Our Instructors

Forever Learning is a service organization, and all courses are taught by volunteers. These individuals come from all walks of life, but they share one common thread: a love of learning and sharing their passions with other lifelong learners. 
 

Donna Adams —Donna retired from the University of Notre Dame in 2019 after spending 41 years working in different areas of technology. In the spring 2023 semester, she participated in the Forever Learning course of Pickleball for Beginners. She developed a passion for the game and now plays several hours a week. She wants to share this newfound interest with others who want to learn to play this popular sport.

Peg Adams M.Mus. - Peg has taught for Forever Learning since 2010. While music is her first love, researching family history has been a close second for at least 30 years. This hobby has produced 2 printed books & several smaller booklets, the latter just for the family. She is a DAR member with 10 proven patriots.

Becky Albrecht - Becky has been teaching Hawaiian dance classes at the Forever Learning Institute for over 20 years. She studied hula at numerous workshops in the mainland and in Hawaii.

Michael Amodei - Michael Amodei is executive editor and curriculum development manager at Ave Maria Press, where he writes and edits Catholic high school religion textbooks. He is the author of Reaching for Heaven: 14 Spiritual Goals as You Grow Older, and several books, including Send Out Your Spirit, Catholic Essentials, The Ave Guide to the Scriptural Rosary, and The Ave Guide to Eucharistic Adoration. Amodei also has acquired a number of spiritual books for Ave Maria Press, including A Teen’s Game Plan for Life by Lou Holtz, Holy Goals for Body and Soul by Bishop Thomas Paprocki, and Expect More! by Muffet McGraw.
Amodei earned his bachelor’s degree in English from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California, where he also earned a master’s degree in religious education. Amodei previously served as director of religious education and as a youth minister at St. Monica Catholic Church in Santa Monica, California. He also served as a math, religion, and gym teacher, as well as a Catholic Youth Organization sports coach at St. Monica Elementary School.
He is leader of the Ave Maria Press Chapter of Catholic Relief Services, a member of the Association of Catholic Publishers, and a third degree in the Knights of Columbus. Amodei has been a youth sports coach for more than forty years and is the field supervisor for home football games at the University of Notre Dame. Amodei lives with his family in South Bend, Indiana.

Ruth Andrews—Ruth studied dreams and participated in a dream group with Rosa Stone, who taught nursing at Goshen College. She has also participated in and co-hosted the Jungian-based Writer's Group at Apple Community Farms. She uses dreams as sources for painting and writing. Ruth has an MA in Conflict Resolution and has worked as a mediator and facilitator in her waking life.

Nancy Barr - Nancy has been a watercolor student at Forever Learning for several years and began teaching watercolor in Spring of 2024.  Her goal is to teach basic watercolor skills and bring a spirit of fun and positivity to the learning experience.

Roberta Baranowski M.A. - Roberta studied French in college and as a graduate student. After retirement in 2015, she started taking French classes at FLI, and thanks to her wonderful teachers and classmates, she found her interest in the language rekindled. She wants to share her enthusiasm with others who are interested in improving their language skills through conversation in a casual, low-key environment.

Phil Bertoni, MNS - Phil has been an instructor at Forever Learning for several years.  He formerly taught secondary mathematics and computer science, retiring after 38 years. Phil also taught as a mathematics adjunct instructor in several community colleges over the years.  He served in the US Navy for 6 years, active and reserve. Phil and his wife, Gini, moved to South Bend in 2015, where they enjoy the many social, educational, and sports opportunities that this area offers. They are both active students and volunteers at FLI.

Mark Beudert, A. Mus. Doc. - Mark Beudert's opera career included studying with Franco Corelli, George Shirley, Placido Domingo, and Giuseppe di Stefano, winning the Pavarotti Competition, an international career in roles from Monteverdi to world premieres, a memorable year working with Leonard Bernstein, simultaneously heading Opera Notre Dame and Eugene Opera in Oregon--and even singing on Broadway with Linda Ronstadt and Kevin Kline! For the past several years, he's been enjoying NOT being on airplanes, being home for Christmas, getting to know Michiana, looking forward to his next adventures, and teaching at Forever Learning. As a teacher, he takes great delight in attempting to make complex musical concepts accessible to "civilians."

Marie A. Blunt, M.Min. - A retired executive director of a local counseling center, Marie passionately shares her wide range of interests with students. In addition to her Master of Ministry degree from Bethel College, she is the author of The Lighthouse Primer, an archery instructor at a local summer camp, a published paper crafter, a St Joseph North Pier Lighthouse docent, and a clarinetist. She is a certified instructor for several nationally recognized curricula, including the Question-Persuade-Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Program and the AARP Smart Driver Course.

Judy Bradford - Judy has had a lifelong passion for dancing. As a young child, she danced in her parent’s bedroom in front of the only full-length mirror in the house. But her family owned horses, and she was told that they were expensive enough, let alone dance lessons.  So, she didn’t get formal dance training until she reached college at Miami University of Ohio where, as a freshman, she also became a member of its Dance Theatre. Over the years, she has tried several forms of dance, from sacred dance to belly dancing, ballet to modern, and jazz to Zumba. Her dance vocabulary is extensive, and she is passionate about helping others develop their own dance language. Professionally, she is retired from a career in journalism and communication-related positions for nonprofits. Her last paid gig was with the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business, where she was the administrative assistant for the Fanning Center for Business Communication. Judy is married to Ken Bradford, also a retired journalist. They have two grown children, Bill, 39, and Emily, 36.

Marie Brenner, Ph.D.- Marie has a doctorate with a Victorian literature specialization from SUNY-Binghamton.  She taught at Medaille College in Buffalo, New York. Marie moved to Indiana in 1990 and taught at St. Mary's College and at Bethel. Now retired, she is enjoying gardening (even the weeds)
and Forever Learning.

Cheryl Brezinski—Cheryl has always been an artist, taking classes, attending seminars, and teaching acrylic painting. During the pandemic, she moved to watercolors and painting and learned new skills and methods every day. She loves to teach and share her love of artistic expression.

JoLynn Brown, M.A. - JoLynn mines her storytelling memories from her teaching days as a high school special education teacher, living experiences across the United States, travel adventures around the world, and her engagement in volunteer work in the community. As a writer and an explorer, she has a story for you —and she has ways to make you talk!

Beth Buechler, MA, English - Beth retired in 2013 as an Adult Education Instructor for a family literacy program in Maine, enabling her to write full-time. She organizes an international fiction writers’ group and another local group and currently has 5 to 7 books in multiple genres close to the finish line. She says she's "working like a graduate student" on the publishing learning curve.

Mary Ann Camosy—Mary Ann has a BA in mathematics and has been teaching for much of her life. Catholicism is an important part of her life, and she teaches middle school students, parishioners, and here at Forever Learning.

Kevin Cawley, Ph.D. - Kevin has a Ph.D. in English and has taught at John Carroll University, Cornell University, and Vassar College. He has been interested in poetry and song his whole life. Kevin plays several musical instruments and does not mind singing in public.

