LifeQuest Instructor Bios
LifeQuest instructors come from a broad range of backgrounds and fields of expertise. Master gardeners, physicians, college professors and artists - all LifeQuest instructors volunteer their time and talents to share their knowledge with our members every term.
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Bob Alexander
Has been a volunteer with LifeQuest for many years facilitating "What's On Your Mind?", assisting with the mail crew, organized the first LifeQuest Christmas party and many more ways. Member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Little Rock.
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June Brown
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.
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John Brummett
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.
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Professionally an attorney, he has taught painting classes at LifeQuest since 2018. Click his picture for more information.
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Wayne Chapman
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.
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Chuck Chappell
Retired from teaching English Literature at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas after 41 years. William Faulkner Enthusiast. Married to Carol Chappell, a retired Little Rock Ophthalmologist with whom he has three sons.
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Retired Music Instructor from UALR, he began teaching at LifeQuest in 2018. He 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. His class includes several of his original compositions.
Click his picture for more information. -
John Deering
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.
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Jenni Duncan
Jenni Duncan began teaching at LifeQuest in 2023. She was born in Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. She has a BS in Education with a minor in Spanish and a Masters of Religious Education. She is a retired United Methodist pastor, writer and artist. She has taught English as a second language, bilingual cooking classes, and Spanish-lead Bible Study.
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Originally from Dumas, Arkansas. Retired U.S. Ambassador (Republic of Malawi and Republic of Congo) and Foreign Policy Instructor at Hendrix College form 2010-2017.
BA from Hendrix College, JD from Georgetown University
For more in-depth bio, please click Alan's photo to download more information. -
Ansley Fleming
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.
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Nancy Fleming
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.
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Charlie Frith
Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2000. Retired from Toxicology Pathology Associates. DVM from Auburn University and PhD in Veterinary Pathology and Toxicology from Colorado State University. Loves photography, reading, and gadgets, especially Apple products.
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John Giessmann
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.
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Dent Gitchel
Member of the LifeQuest Law Crew. Former Emeritus Professor at UALR School of Law. Married to local realtor, Charlotte John. Enjoys singing and playing the guitar.
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Pat Goss
Retired attorney from Rose Law Firm. BA from Hendrix College and JD from University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Has been in a book club for more than forty years.
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Rev. Steve Hancock
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.
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Jerry Hanson
Retired Geographer professor from University of Arkansas Little Rock. Has traveled extensively. Relocated to Ashburn, Virginia and loves being able to teach remotely.
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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.
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Pam Kiser
Pam Kiser was born in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. She is joining Mary Todd in teaching Pickleball at LifeQuest in the Winter 2023 term. 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.
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Doris Krain
Doris received a math degree from Queens College in New York. She worked for Systematics and Alltel in the training department. In 2020, she began taking photographs as a side job including weddings, birthdays and other events. She is a member of the LifeQuest Board of Directors and Curriculum Committee. She began teaching in the Fall of 2022.
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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.
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Judy Langford-Brodie
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!).
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Acrylics & Oil painting instructor. Please click image to be taken to professional website.
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Ellen Lowitz
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.
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A member of the LifeQuest Folkies music group, plays the penny whistle which he learned from a LifeQuest class.
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Mary Sha Moriarty
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.
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Bill Owens
Retired Senior Network Analyst at Alltel Communications. BBA from University of Memphis. Technical and Business Training courses from IBM Corp. Bill began teaching at LifeQuest in 2019 after LifeQuest absorbed SeniorNet, a program that exclusively taught digital classes at UAMS.
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Jon Poteet
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.
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Rich Roy
Rich Roy is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. With a degree in Economics from Hendrix College and a education in Public Administration from UALR, he retired in 2009 from Heifer Project International as a Program Financial Analyst. For many years, he has been a member of the LifeQuest Folkies, a group of musicians who share their love of folk music. In 2023, he is the Chairperson of the LifeQuest Curriculum Committee and welcomes your class suggestions.
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Lynn Senn
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.
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Fred Silva
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. Began teaching for LifeQuest in 2012. -
Marci Smith
Has taught conversational Spanish for LifeQuest since 1997. "Hablamos Mas Espanol" is the name of her limited class where Spanish is exclusively spoken by her dedicated students.
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Wayne Stengel
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
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Debbie Strobel
Recently worked as an art director. Began teaching at LIfeQuest in 2019. 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.
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Brandy Tinsley
She is a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant for 20 years in acute care at Baptist Health in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is currently in a 200 hour Yoga Teacher training Program.
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Mary Todd
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.
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Annabelle was the first woman elected justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. She graduated from UALR's William Bowen School of Law in 1977. She worked for Wright, Lindsey and Jennings and made partner after only six years. She began teaching at LifeQuest in 2010. Click her image for a great article about her.
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A member of the LifeQuest Law Crew, Fred became involved with LifeQuest in 2011. Served on the Board of Directors and his wife, Sharon Ursery, has served on the Curriculum Committee. 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.
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Elizabeth Vines
Retired Professor, Human Development & Family Studies, University of Alabama.
Bachelor of Science, University of Montevallo, Master of Science, University of Alabama
Served on two church staffs as Minister of Child Development to approximately 800 children weekly. -
Rose Virgil
Rose worked as a Benefits Technician Supervisor for the state of Arkansas before sharing her love of dance with LifeQuest starting in 2018.
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Mike Walden
Mike Walden was born in Washington, DC. He attended Bartley High School in Memphis, and received degrees from Rhodes and Washington & Lee University School of Law. He retired as a prosecuting attorney from Jonesboro, Arkansas in 2015. He began teaching with the LifeQuest Law Crew in 2019. He currently occupies his time doing what his wife asks him and serves as Chief Transportation Officer for their six grandchildren.
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Connie Wardell
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. Began co-teaching paper crafting in 2016.
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Retired from Mitchell Williams Law Firm (specializing in taxes)
Attended University of Texas.
Has headed LifeQuest's Law Crew which has taught on a variety of topics since 2000. -
JoEllen Willis
A former minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Little Rock, JoEllen first started classes at LifeQuest in 2020. She is an online class monitor for LifeQuest and is excited to help facilitate Tell Your Own Story starting in Fall 2022.
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Jonathan Wolfe
Began teaching with LifeQuest in summer 2019. Professor Emeritus of Pharmacy Practice at the UAMS College of Pharmacy. Is an honorary member of the LifeQuest Law Crew. Degrees in Political Science, US History and Pharmacy. Enjoys drawing, and music (choral and chamber music in particular)
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Suzanne Yung
Has taught Tai Chi Northern Wu style at LifeQuest since 2019.