Retired & Inspired!

Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR)

In the City of Clustered Spires, the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) at Frederick Community College is Frederick County's premier knowledge and discovery destination for adults. ILR offers a breadth of diverse courses to fulfill your intellectual, social, spiritual, and physical interests.

Browse All ILR Classes
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Getting Started

Welcome to the new ILR page! Scroll through to find what you need, or use these quick links to get started. Whether you are browsing classes, signing up for Curious Traveler meetings, and ready to discover what's new, your next adventure awaits!

Browse All Classes

ILR classes are designed to provide you with a collection of unique online and in-person learning opportunities as well as Learning on Location experiences. Click on an area of interest below to see all classes in that category. When you click on a class, a new page will open with class information and registration details.

Adults enjoying a painting class together in a bright studio setting.

From watercolor and drawing to music history and live performances, Arts, Crafts & Music classes invite you to create, appreciate, and explore.

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Adults laughing and cooking together in a kitchen classroom setting.

From hands-on cooking classes to food and wine exploration, these classes celebrate the joy and fun of learning something new in the kitchen.

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A diverse group of four smiling adults exercise outdoors with hand weights in a sunny, tree-lined setting with mountains visible in the background.

Take charge of your health and wellbeing. Classes focus on overall health, herbalism, self-defense, senior care, and more.

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Adults engaged in a lively history discussion around a table in a classroom setting.

Dive into American and world history, local Frederick stories, current events, and cultural explorations.

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A smiling woman with a measuring tape standing in front of a rack of colorful clothing.

Whether you are into sewing, genealogy, calligraphy, or pottery, Home & Hobby classes offer hands-on fun for every interest.

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A contemplative older man with a white beard sitting near a window in a library setting.

Get ready to explore spirituality, philosophy, consciousness, and the mysteries of human experience in an open and welcoming environment.

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How to Register for ILR Classes

To get started, click on the category of your choice above and then on the class you would like to join. A new window will open in the class registration website, where you will find the class description along with all the details, including dates, times, locations, and more. When you are ready, simply follow the on-screen prompts to register. Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or call 301.846.2561.

Browse All ILR Classes

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Curious Traveler Club

The Curious Traveler Club is designed to inspire and introduce you to travel opportunities and helpful resources. Our monthly meetings, led by Marcy Gouge, focus on fresh new topics and often include a short presentation by an ILR instructor, traveler, or a travel company. Open the Sign Up form to preview the topics and register to attend. If you can no longer attend after signing up, we understand, plans change. Please email us at [email protected] and we’ll open your spot for others to attend. Thank you!

Sign Up to Attend a Curious Traveler Meeting

Request an ILR Class Schedule

Printed schedules are distributed via US Mail to previous ILR students and are also available on campus in the CEWD Registration Office. To receive a current copy by mail, complete a schedule request form and we'll have one mailed to you shortly!

ILR Schedule Request Form

Frequently Asked Questions

ILR classes are geared toward retirees; however, anyone 16 and older is welcome to join for a fabulous learning experience through both ILR and FCC Personal Enrichment courses.

Research shows continued learning strengthens the brain, improves memory, and increases quality of life. ILR offers fun, intelligent ways to keep mind and body vitally engaged within a professional educational environment.

ILR casual classes are designed with you in mind. Explore courses and Learning on Location programs across a wide range of subjects, from arts and history to health, technology, cooking, and more.

ILR classes are designed by and for adults. There are no tests or grades, and no prior experience or specific education is required. There is plenty of opportunity for discussion and humor in this shared learning environment.

ILR programs are taught by passionate experts with a lifetime of experience and a talent for facilitating the learning process among adults.

Course schedules are available at the FCC Welcome Center and in brochure racks at the FCC Conference Center. To receive a schedule by mail, use the Request a Printed Class Schedule button in the ILR Class Schedules section above, or contact ILR staff at [email protected] to be added to the mailing list.

ILR Contract Courses

The Institute for Learning in Retirement now offers courses for hire to Frederick County organizations and retirement communities. Eligible courses include those offered at the College within the previous 12 months and are dependent upon instructor availability. Minor course customizations (such as the number and duration of sessions) are accepted with consideration to ensure the quality of the course content and learning experience.

Payment structures are flexible, with both pay-per-student and flat course rates available to coincide with a group registration process. Please note that total fee amounts depend on course selection. Students can also individually register and pay online

ILR Contract Course Request Form

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Become an ILR Instructor

If you have enthusiasm for your subject and a knack for teaching adults, consider joining the talented ILR instructor crew! ILR classes have no tests, no grades, and participants are eager to learn. Prefer to facilitate rather than teach? Pull together a group of guest speakers around a theme and you have a course. To discuss your ideas or ask questions, contact Kelli Ackiewicz, ILR Program Manager, at 301.624.2732 or [email protected]

ILR Course Proposal Form

Share Your Thoughts with Us

We value your ideas and input. To make a suggestion, ask a question, voice a concern, or pass along an idea to enhance your ILR experience, send us a note using the form below to:

  • Suggest a course, instructor, or an idea about the ILR experience
  • Send along your stories, creations, thoughts, and/or feedback about a great ILR experience
  • Give us your insight, share your knowledge, and/or expand on a topic
  • Provide feedback, suggestions, ideas, and more.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Share Your Thoughts with Us!