Rev. Marianne Chalstrom, M.Div. - Marianne has been an instructor at Forever Learning for several years. She is an ordained minister and retired from active ministry in the United Methodist Church, where she served for her entire career. Since retiring, Marianne has continued to teach in various venues, combining art and exploration to assist others in their personal and spiritual journeys.

John Chapleau - John is a former office assistant and volunteer for Forever Learning Institute. He currently works in security for the Snite Museum of Art and returns to Forever Learning to assist students with their technology needs along with Cindy Nikolai.

Roger Chrastil, M.A. - Roger Chrastil is an avid life-long learner, community volunteer, writer, and lover of literature.

Bill Chu—Drawing is Bill's lifelong passion. Trained in aerospace engineering, he has joyfully shared his love of drawing with church ministries, art enthusiasts, and businesses since retiring. Examples of his work can be found on greenolivetreestudio.com.

Bernadette Clemens-Walatka, B.A. - Bernadette has had a passion for photography for years, studying and learning new techniques. She now travels the country enjoying the unique landscapes as her subjects. Her work has been accepted and sold in regional art galleries in the Cincinnati area.

Jeanne Cook, M.A. - Jeanne has been an instructor at FLI for over 10 years. She has taught yoga for over 20 years.

Ron Cosner, M.A. - Ron Cosner came to Forever Learning Institute after teaching US History and German for 40 years. Now retired, his interests also include music, participating in choir, band, and ensembles.

Michael J. Crowe, Ph.D. - Mike taught at the University of Notre Dame in the Great Books Program for 41 years and has taught at Forever Learning for the last 10 years.  Mike was a founding member of the local Sherlock Holmes club some 50 years ago and has authored two books on Sherlock Holmes.

Brooks Crofoot, M.D.  - Brooks is a (mostly!) retired emergency medicine physician with a long-time interest in language - both classical and modern.  He taught at an ESL school for several years and there authored the text Exploring English Morphology, which he now uses in the Morphology course at Forever Learning. 

Nancy D'Antuono, Ph.D. - Nancy L. D’antuono, professor of Italian Emerita, Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN, holds a doctoral degree in Romance Languages from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she specialized in both Spanish and Italian literature. She is the author of a book, Bocaccio’s novelle in the theater of Lope de Vega (Madrid:Turanzas, 1983) and numerous  articles related to the ties between Italian and Spanish literature from the fourteenth to the eighteenth century, with a particular focus on the interdependence of the theaters of both nations during those centuries..  Her most recent publications include “Dell’Arte rapresentativa: Andrea Perucci’s Passion for Spanish Golden Age Drama.” In Atti del Convegno “La Comedia Nueva spagnola sulle scene italiane nel Seicento”, Firenze: Leo S. Olschki., 2016. pp. 237-249; the dual-language edition an eigthteenth century opera buffa libretto, L’infedelta fedele by Giambattista Lorenzi for Domenico Cimarosa’s opera, (Napoli, 1779), A- R Publications, Operas of the Classical Era (Middleton, Wisconsin) 2012 and an article, “Le peripezie italo-spagnole del ‘finto astrologo.’ dal folklore al palcoscenico for the journal Commedia dell’Arte Annuario Internazionale, 2011 (Università degki studi di Bergamo) Firenze, Leo S. Olschki, 233-245. 

Ben Davis, M.A. - Ben has been an Instructor for FLI for many years and has over 20 years as a non-profit professional. Formerly the Executive at the Jewish Federation, he now works as a computer consultant to non-profits. Ben earned his BA from Drexel University in Philadelphia and his MA at the University of Minnesota's Twin City Campus in Minneapolis. Ben has a great love of graphic literature and sequential art (aka: Comic Books and & Graphic Novels), science fiction, technology, pop culture and ethnic cooking.

Indi Dieckgrafe - Indi has been involved with InterPlay for over 25 years, becoming a certified leader in 2001. She has also been a lifetime member of the Sacred Dance Guild where she served as President and as regional representative. She incorporated the principles of InterPlay in her teaching at Saint Mary’s College where she built and directed the Program in Dance for 33 years. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance and an MFA in Performance and Choreography. She moved to the South Bend area in 1985 where she and her husband raised three daughters, all involved with the arts.

Pete De Kever, M.S. - Pete is a lifelong Mishawaka resident and a graduate of Mishawaka High School. For 32 years, he taught high school English and U.S. History. Pete also coached 28 state championship teams in Academic Super Bowl social studies and Spell Bowl. For over 25 years, De Kever has researched and written about Mishawaka history, and he has participated in various projects that promote the city's historical identity. Pete has written dozens of articles and six books on Mishawaka historical topics. In 2019, Mayor Wood named him as the city's Historian Laureate. De Kever is a founding board member of the Mishawaka Historical Museum and serves as the museum's president and curator. He also writes a weekly Mishawaka history column in the Mishawaka Enterprise.

David Denlinger - Forever Learning's partnership with The Music Village brought Dave to FLI. Dave has been teaching at FLI for several years and has been teaching guitar and ukulele for 10 years at TMV.

E. Jane Doering, Ph.D. - Jane received her PhD from Northwestern University in French Language and Literature with a specialization in the 19th and 20th century. Jane's attraction to the French philosopher Simone Weil began three decades ago in graduate school, and since then, she has continued to read her works and publish reflections on the application of her thought to contemporary concerns. Sharing her inspiration for living an intentional life and her insights into the human condition is a contagious joy. From Jane's many years of teaching literature at the University of Notre Dame, she values the Socratic method of discussing a topic as an equal among equals. Retired now from the University of Notre Dame and pleased with her recently published co-authored book, When Fiction and Philosophy Meet: A Conversation with Flannery O'Connor and Simone Weil, Ruthann K. Johansen, and Jane decided to share with others the intellectual enrichment of knowing these two extraordinary intellectual women.  Since many friends and colleagues over the years had spoken of the pleasure in both teaching and learning at the Forever Learning Institute,  Jane looks forward to sharing with other thoughtful readers her discovery in pairing selected short stories of Flannery O'Connor with the well-honed essays of Simone Weil.
 

Michael Duff, CIG - Mike retired from the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union #172 in 2019 after a long career that included 27 years as a vocational instructor in their training facility. He currently works part-time as an Interpretive Naturalist Intern for the Interpretive Services division of the St. Joseph County Parks. He is deeply involved in the yearly sugaring operations at Bendix Woods County Park, and he enjoys helping others enrich their knowledge of nature and conservation through prepared presentations and interpretive hikes. Mike is an alumnus of the Indiana Master Naturalist Program and is a member of the National Association of Interpretation where he holds professional certification as a Certified Interpretive Guide. He has a great passion for the conservation and stewardship of parks, nature preserves, and other protected areas that have been set aside for future generations to learn from and enjoy.

Deborah Dwyer - Deborah has enjoyed helping people make progress toward racial healing and oneness at Forever Learning since 2018. She has served as a Participant and Facilitator for Study Circles on Race, sponsored by the South Bend Human Rights Commission, since 1994. 

