Instructors Bios

Began teaching Tai Chi at LifeQuest in 2018. Born in West Memphis, Arkansas. Education in pharmacy. Enjoys reading, exercise, and volunteering for LifeQuest and the Patrick Hayes Center.

Began teaching anatomy and physiology classes at LifeQuest in the winter of 2018. Retired Professor from UAMS's Department of Neurobiology & Developmental Sciences. Favorite poet is Robert Frost. Visually handicapped.

Professionally an attorney, he has taught painting classes at LifeQuest since 2018. Click his picture for more information.

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. In his free time, he enjoys wrestling. He has studied Napoleon for over 40 years and published two articles in Napoleon Magazine. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge beginning in the Fall of 2022.

Terry was educated at UALR, as well as the Chicago Theological Seminary. He taught world religions and world history for over 16 years at the community college level. In his free time, he enjoys reading, writing and sauntering in state parks. Terry offers book groups online as an Educational Research Associate for the Cobb Institute / Center for Process Studies. He began teaching with LifeQuest in the winter of 2023.

Liam is a Little Rock local. Having graduated Hendrix College in 2018 he spent several years running a commercial kitchen at Buckhorn Camp and Retreat Center. Liam enjoys baking desserts. Liam taught his first Cooking Matters class for LifeQuest in the spring of 2022. Click his photo to learn more about Cooking Matters with the Arkansas Hunger Alliance program.

A member of Mid-Southern Watercolorists, Stephen comes highly recommended to LifeQuest. Click his image to see his art. He began teaching in Fall 2022.

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

Ellen has been teaching Mah Jongg since Fall 2010 for LifeQuest. 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.

Has taught with LifeQuest since at least 2015. A professional writer, artist, film critic, and author, he is also the Movie/Style Editor/Columnist for Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

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

Jodi Morris is a self described: urban explorer, nature geek, hiker, cyclist, paddler, anthropologist, historian, and retired ranger. She first taught at LifeQuest about the Trail of Tears as a part of a CALS class during the winter of 2024 but one hour wasn't enough.

As senior editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, he writes three columns a week. He's the author of three books. He's also the author of a popular blog known as Rex Nelson's Southern Fried. He has been inducted into the Arkansas Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame.

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 teaching many classes, is also responsible for encouraging many beloved art instructors to teach with us.

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. He will facilitate a Great Books in-person class beginning in the Fall 2022 term.

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

Retired from the Workers Compensation Commission as a Legal Advisor, has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology with additional hours for school counseling certification and a Juris Doctorate. She is interested in facilitating book groups related to art or spiritual subject matter and has since 2020 for LifeQuest.

Has taught Tai Chi Northern Wu style at LifeQuest since 2019.