Meet Your ILR Instructors

Welcoming you to ILR programs throughout the year, our team of instructors includes passionate experts offering a lifetime of experience as well as specific talents to facilitate engaging and memorable learning experiences. We invite you to learn more about each of these talented people below.

Browse by Last Name

Blane Ampthor

Blane Ampthor is a retired federal employee with more than 36 years of service. He has had a lifelong interest in history and has read extensively on World War II, the American Revolution, and ocean liners. He has taught with several Lifelong Learning Institutes and has instructed with various organizations such as the Loudoun County Public Library system in Virginia, AARP and senior communities. He enjoys visiting sites related to his interests so he can gain a fuller understanding of events.

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Leah Arnold

Leah Arnold has been a computer technology instructor for over 30 years with degrees in Computer Information Systems and Business Management. She has taught numerous classes at the Federal Communications Commission and the National Institutes of Health. Leah designed and implemented the Information Technology Center at the NIH Clinical Center and the Project Management Office at Sodexo. She has been a business technology and project management consultant for many years to corporations and nonprofits, including the Smithsonian Institution.

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James Baer

Jim Baer's former students at Ursinus College called him "intelligent, motivating, friendly, very funny, very experienced," and said he was, "the best teacher ever hired." A graduate of The University of Virginia School of Law, Jim has been a member of the Maryland Bar since 1969 and was also a member of the Bar of the District of Columbia and of the Supreme Court of the United States of America. He was a trial lawyer in private practice until he returned to his alma mater, Ursinus College, where he created the college's Center for Legal Studies and taught a variety of courses utilizing a unique blend of Socratic Method and open class discussion.

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Kathy Barylski

From outdoors to crafting to travel to finance, Kathy has expertise in them all. She is an ardent naturalist with specialization in butterflies; leading local butterfly counts and even traveling internationally in search of butterflies. Her travels have led Kathy to develop expertise in travel planning and light packing. Kathy also crochets, embroiders, and does paper crafting. Kathy is also a trained financial coach with special emphasis on the needs of widows and in understanding the nuances of social security.

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Geneva Blackmer

Dr. Geneva Blackmer brings five years of experience in digital literacy instruction, alongside a strong commitment to bridging technological and generational divides in both her research and practice. Her forthcoming book, Disconnected: Aging and Belonging in the Digital Church (Wipf and Stock), explores the intersections of the digital divide, theology of aging, and social inclusion. Blackmer holds a PhD from Amridge University and MAs from the University of Bonn and Athens State University.

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Amy Boldt

Amy Boldt, MS is a clinical herbalist and herb farmer who has been using herbs as part of a holistic health practice for over 10 years. She graduated from the Maryland University of Integrative Health in 2014 and specializes in sleep, anxiety, and digestive disorders. Amy also teaches classes on herbalism and foraging, while also owning and operating an apothecary.

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Jennifer Books

Jen Books is a Spanish and world language exploration teacher for FCPS. She has lived in Spain where she attended the University of Salamanca. After returning to the states, she attended UMBC and earned her bachelor's degree in Modern Language and Linguistics. She has a master's from Goucher College.

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Matthew Borders

Matthew Borders has a bachelor's degree in United States History and a master's in Historic Preservation with a focus in Battlefield Interpretation. He was a ranger for the National Park Service at Antietam National Battlefield and a historian with American Battlefield Protection Program personally surveying over 100 different American Civil War battlefields. Later he became involved with the Frederick County Civil War Round Table. Currently Matthew is a National Park Service ranger here in Frederick, Maryland and involved with the Frederick County Civil War Round Table.

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Lynn Braff

Lynn Braff, MEd, has taught elementary, secondary and adult students literacy skills and art. After initially sculpting in stone, wood and clay, she has come to focus on paper as her preferred medium. She believes art is important for everyone to engage in as a way to relax and let one's creative side emerge.

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Erin Brooks

Erin Brooks taught high school French and Spanish in upstate New York. She graduated from Western Michigan University. She also has extensive experience in homeschooling and enjoys Brazilian jiu-jitsu, drawing, and reading.

