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William Allen
BA (History), MA (English), MPhil (Language & Literature), MLn (Library Science)
Bill began his lifelong generalist love of history, literature, popular culture, and musical theater when he studied the historical and literary aspects of the Broadway musical while getting his history and English degrees at the University of Louisville. After teaching at colleges in Kentucky and Indiana, he studied at the University of London (Royal Holloway College) and received the Master of Philosophy degree in English Language and Literature with a 500-page dissertation on W. S. Gilbert (Gilbert and Sullivan). Later he received a Master of Librarianship degree from Emory and did doctoral studies in the Institute of the Liberal Arts where he wrote a long, well-received essay on American lyricist E. Y. (Yip) Harburg. He held a research and archives position in the CNN Library for 19 years before retiring in 2005. He says dramatic and lyrical writing and teaching his special interest courses at OLLI-Emory now give him great pleasure and satisfaction.
Linda Asbury
MEd, Artist, Educator, Quilter
Linda's background is in art and education. At Hampton University, she was an Art major. She received her degree from Georgia State University. For the past nineteen years, she has been employed in the DeKalb County School System as a teacher. Her paintings and quilts have been exhibited in Buffalo, NY, New York City and currently at Art Station and the Porter Sanford Fine Arts Center.
Carey Anderson
BA and MA, Spanish
A recent immigrant to Atlanta, Carey hails from Maryville, TN. She earned her BA at Wellesley College and MA at Harvard University in Spanish. She has lived in several foreign countries (Bolivia, Botswana, France) and taught Spanish (and history) to all ages and in many settings, including schools in Boston, Botswana, and locally. She also tutors out of her home. She is enthusiastic about sharing her great love of the Spanish language with others!
Anna Andes
Anna taught Child Development and Human Relations for 15 years and served as an Instructional Specialist for 5 years. Her strong education in human development and curriculum creation led to 13 years as Curriculum Director for the Association of Unity Churches. Anna incorporates interactive learning strategies with her classes as much as possible.
Arlene Appelrouth
Arlene earned a bachelor's degree in news-editorial journalism from the University of Florida and has studied memoir writing for 8 years with the nationally acclaimed teacher and author Natalie Goldberg. Arlene's experience as a writer ranges from working as a journalist, to more than a decade of personal writing. She is an experienced investigative reporter, women's editor and editor of a corporate publication. She has also written documentaries for several non-profits in Atlanta. Currently, Arlene is a free-lance writer and a regular columnist for the Atlanta Jewish Times. Her column, "According to Arlene" is published every other week. She has been teaching writing for 8 years, in various settings including several private high schools.
Bob Bahr
MS in Television and Public Communications
Bob served as a reporter, producer, and news executive for CBS News -- where he worked with Walter Cronkite, Dan Rather, Diane Sawyer and other important figures in broadcast journalism. He was nominated for a national Emmy award for his reporting in Central America. He later served as managing editor of CNN's special projects documentary unit in Atlanta. As an inendent documentary producer he produced a feature length documentary about the life of Ronald Reagan for MGM and Turner Broadcasting and award winning documentary projects for PBS's News Hour, Entertainment Tonight and National Public Radio. In recent years he has developed several series of adult education programs on motion pictures and American culture including "The Movies That Made America," "Hollywood and the Human Spirit" and, most recently, "The Daylight Dream – Reality and Fantasy At The Movies."
Joe Baird
Joe served as an Administrative Law Judge with the Georgia Office of State Administrative Hearings. He has had a lifelong passion for American and European history and teaches courses on Liberal/Conservative Perspectives on American history, the Reformation, the Enlightenment , and Victorian England. In his leisure he writes poetry and plays golf.
Jack Balser
BS, Economics; MA, English
Jack retired from a lengthy career as a banker, and Director of a large charitable Endowment. He has served on the Board of Directors of numerous foundations and non-profit organizations and schools and continues to serve on several. He has an abiding interest and love of American and British literature. A long time OLLI student, he has recently found joy and satisfaction in teaching.
Glenn Barbour
Ph.D., Ethnomusicology and Music Education
Glenn has professional experience working with Joe Tex, Tina Turner, Bobby "Blue" Bland, Gene Chandler, and Johnnie Taylor bands. He served as a band director in the Atlanta Public Schools, was a woodwind instructor for the Atlanta School of Music, and has taught Blues, R & B and Jazz at Georgia State and Emory Universities. He is a professional woodwindist, Jazz, R & B, and Blues consultant.
Susan Kessler Barnard
BA, Journalism and Public Relations; Certified Operating Technician
For the first 25 years of her career Susan served as a surgery assistant/ "call girl for the operating room." Her second career came from working at the Atlanta History Center where she worked in the library-archives and learned to do historical research. This led her to become an author and a history enthusiast. She was a historical columnist for the Atlanta Buckhead and Atlanta Midtown newspapers and served as the chairman of the Greater Atlanta Archaeological Society. She has authored three books; two histories on the Buckhead community, and a history of First Presbyterian Church-Atlanta. She has also published two articles on the Muscogee (Creek) Indians in The Georgia Historical Quarterly (University of Georgia), and was a history columnist for The Atlanta Buckhead and Atlanta Midtown newspapers.
Michael Bean
Michael received a BBA in Accounting from Emory University in 1990, and a Certificate of Financial Planning from Duke in 2005. He was a Certified Public Accountant in 1992, a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst in 2009, and was a GA Society CPA. He was named 5 Star Best Class Wealth Manager in the ATL Magazine in 2009, 2010, and 2012. Mike has a passion for helping individuals minimize investment risk, maximize investment returns, maintain tax efficient portfolios and reduce taxes on income.
Esteban Bertera
BA, Chemistry, PhD Chemistry and Mathematical Statistics
Esteban was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. His lifelong passion has been history- he started studying it as an early teenager and never stopped. His focus has been on the Roman Empire and Middle Ages, and has always tried understand history from an economic point of view, under the conviction that it is economy the ultimate driver of history. He works at The Coca Cola Company as Director of Ingredients and Technology, buy will retire in just a few months.
Rabbi David A. Baylinson
BA, Fine Arts, Rabbinical Degree with MAHL and DD degrees
Rabbi Baylinson served as a Rabbi at Temple Beth Or, Montgomery, Alabama for over 30 years. He was the Adjunct Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Huntingdon College for 25 years and Dean of the Humanities and Fine Arts College for one year. He taught in the Life Long Learning program for adults at Huntingdon for many years. He is a member of The Temple and has taught in their Lunch and Learn program. He is married to Janice K. Baylinson for 60 years, and they have 4 children and 4 grandsons.
Clarice L. Belcher
MA Education, Marshall Rosenberg enthusiast
Clarice received her MA in Education from the College of William and Mary in 1979. In 2005, she met Marshall Rosenberg and attended his workshops, including a 10-day intensive with him. For the past three years at OLLI, she developed and taught the Language of Compassion course, based on Marshall Rosenberg's work. In 2012, at the request of her students, she added a sequel course, Language of Compassion II, devoted exclusively to practicing the skills.
Marty Bennett
MA ,Education, MS, Int'l Politics/Russian Studies, BS, Aeronautical Engineering -US Air Force Academy
Marty taught high school English for 20 years in Fairfax, VA. He also spent 22 years writing, editing and teaching report writing to defense artment intelligence officers.
Jill Berry
Jill has been a singer and an actress since the age of 18 months! In Atlanta, Jill attended Mary Lin School, Bass High and Westminster. She attended Georgia State University and received private voice lessons with Atlanta's Beverly Wolff. She sang with the Shoe String Opera and The Atlanta Repertory Opera. Jill was the first Miss Atlanta Jr. and had her own radio show at age 8, Jill's Storyland Caravan and TV show, at age 16, Jill Pepper's Talent Showcase. Jill is the co-founder of "Santa for Seniors" a charity for Meals on Wheels Atlanta that gathers gifts for seniors to give with their holiday meal. Jill is a longtime member of the Atlanta WWII Roundtable and has a deep passion and respect for the great American Heroes of WWII and strives to preserve their stories and experience and help share them with the world.