Laura Elliott - Laura began teaching at FLI in 2022 after taking numerous classes. She has been compiling years of nature photography into prints, books, and digital slideshow presentations since 2011. Laura hopes that her artwork inspires and encourages others. She is serving as a volunteer leader within the 12 Step Recovery movement and a board member of Arts organizations and her neighborhood HOA. Laura worked as a Director of Marketing for a local industrial company and remains active in business. She graduated from St. Mary’s College with a BFA and Kendall College of Art with a Graphic Art degree.

Mary Finlay-Sims - I have answered the call to create since the age of 14, but few of the crafting processes have lasted long-term. From Crochet to Papier Mache to Stained Glass - and one Quilt, I have created a handful of finished pieces and then moved on. Christmas ornaments have been recycled back into my life every year because my daughters always wanted to try new kinds. In addition to crafting with kids, I have taught Writing Workshops, led Cultural Exchange Seminars, and instructed in Pain Management Massage. 

LeRoy Friesen, ODCS, Ph.D. - LeRoy Friesen was born and educated within the Mennonite community. After earning his M.A. in Theology from the University of Southern California and Ph.D. in Christian Ethics from the University of Iowa, he lived five years with his family in East Jerusalem, directing the work of the Mennonite Central Committee among Palestinians. After returning to the United States and engaging in pastoring, seminary teaching, and global education, the author and his wife, Sharryl Lindberg, managed a Quaker-affiliated international guesthouse in Washington, D.C. It was here that they entered the Roman Catholic Church. During the 1997-2006 decade, they were owner-operators of the Inn of Silent Music, a B&B that they created in the village of Tylerton on Smith Island, Maryland in the Chesapeake Bay. Following seventeen years in hospitality, Friesen and his wife retired to South Bend, Indiana where he teaches courses in Carmelite spirituality and is involved in the care of an adult son with special needs.
See Listening to the Silent Music: The Memoir of a Journey in Place, 2009 and Mennonite Witness in the Middle East: A Missiological Introduction, 1992

Deacon William Gallagher - Deacon Bill is a Catholic deacon assigned to Sacred Heart Parish on the campus of Notre Dame.  He has taught several courses at FLI including facilitating a video presentation by Bishop Robert Barron describing some of the great leaders of the Catholic Church. 

Dennis Gamble - Dennis is recently retired from teaching high school band after 35 years in the South Bend and Mishawaka school systems.  He is currently working as the Wind Ensemble conductor and Jazz Ensemble director at IUSB where he also serves as an adjunct lecturer in music education.  He is the musical director of the New Horizons senior citizens band and the Jazz Assemblage in Elkhart.  He is also the trumpet coach for the South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra.  Dennis is a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University Bloomington from which he earned Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education degrees.  Dennis is an active trumpet player and arranger.  He has written numerous arrangements for chamber groups, marching bands, concert bands, and, most avidly, Jazz ensembles.  He resides in Granger with his wife, Marcie. Their daughter Rebecca is a middle school band director in LaPorte, Indiana. 
Dennis has loved the world of Star Trek since the original came out in the 1960s.  He has all of the episodes of the Star Trek, Star Trek the Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager saved to either DVD or VHS and collects technical manuals and various other books.  

Douglas Germann, Sr., JD - Doug’s poetry has been informed by Buber, Rilke, Rumi, Bohm, Teilhard, Macy, Chinen, and Alexander, among others. For several years he has been intensively studying the extra 30 years we now have and what we might do with them for the generations.
In Doug’s law practice, he found the work within his work that more and more involves his heart as well as his head, his caring. Doug has been an FLI instructor since 2013.

Sonia Gernes, Ph.D. - Sonia Gernes retired from the Notre Dame English Department after thirty years on the faculty.  While there, she taught mostly Creative Writing and American Literature. She has been on the faculty of Forever Learning since 2007, and is delighted by the creativity and analytic skills of her students.  Her published work includes a novel and four books of poetry.

Bill Gilroy, M.A., M.S. - Bill Gilroy worked for 35 years in public relations and retired after 18 years with the University of Notre Dame. He also was an adjunct faculty member in the Department of History and Political Science at the University of Scranton for 16 years, offering classes in Russian History and the Politics and Government of the Soviet Union. He holds a Master of Arts and a Master of Science degree.

Jerry Gloster, M.A. - Jerry has a Bachelor's Degree in modern language with a concentration in French from the University of Notre Dame and a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from Indiana University. His first official classes in French began when he was a student at Notre Dame. Prior to that, he was self-taught from the age of 12. French has been his lifelong passion since then. Jerry spent over 22 years of his working life in teaching and education. "I greatly love teaching French and that is why I have signed onto FLI as a French Instructor. I find it so satisfying teaching seniors, especially since they are so 'thirsty' to learn," he says.

Holly Goodson, Ph.D. - Award-winning researcher and professor of molecular and cell biology and biophysics at the University of Notre Dame.

Jack Gordon MS, Ed.D.  - Jack has been researching American political assassinations, particularly the two Kennedy Assassinations for almost 50 years. He received his bachelor’s degree in History from Hamilton College. His Masters and Doctorate in Higher Education with a minor in American History both came from Indiana University in Bloomington. His interest in the Kennedy assassination dates from research in American History done while a graduate student at IU. Dr. Gordon taught history courses at Western New England College and Holyoke Community College between 1979 and 1983. He also acted as a consultant to NOVA (PBS), 20/20 (ABC) and was an advisor to the mini-series Kennedy starring Martin Sheen in 1983. In 1986, Los Angeles Mayor Thomas Bradley named him to a 12-person Select Committee that was charged with choosing a repository for the LAPD records of the Robert Kennedy Assassination. He was then appointed to the 4-person Advisory Committee that made recommendations on the disclosure of those materials through the State Archives in Sacramento, California. For the past 50 years Dr. Gordon has lectured at more than 100 college campuses in 44 states.

Bertha Gunn, M.A. - Bertha Gunn has been an instructor for Forever Learning for 10 years.  She studied German language and literature at Washington University in St. Louis and taught German in a suburban St. Louis high school for five years, acting as department chair for three years.  Since retiring Bertha has tutored adults and children in German. She enjoys gardening, reading for pleasure, and traveling.

Mary H Hagen, PT, MHS. - As a physical therapist, Mary read the research on the benefits of Tai Chi for fall prevention and continues to learn and experience the benefits of this exercise. Mary began taking tai chi classes locally and in Madison, WI, in the ‘90s. Retiring in 2006, she studied and certified in Tai Chi Fundamentals through Tricia Yu—Tai Chi Health and also Tai Chi for Arthritis. Those essential principles of TCF are a foundation as she studies other Taiji forms and QiGong.

Marilouise Hagenberg, M.A., M.S. - Marilouise has been either a student and/or instructor at FLI for over 6 years.  After a nursing career, she is an avid quilter, knitter, and embroidered.

