class echoes his search for constructive, in-depth solution oriented news coverage. It would fit right in with his constant reading of news and his zeal for tracking events and people all over the world via the many forms of media available today. “The OLLI at Duke Catalog of classes is like being in a candy store”, he says, “and its robust listing of available learning is outstanding. A lot of people search the OLLI book table at the Regulator and pause to gain an understanding of what books are being suggested by your instructors”.
How can OLLI assist with stories about our adventures in learning that Stuart could use in his writing, we asked. He had many ideas suggesting that an instructor could encapsulate a course through “a minute “of mining the essence of a class or a student could put into words their enthusiasm or investment in specific learning in just “a minute “of recording at the TODAY studio. It is not only the student who develops a business as the result of an OLLI class, but the quiet joy celebrated by a student learner that gives OLLI meaning. And, classes that identify content current in the news are especially interesting to TODAY readers as they spotlight older learners who truly involve themselves in today’s world and its issues.
Contact Garry Crites at garry.crites@duke.edu. to share your ideas and interest in DUKE TODAY and he will pass them along to Stuart’s office Stuart will welcome your contributions. To find DUKE TODAY aim your browser to https://today.duke.edu/
OLLI is indeed fortunate to have Stuart Wells as a spokesman for our program. A man of conviction, an enthusiastic learner himself, and a person with talent and wisdom, he is totally committed to enhancing communication within Duke’s entire community. How lucky we are!