Lucy W. Bigham
Lucy has been a tour guide for the Atlanta Beltline tours for 2 years and has been involved with the Beltline since 2005. She narrates the tours 3 or 4 times per week. She received a BA in History from Agnes Scott College where she also took public speaking and education classes and did student teaching. She also has an MPA from Georgia State University. Lucy is retired from a career with Georgia State government as a program director and assistant division director where she used her skills as a trained facilitator, program advocate and presenter.
Paul Black
Attorney at Law, Brannon + Black, LLC
Paul's experience as the son of two parents with big health challenges is what led him to the work he does today as an elder law, estate planning, and Special Needs Planning attorney. His mother has wrestled with Parkinson's Disease for more than two decades. His father suffered a major stroke in May 2001. Paul's active involvement in his parents' care gives him first-hand knowledge of the challenges that many caregivers and family members face. A native of Albany, Georgia, Paul graduated with honors from Princeton University for his undergraduate studies in history. At Georgia State University College of Law, Paul gained invaluable experience interning at the two senior-oriented divisions of Atlanta Legal Aid Society, the Georgia Senior Legal Hotline, and the Senior Citizens Law Project. After graduation from GSU Law, Paul was chosen from dozens of applicants nationwide as one of three 2010-2011 Borchard Foundation Law & Aging Fellows. After completing his fellowship in late 2011, Paul launched his own private practice. He joined Chris Brannon to found Brannon + Black in January 2014. Today, Paul finds great satisfaction in serving clients across Georgia who need help with elder law issues (including Medicaid & Veterans Benefits eligibility issues, guardianships, conservatorships), estate planning and administration, and special needs planning.
Alvin Boskoff
PhD Sociology; Professor Emeritus of Sociology, Emory University
Al has an interest in social change, urban history, and developmental theory.
Sandy Bramlett
MEd, Certified Ageless Grace Trainer/Educator, Nia Black Belt Teacher, MDT Trained Movement Disorders and Parkinson's Disease Fitness Specialist, Certified Callanetics Instructor
Sandy began her professional career teaching high school in Metro Atlanta, and in the late 70's was recruited into the computer industry as a trainer and support analyst, later starting her own training business. In order to bring her life into more balance, Sandy looked to exercise, and found Callanetics. The benefits of this 'new mind/body exercise' were so remarkable that Sandy wanted to learn more. She became an ardent student of Callanetics, leaving the computer training business to open the first Callanetics Studio in Atlanta. In addition to Callanetics, Sandy is a Nia (Neuromuscular Integrative Action) Black Belt Teacher, ChiWalking Instructor and a Certified Ageless Grace Educator and Trainer. In over 25 years as a mind/body wellness coach, Sandy has sought out techniques that are effective, body-honoring, creative and fun. Her philosophy is that exercise should feel good inside and out, that fitness means being able to move with ease, to learn new things, to rediscover and use your creative gifts, and to do what you love to do with confidence and joy - for a lifetime. Sandy teaches mindful movement classes in Metro Atlanta, and is a frequent presenter on the body/mind connection, creativity, stress management and personal empowerment.
Jan Brodie
Jan has 40+ years in clinical nursing practice in Maternal-Child Nursing. She has 10 years as a BSN faculty member at Kennesaw State University and Georgia State University. She is a Nurse Midwife preceptor at Emory University and Vanderbilt University. Jan also has 12 years of experience as a HeartMath Coach and Trainer.
Ed Buckner
Ed received his BA from Rice University and his MEd and PhD from Georgia State University. He was the Executive Director for the Council for Secular Humanism from 2001-2003. He was President of American Atheists from 2008-2010. He and his son (Michael E. Buckner) wrote In Freedom We Trust: An Atheist Guide to Religious Liberty (Prometheus Books, 2012).
John Bugge
PhD, English
John is a Professor Emeritus of English and the Chair of the Executive Committee of the Emory University Emeritus College. He retired in September of 2011 from the artment of English at Emory, having been its principal specialist in medieval English literature for over four decades. He inaugurated the English artment course in Arthurian literature and made it a permanent part of the curriculum in the 1980s. His other teaching and research in the medieval field has involved the Old English language, Beowulf and other works of Old English poetry and prose, and Middle English literature ranging from devotional pieces written for women to Chaucer, the Pearl poet, and Malory.
Shelley Buxbaum
Accumulating three degrees (BRE, MA, PhD) at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, another at Columbia University and with stop overs at Bank Street College and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Shelley is passionate about learning and teaching. She has been Director of the Lisa F Brill Institute for Jewish Learning and Florence Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta for the past six years. Today, there are Melton classes in 10 different locations around the Atlanta. But above and beyond everything else, she is the proud savta (grandmother) to Hannah, Zachary and Sammy J.
Frank Casper
BA Philosophy, MTS
Frank received his BA in Philosophy from the University of Detroit/Mercy, and a Master's in Theological Studies from Boston University School of Theology. Originally from Detroit, Michigan, he has been living in Atlanta since 1993. Frank is just retiring after 50 years in IT, 15 years of it as an instructor at HP. He has been a member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta since moving here. He had until recently been a lay minister there for 6 or so years, and has preached at various Unitarian congregations throughout the Southeast. Frank has also taught a number of church based adult education courses in the areas of philosophy and religious studies.
Dorothy Carrillo
PhD Social Work
Dorothy holds a PhD in Social Work from the University of Georgia; a master's degree from Atlanta University School of Social Work (now Clark Atlanta); and a BA from Augusta College (now Augusta University). She practiced social work for more than 25 years with experience in the fields of medical and school social work, group work, substance abuse, and family therapy. She has published in the areas of social work education and cultural diversity and has made numerous presentations. Between 1980-1986, Dorothy served multiple teaching and administrative roles at Moraine Valley College in Palos Heights, IL. From 1989-1993, she was affiliated with the faculty at the UGA School of Social Work. From 1994 – 2001, she served as the Director of the University of Georgia at the Gwinnett University Center, overseeing both credit graduate courses and non-credit continuing education offerings. Dorothy was most recently an Associate Professor in the Georgia State University Social Work program and the Associate Director for Operations of Project Healthy Grandparents, an organization that supports grandparents raising their grandchildren.
Bob Castellani
BA, JD, Senior Judge for State of Georgia
Bob is a graduate of Hobart College, BA 1963, and an honor society graduate of Emory Law school, JD 1966. He did private practice of law for six years, a former Assistant Attorney General of Georgia from 1967-1973, a former 1st Assistant U.S. Attorney , Northern District of Georgia from 1976-1982, a U.S. magistrate for Northern District of Georgia from 1982-1984, and a superior court judge Stone Mountain Judicial Circuit from 1984- 2010. At present, he serves as a senior judge for the State of Georgia. As an attorney, Judge Castellani tried criminal and civil cases in state and federal courts, has argued appellate cases in the United States Supreme Court and the Georgia Supreme Court as well as numerous federal circuit courts. He has taught law at Emory Law School as an adjunct professor and has spoken at many judicial and legal conferences. He believes the circle of life is to learn and teach.
Natty Chalermpalanupap
Ph.D. Neuroscience in progress at Emory University
Natty is a doctoral student in Neuroscience at Emory University. She studies the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease, with a focus on the neural vulnerabilities that trigger the disease.
Suzette Clements
DPM, BSN, RN, Certified Health Coach
Suzette received her BS in nursing from Oral Roberts University; her Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from NY College of Podiatric Medicine and completed her surgical residency at NY Methodist Hospital. She went on to obtain her Health Coach Certification from Villanova University, McDonald Center for Obesity Prevention and Education (COPE). She is the founding owner of Flat Shoals Foot and Ankle Center, where she has been practicing podiatry for 14 years, focusing on the "Whole Person" Body, Mind and Spirit. She emphasizes healthy thinking, healthy exercise and healthy eating. Her success and passion has been to instill hope and happiness through a stepwise systemic approach as a coach. Her motto is, "Health is Not a Secret, it's a System of Healthy Habits."
Rachel Cliburn
MS, PhD Candidate: Neuroscience, Emory University
Rachel is a neuroscience PhD student at Emory University studying the neurobiology of addiction. She received a Fullbright grant to get her Master's in Neuropsychology in the Netherlands. Rachel graduated from Baylor University in 2012 after studying neuroscience and statistics. She loves learning and talking about science.
