Our Instructors

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

Peg Adams M.A. - Peg returned to teaching Genealogy for FLI after a break of 2 years. She first started at FLI in 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 family. She is a DAR member with 10 proven patriots.

Becky Albrecht - I have been teaching Hawaiian dance class at the Forever Learning Institute for over 20 years. I've studied hula at numerous workshops in the mainland and in Hawaii.

Marilyn Ashbaugh, J.D., M.P.A., - Marilyn is a graduate of the Maurer School of Law and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Bloomington, Indiana.  While in graduate school there she met and became a student of HH The Dalai Lama.  She received several spiritual empowerments, including the Kalachakra for World Peace given in August, 1999.
While an administrator at the University of Notre Dame, she founded the Alice Paul Feminist Jurisprudence Essay Competition through the University of Notre Dame Law School.  For over twenty years, she studied spiritual practices as taught by the Sufi Order International.  She had the honor of practicing walking meditation with
Thich Nhat Hahn.

Robert Asplund, MS                      

Brent Banulis - Bowler extraordinaire!

Phil Bertoni, MNS - I have been an instructor at Forever Learning for several years.  I am a retired public school secondary mathematics & computer science teacher - 38 years. I also taught as an mathematics adjunct instructor in several community colleges over the years.  I served in the US Navy for 6 years, active & reserve. My wife & I moved to South Bend in 2015. We love the many social, educational and sports opportunities that this area offers. We have enjoyed immensely taking some FLI courses, as well.

Andrew Betts, MA - Andrew Betts has been a professional comedian (TV, concerts, supper clubs, cruise ships) globally and entertainer/singer/story teller for over 70 years. His degrees in education steered him toward teaching high school French. He taught cooking classes at Battell Center then moved to Forever Learning to teach AARP Safe driver courses, cooking, story telling, memoir writing, diction, Psalms and low impact exercise. Away from FLI he taught safety engineering and insurance auditing. He has written chidren's stories, drama, musicals, many songs, hymns, anthems and the song honoring Studebaker's 150 years. He has studied exhaustively the history of comedy from its earliest years to today's comedians.

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 two 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.

Brandon Bruning, Ph.D. - Bruning received his B.S. from Butler University, where he majored in English, Education, and Music, and his M.T.S. and Ph.D. in Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity from Notre Dame.  While an undergraduate he studied abroad at Oxford, and while pursuing his doctorate he was awarded grants for language study at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and for research in early Jewish and Christian encounters at Tel Aviv University.  Between earning his Ph.D. and returning to Notre Dame as an Academic Advisor, he held a post-doctoral teaching fellowship in Hebrew Bible and Judaism at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. His research focuses on the Scriptures and scribes of Second-Temple Judaism, as well as the relationship between scriptural interpretation and the formation of community identities among Jews, Christians, and their neighbors throughout the ancient world.  He takes especial interest in undergraduate courses introducing students to the historical and cultural contexts of the Bible and its interpreters--and how attention to readers' contexts contributes to education in the liberal arts.

Beth Buechler, MA, English - My year and a half of studying Creative Writing with John Gardner in the late 70s stayed with me for life. He encouraged my passion, not only for writing fiction, but for teaching it as well. In 2013, I retired as an Adult Education Instructor in Maine, became able to write fiction full-time, and found myself working with and mentoring other fiction writers. I like passing on the awareness of certain skills John Gardner shared so generously.

Denis P Burke, J.D. - Denis has taught at FLI since 2012. He has teamed with Michael J. Crowe, Ph.D. to teach courses on Sherlock Holmes and to lead the local Sherlock Holmes society, the Solitary Cyclists. He has also enjoyed taking many classes at FLI. Denis retired from the practice of law in public finance and returned from Omaha after 34 years to Notre Dame where he had received his A.B. degree in Government and International Studies in 1973. He received his J.D. degree in 1976 from the University of Michigan Law School.

Steve Carlock - Branch Manager, Raymond James. Steve has been helping clients with their investment and insurance needs since 1990. Steve was a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones in South Bend, In. and managed the local Edward Jones office. In August of 2003 Steve transitioned to become an independent Investment Planner in order to help his current and future clients by opening the world of investing and insurance to them. Most of all, Steve wanted the ability to make unbiased recommendations using the nation's leading investment companies.

Rev. Marianne Chalstrom, M.Div. - Marianne has been an instructor at Forever Learning for over two years. She has been an ordained minister for all her career, retiring from active ministry in the United Methodist Church. Since retiring she continues to teach in various venues combining art and fun ways to help people continue their personal and spiritual journey.

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 as an aerospace engineering, since retiring, he has joyfully shared his love of drawing with church ministries, art enthusiasts, and businesses. Examples of his work can be found on greenolivetreestudio.com.