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Howard Burns

Saxophonist and composer Howard Burns was inspired to play music by his uncle. Howard attended Frederick Douglas High School and was also a band director at the school. Howard received a bachelor's degree from Howard University and a master's degree from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Brussels, Belgium. Howard has studied with Thomas (Whit) Williams and George Coleman and has had the opportunity to perform with artists such as Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Frank Foster, Larry Willis, Frank Wess, Lou Donaldson, Jimmy Cobb, Benny Powell, Gary Thomas, Joe Wilder, Charles Davis, Ben Tucker, Billy Harper, Dr. Eddie Henderson, and Eddie Gomez. Howard has been the Jazz Band Director at FCC for over 25 years.

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Walter Calahan

Walter Calahan is a lifelong career photographer ranging from photojournalism for the New York Times Magazine to national advertising campaigns for Yamaha. Calahan has been an adjunct lecturer in photography at McDaniel College, Stevenson University and Howard Community College for the past 16 years. His fine art photography was featured in a one-person exhibition at the Inscape Gallery, Stevenson University, in 2019 featuring infrared photographic explorations of the everyday.

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Julie Castillo

Julie Castillo is a college anthropology instructor, children's enrichment instructor, writing instructor, enrichment curriculum designer, entrepreneur, writer, and futurist. She holds an MA in sociocultural anthropology from Catholic University with a specialty in gender studies and ethnopsychology. Her current interests include development anthropology, human ecology, and poverty and affluence. She is fascinated by concepts of self and identity and frequently taps into literature, film, philosophy, and psychology in order to enhance her understanding. She loves books, movies, wildlife, adventure travel, and kayaking.

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Margaret Coan

Margaret J. Coan is an author and artist. She has been a caseworker for the homeless and the bereaved in hospice. She studied at the pastoral care program at Loyola University Maryland. Her life experience as a wife, mother of three sons, caseworker for the homeless and bereavement counselor for hospice has given birth to her gift of creating and facilitating sacred listening groups designed to support those in time of transition. She is passionate about art as a tool of self-expression and a way to learn and connect with the Divine Creator, and enjoys beadwork, collage, printing, interior design, photography, crochet, dance and piano-playing. She also loves to travel and spend time in nature through camping, hiking, biking, and gardening. Coan currently resides in Maryland with her family, where she is in the process of writing three other books.

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Georgina Copanzzi

Gina began making jewelry in her teens. Over the years she has refined her skills through formal training with Master Metalsmiths. Her passion is jewelry and gems and forming and shaping metal. Her assemblage of jewelry is the outcome of years of practice, hard work, determination and experimentation.

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Elizabeth Davis-Reinhold

Beth Davis-Reinhold taught job search and basic computer skills for Frederick County Workforce Services for over 20 years. She is an entertaining speaker who is skilled at explaining complicated concepts for the beginner.

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Laura DeFeo

Laura DeFeo, Ph.D., is a contractor with Frederick Health, a co-owner of DeFeo Family Farm, and an adjunct instructor in public health science at FCC. Previously, she worked in science policy in Washington, D.C. after earning a Ph.D. in chemistry from Yale University. She enjoys integrating perspectives from science and the humanities to explore the many ways people pursue meaning in life.

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Ashley DiMaggio

Ashley DiMaggio, MSN, RN, is the Founder of GuideWell Patient Advocates and a local nurse dedicated to helping families navigate healthcare with confidence. She brings experience in emergency medicine, public health, and care management to support patients through transitions of care, insurance challenges, and ongoing coordination. Ashley is committed to simplifying complex systems and helping people feel more in control of their health.

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Fred Astaire Dance Studio

All of the instructors at Fred Astaire Frederick are certified in all styles of partnership dance. They pass yearly certification exams through the Fred Astaire International Dance Council. All of our instructors regularly compete professionally around the globe, demonstrating their proficiency in all styles of dance. Our studio generally teaches 150 private lessons and 12 group classes per week. Together, they have over 40 years of ballroom dance experience combined.

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Dennis Frye

Dennis E. Frye has spent nearly 50 years studying and writing about Antietam. As a native of the battlefield region and an actual "Dunker," his distant relatives owned much of the ground where the battle occurred. Dennis retired from the National Park Service after more than a three-decade career, including 20 years as Chief Historian at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. Dennis has written 11 books and 112 articles, his most recent entitled: Antietam Shadows: Mystery, Myth & Machination. Dennis is a nationally recognized preservationist, as co-founder and past president of both the American Battlefields Trust and the Save Historic Antietam Foundation.

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Richard Fulton

Professor Fulton has taught in higher education for over 35 years. He retired from Frederick Community College in May of 2025. For the past 20 years he has been teaching Film Appreciation at FCC. He enjoys opening the eyes of his students to film classics and the directors who created them. Professor Fulton studied films and directors at several colleges and has a passion for researching and film discussion. He was a Film Critic for WFMD and wrote a Master's Thesis on Sir Alfred Hitchcock. He loves discussing films with his students.