Howard Cohen
Howard has 35 years of experience in the music industry. He taught music at the American School in Rio De Janeiro, managed the Rizzoli International Music company, and was owner of an International Records and Music company.
Claude Collins
Claude is a retired businessman who spent most of his working career in the computer industry after serving four years in the air force. In 1969 he and seven other colleagues formed a new company which became a subsidiary of National Data Corporation in Atlanta. They were responsible for pioneering many of the credit card billing and fraud protection systems that are still in use today. In 1974 he began a new career in international trade, spending four years traveling throughout Europe. In 1987 he became the Chief Financial Officer of Dynasty Holding Company, a newly formed Chinese company in Atlanta. Since his company was owned by the leading company for Chinese foreign investments, he was placed in the unique position to see the start of what has become one of the economic miracles of the 21st century. He was very well known and respected by many of the national and provincial leaders in China. He has traveled extensively throughout China.
Jerome Cooper
BS Architecture, FAIA
Jerome is a founding principal and chariman of Cooper Carry, Inc. a 53 year-old architectural firm with offices in Atlanta, Washington, DC, and New York. He was a recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship and studied at the Universita di Roma in Rome, Italy. He has been honored with the Bernard B. Rothschild Award, the highest award granted by the Georgia Association AIA, as well as the Ivan Allen Award for Community Services. Under his leadership his firm has received over 100 design awards.
Greta Counts
BBA, Workshop Facilitator, Licensed Life Coach, Licensed in Metaphysics
Greta has a passion for developing people to their personal greatness. Every day she focuses on guiding others to achieve their dreams. Her unique approach to coaching empowers her clients to live healthier happier lives by living 'from the inside out'. This holistic approach teaches clients how to experience success through their authentic self, and by-pass the common mistake of attempting success through a one-size-fits-all method. Greta earned her BBA in Business Management with a concentration in Organizational Theory and Behavior from the J. Mack Robinson School of Business at Georgia State University. She has had extensive training in metaphysics as a Licensed Practitioner based on the philosophy of Dr. Ernest Holmes and is a Hay House Certified Heal Your Life Teacher, Workshop Facilitator and Life Coach who offers workshops on self-love, mind/body connection, inner child work, and forgiveness. She has twin 24-year old daughters and enjoys waterfall hiking, roller skating, salsa dancing and photography.
Milton Crane
B. A. Economics, Graduate work, Marketing, USAF, 1st Lt
Milton had a 44 year career with the Atlanta Market Center where he specialized in women's apparel. Before retiring at age of 75, he became the Executive Director of Mart Relations and served as a liaison between manufacturers and retailers world -wide. His hobbies and interests include running, biking, hiking, tai chi, writing, and acting to name a few. Teaching at OLLI helps him to exercise his mind while enjoying the relationships of an eclectic group of interesting, talented and accomplished people.
Daniel Curry
Ph.D. Neuroscience in progress at Emory University
Daniel is a doctoral student in Neuroscience at Emory University. His research focuses on the neurobiological underpinnings of social behavior and the development of pharmaceuticals to improve social functioning.
William Custer
William is the Director for the Center for Health Services Research for the Robinson School of Business at Georgia State University (16 years). He previously served as Director of Research at EBRI; Center for Health Services Research, American Medical Association.
George de Man
BA with minor in Law and architecture
George is a published poet, essayist and sculptor - - and has taught all three as interactive courses. His career was in advertising, but his major accomplishments are in the area of cultural developments: A Founder of the Atlanta Botanical Garden, Co-chairman of Emory's MARBL Board, Pres. of Out of Hand Theater, and Friends of Emory Forests. He lives near Emory where he has solo maintenance of several acres of pristine forest, travels widely, continues to publish, and is a Teaching Consultant for Emory.
Sal DePasquale
MCJ, MBA, Vietnam Veteran
Sal has over 30 years of experience in the analysis of security issues and development of security plans for industry and government. He has a strong focus in history to identify the underlying roots of contemporary conflicts.
Elizabeth Deschenes
MA Clinical Psychology
Elizabeth is retired from a corporate career with such companies as PricewaterhouseCoopers and Accenture. She has earned graduate degrees in clinical psychology and business. She most recently has been pursuing the elusive goal of obtaining a PhD. Her main distractions are her love for her family, travel, reading, creative writing and surfing the web.
Brenda Dozier
Brenda received a PhD from Auburn University in 1993, a MS from Auburn in 1989, and a BS in University of Alabama. She received the Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award in 1987 and the Outstanding Graduate Student Award in 1989. Dr. Brenda is an author, national speaker, and financial consultant. Brenda has a strong desire to help people become "money smart" by being in control of their finances throughout all life cycle stages.
Robert Drake
Robert is the Artistic Director for the Academy Theatre and has been a professional improviser for 20 years. He has worked with Laughing Matters, Collective 51, and Blacktop Circus and recently produced the Stockbridge Improv Festival.
Lisa Edwards
Lisa has been a Communication Stylist/Personal Image Consultant for over 20 years. She has worked as an inendent consultant and beauty advisor in the fashion/health & beauty industry throughout CA, OH, NJ, MD, and GA. Lisa has taught classes, seminars, and produced fashion shows.
Debbie Ellison
Debbie is the Director and CFO (Chief "Fun"ancial Officer) of Laughter for Wellness and a highly trained and experienced Laughter Trainer, Presenter, and Coach. She is also a Certified Laughter Yoga Teacher, and trained with world-renowned medical doctor and founder of Laughter Yoga, Dr. Madan Kataria. Debbie is the creator of the annual Laughter & Wellness Conference in Atlanta. Debbie trains and certifies other Laughter Yoga/Laughter for Wellness Leaders and facilitates laughter clubs; and classes, trainings, presentations, and "play"shops on laughter, stress management, joyfulness, creativity, and healing writing for individuals, organizations, and corporations. She is passionate about helping people be joyful and well and lead better lives.
Chris Escobar
A first-generation American, Chris has been proud to call Atlanta home for over a decade. Through his background as a filmmaker and live-event producer, Chris has been fortunate enough to help tell Atlanta's story through signature events such as the Peach Drop and Lighting of the Macy's Tree during his time working for Entertainment Design Group. More recently, in collaboration with Georgia State University, WSB-TV and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Chris recently completed a project funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities to create an iPhone app that is an interactive-multimedia tour of the State of Georgia Capitol building. In 2010, Chris joined the Executive Board of Atlanta Film Festival 365 where he was able to help use the moving image art form to help tell more of Atlanta's story, and has been working as the organization's Executive Director since 2011 where he is continuing and growing the organization's legacy, impact and service to the community. He is a Georgia State University graduate with a Master of Arts in Moving Image Studies with a concentration in production where he worked closely with the Digital Arts Entertainment Lab (DAEL) founded by one of the Atlanta Film Festival's original founders, Kay Beck.
Lisa Ethridge
Lisa hails from Salem, Ohio. She began her education at Kent State University and moved to Atlanta in 1977. After completing her Bachelors in English Education at Mercer/Atlanta in 1978, she began her high school teaching career in Fulton County Schools. In 2003, she returned to Mercer/Atlanta to complete her Masters in English Education. Besides teaching five classes, her duties included yearbook sponsor and department chair among others. After retiring from her job in public schools, Lisa works on a contract basis as a writer, editor, teaching, and/or photographer. In her spare time, Lisa is a North Fulton Master Gardener/University of Georgia Extension Volunteer who writes a monthly gardening column for My North Fulton. Her hobbies include reading, playing bridge, travel, and gardening.
John Evans
John is a native of North Carolina and received his undergraduate degree from Erskine College in Due West, South Carolina and earned his graduate degree from Emory University. He has completed additional studies at the University of Oregon, Boston University, Northwestern University, University of Georgia, and Georgia State University. John served on the Atlanta Board of Education and was a teacher and administrator in curriculum development for over 30 years. He is a veteran of the Korean War, U.S. Army. He is widowed with 4 sons, and now 4 daughters, 8 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. John served as deacon, ruling elder, and stated clerk of presbytery. Since retirement, John has been active in senior educational groups.
Saralee Fine
Saralee teaches literature courses at Kennesaw State University and Medieval through Renaissance as well as Shakespeare courses at Oglethorpe University. Shakespeare is her forte!