Carol Meaney Halperin, Ph.D. - Carol has a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in American Studies. Previous to that she earned her B.A. and M.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Jim Halteman, Ph.D. - Former Hendrickson Professor of Economics at Wheaton College, IL.  After taking a couple of FLI courses, it became clear to me that interacting on important issues in the environment provided by FLI is intellectually stimulating and enjoyable. In my years as a college economics teacher I directed student overseas programs that explored the economies from Western Europe to Russia. I also consulted and taught in Russia in the early 1990s when they hoped to alter their system toward a more market-oriented economy. While my research focuses primarily on the history of economic thought and the social institutions that provide glue to our system, I enjoy applying economic principles to our everyday experiences.

Robert Hamma, M.A. - Bob Hamma retired from a career in book publishing at Ave Maria Press in 2016 but continues as an editor for the series Recursos para Ministerio Hispano. Bob has worked with the Hispanic community in a variety of ways and is a citizenship teacher for La Casa de Amistad.

Carol Hanson, M.A.T. - Carol taught high school math for 34 years and has a Master’s degree in math education from Purdue. She bought her first personal computer in 1981 and has enjoyed learning about, using, and teaching about computers ever since. Her interests include genealogy and volunteering as a tax preparer for low-income people in our community.

Masako Hayashi - Masako was referred to Forever Learning by a friend who thoroughly enjoyed her experiences teaching here, and thought it would be a great opportunity to share her knowledge and experience. Since arriving in the United States in 2020, she has wanted to introduce Westerners to the Japanese language and culture. Masako previously worked with foreign students in Japan.

Marcia Haslett M.Ed. - Marcia Haslett has been a Forever Learning sign language instructor since 2018. She has worked in deaf education for many years in three other states and continues part-time as a teacher for students with hearing loss for a local school district. Marcia is active in the Deaf/hard-of-hearing community and enjoys attending workshops and social events where sign language is the mode of communication. Tri-lingual--she also is working to improve French reading, writing and speaking skills.

Ron Hellenthal, Ph.D. - Ron, an entomologist and member of the Notre Dame Biology Faculty for more than 40 years, has presented film courses each semester since the spring of 2015, including Big Bug Movies, Sleuth Movies Series, Food and Films, Murder Most Fun, and 2 previous courses on Gilbert and Sullivan operas (2016, 2017).

Cheryl Herman, M.A. French/ Secondary Ed—Cheryl has been teaching French for 40 years in South Bend and Mishawaka. Now that she is retired, she is ready to share her love of French culture and language with members of the community. She hopes that FLI students will bring their enthusiasm to learn about a language so rich in culture and history.

Maretta Hershberger, M.A. - Maretta has been an instructor at Forever Learning ever since she started Silvertones with eight people in 2016. With degrees in music education and worship music, she has many years of experience working with volunteer musicians as a church choir and music director. Since retiring, she has continued to work part-time as a church secretary and organist. In her spare time, she loves to read and piece the occasional quilt.

Judith Heying  - Judith retired in 2015 after 30-plus years as an elementary teacher. She discovered Forever Learning in the spring of 2019. Having been a movie buff since high school, she eagerly signed up for the class on classic movies. When COVID shut down in-person meetings, she was flattered to be
asked to help “present” movies via YouTube with instructor Randy Matthews. When classes resumed in Fall 2021 – on the big screen at Howard Park! -- she became a full-fledged instructor along with Randy Matthews and Jeff Schneider. Judith has a fondness for comedies and musicals (or anything with Cary Grant or William Powell!) but has grown to appreciate other genres through Randy’s and Jeff’s presentations.

Bill Hooper - Bill Hooper is a Professor in Statistics and Data Analysis at Purdue University, but better known as a Professional Juggler and close-up magician. In 2015, he and his son Todd created the workshop “Juggling for Fitness and Creativity,” which has been presented at twenty conferences throughout North America. Bill can juggle five balls and four clubs and, with his son Todd, pass six clubs, six torches, and even six machetes (not all at once). He has also performed close-up card magic at several international conferences.

Cecelia Hossler - Cece has been teaching Tai Chi since 2015 at Forever Learning, and about 40 in total.  After a friend mentioned she needed help with balance, Cece taught her some techniques used in Tai Chi.  That experience led her to teach these same techniques to assist students at Forever Learning.  Cece is also a singer with the Silvertones and shares her love of Mahjong and Chinese cooking with us whenever the opportunity arises.

Elinor Huggett - Elinor majored in art and drafting in high school & studied German and French at University. She worked for United Telephone in Plymouth and Centre Township Library. She started teaching haiku poetry at FLI in 2008 and has over 420 published poems in U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, and England. She has won various contests, including 2nd place in the Kiyoshi/Kiyoko contest in Japan in 2008. After retiring, she has gone back to her needlework, art in various mediums, and travel.

Thomas Jacobs, FRM, PRM, PhD - Tom Jacobs was most recently a Professor of Practice at Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he began with a visiting position in the Fall semester of 2015.  He taught a series of Financial Risk Management courses to both MBAs and students within NIU’s Master of Science in Financial Risk Management (MSFRM) program.  He also taught courses in the Principles of Finance, Investments, Security Analysis & Portfolio Management, and Financial Risk Management to undergraduates.  Tom spent four years at DePaul University, where he created undergraduate and executive courses in Financial Risk Management.  He also served as a faculty member of DePaul’s Fred Arditti Center for Risk Management.  Tom completed his PhD at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in 2010. His research interests are in Banking, Asset Pricing and Government Regulation; particularly the 'Too Big To Fail' phenomenon.  He holds the Financial Risk Manager designation of the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP) and the Professional Risk Manager designation of the Professional Risk Manager’s International Association (PRMIA).  He has served as a member of the steering committee of PRMIA’s Chicago Chapter both before and after his studies at UIUC.  Tom has had roles as an Economic Capital Specialist within the Risk Specialists Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Managing Director and Head of Analytics for Bank of America's Loan Portfolio Management group and a series of roles at BankBoston in Interest Rate Risk and Global Financial Risk Management culminating in Financial Engineering, a group he led prior to departing for Bank of America.  Prior to this Tom had positions as a Senior Systems Analyst with John Hancock Life Insurance Company as well as a 4-year tour of duty as an Electronic Warfare Officer for the United States Air Force.  He received awards as the top graduate of both his Electronic Warfare School class and his Navigator training school class and was recognized as a member of the USAF’s top reconnaissance crew in 1989.  He also holds an MS in Finance from Boston College, where he graduated at the top of his class, an MS in Engineering and Science Management from the University of Alaska, and a BS in Mathematics from the University of Notre Dame.

Dorota Janik - Dorota is a native of Poland and has been in the US since 2003. Dorota holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry and has studied business and accounting at the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University at South Bend. She became an active volunteer and strong advocate for Reins of Life in 2007 while looking for a way to use her free time to help others. She also volunteered for the Michiana Dressage Club and South Bend Community School Corporation's Mentoring Program. In July of 2012, Dorota was named Executive Director for Reins of Life by the Board of Directors. She has been an instructor at FLI for ten years. As she says, the Monday morning classes with the students at Forever Learning are a great way to start the week.

Robert Jankowski—Bob came to Forever Learning with a love of learning, teaching, and history. He has taught U.S. and world history courses, as well as math and science. Bob has an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and an MBA from Bethel University.

