Instructors Bios

David G. Allen, born in Pine Bluff, is a native Arkansan, lifelong musician, and CEO of BITEC, Inc., a national manufacturer based in Morrilton. He plays both guitar and mandolin and has a deep appreciation for Arkansas history and culture. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he studied biology and chemistry.
David brings energy, curiosity, and a spirit of creativity to everything he does—whether in the classroom, the boardroom, or on stage. He began teaching in Spring 2022.

Karin Bara began practicing yoga in 1996 and teaching in 2010. She is also a freelance writer and copy editor. She is married, has two grown sons, one lovely daughter-in-law, two funny and amazing grandchildren.

A member of the LifeQuest Law Crew. Specialized in the practice of toxic tort, environmental and products liability litigation at Mitchell Williams Law Firm. Click on picture for more information. Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2021.

A native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Michael Blanchard now lives in Conway, where he is an adjunct professor of literature at the University of Central Arkansas. In addition to his teaching duties, he serves as editor of SLANT, the University’s international journal of contemporary poetry, and is an active member of the Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas. He is the author of four books of poetry, the most recent of which is The Pearl Diver’s Daughter & Other Poems (2023). A fifth book, The Things of This World, is scheduled for publication in early 2026. He began teaching at LifeQuest in the Fall of 2025.

Born in West Memphis, Arkansas. Dr. of Pharmacy. Enjoys reading, and exercise. She is an avid volunteer for LifeQuest and the Patrick Hayes Center. Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2018.

He has been a columnist since February 1986 and won several state awards and two national awards from the Association of State Capitol Reporters and Editors for commentary. He authored a book on Bill Clinton's first year as president, entitled High Wire, published in 1994. He began his popular "Behind the Headlines" class for LifeQuest in 1997.

Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2018. Retired professor of Theatre & Dance from UALR, he has a degrees from University of Arizona, and a PhD from the University of Utah. Drawing from his background and varied interests, he incorporates film, poetry, music, dance, and spoken word and dramatic scenes in many of his LifeQuest classes.

Caprise Cooper was born in Chicago, Illinois. She has a degree in fine art and studied for 8 years at an open studio. She has about 20 years experience with pastels and is a member of the Arkansas Pastel Society. She has taught pastel underpaintings and oil painting. She also enjoys hiking and motorcycling.

Born in Little Rock, AR. Tom has degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music as well as a Master's in Social Work. He has taught about the history of jazz piano, jazz piano instruction, and composition for over 45 years. Click his picture for more information. Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2019.

Editorial Cartoonist for the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, Syndicated Cartoonist for Creators Syndicate, Sculptor for Deering Studio. He studied Art at Truman Alston Studio and University of Arkansas at Little Rock. John had a unique childhood growing up in a fire station and is the only instructor to have been bitten by a piranha and a monkey that we know of. Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2016.

BFA in art & design. Worked as interior designer and retired in 2011 when she began teaching painting. Graphite and oil mediums are preferred. Click on picture for more information.

Jessica Durand was born in Columbia, Tennessee. She is the Senior Associate Pastor at St. James United Methodist Church in Little Rock as of 2021.She studied history at Auburn University and received her M.Div. from Emory University.. She enjoys running, reading and knitting. She has 200 hours as a Certified Yoga Teacher from Blue Yoga NYLA in North Little Rock. She has taught yoga at LifeQuest since Fall Term 2022.

Dr. Charles Feild studied at Hendrix College, UAMS and Tulane University. He specialized in pediatrics and was the Executive Director of Head Start in Arkansas. He enjoyed association with the Quapaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts including as a board member. His family genealogy in Arkansas has been a passion serving as his material for teaching at LifeQuest beginning in Fall 2022.

Former Director of Music at First United Methodist Church, Little Rock, and College Organist and Adjunct Instructor of organ and piano at Hendrix College. Retired in 2014, he has assisted Nancy Fleming with her LifeQuest classes since 2015. He holds degrees in organ from the University of Oklahoma and in piano from Oklahoma City University. He has done doctoral work at the University of Illinois. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, he enjoys cooking, traveling, playing the piano, and his dogs, Teddy Bear and Lola.

Professor Emerita at Hendrix College where she was on the faculty for 28 years. Directed the choir and taught music courses. Retired in 2014, began teaching at LifeQuest in 2015. Has taught many music courses at LifeQuest accompanied by her husband, Ansley Fleming, on the piano. A member of the LifeQuest Board of Directors. Born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Nancy enjoys traveling, reading and dogs.