Leila Finn
Masters in Cultural Anthropology,
Stanford University Master Trainer -Chronic Disease Self -Management Program
Leila is dedicated to improved health and wellness and helping others through coaching to envision and realize their health goals. She has the following certifications: Duke Integrative Medicine certified Integrative Health Coach, YMCA Certified Lifestyle Coach for the Diabetes Prevention Program, ACE Certified Health Coach, YMCA Certified Wellness Coach, and ACE Certified Personal Trainer. She is also the founding co-chair of the Atlanta Chapter of the Diabetes Exercise & Sports Association.
Stanford Firestone
BBA Finance
Stanford is a native Atlantan and graduate of Emory University School of Business with a BBA in Finance. He started with E.F. Hutton in 1956 and is currently a Sr. V.P. with Morgan Stanley. He served on numerous local non-profit Boards. The Stock Market, both as an advisor and investor, has been his passion for the past 58 years. Stanford is also a former marathon runner and his current interests include racquetball and bikin
Bill Fletcher
Bill taught German language and literature at Emory for five years. Subsequently he was involved in various city planning activities in Atlanta until 1980, when he formed an award-winning cabinet and furniture design firm with his brother. Retired since 2011, he has since devoted his time to his long-term interests in Chinese furniture and Persian miniatures. Due to constant exposure to the subject during his wife's long career in Art History at Emory, he humorously counts himself as an "honorary art historian."
Dorothy Fletcher
English Literature and German Studies; MA, Art History
Dorothy is a senior lecturer Emerita in the Art History artment of Emory University. She coordinated and taught broad survey courses, Art History 101 and 102 (prehistoric to contemporary art) for 45 years. She also directed the teacher training program for graduate students of art history and held the position of Director of Undergraduate Studies in Art History for 17 years until her retirement in August, 2013. In 2004, she was the recipient of the prestigious "Excellence in Teaching in the Humanities at Emory" award. She has also taught at Georgia State University, the High Museum of Art, and the Atlanta College of Art. Her areas of interest are 15th and 16th century Northern European art, and German Expressionist art of the early 20th century.
Meridith Ford
Meridith is a nationally acclaimed food writer and stylist, consultant, chef, teacher, photographer and marketing and communications professional in Atlanta, GA. She currently works as the director of marketing and sales for Here To Serve Restaurants. She is also the Atlanta and Savannah editor for dining, retail and nightlife for the Zagat guide. Meridith was the dining critic and chief food writer for the Atlanta Journal Constitution for six years and previously, the Providence Journal in Providence, Rhode Island, for five years. She worked as a professional cook and chef before leaving to further her culinary education at Johnson & Wales University, where she received as Associate in Occupational Science degree in baking and pastry arts, and a Bachelor's Degree in Food Marketing. She was a contributing editor to Chef magazine and wrote regularly for The National Culinary Review. Additional contributions in Pastry Art & Design, Kitchen Gardener, Fine Cooking, Modern Baking, and the Rhode Islander Magazine.
Ramon S. Franco
Ramon was born and raised in Atlanta and has had a life-long interest in the sciences, especially physics and biology. After completing his medical degree at Emory University Medical School and residency at UCLA, he practiced facial plastic surgery in Atlanta until his retirement in 2009. Since then he has studied physics with special interests in Quantum and Relativity Theory, along with continuing his participation in medical conferences.
Erica Gal
Realtor, SRES
Erica is a realtor who is trusted by her clients, respected by her colleagues, and dedicated to her craft. She is a passionate advocate, guiding both buyers and sellers throughout the Atlanta area towards achieving their goals. Her vast residential real estate experience runs the gamut: first time home buyers, investors, mature adults, new construction, and luxury properties. Erica received her SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist) designation and specifically enjoys helping seniors as they make various life transitions. Prior to launching her career in real estate, Erica held leadership positions at several leading non-profit organizations in Atlanta, where she honed her skills as an educator, organizer, and listener. She was responsible for several successful multi-million dollar fundraising campaigns while also coordinating large scale, community-wide social and educational events. Immediately prior to joining The A is for Atlanta Group, Erica was the top producing agent at her brokerage. A Savannah native, Erica graduated from the University of Georgia.
Edward J. Garcia
Ed has an extensive and diversified background in the field of human behavior. He holds both an under graduate and graduate degree from New York University. While living in NY, he was Co- Director of Clinical Training at the Institute for Advanced Study in Rational Emotive Therapy. Upon moving to Atlanta, he served on the faculty of the Communications artment of Kennesaw State University where he designed and taught classes. He has lectured and conducted seminars at 35 colleges and universities throughout the U.S., Latin America and Europe. Conducted professional in-service training seminars at more than 60 hospitals and mental health centers throughout the U.S. Made guest appearances on national TV programs including ABC's Good Morning America and NBC's take it From Here. He also designed and appeared in a five hour TV presentation for WPBS entitled Developing Emotional Muscle. He recently served as a Nursing Development Consultant at Piedmont Hospital conducting in-service training programs with nurse preceptors. He is an accomplished sculptor and photographer. His fifteen foot three ton steel sculpture, Pathways to Wisdom, is part of Kennesaw State University's permanent collection.
Dan Gasparrini
MS Nursing, Education Specialist
Dan has 16 years of experience teaching computers to older adults, including 5 + years teaching for the OLLI program. He is currently engaged in post graduate coursework in computer technology at Georgia State, and mentoring older adults one-on-one through a program he spearheads called: Wired Geezers.com.
Pam Glustrom
MEd Special Education
Originally from Miami, Pam graduated from Auburn University with a BSEd in Special Education, Emotional Disturbances. She completed graduate work at the University of Georgia obtaining a MEd in Special Education. Pam taught children with special needs for 8 years first at Sexton Woods Psychoeducational Center and then at CPC Parkwood Hospital, both in Atlanta. She volunteered with the Georgia Council on Child Abuse for 10 years in a variety of roles including group leader for Parents Anonymous, which was a support group for parents struggling with abuse issues. She served on and then chaired the Parent Support Advisory Committee and also became a certified Parent Educator. Pam has served on several independent school boards including Morningside Day Out and Cliff Valley School, serving as co-chair and chairperson, respectively. She also served on the Board of Trustees and the Executive Committee at the Paideia School. Since 2006, Pam has volunteered with a number of non-profit organizations including Shepherd Center, Jewish Family and Career Services, International Rescue Committee, Literacy Volunteers of Atlanta and First Presbyterian Church. She is married with 3 grown children, and her leisure activities include tennis, yoga, running, reading and traveling.
David Goldsmith
Ph.D., Emory University Emeritus Professor of Chemistry
In addition to chemistry, David has been engaged with photography since childhood. In recent year, he has been active in digital photography, and has taught Photoshop with Adobe Expert Certification.
Timothy Gelinas
Timothy is President of Senior Financial Planning LLC and a member of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors. With 15 years of experience in the financial planning industry, he is the recipient of the Five Star Best in Client Satisfaction Award, the NAIFA Top 40 advisors under 40 award, and the Million Dollar Round Table award-Top of the Table three times. Timothy has numerous companies in production and has been nationally recognized.
Jane Goodwin
Jane studied piano at the Hartford School of Music and the Mannes School of Music in New York, as well as violin and music theory with conductor, Leon Barzin. She designed and made props for the New Orleans, Washington, D.C. and Palm Beach opera companies. For Palm Beach she also served as Stage Manager and Stage Director for the school productions until becoming the Production Manager.
Denis Gray
M.Ed., Technology Support Teacher
Denis received his Master's degree in Education from Cambridge College, Massachusetts. He has extensive experience in adult training and education, including working as a Technology Support Teacher providing training and technology support to high school teachers. Currently, Denis works as a web designer and leads mediation skills training to law and psychology professionals.
Ellen Gruber
PhD, JD
Ellen is a University Professor Emeritus, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Professional Counselor, and Group Psychotherapist. She also maintained a private practice for many years. Ellen has presented at hundreds of conference workshops in the area of education and psychology throughout the U.S. and Europe. She studied at Harvard in a special invitation course to be an expert in the British educational system for young children. Her academic awards are many including an international "friend of children" award for the education of children and families presented by the late Mr. Rogers. She has authored publications and research articles in the areas of psychology, science, creativity, problem solving, children's literature, creative drama, and family relations.