Len Jepson, M.Div. - Len, parish pastor, ecumenist, and interreligious leader, sets the stage for peaceful, better lives with his improvisational personality.  His pattern develops a contagious mindset promoting curiosity with radical openness, flexibility, and the desire to build bridges instead of barriers.  His resources were expanded and enhanced as he studied emerging religions in San Francisco, Helsinki, and Hong Kong.

Ruthann K. Johansen, Ph.D. - My interest in the contribution of narratives for understanding human consciousness, history, and values, and in Flannery O’Connor’s fiction in particular, have shaped my research and publication over the past three decades. While on the faculty at the University of Notre Dame, I taught in the Program of Liberal Studies, which emphasizes largely, but not exclusively, works of the Western intellectual tradition. I enjoyed examining the interface between literary, historical, philosophical, theological, and scientific thought with students. For six years as president of Bethany Theological Seminary, I also worked with theological faculty and Master of Divinity and Master of Arts students. I am grateful that the Forever Learning Institute fosters life-long learning with its excellent array of courses that regularly attract inquiring mature students.

Flannery O’Connor’s religious convictions and wide, cross-disciplinary reading, combined with my own interdisciplinary interests, led to my discovery of O’Connor’s attraction to Simone Weil’s thought. Co-authoring with E. Jane Doering When Fiction and Philosophy Meet: A Conversation with Flannery O’Connor and Simone Weil has been immensely satisfying, and I look forward to sharing and expanding further some of the fruits of that collaboration with students of the Forever Learning Institute.

Barry Keating, Ph.D. - Barry is a Professor Emeritus of Finance at the University of Notre Dame. He specializes in understanding how not-for-profit organizations function. Barry also works in the areas of statistical forecasting and predictive analytics. His forecasting and predictive analytics textbook (in its seventh edition with McGraw-Hill) is the best-selling forecasting book for use in colleges and universities. He is a Heritage Foundation Fellow, a Heartland Institute Research Fellow, Former President of the Economic Club of Michiana, former Chair of the Department of Finance at Notre Dame, and serves on the Board of Advisors of both the Indiana Policy Review Group and the Institute of Business Forecasting. He has also been a Radio Amateur for over 50 years.

Tricia Killeen  - Tricia has taught students at the South Bend Bridge Club for many years. She holds a BA degree from St. Mary’s College, an M.A.T. degree from Notre Dame, and endorsements to her teaching license in reading and special education from IUSB. She taught in the South Bend Community School Corporation for 28 years (Washington High School, Harrison and Edison). She currently serves as the club manager of the South Bend Bridge Club. She is an American Contract Bridge League certified teacher and currently holds the rank of sapphire life master. 

Rev. Christopher Kuhn, M.A. - After teaching history at Notre Dame High School in Niles, IL, for 30 years, Fr. Kuhn was assigned to be Director of the Province Archives for Holy Cross Priests & Brothers at Notre Dame, IN.  Fr. Luis Putz, FLI founder, was his superior for 4 years at Moreau Seminary. He was always learning new things, even in old age. He inspired Fr. Kuhn to be a lifelong learner. "I have enjoyed teaching history at Forever Learning these past 12 years. I am going back to teaching history with adults who need very little motivation, they are lifelong learners."   

Thomas Labuzienski - Tom has been a WVPE Underwriting Consultant since April 2013.  Labuzienski earned his M.B.A. degree from Indiana University and his bachelor's in Communication Arts from the Loyola University of Chicago.  Currently, he is on the board of directors for the Holy Cross Associates and the LaSalle Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  Recently, Labuzienski was on the School Board of Saint Joseph’s High School, St. Joseph Grade School, and Chairman of the National CBS Television Sales Advisory Council. Tom has been a youth soccer coach for almost twenty years and is a local coordinator for foreign high school students and host families. Labuzienski and his two sons hiked and biked the Camino de Santiago, Spain, in 2017, and he has been teaching about his experience and religious pilgrimages at Forever Learning ever since. Tom has walked and biked multiple Caminos in Spain and the Kuman Kodo Camino in Japan, earning the rare Duo Pilgrim certification. He is also on the national board of directors for the American Pilgrims on the Camino and local coordinator for the local Camino chapter.

Rabbi Doron Lazarus—Doron Lazarus is the rabbi of the Midwest Torah Center in South Bend. He is a native of San Diego and completed his BSc in psychobiology from UCLA. He then pursued rabbinic ordination under Rabbi Zalman Goldberg in Israel. He has written two books on Jewish Mindfulness and Medical Ethics. In addition, he is a sleep coach and the founder of Executive Sleep Consulting. He lives in South Bend with his wife and children.

Greg Leyes - Lover of all things growing and sharing that love with others.  You can find Greg working at Ginger Valley and teaching for Forever Learning on his days off.

Linda Loftus—Linda retired after 43 years of teaching students with special needs. For the last 17 years of her career, she taught students who were deaf and/or hard of hearing. Linda has had hearing loss for over 40 years. She and her co-instructors are passionate about teaching others about living with hearing loss. They each bring their own experiences and knowledge to the class.

Bob Macel - Bob is a recent graduate of the Forever Learning courses of Pickleball for Beginners and Advanced Pickleball. With the growing interest in the game, he and his fellow instructors, Rich Mullin and Amy Stone, wanted to offer additional FLI sessions so more students have the opportunity to learn and practice the game.

Gloria Mann - Gloria has been involved in art since high school and has worked with many types of arts and crafts. After retiring in 2012, Gloria dedicated more time to studying art and has taken several Forever Learning watercolor courses, as well as watercolor and drawing classes at the South Bend Museum of Art. Gloria is a member of the St. Joe Valley Watercolor Society, providing her with the opportunity to enter shows and learn from fellow artists.
Gloria worked in the food service industry beginning in 1979, retiring from Saint Mary’s College, where she was a baker for 15 years. Gloria shares her cake decorating and cooking skills with Forever Learning as well as teaching our Watercolor Workshop.

Sarah Martin and Emily Normand work in the education department at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art. Through experiences with art and the practice of close looking, we seek to encourage wonder, enrich critical thinking, and foster dialogue. We believe that everyone contributes to the museum's life.

David Marzke - David is a CPA who moved to South Bend in 1978, raising four children here.  "My interest in the Civil War started in my hometown when I was young.  The local library had an exhibit about General Milroy, and there was also a monument to him in the downtown park.  I started to gather information about him and discovered there were a lot more interesting generals in the Civil War than our local heroes.  From that research, I also learned to admire (and almost revere) the wisdom of Abraham Lincoln in guiding our nation through the Civil War.  Thanks to FLI, I now have the opportunity to spend time discussing this pivotal period in U.S. history."

Randall Matthews, M.S. - Randy retired as an elementary education instructor after 27 years with South Bend Community School Corporation. As a lifelong educator, Randy volunteers his teaching skills to Forever Learning, sharing his love of old movies and languages. Randy also considers himself a lifelong learner. “My students give back to me more joy and knowledge than I can impart.”