Rosalind Clark - Rosalind Clark has taught dance at Forever Learning several times. She teaches Jane Austen Dance at Saint Mary's College and was the dancing coach for Notre Dame's production of "Pride & Prejudice." She is connected with the South Bend Contradancers and Folkdancers, and she has attended a workshop in teaching English Country Dance at Pine Woods Dance Camp, Plymouth, MA.

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.

Diane Corbett - Art has been important my whole life.  It is important as an artist to learn as much as you can, not just techniques but art history as well. It is such a pleasure, says Diane Corbett watercolor instructor here at Forever Learning.  Her association with the Institute started when she signed up to take a watercolor class herself.  After about a year and a half of taking the class, when the instructor retired, she was asked to take over and has been teaching ever since.

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 8 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  - 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 4 years and has over 20 years as a non-profit professional and has been the Executive at the Jewish Federation for the past 5 years.  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.

David Denlinger - Forever Learning's partnership with The Music Village brought him to FLI. Dave has been teaching at FLI for 2 years and has been teaching guitar and ukulele for 6 years at TMV.

Kejiao Ding, M.S. - Kejiao Ding received her Master's in Computer Science from Texas A&M University in 2002. She works on a database system for a local university and has been teaching beginning Windows for FLI for about 8 years. Her goal is to contribute her knowledge of computers to those who may need this important skill.

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, My attraction to the French philosopher Simone Weil began three decades ago in graduate school, and since then, I have continued to read her works and publish my reflections on the application of her thought to our contemporary concerns. Sharing her inspiration for living an intentional life and her insights into the human condition is a contagious joy. From my many years of teaching literature at the University of Notre Dame, I value the Socratic method of discussing a topic as an equal among equals. Retired now from the University of Notre Dame and pleased with our recently published co-authored book, When Fiction and Philosophy Meet: A Conversation with Flannery O'Connor and Simone Weil, Ruthann K. Johansen and I decided we would like to share with others the intellectual enrichment of knowing these two extraordinary intellectual women.  Since many friends and colleagues over the years have spoken of the pleasure in both teaching and learning at the Forever Learning Institute, I look forward to sharing with other thoughtful readers our discovery in pairing selected short stories of Flannery O'Connor with the well-honed essays of Simone Weil.

Alan Dowty -  is an American author and Professor of Political Science Emeritus, University of Notre Dame. He was formerly Kahanoff Chair Professor of Israel Studies at the University of Calgary, 2003-2006, and President of the Association for Israel Studies, 2005-2007. His recent work focuses on Israeli politics and the Arab-Israeli conflict.  Ira Sharkansky of The Hebrew University calls Dowty's "The Jewish State: A Century Later," "the most thorough and sensitive assessment of Israel's democracy that I have seen."

Deborah Dwyer

James Field, M.D.

LeRoy Friesen, ODCS, Ph.D. - LeRoy Friesen was born and educated within the Mennonite community. After earning his M.A. in Theology from University of Southern California and Ph.D. in Christian Ethics from 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

Steven Gable, M.D. - Steve is a retired neurologist. He received his undergraduate degree in English from the University of Notre Dame. His academic interests are literature and history, which may explain why he has not taught or read anything published after 1970. He has been with FLI for 5 years.

Deacon William Gallagher - I am a Catholic deacon assigned to Sacred Heart Parish on the campus of Notre Dame.  The course I will be facilitating will be a video presentation by Bishop Robert Barron describing some of the great leaders of the Catholic Church.

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 has 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.

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.

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 travel.

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 embroider.

Jim Halteman, Ph.D. - Former Hendrickson Professor of Economics at Wheaton College, IL.  After taking a couple 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 has been an instructor for Forever Learning for three years. He 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.

Gary Harrington - Director for South Bend Rum Village Nature Center

Jamie Hartzke - Leisure Services Manager, St. Joseph County Parks

Marcia Haslett M.Ed. - Marcia Haslett has been a Forever Learning sign language instructor for two years. 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 that 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).

Tina Hepworth

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 both 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, and in her spare time loves to read and piece the occasional quilt.

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 using in Tai Chi.  That experience lead 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 had a major in art and drafting in high school & studied German and French at University. She worked for United Telephone in Plymouth & Centre Township Library. She started teaching haiku poetry at FLI in 2008 and has over 420 published poems in U.S., Canada. Japan, Germany, & 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.

Fadia Ismail B.A. - Fadia is Lebanese. She moved to the United States in 2018 with her husband, who is pursuing his PhD at The University of Notre Dame, and her two kids. Fadia is originally a biology student, but she has worked at a religious institute as a manager and researcher, focusing, among other things, on Christian-Islamic dialogue in Lebanon. After finishing a B.A. in history at the Lebanese University, she is currently writing her masters thesis on the impact of the silk industry on the making of the modern Lebanese identity.