John Grunwell
BS Chemistry, PhD Organic chemistry
John received his BS in Chemistry from the University of Pennsylvania . He went on to receive his PhD in Organic chemistry from MIT. He was a Chemistry professor at Miami University for 41 years! He currently serves as a Professor Emeritus at Miami University.
Ihab Hajjar
Dr. Hajjar is a physician at Emory University with 17 years of experience in Geriatrics and General Medicine. He specializes in hypertension, brain health and healthy aging.
Joy Hartsfield
BFA, Painting and Printing
Joy has taught college and continuing education courses since 1989 to those young at heart. She believes that the arts teach confidence, self-discipline and flexibility. 2014 marks the 35th year that she has won awards in juried festivals east and southeastern regions. She has also served as a guest lecturer while traveling in the United Kingdom sketching and painting on site. She calls herself a Fine and Fun arts artist
Steven Harbour
Steven received his law degree from Columbia University, served as law clerk to the Honorable Lewis R. Morgan, United States Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, practiced law for over 30 year, was an adjunct professor of business law at Kennesaw State University, and currently is Of Counsel to the law firm of Anderson Dailey LLP in Atlanta.
Ken Haskins
Graduate Studies in Kinesiology and Health; Personal Trainer certification
Ken is a Senior Personal Trainer at the Blomeyer Health and Fitness Center of Emory University and the Druid Hills Golf Club where he is responsible for the design and implementation of safe and effective physical exercise prescriptions including flexibility, cardiovascular and strength training. Clientele include individuals unfamiliar with proper exercise practices as well as experienced fitness enthusiasts and competitive athletes. His duties require him to have knowledge of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, nutrition and biochemistry; as well as a thorough understanding of the function and proper use of free weights and more than one hundred machines and pieces of equipment.
Kristine Huffman
PhD candidate: Biblical Archaeology, MA and BA in Education
Kristine is an educator and Biblical archaeologist who focuses on Egyptology and the Old Testament. She has traveled extensively through the region considered the Fertile Crescent and upper Africa. As an educator her passion is to share her travels, research, and knowledge regarding Ancient Egypt and the historicity of the Bible. Originally from New Orleans, Kristine now calls Atlanta home.
Emily Huntington
BS Clothing Textiles and Related Arts
Although a graduate of fashion design and retail management, Emily switched her focus to interior design. She has 30 years of experience as a designer and business owner. She has continued to develop her skills through private lessons and enrollment at LSU School of Art. A visiting Chinese painter at LSU inspired the study of Chinese Brush Painting and two trips to China, where she studied art and culture and followed the silk route from Beijing to China's western border then south to the Tibetan territories. Combined with other travels these experiences have changed the way she views the world.
George Inglis
BS Biology, PhD (in progress) Genetics and Molecular Biology
George is a first year PhD students in Genetics and Molecular Biology at Emory University. He currently studies the genetics of epilepsy, but has previously worked on several antibiotic resistance projects in MRSA and Enterobacter.
Andreanetti Abudllah Jones
As a legal class instructor to a high school government teacher, "Netta" has always challenged her students to see and think outside the box. Her high school seniors were instrumental in getting SB9, a bill addressing Life Without the Possibility of Parole for Teens, accepted. Piggybacking, her sophomores studied and introduced their community to this legislation, ultimately leading to an opportunity to meet and discuss with Helen Prejean, the author of Dead Man Walking. Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon played the lead roles in the movie version. Netta has been an instructor with the University of California, Riverside Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.
Zachary Johnson
PhD Candidate: Neuroscience, Emory University
Zachary is studying the neurobiology of social behavior in Dr. Larry Young's laboratory. He has a deep interest in educating the public about not only his own research but about science in general. He is a Laney Graduate School Woodruff Fellow and a NIGMS Training Grant Trainee. He has been published in Physiology & Behavior and has served as a TA for a graduate-level Systems Neuroscience course. He currently mentors two students in the laboratory.
Sally Kann
Sally grew up in North Carolina in a musical family. While in high school and college, she studied voice under Janette Ogg, and sang in regional theater. She also began playing viola in the 4th grade, and continued playing for the next forty years with various school, university, and regional orchestras. She received a Bachelor of History degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Since moving to Atlanta in 1983, she has taught violin and piano at the Suzuki School, performed with Orchestra Atlanta (now Georgia Philharmonic Orchestra), has given viola master classes and instrument coachings in East Cobb orchestra programs. A former staff singer with First Presbyterian Church, she joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus in 2000; in addition to her chorus commitments, she sings and plays viola with several local ensembles. Currently, she is Secretary of the ATL Symphony Musicians Foundation, Inc., a non-profit, tax exempt educational outreach program, started by members of the ASO. The Foundation partners with local schools to teach lessons, coach students in their instruments, give live performances, and, working with orchestra and band directors, help promote and elevate the artistic level of symphonic arts in Atlanta schools. Sally is also co-founder and president of Save Our Symphony Atlanta, Inc. a non-profit citizens' awareness group, formed during the 2014 orchestra lock-out, which uses social media to raise public awareness of issues concerning the ASO.
James Keller
MD, Retired Emeritus Professor of Radiation Oncology
Linda King
Linda has over 25 years of experience in the training and development field; having worked for FedEx, Home Depot, AGL Resources and Ingram Micro. She received a bachelor's degree in Human Resources and a master's degree in Organizational Communication and Development. Linda has held many positions such as Corporate Training Manager, Master Trainer and Manager of Leadership, Education and Development, and Adjunct Professor with Shorter College. In 2008, Linda became Founder of Perfecting You Enterprise. Her clients include Kaiser Permanente, Yum! Brands, Novelis, McKesson, AT&T, Southern Company, Grant Associates and more.
Linda helps people re-discover their ability to maximize where they are personally, professionally and spiritually. As a facilitator, speaker and your identity expert, she helps people see who they are, confront who they are, and accept who they've been called to be.
Lonnie King
Kirk Kingsbury
For more than 25 years, Kirk has been intermittently involved with teaching and intimately involved in worldwide learning. While a professional photographer, he took assignments to war-torn Central America in the 1980s and has been traveling the globe since. Kirk has photographed extensively in the Sinai Peninsula surrounding the Gaza Strip, captured images of the war in Columbia's southern region, and produced a photographic essay on the Golden Triangle. He did a photographic assignment on teens in southern adult prisons for Essence Magazine and a cover article for Atlanta Magazine. Kirk shot for the editorial assignment division of Getty Images New York for clients including The Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel. He has brought personal experiences and photographs from more than 35 countries to the classroom.
Anna Knight
BS, PhD (in progress) Genetics and Molecular Biology
Anna received BS degrees in Biological Sciences and History from North Carolina State University, and is currently working on a PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology at Emory University. She has previously done research on colorectal cancer, and is now interested in the epigenetic mechanisms of preterm birth.
Trudy Kretchman
BA English, life-long student of literature and master gardener since 1981
Trudy received her English degree from Emory and spent 20 years with the Emory English artment as Administrative Assistant. She is a lover of poetry, literature, and gardens.
Anna V. Lambros
M.A, Ph. D. French Language and Literature, Multilingual/Multicultural Education
Anna was born in Thessaloniki, Greece where she studied Modern and Ancient Greek, French and English at the prestigious American school, Anatolia College. Upon her graduation, she received a scholarship from the French government and attended Middlebury College where she received an M.A in French. Subsequently, she received her Ph. D in French Literature, Multilingual/ Multilingual Education from Florida State University.
During her 35 years of teaching, Anna served on the faculty of the Department of Modern and Classical Languages at Georgia State University as Assistant Professor of French, Director of the Foreign Language Teacher Education program as well as that of the Institute of the Mediterranean Studies. Moreover, she served as an AP Consultant in French for the AP Educational Consulting Agency at Princeton University. In 2001, the Governor of the State of Georgia, Roy E. Barnes, appointed her as a member of the State Children's Trust Fund Commission.