A resident of Little Rock, Ark. Vic Fleming is a retired judge and law professor, and an author of books, articles, songs, poems, and crossword puzzles. Vic and his wife, Marion Kahn, live part-time in Little Rock and in Steamboat Springs, CO. He's working on a memoir of his 22 years as a crossword author. He's written about 1,500 published crosswords, including 47 in the New York Times. He began teaching at LifeQuest in the fall of 2025

Born in Romania, Ticu Gamalie began a career in the travel industry with short tours of the Black Sea. Graduated from Bucharest Physics University. Invited to the US in 1998 as an exchange professor where he graduated with a Masters in Science and Education. He is an Associate Professor at Arkansas State University in Beebe since 2010 and teaches Physics, Earth Science and Environmental Science. He began teaching at LifeQuest in the spring of 2024.

John retired from FIS/Systematics after working for over 34 years just before the pandemic hit. He was born in Pine Bluff but raised in North Little Rock. His degree in History and Writing was received from UALR. He has studied Napoleon for over 40 years and published two articles in Napoleon Magazine. He began teaching at LifeQuest in the Fall of 2022.

David Edwin Gifford is a noted author and art pottery expert with several books on Niloak, Camark, and American art ceramics. His work has contributed significantly to the documentation and preservation of Arkansas’s ceramic traditions from the early 20th century to the postwar era. He began teaching at LifeQuest in the Spring of 2025.

Born in Little Rock. He is a graduate of Central High School, Hendrix College and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville Law School. Former Emeritus Professor at UALR School of Law. Married to local realtor, Charlotte John. Enjoys singing and playing the guitar. As a member of the LifeQuest Law Crew, he began teaching at LifeQuest in 2000.

Terry earned a PhD from the Chicago Theological Seminary in history and religion. He taught world religions and world history for a number of years. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing and sauntering in state parks. Terry facilitates book groups and offers classes online for the Cobb Institute / Center for Process Studies (part of the Eco-Civilization movement). He began teaching with LifeQuest in the winter of 2023.

Retired attorney from Rose Law Firm. BA from Hendrix College and JD from University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Has been in the same book club for more than forty years. He began teaching at LifeQuest in 2009.

Retired as the pastor at Second Presbyterian Church in the fall of 2021 where he began serving in 2001. He attended the Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (and has received a Distinguished Alumnus Award in 2020) as well as served as a dean and adjunct professor of preaching from 1983-1991.

Dennis Haning is a retired insurance agent who serves as the treasurer for the Rotary International in Little Rock. He first joined LifeQuest in the spring term of 2024 and has been involved with Tell Your Own Story since. He joins JoEllen as a co-facilitator of this class in the winter of 2025.

A resident of central Arkansas, Harden has been a longtime force in the arts scene in South Arkansas. He owned and operated Bensberg Music in El Dorado and Camden for many years, has directed and appeared in a long list of successful South Arkansas Arts Center productions. He first taught Improv at LifeQuest in the spring of 2024.

Born in Santa Ana, CA, Susan enjoys painting landscapes and walking. She is pastel artist with training from Louisiana Tech University. Has taught portrait and landscape classes in Arkansas, Ohio, and Georgia. Click her picture for more information. She began teaching at LifeQuest in 2019.

Cindy KaneCindy Kane is from Greers Ferry and Little Rock. She is a retired Professor Emerita, Dept. Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences, UAMS. She has a degree in Chemistry from Hendrix and has a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from UAMS. She founded and led the Alcohol Research Laboratory at UAMS. She began oil and acrylic painting when she retired and has found her true passion. She is proud to note she was classically trained under Louis Beck in Little Rock. Fall 2025 was her first term at LifeQuest.

Pam Kiser was born in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. She is a retired family medical specialist with over 30 years of experience in the medical field. She enjoys reading, taking care of dogs and spending time with family and friends. She began teaching Pickleball at LifeQuest in the Winter 2023 term.

Dr. Krain completed a residency in General Psychiatry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and completed a two year fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry from the University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He serves as the Assistant Program Director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Residency. He is a clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UAMS and is a staff psychiatrist at CAVHS. His first class at LifeQuest is in the Fall 2024 Term.

A native of northwest Iowa, John Krebs grew up on a farm. As a pianist, he has performed both across the United States and internationally in France, Iceland, Germany, Slovenia, and Thailand. Krebs taught at Hendrix College from 1992 to 2024, where his classes included history of opera, history of jazz, and world music. In 2019 he became the Willis H. Holmes Distinguished Professor of Music. He has made two trips to Indonesia to study gamelan music in Bali and Central Java. He began teaching at LifeQuest at Conway in fall 2025.

