OLLI Board Members

Les Adler, Ph.D.

Les Adler is former Dean of the School of Extended Education and Emeritus Professor of History at Sonoma State University.  As Dean he was instrumental in founding the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at SSU in 2001 and has continued as an Advisory Board member and OLLI instructor since then, teaching a wide range of classes dealing with American culture, foreign policy and current world issues.

Mick Chantler, M.A.

Mick Chantler (M.A. History) has been a student and instructor of early American studies for over forty years. He currently teaches at several Bay Area Lifelong Learning Programs, including Sonoma State University, Dominican University, and U.C. Berkeley.   His primary interests include the Revolutionary and Civil War eras. Mick is a member of several scholarly organizations, including the Society for American Baseball Research.

Connie Codding

Mrs. Connie Codding, born in Martinez, CA, moved to Santa Rosa in 1941 where she attended local schools from the 2nd grade at Lewis School to Santa Rosa High School and Santa Rosa Junior College. She married her high school sweetheart and became mother to 5, now a grandmother to 10 and great-grandmother to 12. She owned a travel agency for 15 years, has travelled to many countries and continues to enjoy travel.

With her late husband, developer Hugh Codding, Connie became more involved in philanthropy and civic participation. Taking over as President for the Codding Family Foundation, she elevated the foundation’s role and engagement in the local community. Expanding financial donations in the areas of health, education, the arts and social services, she’s also served on several boards and committees. Connie currently serves on the Green Music Center and OLLI Boards, as well as serving in advisory and leadership capacities with the Sonoma County Museum, the Laguna Foundation and SAY - Social Advocates for Youth.

Connie has been an active executive of Codding Enterprises and is now co-owner with her son Brad Baker of SOMO Village, Rohnert Park. She is also a partner with a granddaughter in a clothing boutique, Frances May, located in Portland, Oregon.

She embraces the concept of keeping your mind stimulated and engaged as we age. Beyond the Foundation and family business, she enjoys the outdoors, taking Pilates classes and attending cultural offerings and OLLI classes. In 2017, Connie was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Sonoma State University.

Linda Loveland-Reid

Linda Loveland-Reid Is the past President of Redwood Writers, an author of two novels available on Amazon, and a Jack London Awardee. Linda teaches art history for SSU and Dominican Universities in their Osher Lifelong Learning programs. She is a figurative and abstract painter, has directed community theater for 30 years, and serves on several art association Boards of Directors, including SSU/OLLI Advisory Board. www.lindalovelandreid.com.