Prior to her retirement in 2006, Anna served for eleven years as Head of the Foreign Language Department at North Forsyth High School where she established the AP Honors program in French and led students to many student trips in Europe. She has always attempted to excite her students in learning French by encouraging them to participate in Atlanta events which foster international understanding.
John Laszlo
John attended Columbia College, BA, and Harvard Medical School, MD. He worked at the National Cancer Institute from 1958 to 1989. He held the position of Director of Clinical Research at the Duke Comprehensive Cancer Center and was a professor of medicine at Duke Medical Center from 1959 to 1986. In 1996, John retired from his position as senior VP for Research at the American Cancer Society.
Leeann Lathrop
Teacher, previous Advertising Coordinator, and Antiques business owner
Leeann attended the University of Nebraska and started her teaching career in Omaha, Nebraska. Additionally, she worked as an Advertising Coordinator for a large real estate firm and as a bookkeeper. When she moved to Georgia, she returned to teaching and began her own business restoring antiques.
Bianca Lee
BA, MA, and MBA
Bianca worked in the telecommunications industry as a software engineer developing computer systems for more than two decades in Houston, Denver and Atlanta, USA. Since her retirement, she divides her time between Atlanta and Germany and pursues her passions: Yoga and Ikebana (Japanese style flower arrangement). She has been studying Yoga for more than a couple decades in various styles such as Iyengar, Krypalu and Pranakriya and has been teaching Yoga and Ikebana for the last several years.
Kathryn Legan
Kathryn has over 30 years of experience teaching college students and adults. She has taught Homer, Shakespeare and Dostoevsky at Evening at Emory for several years. She recently wrote a book called, From Gilgamesh to Gone Girl: How Stories Train Us to Thrive.
John Leggett
John is a former database analyst whose job involved seeing the implications of data for a particular issue.
Ron Lehman
MD, Orthopedic Surgeon
Ron is an avid reader averaging eight books per month. His passion and interest in politics has developed through his reading.
Alan Lind
Alan has spent more than 60 years attending jazz performances here in the U.S., and in various countries in Europe and Asia. His jazz library consists of over 200 books, and over 7,500 albums (over 78,000 songs)!
Kelly Lohr
PhD Candidate: Neuroscience, Emory University
Kelly is a 4th year PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Program at Emory University in Dr. Gary Miller's lab. Her dissertation research studies the genetic resistance to environmental factors that contribute to Parkinson's disease. She is an NRSA fellow and an ORDER teaching fellow. She taught 2 seminar courses at Emory "Exposed: Environmental Influences and How They Shape Us". She is particularly interested in the genetic and environmental factors that make us more or less susceptible to neurodegenerative disease.
Terry E. Manning
Terry was the past State President and current Atlanta Chapter President of Sons of the American Revolution. He was the recipient of national "Col. Stewart Boone McCarty" Education Outreach Award. Terry is also a member of the State Society speaker's bureau.
Kamal Mansour
Dr. Mansour was born in Egypt and received his medical training at the Ein Shams University Medical School in Cairo. He was awarded the 2001 Shield of Medicine for being one of the ten most outstanding Egyptian doctors in the world; received the prestigious Emory Medal for distinguished service and notable professional and academic achievement in 2008; was awarded the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association 2010 Inspiration Award in recognition of exceptional efforts in motivating, inspiring and cultivating the clinical and research efforts of upcoming generations of cardiothoracic surgeons (he was only the second physician to receive this award); and was recognized as one of Emory University's History Makers during Emory's 175th Anniversary in 2011.
Stephen Margolis
PhD Toxicology; Professor Emeritus, Emory University
Stephen received a PhD in Toxicology from Cornell University. He served as Senior Scientist at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and served as director of the office of Health Assessment for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). He is an Emory University Professor Emeritus in the Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health.
Judie Manulkin
Ph.D., Clinical Sexologist
Judie received her Master's in Education and her Ph.D. in Clinical Sexology. She has lectured about sex in U.S. universities and medical schools. She has also had numerous TV appearances on NBC and CNN and anchored a live Q&A on cable TV. Dr. Manulkin was a newspaper columnist and an educational video talking head. She spent four years in China traveling to lecture at universities, private companies, and government agencies.
Chris Martin
MA Psychology, Ph.D. Sociology in progress at Emory University
Chris recently completed his master's degree in Psychology at the College of William and Mary, and is now a doctoral student in Sociology at Emory University. He also has degrees from Davidson College and Georgia Tech, and has worked as an information architect at the Centers for Disease Control, Razorfish, and LBi.
Dan May
PhD Social Work
Dan has had two careers — as a college biology professor at Oberlin and Earlham Colleges and Mercer University in Atlanta, and as an epidemiologist at the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. As a college teacher, in addition to the standard courses in the biology curriculum, he enjoyed developing and teaching a range of interdisciplinary classes on topics such as medical ethics, world nutrition, and the nature of science.
Michael McDavid
BA, MA European History, MA Library Science
Michael has BA and MA degrees in European history and an MA in library science. His special areas of interest are nineteenth century Europe and the role of monarchy as a political and social institution. He was a library manager at Equifax Inc and Georgia State University and for many years was an adjunct faculty member in the history department at Georgia Perimeter College. Now retired from the Boston Consulting Group, he has time to keep up with the achievements, follies, and foibles of royalty present and past as well as new developments in the study of European social and political institutions between 1789 and 1914.
Dan McIntrye
Dan has over 35 years of experience in the financial services industry. He has held senior management positions with two international financial services companies and trained other registered professionals. He is a Certified Retirement Financial Advisor, a Certified Long-Term Care Advisor, and a Certified Senior Advisor. These certifications allow him to better assist his clientele with wealth accumulation and asset protection.
Harvey Meisner
Certified Tai Chi and Qi Gong instructor
Harvey is a certified teacher and student under Wu Dang Master Yun Xiang Tseng (known as Master Chen), director of Chi for Longevity. He is endorsed by Master Chen to teach T'ai Chi 24 Movements and Qi Gong. Harvey has studied T'ai Chi and Qi Gong since 1996 with local Atlanta teachers as well as with Master Wei Lun Huang, of Florida. Since 2001, he has been a teacher of T'ai Chi and Qi Gong with Rising Phoenix T'ai Chi where he serves as Assistant Director. He brings a keen understanding of internal process and meditation to his work, as well as deep understanding of translating powerful athleticism into the slow, controlled and fluid movements of T'ai Chi. He values Qi Gong for its stretching, strengthening, and loosening characteristics. Harvey also has a deep understanding of the internal principles of meditation and internal qi (chi). He has studied and practiced Transcendental Meditation for 30 years and is well liked by his students and respected by his peers. Harvey is patient, knowledgeable, and wishes to share the art of T'ai Chi with all.
Jim Mengert
Jim received an AB from Princeton University and PhD from Yale University. He was Teacher of the Year at the University of Mississippi and serves as Vice-President of Speakeasy, Inc. Jim has authored articles in scholarly journals on the poetry of John Milton, and co-authored books on effective communication with Sandy Linver (published by Simon & Schuster).
Meta Miller
Meta attended Yeshiva University/Stern College for Women and earned a degree in Education with a concentration in Judaic Studies/Hebrew. She has a graduate degree in Administration and Supervision. Meta has taught early childhood education for over 25 years, and has taught adult Hebrew reading courses for many years.
Pat Miller
Pat has a background in sales, marketing and operations managements, and mediation. She is experienced in the Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Financial, Consulting, and Non-Profit industries. She has worked with several corporations including: Bank of America, ATT, American Express, MARTA, Michelin, Sherwin-Williams, Price Waterhouse, and Mitsubishi, focusing on change management, organizational development, and leadership and coaching. Pat is a Master Certified Coach and holds an MBA from Northeastern University. She is a certified Mediator in Georgia. She teaches Coaching Skills at Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University and Virginia Tech. She also teaches Executive Development, Emotional Intelligence, Coaching and Leadership at AMA.
Carolyn Rose Milner
MFA in Drawing and Painting
Carolyn graduated from SCAD, BFA in Painting and Drawing, 2001; graduated from Georgia State University, MFA in Drawing and Painting, 2006. She taught at GSU, Art Institute of Atlanta, UUCA, and for special needs teenagers for the last 10 years. Her work has been bought by: High Museum of Art, Douglasville Cultural Center, Grand Consuls of Sigma Chi, Chicago, Stephenson Collection, and Geneva. She is also board member of Burnaway.org, an online Atlanta arts magazine.
