By Gianna Aguglia

The Introcaso Center for Lifelong Learning, a program for “50 and Better” learners, provides a variety of classes to serve Pittsburgh and its surrounding communities. 

La Roche University’s former president, Sister Candace Introcaso, envisioned an intergenerational community on campus and created the Center for Lifelong Learning as her legacy. Sister Candace launched the program and envisioned its initial success before her passing in 2023. 

The individuals dedicated to running the Center are Jennifer Engel, the Executive Director, and Rita Ciccariello, who is the program and membership coordinator. Tish Donze and Sister Diane Dunn also partner with and support the Center for Lifelong Learning. Tish Donze is the hospitality and operations manager for Kearns Spirituality Center, and Sister Diane Dunn is the assistant operations manager.  

The Center for Lifelong Learning is in Kearns Spirituality Center. The Center partners with the Sisters of Divine Providence and Kearns on many programs and initiatives.  

The Center offers classes in the fall, spring, and summer. Each term has two five-week sessions. A variety of 40 classes are offered, and the fitness courses run throughout each term. The Center also offers a J term in January that allows members to return to campus before the official spring term begins in February. 

Photo by Jennifer Engel: Lifelong Learners in Paris, France.  

This year, a group of Lifelong Learners are currently travelling internationally to France and London. Upcoming trips include traveling to the Pacific Northwest in May and the Canadian Rockies in 2027.

In 2021, Jennifer Engel was hired to launch the program. On January 31, 2022, the Center for Lifelong Learning and the Adventures in Learning Program was officially launched. She explained that as part of her role, she oversees, manages, plans, and develops all aspects of the Center. 

In 2022, the program launched with 55 members. Now, approximately 670 individuals are members of the Center for Lifelong Learning.  

Jennifer’s role has not only impacted her professionally, but personally as well. “I am a lifelong learner. I love to figure things out and help people find their purpose. Considering those aspects, this is a great role for me to be in.  

“I thoroughly enjoy my job, even the challenges and long days it sometimes requires. I have made great friends and formed positive relationships with members, Sisters, LRU students, and faculty and staff.  

“Before I graduated college, I had decided to switch my future plans pretty dramatically. I was a Chemistry major and decided I wanted to work with people in nonprofits instead. When I told my dad who had sacrificed a lot for me to go to college, he told me, ‘You can work a job, make a lot of money, and use your free time to do what you enjoy, or you can work a job you love and never work a day in your life.’ 

“That message has guided my professional journey, and it is very true of my current role. It can be very hard, long days, and a lot of items to juggle. But it rarely feels like work, and there are so many positives that I am very blessed to be in this role,” she said.  

Jan Eichner, who has been a Lifelong Learner for about two years, joined the program as an opportunity to explore after retirement. “It’s satisfying to explore the things you’ve been curious about your whole life but never had time for. This is a time in our lives that we can often put the worries and cares of life behind us and focus on discovery. What a great way to meet people with similar interests and have fun at the same time,” she said. 

This term, the fitness classes Jan is taking are Gentle Yoga, Zumba, Muscle Conditioning, and Water Aerobics. On the academic side, Jan is taking The Gilded Age.  

Jan also looks forward to the advanced ChatGPT class. “These IT classes are crucial for older adults and taught in a way that makes them easy to understand,” she said.  

Al Piazza, who has been a Lifelong Learner for a year, said that his experience has been life changing. “The timing of my joining the program couldn’t have been better. And timing is everything in life, as the saying goes.  

“I lost my wife, Joey, in October 2023 to pancreatic cancer. We were married for 48 years. She was a special blessing who brought more faith, hope, and love into my life than one could ever imagine. Without family or friends close by, I struggled with rebooting my life.  

“The educational, spiritual, physical and social opportunities in Lifelong Learning provided me with what I needed to start new chapters in my life. As other members will probably say, ‘You never stop learning.’ They’re right! It’s an investment that provides many happy returns,” he said.  

This term, Al is taking Astronomy, St John’s Bible, The Beatles, Journaling, Theatre in The City, The Court System, What’s Happening This Week, and two fitness classes.  

Al also runs the Men’s Social Club, where anywhere from 12 to 20 men meet weekly to share their experiences with each other.