A member of Mid-Southern Watercolorists, Stephen came highly recommended to LifeQuest. He retired from teaching mathematics at Mabelvale Schools in 2019. Click his image to see his art. He enjoys teaching watercolor and drawing. He began teaching in Fall 2022.

Retired Clinical Pharmacy Specialist. She has been a scrapbooker and stamper hobbyist since 1994. Loves travel, crafting, and sports (GO HOGS!). She has taught at LifeQuest since 2018.

Janet Lanza is professor emeritus, University of Arkansas at Little Rock and coordinator of Arkansas Wild Spaces. Janet Lanza received her Ph.D. in 1978 in Ecology from the University of Connecticut, her M.S. in Zoology in 1972 from the University of Massachusetts, and her B.S. in Biology in 1969 from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Lanza joined the faculty at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1992 as Professor and Chairperson of Biology. She first taught at LifeQuest in the winter of 2025.

Originally from New Orleans, she has degrees in Elementary Education and a Master's in Audiology. She has been an avid Mah Jongg enthusiast for over 40 years and has taught the game to players all over the world. Ellen has been teaching Mah Jongg since Fall 2010 at LifeQuest.

Nichetra is a native Arkansan who is the Family Services Coordinator for Carelink, Central Arkansas' Area Agency on Aging. She began working for Carelink in 2022. Her job is to help family caregivers with their daily needs and to promote self-care. She has over 22 years experience with community service programs, healthcare, training and law enforcement. She has BA in Criminology from Arkansas State University(1996) BA in Professional/Technical Writing from UALR (2013), Master of Public Administration (2014) from Webster University. She enjoys cooking, baking, and spending time with her family and furbabies in her leisure time. Fall 2025 will be her first term at LIfeQuest and excited to share the SBP for Caregivers program.

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Dave attended Wayne State College (BAE), Universidad Internacional (MA), and the University of South Dakota (ED.D.). He has extensive experience teaching Spanish, is prolifically published and has given a substantial number of presentations. He enjoys teaching Spanish classes and occasionally playing music with the LifeQuest Folkies. He started teaching at LifeQuest in the folk music class in 2019 and Spanish in the spring of 2024.

A Connecticut Yankee, Ralph relocated to Hendrix College in as professor of psychology from 1976 -2011. Spare time is given over to running, folk music and jazz and gardening. He gathered friends to create the band of LifeQuest Folkies who began sharing their love of music with LifeQuest in 2015.

Phillip was born in Memphis, TN but quickly made Arkansas his home after attending the University of Arkansas for his BA in English and Dramatic Art and his J.D. soon after. He has written extensively about the Civil War including an essay "On Becoming Lincoln" which as printed in 2019 in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. He has also performed at The Weekend Theater in Little Rock. He has returned to teaching at LifeQuest in 2025.

Born in Memphis, TN. Retired from Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare, Studied at UAMS College of Nursing. Enjoys reading, daily hikes and art projects. Began facilitating LifeQuest Book Club in 2019.

Charles comes to us from Claremore, Oklahoma. He retired from the Arkansas School of Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts and was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2010. He enjoys reading, hiking, swimming and bicycling. He renewed Walks in the Parks at LifeQuest in 2022.

Retired from UAMS Department of Pediatrics, Anne Parat studied Art & English at Ohio Wesleyan University. She was the chairperson of LifeQuest Curriculum Committee from 2018-2022 and while coordinating many classes, is also responsible for encouraging many beloved art instructors to teach with us. She began teaching introductory art courses in 2023.

Jon received degrees in religious studies from Ouachita Baptist University and Yale Divinity School. He retired from Legacy Termite and Pest Control. He and his wife, Lisa, have been attending LifeQuest class for many years and enjoy watching their grandkids play sports. He began facilitating Great Books (now renamed Great Reads) in the Fall 2022 term.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas. He has a B.A. in History & M.A. in English from Rice, and received a Ph. D. in English from University of Florida, Gainesville. He taught at Yale and Bryn Mawr before joining the UA Little Rock
English Department. He retired as Director Emeritus of the Donaghey Scholars Honors Program” in 2014.
He enjoys playing poker, reading and traveling. He began teaching with LifeQuest in 2019.

Born in the United States of America in July, Rudy Rieple barely graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M. He has been a volunteer facilitator of Socrates Cafe since before 2008. In his free time, he enjoys complaining and grousing, facilitating Socrates Cafe, and being self-deprecating. Rudy joined LifeQuest in 2023.

Jeanne Rollberg is a genealogy specialist. She is a member of the National Genealogical Society as well as a writer for "AncestryCloud" Blog and "Sweden & America" magazine. She taught at University of Arkansas at Little Rock from 1983-2016 as an Associate Professor of Journalism. Her B.A. in History and M.A. in Journalism helps her investigations into family history. She began teaching Genealogy at LifeQuest in 2016 and coordinated an Alzheimer's focused class in the Fall 2024 term.