Perry Mitchell
BA English, MA Literature, President, GA Chapter of Compassion and Choices
An Atlanta native, Perry earned his BA in English from Duke University, followed by an MA in Literature at the University of Iowa. He spent 40 years in advertising as a writer/creative director/ad agency partner. Now retired, Perry is involved in a number of diverse nonprofits, including Druid Hills Civic Association, Emory Village Alliance, Literacy Action (adult literacy tutor and classroom teacher), and Compassion&Choices, the nation's largest nonprofit dealing exclusively with advance care planning and end-of-life issues. Perry has been the GA Chapter President for two years, and has given an hour-long presentation to many civic and church groups, encouraging nearly 400 people to enact Advance Directives.
Leigh Moore
In 2005, Leight was shocked to learn she needed a hip replacement. Even though her surgery was highly successful, she experienced ongoing issues and pain which greatly compromised her mobility and quality of life. She learned about the Egoscue Method during a meditation retreat in India and became a committed practitioner of the program. The results she achieved were so inspiring that she decided to enter the Postural Alignment Specialist training program offered at the Egoscue University in 2010. She completed the training in 2012 and teaches classes and works with clients individually.
Everett Morris
CFP, MBA Personal Financial Planning, JD
Everett earned his BS, MBA, and JD all at Georgia State University. He runs Morris Legal and Tax LLC in association with WealthMD, a comprehensive practice that provides services from the overlapping disciplines of financial services and wealth management law. Everett is registered with the IRS as a tax preparer, is admitted to practice before the Superior Court of Georgia, the Georgia Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Georgia, and the United States Tax Court. Everett is the President of the Castleberry Square Condo Association, Treasurer of the William Oliver Condo Association, Treasurer of the Castleberry Hill Neighborhood Association, and serves on the boards of PEDS, the Mortmain, and the Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic.
Marilyn Morton
Marilyn served as an Adjunct Professor of Art History at Atlanta College of Art.
Sudakshina Mukherjee
Trained in Indian classical form (Bharatnatyam) and Bollywood for 10 years
Sudakshina is the artistic director of the dance studio, Atlanta Nritya Academy. She is an Indian classical dancer who is trained in the contemporary and Bollywood form. She has taught all ages and levels at various studios and events, and she has managed the creative vision of the group. Her choreography has won many accolades throughout India as well as in US and Georgia. Above all, Sundakshina believes that dance should be fun for all and accessible to all.
George Muse
BA Engineering, Military Captain U. S. M. C., Retired from NASA
George graduated with an Engineering degree from University of Tennessee. This degree enabled him to work with Dr. Werner Von Braun and his group of German engineers on NASA's beginning Space Programs all the way through the Apollo Man on the Moon Program. He is uniquely equipped to provide first-hand accounts of the early NASA space program.
Wendy Nelson
Wendy has a bachelor's degree in Biology with 25 years of experience teaching science and nature in non-traditional settings.
Ryan NeuCollins
Ryan currently lives in Iowa with her husband, where she has been teaching at the Iowa City Senior Center and at Kirkwood Community College, within their Continuing Education Program.
Pam Noud
BS Economics and Computer Science
Pam loves maps and is passionate about sharing her knowledge of World Geography. She has compiled images from around the world into pictorial lessons about other countries. Her classes are slide shows that interlace maps with photographs, so that students can learn Geography in a way that is both engaging and effective. In her spare time, she likes to play tennis, rearrange furniture, and rescue pit bulls.
John O'Shea
John is a retired pediatrician, a still-active child health advocate, and has been a fan of classic jazz for 45 years.
Howard Page
Howard has a BS in Math and Physics from Guilford College and a MA in Applied Math from University of Maryland. He has spent 30 years studying complex systems, focusing on how the universe uses simple rules to build up a hierarchy. He recently taught at OLLI @ UGA.
Betty Pareja
Betty earned a bachelor's degree in economics and finance science from Universidad Tecnica de Oruro in her native Bolivia. She has been living in Atlanta for the past 15 years. Although she is an economist by profession, she chose to become a teacher by passion. Betty has been teaching Spanish for the past 20 years. She taught at Evening at Emory Continuing Education for 10 years. She still teaches private and group lessons at home. She is the co-authro, along with Valerie Sander, of two Spanish books: "Avanza en tu Espanol" Level 3 and "Avanza entu Espanol" Level 4. While living in Portland, Oregon, she taught mathematics for Portland Community College General Education Development. She also worked as a medical Spanish Interpreter for Passport of Languages. Betty has also taught Oregon Driving Laws and U.S. Citizenship Requirements to Hispanics living in Oregon.
Bert Parks
Prior to teaching 20 different classes at OLLI, Bert taught English at NYU, GSU, and Morehouse College. He loves to use literature, history, and the arts to gain a richer, deeper grasp of the mysteries of our brief journey together.
Susan Pillans
BA, MA in History and English
Susan taught in the Kentucky school system and worked at the University of Kentucky's Student Affairs Office. Upon moving to Atlanta, she taught in the DeKalb County Schools before she joined the faculty of Marist School where she remained for most of her teaching career. Taking a leave of absence and then a retirement she taught school in England for four years. Presently she is taking and teaching classes in several Atlanta life-long learning programs. Her area of expertise is in all things British. Susan studied for three summers in Oxford and one in Cambridge England. She chaperoned Marist students on trips throughout Europe, and directed various plays each year at Marist and in the English school. Her hobbies include painting at Spruill Art Center, swimming, reading, traveling, good movies, and spending time with her grandchildren and friends.
Clark Poling
MA, PhD in Art History
Clark taught for thirty-three years at Emory University, serving as chair of the Art History artment, director of the Michael C. Carlos Museum, and Faculty Curator of Works of Art on Paper. He has published books and articles on the Bauhaus and on Surrealism and has organized exhibitions of modern and contemporary art. He lives in Oakland,CA, and has taught courses at California College of the Arts, Osher Lifelong Learning Institutes of the University of California, Berkeley, and San Francisco State University, as well as Stanford's Continuing Studies, and University of San Francisco. He has taught summer courses in France for Emory University and frequently lectures for museum audiences.
Julius Pryor
Julius Pryor III is a keynote speaker, futurist, and author. He held executive level jobs at Johnson & Johnson, Russell Athletic, Abbott Labs, Takeda and Coca Cola. Julius is a U.S. Navy Captain, Surface Warfare Officer and instructor for the Navy Officer Leadership Development Program. He completed coursework at Naval Postgraduate School and National Defense University. He held numerous leadership roles in the Navy, including, Executive Officer, Fleet Staff Officer and Unit Commanding Officer. He was in the re-commissioning crew of the USS Missouri (BB-63) and served as an active duty Battleship Turret Officer. Julius is a graduate of Morehouse College, and the Williston Northhampton Preparatory School (Easthampton, MA). He is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Nancy Purdon
After majoring in math as an undergraduate, Nancy taught the subject in high school for many years before turning to literature, earning a Master's in American Studies at Emory University. An early book discussion group, now in its 48th year, has nourished that interest. She has taught OLLI courses for 15 years, some at Beaufort, SC but most here in Atlanta.
Marcia Rice
BFA Interior Design and Commercial Art
Marcia received her BFA degree from the University of Georgia in Interior Design and Commercial Art. From 1956 - 1973, Marcia did displays at Rice's Casual Shop (two stores). During the 1970's, Marcia took oil painting with Walt Martin, Instructor - Evening at Emory; Oil and Acrylics/Experimental Painting with Katherine Mitchell, Instructor - Atlanta College of Art; and took two courses at GSU for Teacher Certification in Art (Art for the Elementary School and a graduate course in Educational Psychology). From 1975 - 1982, she took courses at Emory in the Art History artment including Modern Architecture, History of Modern Art, Drawing and Pottery.
Charlie Richards
Charlie received a BA in English from Davidson College in 1970, and a JD from Emory Law School in 1975. He retired from the Georgia Attorney General's Office in 2013 after 24 years of service in various capacities, first in civil litigation, and later as a prosecutor and Director of the Georgia Medicaid Fraud Control Unit. Charlie has a lifelong interest in the history and historiography of the American Civil War, and particularly in the ways in which the supposedly defeated former Confederates have been allowed to reshape our national memory of the causes and consequences of that terrible conflict.