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Linda Funsch

Linda Pappas Funsch is a career specialist in modern Middle Eastern history and Islamic studies. With an MA in Near Eastern Studies from New York University, she has studied, worked, and traveled extensively throughout the region. A freelance writer, consultant, and author, Ms. Funsch's latest book, "Oman Reborn: Balancing Tradition and Modernization," was published 2015 and has been translated into Arabic. She has taught at both Hood College and Mount Saint Mary's University. She is a frequent speaker at scholarly symposia across the US, including Georgetown University, the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana, the World Bank, the National Council on US-Arab Relations, the National Defense University, and the Council on Foreign Relations, Santa Fe, NM, as well as the World Affairs Councils of Washington, DC, Albuquerque, NM, and Brookings, SD. Ms. Funsch is a frequent leader of small-group "learning on location" study visits to the Middle East, including Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Oman.

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James Garrett

Jim Garrett has been a student of history for 60 years. Indoctrinated by his two grandmothers (both granddaughters of Civil War veterans) the intimate family details spurred him to learn as much as he could about the pivotal events and people in our history. Jim has been a US Army contractor, historian and trainer at Arlington National Cemetery, and currently leads tours for Unscripted Tours of Washington DC.

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Tara Gettig

Tara Gettig worked as an educator for Pennsylvania State Parks where she developed and facilitated programs and also taught geography at Shippensburg University. She has a passion for sharing outdoor recreation in a safe and enjoyable manner. In her free time, she has organized hikes for women, families, and kids. Tara is particularly passionate about the Appalachian Trail, of which she hiked 900 miles (and counting).

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Juliet Gilden

Juliet Gilden is a Baltimore-based artist who paints primarily in acrylics on paper and canvas, trained at the Maryland Institute College of Art. Her loose, free-form style reimagines reality with humor, optimism, and a touch of surrealism, influenced by masters from Botticelli to Botero, and most deeply by her late mother, artist Miriam Bransky Gilden. Her work often explores women's strength and vulnerability, animals, astrology, and themes of social justice.

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Stephan A. Goldman

Stephen A. Goldman, M.D., a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and author, is the only physician to serve on the Abraham Lincoln Institute Board of Directors. In his groundbreaking research on war and society, Dr. Goldman draws upon experience with those who have been under fire, deep knowledge about how combat and military service influence veterans' lives, and extensive study of the Civil War, Reconstruction, and race.

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Marcy Gouge

Marcy Gouge is a licensed elder law attorney with 20 years litigation experience. She has a certificate in Gerontology and is the former National Director of National Legal Training Project which provided training to elder advocates on topics which impact older adults such as Elder Abuse, Guardianship and Federal Benefits. She has spent her retirement traveling the world for months at a time. She blogs regularly about traveling as a solo older woman, and contributes articles to online and print magazines about the joys of solo travel for women.

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Dani Graybill

Dani Graybill earned her Master's degree in Teaching ASL and studied ASL Linguistics at the University of Northern Colorado. She was born Deaf, and ASL is her primary language. Deaf culture consists of a set of values in Deaf/Hard of Hearing people, including the importance of using sign language as the main communication. It allows Deaf/Hard of Hearing individuals to express themselves. She taught ASL full-time at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at RIT and also worked as an adjunct at several universities. In her free time, she enjoys playing pickleball, exploring hidden gems, and visiting local coffee shops. A fun fact: in 2024, she rode her Burgman scooter across the Adirondacks on a three-day trip.

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Gabriella Guiseppe

Gabriella Di Giuseppe is a 200-hr+ Certified Yoga Teacher, with over 10 years of teaching experience. In Gabriella's class, you can expect to utilize physical postures, breathwork, meditation, and intention-setting. Expect to leave your practice feeling grounded, centered, and replenished.

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Steve Gurney

Steve Gurney is a nationally recognized leader, innovator, and advocate in aging and longevity. He founded the Positive Aging Community in 1990, creating a trusted resource for seniors, families, and professionals navigating retirement living, senior care, and aging options in the DC metro area and beyond. With over 35 years of experience, Steve is dedicated to fostering connections, sharing practical solutions, and shifting the conversation toward purposeful, empowered aging through podcasts, webinars, and community events.

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Stephan Haimowitz

For almost 50 years Stephan Haimowitz has worked on law and policy concerning disability and civil rights. Having litigated class actions, drafted/negotiated legislation, and evaluated service delivery, Steve has taught in diverse settings, seeking to demystify the law for front-line staff, community activists and government leaders.

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Michael Harmon

Michael Harmon is Professor Emeritus of Public Administration and Policy at the George Washington University. He taught at GW for forty years, specializing in organizational theory, public values, and Pragmatist philosophy. He is the author or co-author of five scholarly books, including Responsibility as Paradox (with O. C. McSwite) and Whenever Two or More Are Gathered: Relationship as the Heart of Ethical Discourse. His recent novel Invincibilis: A William Occam Mystery is available on Amazon.