Mike Schaefer taught literature, film, and cultural studies for forty years, first at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and then at UCA. Since retiring in 2021, he’s been happily playing guitar (which he’s been doing for over fifty years) and participating in LifeQuest sessions devoted to American music since 2022.

Taught English at Hall High School and University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Was Executive Director of Just Communities of Arkansas. Has been in service to the Arkansas Repertory Theatre for over three decades including serving as the chair of the board of directors.

Born in Oklahoma City, OK. Senior Consultant, Arkana Laboratories, Little Rock, Arkansas. MD from Univ. of Oklahoma. Started in 1980 giving lectures on science topics and related theological overlaps, Enjoys reading, music, watching football and old movies. Relocated to Virginia in 2019. Began teaching for LifeQuest in 2012.

Zach Smith directs the Asian Studies program at the University of Central Arkansas, where he teaches classes on Modern China, Postwar Japan, and Asian American History in Arkansas. When not in the classroom, he enjoys (and his kids tolerate) hiking around the Ozarks . Zach began teaching with LifeQuest in Fall 2025.

Retired Professor of English from University of Central Arkansas. Courses taught include: Twentieth-Century American Poetry; Monsters, Zombies, and the Strong Women They Threaten; 20th Century American Drama: Lost Dreams, Lost Children in Modern American Drama; and American Literature. He began teaching at LifeQuest in 2021.

Born in Montgomery, Alabama. Recently worked as an art director. BFA from Auburn University with an emphasis in Graphic Design. Former President of both the Arkansas League of Artists and the Arkansas Pastel Society. Chairman for APS National Show in 2021. She enjoys pickleball, dog training and running. Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2019.

Mary Todd was born in Chanute, Kansas. She has a BSE & MS in Physical Education and a Masters of Physical Therapy. She has played Pickleball in tournaments. In 2022, she placed 2nd in the women's doubles in the AR Senior Olympics. She placed 1st in the US National Sr Pickleball tournament in Oklahoma City. She also enjoys training dogs at the Little Rock Dog Training Club. She began teaching pickleball at LifeQuest in 2023.

Born in Malvern, AR, Sue has an M.D. with a specialty in Internal Medicine. She has been playing Pickleball since mid-2019 and has played competitively in several tournaments and the Senior Olympics. She enjoys macrame and spending time with her grandson. She began teaching pickleball at LifeQuest in 2023.

Fred attended Columbia Law School after graduating from Vanderbilt University. Named "Lawyer of the Year," in 2021 in the area of Litigation-Labor & Employment Law. Specialized in Railroad Law. Click on picture for more information. A member of the LifeQuest Law Crew, Fred became involved with LifeQuest in 2011.

Born in Boonville, Arkansas, Larry Vaught graduated from Washington University in St. Louis. He taught music for eight years before pursuing his law degree at UALR. He served in a legal capacity in many positions (sought out and elected too) and still plays the guitar and writes music. He became a member of the beloved "LifeQuest Law Crew" in 2022.

Born in Colombus, Georgia, she received her B.S. from University of Montevallo, and her M.S. from University of Alabama. Served on two church staffs as Minister of Child Development to approximately 800 children weekly. She enjoys reading, watercolor and pastels, as well as other crafting projects. As a member of the Curriculum Committee, she will be Chairperson in 2025 so bring your new class ideas to her! She began facilitating Grandparenting Today in 2019.

Californian native, Rose moved to Arkansas in 2004 with her extended family following in 2007. She worked as a Benefits Technician Supervisor for the state of Arkansas. She volunteered as an art instructor with Easter Seals. She started sharing her love of dance with LifeQuest starting in 2018.

Retired educational professional. MA in Secondary Education and Teaching from Indiana University Bloomington, Ed.S. from University of Louisville, Ed.D. from University of Louisville. She began co-teaching paper crafting in 2016 at LifeQuest.

Sue is a retired veterinarian who graduated from Cornell University with a BS and a DVM. She practiced clinical veterinary medicine for 32 years before joining the Arkansas Department of Health as the state’s Public Health Veterinarian in 2005. She enjoys embroidery, reading and especially her two absolutely perfect grandchildren. She began teaching at LifeQuest in the fall of 2025.

Attended University of Texas. Retired from Mitchell Williams Law Firm (specializing in taxes). Click his photo to learn more. He has headed LifeQuest's Law Crew which has taught at LifeQuest on a variety of topics since 2000.