Tim McBride - Tim is Past Vice President and Sales Manager of Schwarz Paper Company, where he worked for 38 years. Now retired, he currently serves the South Bend community in various ways.  Tim is a 4th degree Knight and past Grand Knight of the Santa Maria Council 553 of the Knights of Columbus.  He and his wife, Tish, are members of the Knute Rockne Kiwanis Club of Mishawaka. He is a member and Past President of the Notre Dame Alumni Club of St. Joseph Valley. Tim serves as a Cantor at Little Flower Catholic Church and at Christ the King Catholic Church and is a member of the Little Flower Choir. He also sings with Forever Learning’s own Silvertones. Tim and Tish have four sons who live in the Denver area, Granger, and Indianapolis. They have eleven grandchildren. Tim’s hobbies include bike riding, swimming, boating, and fishing. Tim has presented courses on WW2, Geology, Quantum Mechanics, Extreme Weather, and The History of Medicine.  He has the ability to make complex subject matter understandable and memorable. 

Angela McCarthy, Ph.D.  - Angela is an Associate Teaching Professor of Political Science specializing in Religion and Politics, Political Behavior, and Public Opinion. Her work has been published in several academic journals. Currently, she is working on two co-authored manuscripts entitled "Religiosity and the Pocketbook Over Time: A Long View on How Religion and Income Structure Partisan and Ideological Orientations" and "Continuity and Change in the Determinants and Effects of Attitudes Toward Same-Sex Marriage, 2004-2024." Her research focuses on contemporary social values and economic concerns among individuals.

McCarthy has dedicated much of her time to undergraduate teaching. Her teaching interests include Ethics, Morality Policy, Religion and Politics, Contemporary Issues in Public Opinion, and Research Methods. She believes teaching is an interactive enterprise where students must engage with course materials, contribute to class discussion, and reflect on critical thinking exercises. McCarthy's primary objective is to provide students with the tools and resources to articulate their unique and well-informed opinions. McCarthy also serves as an advisor and mentor to undergraduate students at the University of Notre Dame, helping students with course selection and academic and professional career planning. Her approach to advising is to provide students with available opportunities and aid them in discerning their path.

Before moving to Indiana, McCarthy was the Experiential Learning Coordinator and Assistant Instructional Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Florida. While there, she was awarded the Teacher of the Year by the College of Arts and Sciences. In addition, McCarthy earned the Distinguished Dissertation Award at Louisiana State University for her dissertation entitled "The Religious Impact: Understanding the Influences of Religiosity on Attitudes Toward Policy Issues."

Lynn McDonald, MSN, MSEd—Lynn McDonald has been an instructor at Forever Learning Institute since 2011. She is passionate about American mah jongg and wants to spread the joy to others. Her background in nurse-midwifery and counseling gives her particular appreciation for the game's gifts of brain exercise and interpersonal connection. In addition to teaching at FLI, Lynn offers private classes in her own and her students' homes.

Dorothy McGovern, M.A. - Reading and Literature have always been a part of my life, but my degree is in Technical Writing.  I worked at several software companies, first writing the manuals and online help systems, which led to doing quality assurance on new software, which led to training tech support and then training clients.  After retiring, I found FLI and was thrilled to find so many people who shared my enthusiasm for books and learning. Along the way, I picked up a paintbrush and fell in love with that too. After attending classes at FLI and enjoying every one of them, it was time to step up and help. 

Jan McGowan, MLS - Jan is an Interpretive Naturalist for the St. Joseph County Parks, where she enjoys sharing the wonders and joys of our natural world with people of all ages.  An avid birder, she earned her Master of Liberal Studies from IUSB in 2020. Her thesis was “Folk Tales Take Flight: the Storied Biology of Birds.”  She is on the board of Wild Ones South Bend. As their Outreach speaker, she helps people discover the beauty and ecological imperative of using native plants in their gardens and landscapes.

Deacon Brian Miller B.A. - Deacon Miller is a University of Notre Dame graduate with a degree in Communication Arts.  In 1975, he was ordained to the permanent diaconate and has served at St. Anthony de Padua Parish for 47 years.  He is the co-founder and director of Queen of Peace Ministries and has been a sponsor of the National Medjugorje Conference for 25 years.

Chris Miller, M.A. - Chris Miller has instructed theology and philosophy for over thirty years and now focuses on the history of the early Church, Christianity in a post-Christian West, the congruence of all world religious thought, and mystical spirituality.  Chris has taught at Forever Learning for nearly ten years, and if his students have gained as much as he has gained from the teaching/learning experience, it is teaching at its best.

Dorothy J. Mincy, M.A. - Dorothy has taught at Forever Learning for three years and is a lifelong learner.  She studied Business and has an MA Degree in Industrial Relations. Her career included positions in the steel industry, behavioral health non-profit, and Notre Dame.  In retirement, she loves to coach and teach and does freelance work as a Certified Job Search Strategist, a Career Management Coach, and a Professional Resume Writer.

Mary Ann Moran - Mary Ann is a retired librarian who has been active in community theater for over 50 years. Her interest in Play Selection comes from many years on South Bend Civic Theatre’s Play Selection Committee. A former Board member of FLI, she is aware of the enthusiasm among other students for literature and theater.

Pam Murphy, OTR -  Pam is an Occupational Therapist who has been practicing in this community for the past 40 years specializing in Geriatric Rehabilitation and Senior Wellness Programs. Fall prevention and fall recovery are areas of professional expertise and personal interest. She has experience in treatment interventions within skilled nursing facilities, as well as, education and training for safe aging-in-place at home. Her students should plan to learn some facts, assess their individual strengths and weaknesses, experience strategies for the development of personal goals, and share in problem-solving.

Patrick Murphy, Ph.D. - Pat is a retired Professor of Marketing at the University of Notre Dame. He enjoys reading, travel, gardening, and spectator sports. He also cherishes the time spent with his seven grandchildren. After taking several Forever Learning classes, he has decided to become an instructor.

Rabbi Fred Nebel  - Rabbi Nebel received a Rabbinic Ordination from the Rabbi Isaac Elchonon Theological Seminary (Yeshiva University) and an MS in Education from the David J Azreilli School of Jewish Education and Administration (Yeshiva University). Rabbi Nebel is the Director of Jewish Family Services, which operates within The Jewish Federation of St Joseph County. He and his family have lived in South Bend for 13 years.

Elliot D. Rosen. Ph.D.

Yukako Sakaue - Yukako has been drawing for 20 years. She taught in Japan for 5 years and has been teaching and learning through Forever Learning for several years.

Ann Carey Schmiedeler, BA  - Ann has been a journalist for 40+ years. She has been a staff writer for the South Bend Tribune and a correspondent for Our Sunday Visitor, and has authored two books as well as hundreds of articles in Catholic periodicals.  After teaching at the high school and college levels, Ann particularly enjoys teaching seniors because of their deep desire to learn, their enthusiasm for the subject matter, and their fascinating life experiences.