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Christopher Haugh

Chris Haugh is an Emmy award-winning documentary film maker and regional historian. For nearly 25 years, Chris has researched, produced and published numerous award-winning presentations on Frederick County history. He has also taught both video production and public history courses for FCC, Hood College, and Towson University.

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Catherine Howard

Cath Howard paints in her studio gallery in Liberty named after her daughters, "Seven Sisters Gallery". Her work is displayed in the Delaplaine Visual Arts Center gift shop, the Boonsboro Gifts Inn, and in Shepherdstown's O'Hurley's General Store. Cath enjoyed working for A David Creation, Staged Above, and painting a private collection of historic buildings in Hagerstown. Since 2012, Cath has enjoyed teaching watercolor at Frederick Community College's Institute for Learning in Retirement. The diversity in nature is an endless source of inspiration for her paintings as well as for her students.

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David Howard

David Howard was a member of the National Symphony Orchestra with which he performed until retiring in 2011. During those 41 years he also performed with various chamber groups, including The Foggy Bottom Chamber Ensemble, the Cameron String Quartet, and Eclipse Chamber Orchestra. He holds a Masters in Music Performance from Catholic University and a Masters in Education from George Washington University. Currently residing in Frederick, Maryland, David is a member of the Frederick Symphony Orchestra and teaches cello at Hood College.

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Dora Jaar

Born in Haiti from Italian parents, Dora speaks four languages fluently. She worked at the Italian Embassy in Haiti upon her return from studying in Naples (Italy). She works as an interpreter for the Asian American Center and Frederick County Public Schools and was employed by FCPS in the English as a Learning Language Program for many years. She also taught French for the Alliance Francaise of Frederick.

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Lois Jarman

Dr. Lois Jarman has been an educator of languages and history for more than 30 years. Her graduate studies focused on linguistics and the history of the English and French languages. In the past, she has taught ILR courses on Dante, The Little Prince, and medieval history.

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Sabina Jules

Sabina Jules is the founder and CEO of Motherland Kitchen restaurant and catering services, Motherland Spices, and the author of The Motherland Cookbook - Easy, Tasty, Healthy but Not Fast. She has a passion for tasty, healthy food. She has devoted her time to researching different exotic African herbs and spices that typically come from the rain forests of the continent. Armed with this wealth of information, she carefully composed unique seasoning blends gratifying not only to the African palate, but the culinary industry at large. She has researched, tested, and documented the most popular dishes from the countries in Sub-Saharan Africa in her cookbook. She grew up in Cameroon and graduated from Kean University in New Jersey with a degree in Computer Science. She holds an accreditation in Food Nutrition and Health. She believes that the kitchen is a place where friends and family gather, and memories are homemade and seasoned with love.

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Richard Kaplowitz

Richard Kaplowitz has multiple associate degrees including ones in General Studies, History, and Arts and Humanities/Communications. He also is a training instructor with over 16 hours of instructional theory and practice. He has taught webinars and in-person classes on the use of technology in politics. He is well known in Annapolis for his voluminous written testimonies each session as well as personal visits and interactions with legislators locally and at the state level.

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Kierstin Klimas

Kierstin holds a master's degree in English with a focus on Literary Studies and Modernism, alongside a concentration in Creative Writing and academic minors in Theatre and French. She brings nearly a decade of experience in student support and academic success within higher education, complemented by a strong background in communications, regional theatre, and the arts. Deeply committed to fostering intellectual and creative growth, Kierstin is passionate about guiding students in their academic, literary, and artistic pursuits. Her scholarly interests center on the intersections of literature, history, culture, and the enduring power of storytelling across its many forms.

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Paul Kreingold

Paul Kreingold has been researching the 1800-1820 period in American History for many years, concentrating on the events surrounding the destruction of the Capital in 1814 by the marauding British and its subsequent rebuilding by Benjamin Latrobe. He regularly lectures on the subject and wrote the book Potomac Marble: The History of the Search for the Ideal Stone. He has a BA from Queens College, majoring in History and minoring in Geology. He regularly leads expeditions to the re-discovered Latrobe Potomac marble quarry along the C&O towpath.

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Tracy Lewis

Tracy Lewis is an early American historian with master's degrees in American History and Library Science, concentrating in Archival Studies. She wrote her thesis on Elizabeth Bayley Seton and her impact on female education in the early 19th century. Her areas of interest are Early National America and women's and religious history. Tracy also studies and collects antique coverlets. She is a novice weaver and belongs to both the National Museum of the American Coverlet and the Weavers Guild of Greater Baltimore.

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Michael Low

Mike Low is a retired American Airlines Captain with over 27,000 hours of flying experience. He was an adjunct professor at the Community College of Baltimore County teaching Aviation History. Mike is also a docent at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington DC.

