Fresno State celebrates Pamela Dyer, who will retire as executive director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Fresno State [OLLI] on Thursday, April 30.

Dyer first joined the university in May 1990, serving for more than 24 years as business and promotions manager for the Theatre Arts Department. She also served as chair of the Staff Assembly Executive Committee, where she established “Red Fridays,” weekly campus socials that continue to this day. Dyer became the manager of the Smittcamp Alumni House in 2014, a position she held until her retirement in 2020.

In 2023, Dyer returned to Fresno State, stepping into an interim leadership role at OLLI. That role soon became permanent, and under her leadership, OLLI flourished with membership growing by more than 30%, rebounding from pandemic-era losses.

Also during her tenure, Dyer introduced innovative programming, including “Alzheimer's Disease: Minimizing Risk and Maximizing Treatment,” a panel discussion featuring experts from Fresno State and UC San Francisco, and “A Proper Holiday Tea,” a discussion and tasting of authentic English teas and delicacies. She also reestablished a partnership between OLLI and the Fresno State Library and marked OLLI’s 20th anniversary by producing an oral history documentary highlighting voices from across the program’s history.

As Fresno State honors Dyer’s lasting impact, the search has begun for OLLI’s next executive director. The position description can be found here.

Application review will begin on Monday, Feb. 2.

Fresno State extends its deep gratitude to Pamela Dyer for decades of service and leadership that have enriched the university and the OLLI community.