Dorota Janik - Dorota is a native of Poland and has been in the US since 2003. Dorota holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry, 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 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 10 years. As she says, the Monday morning classes with the students at Forever Learning are the great way to start week.

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 with students the interface among literary, historical, philosophical, theological, and scientific thought. For six years, as president of Bethany Theological Seminary, I also worked with theological faculty and Master of Divinity and Masters 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.

Wendy Jones, B.A. - Wendy Jones has been a naturalist at Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve for 29 years, sharing her love of nature with people of all ages.  

Br. Paul Kelly, C.S.C. MBA - Brother Paul has been a Brother of Holy Cross for 60 years. He taught high school for many years and currently remains an administrator.  Br. Paul has loved cooking all his life and is sharing his enthusiasm and amazing skills with lucky Forever Learning students. If you are considering one of Br. Paul's classes, be aware that they fill up fast!

Bob King, STM - I have been able to learn advanced innovation from the best in the world and want to share it in the spirit of FLI founder Fr, Louis Putz and his inspiration Fr. Ted. Whether you want to solve your own problems, teach methods to grand kids, or help Pope Francis solve world’s toughest problems, you will find it fun and useful.

Tricia Killeen  - Tricia has been teaching 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 Bachelors Degree in Communication Arts from 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 was the 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. He is also on the national board of directors for the American Pilgrims on the Camino and local coordinator for the local Camino chapter. 

Lev Levenson, Ph.D, MSW - Lev Levenson has been an instructor at FLI for about the past five years. His courses include ones on reflective journaling, spiritual journaling, the existential novel, a three part course on western philosophy, and the diary of Etty Hilesum. Lev received his doctorate in Library Science and Adult Education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. As part of a midlife career change, he received a Masters degree in clinical social work at the University of Michigan. He had a specialization in gerontology for both graduate degrees. He has retired from private practice as a psychotherapist. Prior to that he has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also served as the Director of the Lifelong Learning Program at the Dane County (Wisconsin) Commission on Aging. He has served as a staff librarian and public library administrator. Lev's interests include philosophy, journaling and journaling research, non-religious spirituality, existentialism, and identity formation,  adult and elderly learning, among others.

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.

Sally Liu, BSOT, M.Ed. - Sally has been teaching exercise courses at Forever Learning for almost 15 years. She originally taught our AARP driving course, but has been leading exercise groups for every semester for many years. She reserves her summers for gardening.

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 since 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.

Maxine Martinez - I joined the Polonaise Class when Michael Laatz, Dan Kaczorowski and Mr Ciesielski ran the class. After running this class for many years they wanted to retire and have some other folks imput their ideas into keeping this class available to Senior Members.  I and seven members decided this was something that we wanted to have available to us to enjoy so we signed up to do our best to succeed.
I did not go for further education , I am a hands on, common sense with a love of all people. I learn by doing.  These folks in my class have taught me so much and I treasure them all.  They all bring something worthwhile to the class.  I know I am a better person thanks to them. The proof is in the pudding, and the original seven are still working at making My Polonaise Class successful.

Randall Matthews, M.S. retired as an instructor in elementary education 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 possibly impart.”

Lynn McDonald, MSN, MSEd - Lynn McDonald has been an instructor at Forever Learning Institute on and off for 8 years. She has a passion for the game of American mah jongg and wants to spread the joy to others. Lynn's background in nurse-midwifery and counseling gives her particular appreciation for mah jongg'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.

Kim Meiss, B.A., NTA Instr. - Kim Meiss caught the line dancing bug about three years ago, and has been following every opportunity to dance and teach since then. She attended trainings in Fort Wayne and Colorado Springs and received her Certification through NTA in 2016. Kim came to Forever Learning when her good friend and mentor Lynn Edison relocated, leaving the class without a teacher. This will be her 4th semester teaching the course.

Deacon Brian Miller B.A.

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.

Joshua Napierkowski - Education Director at South Bend Civic Theatre

Aaron Nichols - Executive Director of South Bend Civic Theatre

Cynthia Nikolai, Ph.D., M.S. - Cynthia has been teaching at the Forever Learning Institute since 2013.  She has degrees in both Mathematics and Computer Science. She was a GAANN Fellow (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) at the University of Notre Dame, where she worked with the Kaneb Learning Center to learn how to teach well.  In her spare time, Cynthia loves putting together jigsaw puzzles. Her personal website can be found at www.cynthianikolai.com.