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Tom Manganello

Tom Manganello is a senior counsel in the Securities and Exchange Commission's Office of Investor Education and Assistance (OIEA). In that role, Tom helps to coordinate investor education throughout the SEC's headquarters and 10 regional offices. Tom researches, writes and disseminates an extensive library of plain language investor education tools and resources on the SEC's website, www.Investor.gov.

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Mary Mannix

Mary Mannix is currently the Maryland Room Manager of the C. Burr Artz Public Library of the Frederick County Public Libraries. She is very active in the Mid-Atlantic Regional Archives Conference. She has been involved in the History Section of RUSA and was the 2011 winner of the Genealogical Publishing Company Award. In 2015, she was given the Martha Washington Medal from the Sergeant Lawrence Everhart Chapter of the Maryland Society of Sons of the American Revolution. She has taught genealogy librarianship at the University of Maryland and public history courses at Hood College. Mary is also a professional tarot educator and reader for over five years.

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Lindsey McCormick

Lindsey McCormick is the founder of the Maryland Center for Brain Health and a Certified Dementia Practitioner. Her mission is to provide information and education regarding the latest research and interventions for optimizing your brain health for improved performance, mental clarity and quality of life.

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Jeanne McDermott

Jeanne McDermott has a master's degree in Art Education from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland and a bachelor's degree in Writing from Towson University. In addition to teaching youth for FCPS and Kids on Campus at FCC, she also instructs adults in the ILR, Lifelong Learning, and Thrive Programs. Classes include drawing, acrylic painting, art history lectures, and tours of local downtown Frederick.

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Margie McWilliams

Margie McWilliams and her siblings helped to determine their mother's needs - without a "net" - in the late 1990's when no type of professional, unbiased assistance was available. She took what she learned and entered the world of senior-focused care in 2005. Margie works for the CarePatrol Central Maryland/Loudoun Virginia team. She knows that patient informed choice, patient centered care, and regular check-ins with communities and service providers are critical.

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Ryan Miner

Ryan R. Miner, MBA is the founder and CEO of Sentinel Silver, LLC, Maryland's first older adult think tank, technology institute, and consumer protection hub, based at the Fletcher Business Incubator at Hagerstown Community College. A Hagerstown native, he holds a B.A. in political science from Duquesne University and an MBA from Mount St. Mary's University, with a decade of experience in healthcare, senior services, older adult advocacy, and cybersecurity. He teaches technology with absolute patience, unyielding clarity, and a profound respect for the wisdom older adults bring to every conversation.

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Toni Minkel

Toni Minkel has trained in martial arts since 1985 and has received black belt rank from the World Taekwondo Federation and rank in Modern Arnis directly from Grandmaster Remy Presas. She received instructor certification in the gentle art of Tai Chi Chuan from the Baltimore Academy of Martial Arts. She is the founder of Mt. Airy Tai Chi and teaches classes in Yang Style Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and Taiji Kungfu Fan in Mt. Airy and Frederick and has been teaching Tai Chi for Balance and Well Being at ILR since the Fall of 2000.

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Joseph Mugore

Joseph Lucason Mupfaranyuri Mugore is a highly experienced international development and governance expert with a distinguished career focusing on public sector reform, decentralization, and strategic development planning across Africa for over 40 years. He has held major leadership roles, including serving as a Senior Governance Adviser and Resident Representative with the UNDP and as a Regional Director for the World Bank's Municipal Development Programme, driving large-scale, transformative regional initiatives. Currently, he works as an independent consultant, leveraging his extensive expertise to provide high-level policy advice, lead evaluations, and design national development strategies for various governments and international organizations.

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Dorothy O'Neal

Dottie O'Neal was hand-picked by the creator and long-time Tales for the Grandchildren teacher, Shirley Sandage, as the new facilitator of ILR's most popular writing course. Dottie was a student of Shirley's for many years and continues to write her own life story.

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Ernest O'Roark

Ernest O'Roark was a writer and team member for the World History for Us All curriculum project, working with David Christian, author of Maps of Time and This Fleeting World, as well as a number of other leading scholars in the field of World History. Ernie taught middle school in Montgomery County for 32 years.

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Claudia Olson

Claudia Olson has been practicing and teaching taichi and qigong for over 40 years. She has a masters in acupuncture with specific training in 5 element theory. Currently Claudia is working in the Integrative Services department at the Stockman Cancer Institute at Frederick Health.

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David Owens

Recently retired, Coach Owens has been teaching Catholic Theology for over thirty years. His areas of study are Sacred Scripture & The Black Catholic Experience. He has taught in Catholic high schools in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and the Diocese of Arlington. He has given talks in all three Diocese, Baltimore, Washington, and Arlington. He has studied in the following schools: Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, MD; Washington Theological Union, Washington, DC; The Dominican House of Studies, Washington, DC; Xavier University-Institute of Black Catholic Studies, New Orleans, Louisiana; Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, California.

