Instructors Bios

Born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. BS in Biology/Chemistry from UALR. Has a musical background and extensive travel which has prepared him to teach. He plays the guitar and mandolin and sings. Began teaching in Spring 2022.

A member of the LifeQuest Law Crew. Specialized in the practice of toxic tort, environmental and products liability litigation at Mitchell Williams Law Firm. Click on picture for more information. Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2021.

Michael Borrelli, retired Basic Science Professor at UAMS. Has bachelor's in Astronomy and Biology as well as PhD in Biophysics. Part of the Central Arkansas Astronomical Society. Began teaching astronomy at LifeQuest in Fall 2022.

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.

Experienced oil painter who has taught at LifeQuest since 2019. Won Best of Show Gold Award in 2020 from the Arkansas League of Artists Members Show. Enjoys games, exercising and gardening. Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2019.

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

A native Arkansan, he became pastor of Second Baptist Church Downtown in 2013. He attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University to earn his Masters of Divinity degree in 2006 and his Doctorate of Ministry in 2013. Click his photo to learn more. Fall 2024 is his first experience teaching at LifeQuest.

Born in Little Rock, AR. Tom 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 for over 45 years. Click his picture for more information. Began teaching at LifeQuest in 2019.

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.

Originally from Dumas, Arkansas. He attended school at Hendrix College (B.A.), and Georgetown University (J.D.). Retired U.S. Ambassador (Republic of Malawi and Republic of Congo) and Foreign Policy Instructor at Hendrix College form 2010-2017. For more in-depth bio, please click Alan's photo to download more information. He enjoys reading foreign policy and fiction and traveling (mostly to France.) He began teaching at LifeQuest in 2016.

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.

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.

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. In his free time, he enjoys wrestling. 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.

Retired Geographer professor from University of Arkansas Little Rock. In fact, the ONLY Geography instructor from 1975 until 2004. Enjoys TV documentaries and Great Courses. Relocated to Ashburn, Virginia and loves being able to teach remotely. He began teaching at LifeQuest in 2005 and exclusively via Zoom in 2020.

A resident of central Arkansas, Harden has been a longtime force in the arts scene in South Arkansas. He owned and operated Bensberg Music in El Dorado and Camden for many years, has directed and appeared in a long list of successful South Arkansas Arts Center productions. He first taught Improv at LifeQuest in the spring of 2024.

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.

Pam Kiser was born in Pompton Plains, New Jersey. 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. She began teaching Pickleball at LifeQuest in the Winter 2023 term.

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.

Dr. Krain completed a residency in General Psychiatry at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and completed a two year fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry from the University Of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He serves as the Assistant Program Director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Residency. He is a clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at UAMS and is a staff psychiatrist at CAVHS. His first class at LifeQuest is in the Fall 2024 Term.

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.

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.

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, Dave attended Wayne State College (BA), Universidad Internacional (MA), and the University of South Dakota (ED.D.). He enjoys teaching Spanish classes and occasionally playing music with the LifeQuest Folkies. He started teaching in the folk music class in 2019 and began teaching Spanish in the spring of 2024.

A Connecticut Yankee, Ralph relocated to Hendrix College in as professor of psychology from 1976 -2011. Spare time is given over to running, folk music and jazz and gardening. He gathered friends to create the band of LifeQuest Folkies who began sharing their love of music with LifeQuest in 2015.

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.

Charles comes to us from Claremore, Oklahoma. He retired from the Arkansas School of Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts and was awarded the Outstanding Educator Award from the Illinois Institute of Technology in 2010. He enjoys reading, hiking, swimming and bicycling. He renewed Walks in the Parks at LifeQuest in 2022.

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. She began teaching in 2023 at LifeQuest.

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 at LifeQuest in 2016 and is coordinating an Alzheimer's focused class in the Fall 2024 term.

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. He began teaching at LifeQuest in 2019.

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.

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 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.

Born in Blytheville, Arkansas. She studied at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro. She is a licensed Physical Therapist Assistant for 20 years in acute care at Baptist Health in Little Rock, Arkansas. She is a registered yoga teacher and teaches at Barefoot Yoga Studio. She enjoys paddle boarding and reading. She began teaching for LifeQuest in the Fall 2021 Term.

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.

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. 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.

A graduate of UCA, he later coached football, basketball, and tennis, and taught school. He was a tennis pro and promoter of the Burns Park Tennis Center and was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in April, 2023. Other than sports and the U.S. Constitution (which have been topics Larry has facilitated at LifeQuest), Larry has a passion for the historical drama series, The Chosen. Larry Walton began teaching at LifeQuest in 2017.

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.

With a Ph. D. in Clinical Psychology, Glen retired as a psychologist with the local Veterans Healthcare System in 2021. He is a co-founding member (and current state co-coordinator) of the Arkansas alliance of Braver Angels, a national organization devoted to ending extreme political polarization in America. He enjoys podcasting, music, hiking and photography. He began teaching at LifeQuest in 2019.

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.

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.