The DCI Experience

The DCI program provides a year of thoughtful reflection and reinvigoration, which our alumni affirm is a dynamic and “life-changing” experience.  We do this through the three pillars of Purpose, Community, and Wellness, by offering:

  • Academic discovery and immersion through access to courses and programs across Stanford’s seven schools.
  • A stimulating and supportive new community of colleagues and a robust network of Stanford faculty and staff.
  • Curated programming and resources to support physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
  • Holistic exploration of individual meaning and purpose in later life.
  • Mutually beneficial opportunities for intergenerational collaboration, learning, and mentoring.
  • Exploration of opportunities for meaningful future endeavors.
  • Ongoing learning and engagement with a vibrant alumni network.

    DCI’s Pillars

    Dave Evans giving a DCI design your life presentation

    Purpose

    Each person’s life journey is unique. DCI takes a holistic approach to supporting Fellows/Partners as they explore interests and renew their purpose.

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    Sierra Orchards with Craig McNamara

    Community

    One of the most important and valued pillars of DCI is the opportunity to build friendships with individuals from around the world who are exploring their personal journeys and who are eager to share experiences with a new group of colleagues.

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    DCI Fellows engaging in yoga

    Wellness

    DCI Fellows and Partners are supported by faculty Wellness Specialists with expertise in various aspects of well-being including physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

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    Program Overview

    The DCI program is built around three interconnected pillars: Renewing Purpose, Building Community and Recalibrating Health and Wellness. These three pillars serve as the foundational elements around which DCI is constructed and implemented during the year of fellowship and those that follow. 

     

    Reflections on the DCI Experience

    “Lizness School”

    In this podcast, Liz Dolan (Stanford DCI 2024) shares various experiences and observations during her DCI year at Stanford.

    Image – @keeganmdunn @nomadstudios
    DCI Fellow Liz Dolan (2024) holding "Stanford" foam finger. Image for her podcast, LIzness

    “A Year at Stanford – Quarterly Reflections”

    Kathy and David Payne (DCI 2019) at Stanford football game.

    During their DCI year, Kathy and David Payne enjoyed attending a variety of Stanford athletic events.

    1st Quarter

    How does it feel to be a student again?

    It’s awesome! We get to have all the best things about learning- amazing professors, interesting classes with the best and the brightest students—without any of the pressure of grades, exams or papers. Also, we have student IDs (yes, we’re real students; technically, non-matriculated graduate students) and get to use the fabulous student gyms and go to all the student sporting events, guest campus lectures etc. at no additional cost. I’m gonna say – you haven’t really lived completely until you sit in the student section at a football game after you’ve already put your own kids through college. And the bonus of riding your bike through Stanford’s incredibly beautiful campus can’t be beat!

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    “DISNEYLAND”

    DCI 2019 Fellows. Background wall with colorful circles.

    Author Nancy Deyo (lower right) enjoys gathering with some members of her Stanford DCI 2019 cohort.

    Chris and I sat at an outdoor café on campus the first day of school, reveling in the delicious feeling of being students again. We felt young and hip until we remembered we were older than most of these kids’ parents at sixty-four. We stopped chatting to listen to a conversation between two students seated nearby: 

    Student Number One: “Did you see the announcement of this year’s commencement speaker?” 

    Student Number Two: “No. Who is it?”

    Student Number One: “Melinda Gates.”

    Student Number Two: “Dude, I have no idea who that is.”

    Sparkling water shot out of my nose. These may be brainy Stanford students, but how could they not know Melinda Gates? I looked over at Chris, who was stifling a guffaw. I was grateful for our shared cultural context.

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