Instructors Bios

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.

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.

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.

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.

Joan was a teacher with the Little Rock School District for 29 years as well as an adjunct instructor at UALR for 41 years. She began coming to LifeQuest in 2010 or so and has taught literature classes off and on since then.

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.

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.

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.

Roger Hawkins moved to Little Rock from Delaware. He has a Masters in Education from Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. On behalf of Literacy Action of Central Arkansas, Roger now provides new tutors with valuable insight and prepares them to become the best tutors they can be at training workshops.

Jill Jones graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Journalism and a specialty in fiction writing. Jill has published sixteen historical novels and taught writing for Elderhostel workshops. She presents papers to the Asthetic Club and is very interested in history. She was also the director of a house museum in North Carolina, and has worked in public relations and advertising.

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.

Gail Laster is an attorney in Little Rock who has a B.S. from UCA in Sociology and Psychology. She received her law degree in 1988 from UALR, William H. Bowen School of Law. Using her background in sociology, psychology and law, she has taught about serial killers. In the winter of 2024, she uses her expertise to focus on bad women.

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.

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. Enjoys reading, daily hikes and art projects. Began facilitating LifeQuest Book Club in 2019.

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 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 studied at Rice University (B.A. & M.A. in English), and University of Florida, Gainesville (Ph. D. in English). Retired in 2014 as a Donaghey Scholars Program Director Emeritus from University of Arkansas at Little Rock. 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.

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.

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 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.

Born in Kytesville, Missouri, she attended school in Salisbury, Missouri and Christian College in Colombia, Missouri. She enjoys painting, crafts as well as Zumba and line dancing. Has taught Tai Chi Northern Wu style at LifeQuest since 2011.