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

Ruth Andrews  - Ruth studied dreams and participated in a dream group with Rosa Stone, who taught nursing at Goshen College. Ruth 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 in her waking life has worked as a mediator and facilitator.

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.

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 an 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.

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

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, another local group, and currently has 5-7 books in multiple genres close to the finish line. She says she's "working like a graduate student" on the publishing learning curve.

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.

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

Rev. Marianne Chalstrom, M.Div. - Marianne has been an instructor at Forever Learning for over three 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.

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 an important part of Diane's whole life.  She believes it is important as an artist to learn as much as one can, not just techniques, but art history as well. 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 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 5 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.

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 6 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. 

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

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 band, concert band and most avidly, Jazz ensemble.  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 the field of public relations. He 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  Master of Arts and a Master of Science degrees.

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.

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 to the United States in 2020, she has wanted to introduce westerners to 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 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).

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.

Bill Hooper - Bill Hooper is a Professor in Statistics and Data analysis for 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, four clubs and with his son Todd, pass 6 clubs, 6 torches and even 6 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 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 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, & 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.

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 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, 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.

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 mind-set 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 religion 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 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.

Bob King, STM - Bob has been able to learn advanced innovation from the best in the world and wants 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 Bob's courses 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. Tom has walked and biked multiple Caminos in Spain and the Kuman Kodo Camino in Japan earning the very 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. Rabbi Lazarus is a native of San Diego and completed his BSc in psychobiology from UCLA. He went on to pursue rabbinic ordination under Rabbi Zalman Goldberg in Israel. He has written two books on the topic of 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.

Lev Levenson, Ph.D, MSW - Lev Levenson has been an instructor at FLI sine 2015. 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.

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.

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 hero.  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. 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.”

Kathleen Matuszak, MPA - Kathleen is the General Manager of St. Joseph Funeral Home and Cemetery and host of a radio program on 95.3 MNC called 'Rest in Peace'. She has taught Mortuary Sciences, grief psychology and funeral service management and funeral service equipment.

Lynn McDonald, MSN, MSEd - Lynn McDonald has been an instructor at Forever Learning Institute since 2011. 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.

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 lead to doing quality assurance on new software, which lead 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 paint brush and feel in love with that too. After attending classes at FLI and enjoying every one of them, it was time to step up and help. 

Kim Meiss, B.A., NTA Instr. - Kim Meiss caught the line dancing bug about several 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 third year teaching the course.

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,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.

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 sign up to be an instructor.

Rabbi Fred Nebel  - Rabbi Nebel received 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 the past 13 years.

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. 

Lorenzo Riva - Lorenzo is a graduate student in mathematics with a passion for origami, especially geometric models and tessellations.

Gabrielle Robinson, Ph.D. - Gabrielle is Professor Emerita from IUSB where she taught Literature and Drama. She received her MA from Columbia University and her PhD from the University of London. Gabrielle has published eight books and over forty articles, most recently Better Homes of South Bend and a memoir/biography Api's Berlin Diaries. My Quest to Understand my Grandfather's Nazi Past. Based on her work on Better Homes, she has been able to secure South Bend's first two State Historic Markers honoring African American history. After years of moving from country to country, she now is happily settled in South Bend.

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!

Megan Rogers - Megan has worked 16 years in the social services field in Michiana and graduated from Bethel College with a double major in Sociology and Criminal Justice. She has 4 years’ experience working at the local Community Mental Health Center and 10 working with the Area 2 Agency on Aging Real Services with the Aged and Disabled population. Currently, she is the Northwest Indiana Region Volunteer Supervisor and has vast knowledge of the Aged and Disabled, TBI, and BDDS Waivers; Nursing Home assessments and approvals; and Person-Centered Planning Techniques where each position required her to have an extensive knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid. Megan is a Certified Memory Care Professional and certified in two Suicidal prevention techniques: QPR (Question, Persuade, and Referral) and ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), as well as a certificate in Non-Profit Business Management from IUSB. She is also the primary caregiver to her mother and father and resides in Plymouth with her husband.

Elliot D. Rosen. Ph.D.

Kati Rudin – Kati Rudin, Registered Dietitian, is the Health and Nutrition Education Manager at REAL Services in South Bend. She received her Master of Science from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign and worked previously as a clinical dietitian in the hospital setting. Her current specialty is providing health and nutrition education services to those 60 years and older in REAL’s five-county service area. She is a certified Master Trainer for the Boston University developed Matter of Balance workshop. Information in this workshop gives participants the tools to implement change and live a healthier and more independent life. 

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 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.

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. 

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!

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.

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."

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.

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.

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 and volunteers in our office.

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

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.

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 and diabetes instructor. Tony's interests include teaching jazz appreciation and how music is a reflection of society in general.