James Powell, Ph.D. - James Powell is a retired academic who had a career in college and university research, teaching and administration.  He has always had a great desire to create a short course for laypersons describing all of creation from the beginning to the present day.  The result is the six-part course for Forever Learning entitled The Universe: From the Big Bang to Now.

Ralph Radecki - Ralph Radecki comes to Forever Learning after teaching Latin and English at Clay High School for 42 years.  Ralph earned his B.A. from St. Edward’s University in 1967, his M.A. from Ball State University in 1973 and a Fullbright Scholarship to the American Academy at Rome, 1983. 

Cathy Roe - Cathy Roe has been leader in the dance and fitness industry for over 40 years. She has produced over 150 educational films on dance, yoga and fitness and how to teach. Her curriculums and videos sell international from her on-line web store at www.cathyroe.com.
Cathy holds a B.S degree in dance education from Western Michigan University and has also earned certifications in yoga, fitness, zumba, pilates and senior yoga. Cathy is the current Ms. Senior Michigan with a platform expressing the importance of exercise and the need to keep moving. She loves to bring yoga and fitness to all age groups, but especially seniors. And that's so much easier if the class is fun and set to the music that we baby boomers know and love!

Elliot D. Rosen. Ph.D.

Dahnean Roth - Quilling is a paper filigree art of rolling thin strips of colored paper into various shapes and then gluing those shapes together to form various forms of art work. The possibilities are endless really. Dahnean loves quilling because she can let her imagination and creativity run wild and finds it very relaxing. She has been quilling for over 25 years and still finds much more to learn about it.

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.

Leighton Schmitt - Leighton enjoys discussing and sharing topics which 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.       

Bill Schmitt, MPA - Bill Schmitt is a lifelong accordionist, but in recent times he
has embraced new styles, performances, and roles as an instructor. This is his second semester with the Institute. He is active as a jammer and faculty/committee member with The Music Village. He wants to share his love of accordions as part of cultural heritages and community life. Schmitt is a marketing-communications professional with a Master in Public Affairs degree from Princeton.

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 for 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.

Leah Kelly Schrock, MLS – Leah Kelly Schrock is the Health Education Manager at REAL Services in South Bend. She received her Master of Liberal Studies degree from Indiana University South Bend. She has been working for over 30 years at REAL Services, and since 2005 has been providing health education services, to those 60 and older, in the community in REAL’s 5 county service area. She is a certified Master Trainer for the Stanford developed workshops Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions and Building Better Caregivers, as well as the Boston University developed Matter of Balance workshop. She also provides presentations on various health related topics. She believes the topics presented in the materials are very important, and that those who participate come away with great tools and a better understanding of how to be healthier. She also enjoys the interactions the workshops and presentations provide, and watching people grow from these experiences.

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 for the past three sessions.  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.

Kate Shoupe - Professor of Anthropology Emerita, Saint Mary's College. Studies Ethnomusicology, Folklore, and Scotland.

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. 

George Sidney, Ph.D. - "My initiation to the craft and drama of teaching was in New York City at a Lower East Side junior high school. After that I practiced at colleges and universities in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, teaching courses in American literature, history, and culture. I do enjoy the classroom stage, and appreciate the FLI’s giving me the opportunity to support and participate in its exemplary educational enterprise."

Mike Snyder - Michael began volunteerint 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!

Karin Speicher, Cert. Instr. - YMCA of Michiana

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 for three years.

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."

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.

Margot Tutorow - Margot comes to Forever from a Hispanic background and has been living in the United States since 2014. She studied languages in college and then worked as a teacher for a short time, spending most of her working years at a travel agency. This is Margot's second semester teaching at Forever Learning.

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.

Dottie Wallace, M.S. - I had heard of Forever Learning through our church bulletin. I have taught a Stretching, Toning and Yoga class during the Winter months in Florida for the last 15 years and for 3 sessions at Forever Learning. I am a retired teacher from South Bend Community Schools. I am active and enjoy teaching this class to stress the importance of exercise and nutrition at any age.

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 searches 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.

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

Margaret Whitmer

Jack Williams, Ph.D. - Jack Williams, Ph.D. has worked as an archaeologist and historian on various research projects in the United States, Mexico, South America, and Europe. He received a B.A. degree in anthropology and history from San Diego State University, and Master’s and Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Arizona. Dr. Williams is a faculty member at Inter-American College in National City, San Diego and also he has taught at Arizona State University and the University of San Diego. With a brilliant command of history, anthropology, and archaeology, Jack enjoys teaching a variety of topics, covering history from all angles.

Michelle Wruck

Rie Yamazaki - Rie learned origami as a child and loves to fold pretty things. Her skills and creations have been a part of Forever Learning for many years.