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Mary Rolle

Mary C. Rolle was elected as the Register of Wills in November 2022. She was the Chief Judge of Orphan's Court (probate court), from 2018 to 2021, until she decided to run for the Register of Wills. Prior to being elected to office, she was a professor of criminal justice and police science for 25 years at Frederick Community College and taught at the Maryland State Police Academy for 20 years.

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Larry Romane

Medical questions? Dr. Larry Romane is a retired ER physician and the author of R U Medically Curious? and has a passion for teaching. His courses translate current, evidence-based medicine to a high school reading level for laymen.

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Rhonda Russo

Spiritualist, Paranormalist, and Usui Reiki Master, Rhonda Russo was born a seer/sensitive and animal intuitive. She developed natural born abilities into becoming a psychic medium, offering healing for those left behind, as well as those who have departed. She uses her psychic abilities during paranormal investigations at private homes and businesses, as well as public haunted sites. She believes that "knowledge replaces fear" and decided to help others conquer their fear of the unknown. She is the other half of "Lifting the Veil with Terri and Rhonda" YouTube show/podcast and a regular guest psychic on WFRE 99.9 FM. Rhonda is also ordained and is a Death Doula.

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Brooke Safford

Brooke studied Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University and has two publications with the Penmen Review. She's an avid reader and writer with a soft spot for all things fiction. Brooke is eager to help other aspiring writers hone their craft.

Classes

Molly Sherman

Molly Sherman is Executive Director of the Carroll Technology and Innovation Council in Central Maryland, where she leads regional initiatives to expand digital skills and technology access. She has developed and taught courses for older adults, job seekers, and professionals on computer fundamentals, data safety, and the emerging applications of AI. Her approach integrates practical instruction with a broader framework for understanding how technology shapes human behavior, communication, and opportunity, guiding learners to build habits and confidence that encourage curiosity and sustained growth.

Classes

Thomas Slater

Tom Slater is a retired educator and lawyer who taught history for FCPS and FCC. He is an avid lifetime learner and traveler with a special interest in American history and politics. He especially enjoys learning and teaching about Presidents of the United States. He is on a quest to visit every president's birthplace, death site and burial site.

Classes

Leo Sloss

Leo Sloss is a financial advisor with Edward Jones, specializing in retirement and estate planning. He holds his SIE, Series 7, and Series 66 licenses. Many of his clients are federal employees, giving him a detailed understanding of their retirement benefits. In addition to his career in finance, Leo holds a master's degree in education and taught at the university level for 15 years. He is passionate about helping members of the community and looks forward to working with participants in class.

Classes

Karen R. Smith

Karen R. Smith is a certified life coach, speaker, and was an owner and employee of a local accounting business for 30 years. Her husband's sudden and unexpected death before the age of 50 made her realize that even though they were knowledgeable about finances, they were not prepared for this unexpected life event. That experience led her to author her book, "I Didn't See That Coming!" which includes worksheets and an easy 4-step process to organize, record, review and store the important legal, financial and insurance documents that have a significant impact on the after-effects of a Life Event.

Classes

Sharon Smith

Sharon has a B.A. in speech communication and English, an M.A. C. T. in speech communication/theatre, and an M.A. in thanatology. She has taught English and public speaking. She is a retired human resources professional with many years of benefits experience. Sharon is a member of the Frederick Health Hospital Auxiliary and her role is Advance Care Planning education.

Classes

Samantha Snyder

Samantha Snyder is a local Frederick County resident. She earned her MAT from Mount Saint Mary's University and a BA from Hood College. She has experience teaching Art at both Frederick Christian Academy and Frederick County Public Schools. She has been with Frederick Community College since Spring 2022.

Classes

Marc Sommerville

Marc Sommerville has a master's degree in American history from Southern New Hampshire University and a bachelor's degree in physical education from Towson University. Writing his master's thesis about the prohibition era and the technology that helped shape the era. He is a father of four kids and a former coach for track and football.

Classes

Kendra Speicher-Eisenstark

Kendra Speicher-Eisenstark, LGPC, received her master's degree from Hood College in Clinical Mental Health Counseling along with a certificate in Thanatology, the study of death and dying. Kendra is a counselor, death doula, and death educator with a private practice in Frederick, Maryland. She is dedicated to increasing awareness and comfort around difficult topics, both for clients and students.

Classes

Caren Spungen

Caren ran a cottage bakery called Braided Love Bakery. She has taken Frederick Community College, King Arthur, and Knead and Know baking classes. She has a passion for making the best-baked goods and focuses on traditional baked goods.

