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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David Allen
Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. BS in Biology/Chemistry from UALR. Feels that his musical background and extensive travel has prepared him to teach with the LifeQuest Folkies as he plays the guitar and mandolin and sings.
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Jim Bell
Born in Little Rock, Jim graduated from Arkansas State University. He has only played Pickleball since 2020 but is already an Arkansas Senior Olympic Champion in his age group for doubles and singles. Besides Pickleball, he loves to play tennis and go fishing.
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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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Mark Christ is the head of Adult Programming at the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) and coordinates speakers from within the library system for various topics since 2020. He is also a Civil War expert and you can learn more about him by clicking on his photo.
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Mark Clark
Mark Clark is a retired PC(USA) pastor and lawyer. He practiced trial law in Arkansas and Texas and served as pastor in churches in North Carolina and South Carolina. He is on the adjunct faculty of the U.A.L.R. Bowen School of Law and presently teaches several classes, including Law & Religion.
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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. -
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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Jessica Durand
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.
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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. -
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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Joan Gage
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.
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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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Terry Goddard
Born in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Terry was educated at UALR, Loyola University in Chicago, as well as the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest. 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. He began teaching with LifeQuest in the winter of 2023.
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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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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.
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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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Pam Kiser
Pam Kiser was born in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. She began 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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Rickie Lockwood
Is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LSCW). Specialized in Marriage/Relationship and Grief and Loss Therapy. Have had a number of Practice settings over the past 45 years including Private Practice, Teaching Graduate School (Human Sexuality), and agency settings. Has presented Clinical Workshops as well as Communication Workshops for 45 years.
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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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Floyd has degrees from University of Illinois, University of Iowa and from Carleton College. He taught art history for over 30 years at UALR as well as lead field trips to a number of regional museums. He cofound the Arkansas Art History Symposium. Click his image to watch a short interview.
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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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Born in New Jersey in 1928, David has taught at LifeQuest since 1997. His degree was in psychology from Princeton University and his profession was in marketing research where he specialized on focus groups. His popular music class is based off his international radio program "Swingin Down the Lane" which is broadcast on National Public Radio.
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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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Charles Mullins
Born in Claremore, Oklahoma, Charles Mullins received his Ph.D. in Mathematics. He began leading Charles Walks in 2022 after the previous co-leaders, Jeff and Dina Nash, moved out of Little Rock. Charles enjoys walking, hiking, bicycling and pickleball.
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Patty Neumeier
A native of Little Rock, Patty graduated from Mt. Saint Mary's. She received a BS in accounting from Christian Brothers University in Memphis. She has been playing pickleball since 2018 and has played in multiple tournaments and competed in the National Senior Olympics. She also enjoys traveling and volunteering.
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Anne Parat
Retired from UAMS Department of Pediatrics
Studied Art & English at Ohio Wesleyan University
Chairperson of LifeQuest Curriculum Committee beginning in 2018 -
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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Bill Rausch
Hailing from New Hampton, Iowa, Bill Rausch relocated to Texas to get his degree from the University of Texas. He first taught at LifeQuest in 2015. He enjoys teaching classes related to his passions and hobbies which include writing, painting and photography. One passion is solving the Rubrik's Cube.
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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, and being self-deprecating. Rudy joined LifeQuest in 2023 as the moderator of "What's On Your Mind?" which is now called and modeled after Socrates Cafe (an international organization supported locally by Central Arkansas Library System.)
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Jeanne Rollberg
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 was born on Halloween and used to be a competitive ballroom dancer.
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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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Karen Sherman
Born and educated in Iowa, Karen has lived in Mexico and El Salvador, immersing herself in the Spanish language. She enjoys gardening and swing dance and is excited about teaching Spanish for Travelers at 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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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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Sue Ulmer
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.
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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.
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Karen Zap
A native of Little Rock, Karen attended Mount St. Mary Academy. She teaches a jewelry making at the Shepherds Center in Beebe, Arkansas and will start teaching formally at LifeQuest in the Fall of 2023. She enjoys making clay art earrings, gardening and pickleball.