Leighton Schmitt - Leighton enjoys discussing and sharing topics that he finds interesting with others who seek to learn and grow. Leighton earned a BS in Physics and Mathematics from IUSB. However, his career is in the insurance and financial industry, working at his family business, Hawley & Associates. Areas of interest include history, science, economics, and business management. He enjoys teaching because he can help people understand important topics, entertain them, or, ideally, both.       

Jeff Schneider - Jeff has a passion for movies and history and has taught Golden Age Cinema movies and history classes at FLI for 5 years. He has watched, studied, and analyzed thousands of movies and actors and has a remarkable memory to connect his knowledge to students.  Prior to teaching, Jeff created training modules for financial auditors as an Indiana Tax Auditor of 35 years. He also served as director for a local program for families hosting visiting French teenagers.

Sue Schneider - Sue began her career as a high school teacher and then moved on to working with adult training as a Director of Religious Education. From there, she went to the Social Security Administration, where she spent almost forty years working with offices throughout northern Indiana and Michigan. Part of her responsibilities included teaching formal entry-level classes for employees as well as providing ongoing training on new laws, policies, and computer processes. After she retired, Sue discovered pickleball, and wants to share her new-found passion and introduce this sport to others.  She continues to attend classes and clinics so she can bring the most effective techniques and drills to pickleball students at Forever Learning.    

Leah Kelly Schrock, M.L.S. - (That's Liberal Studies, not Library Sciences). After years of teaching health and wellness classes and seminars for the elderly through a social services agency, Leah has turned her teaching efforts to exploring the fascinating historical mysteries and meanings of ancient mythology.

Nancy Sechrest, M.A. - Nancy's background is teaching high school Spanish. Since retiring, she has worked for the Bilingual Dept of South Bend Schools as a tutor and an examiner of ESL skills.

Teresa Shaffer, M.Ed. - Teresa has been an instructor for Cardio Drumming since 2017.  Cardio is a full body workout set to the great music of the 50,'s 60's and 70's.  Using drum sticks, a stability ball and 16-24 gallon bucket, we work at our own pace using our arms, legs and core!  

Kirsten Sharpe - After 25 years in the corporate world of Sales & Marketing, Kirsten made a life choice to have a more meaningful career and became The Realtor for Seniors™. She owns her own real estate firm and her passion is helping seniors with all aspects of selling their long held family home. It's a physical and an emotional journey, on which Kirsten gently guides her clients with patience and professionalism. When she's not working, she loves spending time outdoors and is a runner, swimmer, cyclist, skier, golfer and loves white water rafting in WV.

Sid Shroyer - Sid Shroyer, former director of education at Temple Beth El, South Bend, taught a semester class he created called “Themes: Literature of the Holocaust” at New Prairie High School, New Carlisle, between 2001 and 2013. His teacher training took him to the Holocaust museums in Jerusalem and Washington and to historical sites in Germany and Poland. 

Gary Simmons, MBA - Gary is a first year instructor at FLI. He grew up in Eastern Michigan as a fan of the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs. His favorite players were Al Kaline and Ernie Banks. He taught Chemistry and Biology for twelve years at private high schools in Detroit and Kankakee, Illinois. He has a BA degree in accounting and a MAB from Bethel University. He also has a passion for tennis, soccer, and volleyball.

Mike Snyder - Michael began volunteering at FLI in 2016. He earned a Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in vocal performance from The Catholic University of America and holds a Masters Degree in Liberal Studies from Indiana University South Bend. He teaches voice at The Music Village in downtown South Bend and is president of From the Prairie Publications, Inc.

Peg Snyder, Psy.D. - Peg is a retired clinical psychologist.  After 35 years of private practice that included several years of teaching psychology classes at area colleges, she decided that retirement might be best enjoyed doing those things that she has always loved, i.e. talking with others about human psychology - without the paperwork!

Patrick Somers, M.Div, D. Min. - Patrick taught introductory and advanced preaching to lay speakers and preachers within the United Methodist Church through the Lay Servants Academy for over two decades in North and Northwest Indiana, and was a frequent educational workshop leader while serving earlier in the Chicago area. Patrick now expands his teaching on public speaking beyond the church. One familiar with the fear of public speaking, he brings real life experience and practical tools to approaching public speaking. Patrick has served the church in northern Indiana for 25 years, most recently in South Bend when he retired nearly three years ago. His doctorate focused upon the effective communication of core values. Patrick continues serving the community through the Food Bank of Northern Indiana and as usher at the University of Notre Dame.

Andrew Sommese, Ph.D.  - Andrew (Ph.D. Princeton, 1973), now retired, joined the Department of Mathematics at Notre Dame in 1979 following positions at Yale and Cornell as well as at research institutes in Princeton and Bonn, Germany. At Notre Dame he has occupied an endowed chair as Duncan Professor of Mathematics since 1994. He was a consultant at General Motors Research Labs on applied math topics from 1986 to 1997, and was one of the founding members of Notre Dame's ACMS (Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics). He has published over 200 papers and is co-author of four books. His teaching and research span topics in both pure and applied mathematics. He was one of the leading members of a team that developed computational software known as "Bertini," in use today. He likes mathematical puzzles and real-life examples, financial and investing issues and their history, and enjoys teaching.

Paul Stevenson, M.A. - Paul enjoyed a 15-year corporate career in GE’s healthcare division, serving in a variety of sales and marketing management positions, followed by 14 years as an adjunct professor of business and communications at Trine University. In the corporate and collegiate classrooms, his courses included: entrepreneurship, leadership, international business, marketing, public speaking, and strategic management. He is committed to continuing education, having served on multiple academic-related boards and establishing several scholarships at the college level. He has served on the Forever Learning Board of Directors since 2016.

Bill (William) Stockton - Bill grew up in New Carlisle and, other than a short stint at Purdue and in the Army, has lived in the county his entire life. He has a wide variety of interests, including history, stained glass, woodworking, old cars, clocks, and, of course, pocket watches.

Bill has had several occupations, from repairing mechanical adding machines for Remington Rand, construction laborer, Realtor, appraiser, and mortgage loan officer. Those last three led to several management positions over 33 years with Mishawaka Federal Savings.

Like most pocket-watch people he has met, his interest began when he was given his grandfather’s non-working Waltham pocket watch about 40 years ago. However, even though he bought, sold, and collected various brands over several years AND lived his whole life in the county, he had never heard of the South Bend Watch Co. He saw his first South Bend watch maybe 25 years ago and decided to learn more.

When researching the company, Bill discovered that barely any official records existed. It seems that they were deliberately destroyed. Over the years, many individuals and groups have researched and pieced together information about the company, its people, and its products. As a result, he was able to put together a presentation that is as accurate as possible, covers a brief explanation of the evolution of the need for precise timekeeping, a little about watch terminology, the critical part played by railroad needs, how the company began, its products, people, successes and ultimate failures. 

Nancy Strauss - "Upon reading an article about FLI, I became very interested in taking many of the courses. The hard part was limiting my choices! Since 2011, I have expanded my knowledge, made many new friends, and shared some of my own experiences as a teacher."