Classes

Jeffrey Steinberg

Jeffrey Steinberg is both an analyst and practitioner of U.S. national security policy. He is an investigative journalist, serving on the editorial board of the Executive Intelligence Review, and writing for a range of international newsletters and magazines. He has also participated in various advisory capacities for U.S. government officials on a wide range of national security issues including strategic defense policy, the war on terrorism and illegal narcotics, and economic dimensions of national security. He has lectured internationally on issues related to national security. Steinberg is the author and/or co-author of articles and special reports on a wide range of national security issues, current affairs, and history.

Classes

Roger Swartz

Colonial historian Roger G. Swartz received national acclaim for his two books covering the frontiers of the American Revolution. In 2004, he was chosen to be the educational coordinator for the 13-day bus tour sponsored by the National Elderhostel program for the 250th anniversary commemoration of the French & Indian War, 1754-1763.

Classes

Michelle Umlauf

Michelle Umlauf has made a career for herself in the sewing industry working as an independent educator representing herself and companies such as Sulky of America, Clover Needlecraft, Baby Lock, and Pam Damour, the Decorating Diva. She served as the Maryland Chapter President of the American Sewing Guild and founded Sewing Online with Sulky, an online webinar. Michelle teaches classes at national and international expos, quilt shops and guilds. She hosts UFO Friday, a weekly online Zoom meeting. Visit her website at https://SewingMachineArtistry.com.

Classes

Guillermo Warley

Guillermo Warley is an Electrical Engineer with degrees in electronics and signal processing. He has more than 30 years of experience designing products that use some of the technologies discussed in the class. He is a Senior Life Member of the IEEE (Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers), and a member of the SSIT (Society for the Social Implications of Technology). He has previously taught this class at the OSHER programs of Shepherd University, Johns Hopkins University, Anne Arundel Community College, and Towson University.

Classes

Jerry Webster

Dr. Jerry Webster (Curriculum and Instruction, University of Maryland) has taught numerous courses in literature for UMD and in multiculturalism for Montgomery County Public Schools. He taught English full-time in public school systems for 40 years. He served as the Shastri, or head teacher, with the Shambhala Buddhist Center in Washington, D.C., for 10 years prior to retiring. He regularly teaches courses for FCC, the Johns Hopkins Odyssey Program, the Washington, D.C., Politics & Prose Bookstore, and Shambhala Buddhist Meditation Centers. Jerry has taught ongoing programs for the FCC ILR Program since 2016.

Classes

Kelly White

Kelly White is a fashion historian, vintage clothing collector and seller, consultant, and writer. She earned her Master of Arts in American History from American Military University and has received training in the Care of Textiles from the Northern States Conservation Center. As a consultant, she assists small museums in the documentation and storage of their textile collections. She is a member of the Costume Society of America and the Association of Dress Historians.

Classes

John Widmann

John Widmann is the City Carillonneur for the City of Frederick, Maryland, where he plays recitals every Sunday at 12:30, year-round, on the Joseph Dill Baker Carillon in Baker Park. He has held that position for thirty years. He completed his Master of Music degree from Towson University and studied at the Royal Carillon School "Jef Denyn" in Mechelen, Belgium. In addition to his Sunday recitals, he retired last year from Frederick County Public Schools where he was a General/Vocal Music teacher. Mr. Widmann became a Carillonneur member of the Guild of Carillonneurs in North America in 1996 and is a past member of the National Board of that organization. He maintains an active concert schedule, and has played frequently in the US, along with recitals in Belgium, France, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Ireland, Canada, and the Netherlands Antilles.

Classes

Maru Willson

Maru combines professional skills and personal insights in Digital Life Chronicles, offering practical strategies rooted in her experiences, including overcoming a major injury. She's creating a digital legacy for her son and others, motivated by her mother's battle with Alzheimer's. With a Master's in Adult Education, she excels at blending life lessons with teaching, guiding others in crafting their digital stories.

Classes

Stuart Woo

Chef Woo always had a fascination with cooking. He would watch his grandma cook huge feasts for the family. He later went to work for his uncle in New York's Chinatown where he learned all aspects of the kitchen. The experience taught him that there is a reason that you do things a certain way. He brings this experience to all his classes.

Classes

Carol Zegarski

Carol is a Certified Poultry Technician. As a member of the National Poultry Improvement Plan, she is able to ship, transport and sell poultry across the United States. She has over 50 years of personal ownership experience with poultry. Carol practices and teaches self-sustainable flock techniques, how to implement biosecurity practices, and how to perform practical medicinal care for backyard poultry flock owners.

Classes

 

Contact Us

Kelli Ackiewicz
Program Manager
 [email protected]
 301.624.2732

Cheryl Henman
Administrative Associate II
 [email protected]
 301.846.2421

General Inquiries
Institute for Learning in Retirement
 [email protected]
 301.846.2561

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