Instructors Bios

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.

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.

Professionally an personal bankruptcy attorney, he is a self taught artist. Click his picture for more information. Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2014.

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.

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.

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.

Leslie Cooper is the Arkansas Monarch and Pollinator Coordinator for Quail Forever and has been working as the coordinator for the Arkansas Monarch Conservation Partnership for both Quail Forever and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) since 2018. A graduate of the University of Idaho, she holds a B.S. in Ecology and Conservation Biology, a B.S. in Fire Ecology and Management. She is based at the NRCS state office in Little Rock. Her first class at LifeQuest is in the winter of 2025.

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.

Anthony Dillard is the Onboarding and Culture Manager at Little Rock Athletic Club and is the Beginning Pickleball Instructor for the winter 2024 term thanks to our sponsor, The Little Rock Athletic Club. Originally from Springfield, Missouri, he and his wife have a young daughter, Emery.

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.

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.

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.

Born in Little Rock, Ann is a retired teacher from Little Rock Public Schools who received her BA from Hendrix College with emphasis on art and education. She attended UCA, MSE with certifications in early childhood education and gifted and talented education. Became a CZT Certified Zentangle Teacher in 2016. I trained in Providence RI with the creators of the Zentangle Method. She began teaching at LifeQuest in 2018.

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.

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 Asst. 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Doug studied voice at Arkansas State University and received a GT certification from University of Arkansas. He was a music teacher in the Little Rock School District from 1982 until 2015. He enjoys discussing the Bible and collects old Sci-Fi movies. This fall in 2024 is the first time Doug will be testing out a LifeQuest Choir.

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.

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.

Mind and Mindfulness: Journey in the Labyrinth instructor. Professor & Director of Mashburn Center of Learning at University of Central Arkansas.

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.

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.

Born in Oklahoma but raised in central Arkansas since age three. He works as a Software Engineer consultant in Conway. His art has shown in exhibits since 2005. Please click image to be taken to professional website. He began teaching at LifeQuest in 2018.

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.

Raised in Georgia, 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. He began teaching art history at LifeQuest in 2023.

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.

Click on picture for more information.

Jim McHaney was born and raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. After graduating from high school, he attended Columbia University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree while majoring in political science with an emphasis on foreign policy. After college, he attended the Georgetown University Law Center where he obtained his law degree.

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.

Jeff Nash was the chair of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology at ULAR until he retired. He received his PhD in Sociology from Washington State University. He began teaching at LifeQuest prior to 2020. He moved to Fayetteville with his wife, Dina, in 2019. He enjoys outdoor activities and acapella singing. Most people are surprised to learn that college wrestling is his favorite sport.

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 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.

A native Little Rock resident, she attend Hall High School. Retired from the Workers Compensation Commission as a Legal Advisor, she 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 2019 for LifeQuest.

Studied at University of California Davis. She retired from Shoffner Farm Research in Newport, AR, a now 1,500-acre seed production farm. She first taught at LifeQuest in the winter of 2025.

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.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, John attended Vanderbilt School of Medicine and had his residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He retired from surgery in 2011. He plays the guitar (sometimes with the LifeQuest Folkies) He shares his love of outdoor photography with LifeQuest in his Our National Parks classes.

Bob Snider is a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University and received an MBA from the University of Arkansas. Following two years as an officer in the US Army, Bob worked in the U S Senate and then had a thirty year career as an investment Banker with Morgan Keegan in Little Rock. He began teaching for LifeQuest in winter 2024.

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.

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.

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.

BS in Zoology, joined Peace Corps and went to Central African Republic. Returned and obtained a MS in Zoology/Aquaculture. Began illustrating as a part of his job (he's a retired science illustrator) that evolved into becoming a founding member of "Central Arkansas Urban Sketchers" Has taught sketching and watercolor at Maumelle Center on the Lake and for LifeQuest.

Born in Passaic, New Jersey, JoEllen received her M.Div. from Drew University. A former minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Little Rock, JoEllen spends her free time knitting and crocheting, creating computer art, and sewing. She began to help facilitate Tell Your Own Story starting in Fall 2022.

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). Began teaching with LifeQuest in summer 2019.

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.