Carol Stuart, Ph.D. - Carol has enjoyed a long career in social work, most recently as a parent aide with Child and Parent Services (CAPS). She spent 18 months in Guatemala conducting research and volunteering with an international human rights organization Peace Brigades International in the early 90's where she became fluent in Spanish.

Glenn Sunshine (Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, Madison), the founder and president of Every Square Inch Ministries, is professor of history at the Central Connecticut State University, a Research Fellow of the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, and a Senior Fellow at the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. Previously, he taught at Calvin College and was a visiting professor at the Universität der Bundeswehr-Hamburg (now Helmut Schmidt University) in Germany. 

An award-winning author, Glenn has published several books and numerous articles on history, theology, and culture online and on both sides of the Atlantic. His book Why You Think the Way You Do: The Story of Western Worldviews from Rome to Home (Zondervan, 2009) received the 2006 Acton Institute Book Grant. He is also a regular columnist at Breakpoint (www.breakpoint.org).

Glenn has taught a variety of Bible, history, and worldview seminars and courses to churches around the U.S. and in Europe and Asia, as well as leading church retreats, seminars, and renewal weekends

Richard Sunshine, Ph.D. - As part of his job as an international technology director, Richard coached engineering teams on three continents on using technology to improve product performance and add new features, as well as to eliminate hassle and tedious tasks from their jobs.  Since fall 2016 Richard has enjoyed teaching technology at Forever Learning, and has developed database technology to improve the operation of the Forever Learning office.

Deacon John Tugman - In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John we encounter Jesus. The real, living, Jesus. He is present to us, he is alive for us, in his word. One special duty of the deacon is to proclaim the Gospel at Mass, and not only at Mass, but at every moment of our lives, inside and outside of church. The opportunity to share my passion for the Gospels with FLI learners outside of the formalities of Mass and church is exciting. I was ordained a Roman Catholic Deacon in 1991.

Jill Tulchinsky - Jill Tulchinsky has been teaching Classical Ballet, Pointe, and other dance genres in the Michiana area for over 40 years. Jill’s Ballet training began in Indianapolis at Butler University’s Jordan College of Music program. She continued her dance training in St. Louis, then attended I.U. Bloomington, where she received her B.S. degree.
After University, Jill was awarded a scholarship at the Boston Ballet and also performed the Nutcracker in Chicago at the McCormick Place, Airie Crown Theatre. In 1973, she moved to South Bend. There, she became a founding Director of Southold Dance Theatre, and later, the Artistic Director of The Conservatory of Dance School and Company.
She has contributed choreography for the South Bend Civic Theatre, Saint Mary’s College Performance Workshop, Dancevision at the Culver Academies, the Firefly Festival, and Bethel College musicals. Jill has been active in the Michiana community, serving on the Board of Directors of the League of Women Voters, Temple Beth-El Sisterhood and the Casaday Costume Company, as well as the Steering Committee for DTSB’s annual Art Beat. 

Jim Turnbo III - Author, speaker and believer in healthy aging.

Susan Van Fleit, M.S. - Susan Van Fleit has been an instructor at Forever Learning since 2014. She is a graduate of Indiana University, Bloomington, and has taught all levels of French, retiring from Penn High School after 22 years there. She also served as an adjunct at IUSB. She loves sharing her love of all things French with her inspiring and enthusiastic students at Forever Learning.

Mia Vetter - Mia, originally from South Korea, has made the United States her home for the past 25 years. During her time at Goshen College, where she pursued general studies, she was introduced to Korean culture in her classes. This exposure ignited a passion in her to share her rich cultural heritage with others. With the global rise in the popularity of Korean culture, Mia finds great joy and purpose in teaching the language and culture.

Dottie Wallace, M.S. - Dottie found Forever Learning through a church bulletin and has taught a Stretching, Toning and Yoga class during the Winter months in Florida for the last 15 years and for three years at Forever Learning. Dottie is a retired teacher from South Bend Community Schools. She remains active and enjoys teaching this class to stress the importance of exercise and nutrition at any age.

Dave Warkentien- Dave graduated with a B.S. degree from Purdue University and worked as a sales engineer and in sales management for Motorola, GE, and MDS.  He became concerned about climate change after watching An Inconvenient Truth documentary back in 2007 and began researching ways to live fossil-fuel-free, affordably, and comfortably.  In 2015, Dave designed and built what is possibly Indiana's most energy-efficient house in Mishawaka, with an integrated solar power system and electric car.  Dave is the founder of SHEVI CONSULTING, which helps homeowners with energy-efficient house design and the selection of solar power systems and electric cars. 

Mitchell Wayne, Ph.D. - Professor, Elementary Particle Physics, University of Notre Dame. Professor Wayne’s current research focuses on two high energy colliding beam experiments: the study of proton-antiproton collisions with the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron, and the study of proton-proton collisions at the world’s largest energies with the CMS detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN, in Geneva, Switzerland. Physics topics of interest include the search for the Higgs Boson and search for physics beyond the Standard Model, for example supersymmetry and compositeness.

Monika Wayne, M.A. - Monika Wayne has been an instructor for FLI for several years, starting with teaching German and then adding French. She received her M.A. in legal and economic translations from the University of Geneva and later taught German at the University of Notre Dame. Teaching languages connects Monika to her past and brings back memories of growing up in Switzerland. Monika also serves on the Forever Learning Institute Board of Directors and volunteers in our office.

Max Westler, Ph.D. - Professor of English, Saint Mary's College

Todd Zeiger -  With a degree in historic preservation from Roger Williams University, Certificate of Executive Management from the University of Notre Dame and a minor in business, Todd Zeiger has built upon his passion for historic buildings over his 34 years in the field. His experience ranges from museum and non-profit management to building restoration, relocation and real estate development involving commercial, residential, and public buildings. Todd has been with Indiana Landmarks for over 25 years where he has served as the director of the Northern Regional Office since 1998. He provides a wide range of consultation, project development and advocacy assistance to grass roots organizations, historic preservation commissions, Main Street communities and private building owners over a twenty-four-county area overseeing two field offices.  As an adjunct Professor of the Profession in the University of Notre Dame School of Architecture, Todd is helping grow the next generation of preservation minded professionals through a variety of classes in the Historic Preservation Concentration. He has also lectured at state and national conferences and too numerous to count talks to local groups, organizations and professionals interested in our historic architecture. Following graduation from Roger Williams, he returned to his hometown to dedicate his career to helping save the architectural legacy left by the previous generations – the fingerprints of those who have come before us.  He and his wife of 30 years Terri have three children Lindsey (Gib) Spaulding, Rachael and Jacob. They reside in South Bend, Indiana, as the fifth generation on their historic farmstead along with their two and a half horses, chickens and other assorted pets. He is presently restoring a 1958 Chevy impala convertible purchased by his father in the mid 1960’s with a 1939 Studebaker truck waiting in the wings.

Anthony Zmirski, Obl OSB - Tony is a retired pharmacist with backgrounds in critical care and chronic disease management. He holds the CDCES (Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist) credential as well as other certifications earned during his career. He is a Lay Benedictine Oblate of the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Chicago. Interests include Polish/Slavic, Byzantine Catholicism, and jazz history.