Brandt Ross
BA, Managing Partner at Corporate Finance Associates, Inc., President and COO of Corbin, Ltd.
Brandt has a BA from Marshall University and was Managing Partner at Corporate Finance Associates, Inc. of Southeast Atlanta, specializing in mergers and acquisitions. For 22 years, he held senior management positions becoming President and COO of Corbin, Ltd. He has served as a board member of the Third National Bank, The United Way, Family Services and several Chambers of Commerce. He was President of Marshall University Business School Advisory Board and helped found their internship program. His hobbies include 12-stringed guitar and folk music, history, genealogy, and baseball. He currently volunteers as a folksinger in retirement homes and as a financial arbitrator.
Larry Rubin
BA, MA, PhD in English
Larry prides himself on being a "total Emory product" receiving multiple degrees from the University in English. His degrees served him well as he taught English at Georgia Tech for 44 years! Now in retirement he continues to teach topics within his specialty of American Literature and Drama.
Cookie Rubin
Cookie is a retired public high school teacher of French and ESOL. She has been a student of meditation for over 20 years.
Mustafa Sahin
Ph.D. International Relations, Director of Academic Affairs at the Istanbul Center
Mustafa is the Director of Academic Affairs at Istanbul Center. He received his BA in International Relations at Bilkent University in Ankara and his MA in International Relations at Fatih University, Istanbul with a Master thesis on Turkish Foreign Policy towards the Palestinian Question. He received his PhD in International Relations at Florida International University, Miami where he wrote his dissertation on Turkish Islamic / social movements and how they view Turkey's place in the world (Turkey and neo-Ottomanism: Domestic sources, dynamics and foreign policy).
Nayera Salam
Nayera has a master's degree in Education from Emory University and has more than 25 years of experience teaching foreign languages at different colleges and schools.
Phil Sauntry
Phil is an attorney in the Antitrust Division for the U.S. Department of Justice specializing in telecommunications matters.
Gene Schallern
BS Physics and Math, MS Physics
Gene has over 30 years of senior management experience in Silicon Valley high tech industries. He has taught in college, secondary, university and industrial environments. He is a student of Objectivism for 45 years including speaking at Objectivist Conferences. He earned a double major in Physics and Math with a minor in Philosophy. Gene earned his master's in Physics from Marquette University.
Lauren Shapiro
BS, MPH, PhD (in progress) Pharmacology
Lauren is a third year doctoral student in the Pharmacology program at Emory University. Her dissertation research investigates novel approaching to targeting depression in adolescent populations. She received her MPH from Emory University, where she focused on environmental factors contributing to neurological disease.
Ronnie Shorenstein
Ronnie is a retired attorney who tried environment cases at the Justice Department that involved medical issues.
David Slavin
David received his PhD from the University of Virginia in the Department of History. He has published mover a dozen journal articles and has taught for over 25 years in the areas of European, World and U.S. History. He was the research director of the Hospital Workers Union in NYC and was also a labor organizer for 7 years.
Jade Sykes Slover
BA Political Science/Languages, Registered Civil Mediator/Arbitrator
Jade is proud to be a native Atlantan. She attended The Westminster School, Oglethorpe and Emory University. She has also studied voice, dance and drama with Gertrude McFarland and participated in the Alliance Theater as well as other local theater productions. She is the co-founder of Santa for Seniors and has served as Chairman for many civic and charitable events including A Meal to Remember and numerous fundraisers for Woodward Academy. She is currently a certified mediator/arbitrator and is presently enrolled in the Paralegal Certificate Program at Emory. Jade spends much of her time managing her families Commercial Real Estate and being the mother of two wonderful sons, Sam and Joe Sykes, and is married to Jack Slover Jr. A longtime member of the Atlanta WWII Roundtable, Jade shares a deep love and respect for great WWII American heroes and like her mother, strives to get their stories told.
Morris Socoloff
Morris was born in Atlanta. He attended the University of Tulane, GA State University, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Texas, San Antonio Health Sciences and Wharton Business School. He was the CEO of Solos Ophthalmology, CEO Dental One, and the V.P of Mergers and Acquisitions of Dental Care Alliance. He is a consultant with Soco Management LLC. He considers himself semi-retired.
Rabbi Ari Sollish
Rabbi Sollish is a noted author and teacher and founder and director of the Intown Jewish Academy, a warm and non-judgmental community that gives people from a diverse spectrum of Jewish life the opportunity to experience the richness of their Jewish heritage through study and participation. Before moving to Atlanta in 2006, Rabbi Ari was the Managing Editor at Kehot Publication Society in New York, where – among other things -- he worked on transcribing, translating, editing and preparing ancient Kabbalistic manuscripts for publication. Rabbi Ari lives in Virginia Highlands with his wife Leah and their four sons, Noson, Mendel, Sholom and Shaya.
Susan Soper
Susan grew up in Atlanta and attended Oglethorpe University. She started out writing short stories and publishing "newspapers" she handed out to neighbors. Asking questions and recording answers seemed to be her niche. Her career began as a writer for Newsday in Long Island, NY. Susan was also a writer for CNN; Features Editor and Writing Coach for the AJC; Executive Editor for Atlanta INtown; Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Oglethorpe University; and the founder and author of ObitKit. Inspired by person experiences, ObitKit developed and has become one of the most gratifying things for Susan.
Herbert F. Spasser
DDS, Certified Wine Educator
Herbert is a retired dentist and former clinical professor of Endodontics at New York University College of Dentistry now living in Atlanta. He has traveled and visited most of the wine regions of the world. He is a Certified Wine Educator, member of the Society of Wine Educators, a Grand Commandeur of the Chaine Des Rotisseurs, and was Wine Advisor to the Restaurant Society of New York. He is a wine judge, lecturer, and writer, and has been teaching wine courses in New York, New Jersey, and Atlanta annually since 1976.
Robert Spector
Robert served on Faculty of the University of California, San Diego during his navy service from 1976-1978, and was recruited by Emory in 1978 to develop a new subspecialty referral service called Neuro-Ophthalmology. He remained at Emory for 9 years and was part of a top notch Department of Ophthalmology until it imploded in 1986, when he moved to a private practice. Robert chaired Northside Hospital's Education and Research Committee for many years and retired in May 2014. Robert attended and received degrees from Franklin and Marshall College, George Washington University Medical School, University of Pennsylvania Internal Medicine, Jackson Memorial Neurology Residency and Bascom Palmer Eye Institute fellowship in Neuro-Ophthalmology.
Bill Stanhope
Physician's Assistant
Bill is an adjunct professor in the Institute for Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness at the Saint Louis University School of Public Health. Over the past seven years he has developed and taught graduate classes in Disaster Preparedness, Risk Assessment, Public Health Disaster Preparedness, Case Studies of Epidemics and Disasters and Medical and Public Health Intelligence. Prior to joining the Institute for Biosecurity he was professor and acting dean of the School of Health Sciences at Mare Island campus of Touro University where he established an Institute for Bioterrorism Preparedness. He was trained as a Physician Assistant at Duke University and holds a graduate degree from the University of Nebraska.
Irma Starr
PhD, MS (Human Organization Development), post-masters in Gerontology, MA (Guidance and Counseling), and BS (K-12 Education)
Irman is the Director of Education for The Ben Marion Institute for Social Justice with over 30 years effort in the pursuit of social justice and the celebration of human value. Before joining The Ben Marion Institute, she served as Director of the Jimmy Prentiss Morris Jewish Community Center, the Director of SPACE for Changing Families, and 10 years as Education Director for the Anti-Defamation League. Additionally, Irma is a life coach and certified mediator for the State of Georgia. She is a respected lecturer and presenter nationwide at state, regional and national educational conferences and symposiums, as well as public and private school systems.
Robert Sullivan
BS, Chemistry, PhD, Chemistry, U.S. Army, 1956-58
Robert was born in New York City where he completed his undergraduate work at St. Johns University. He moved to Atlanta in 1962 and completed his PhD in chemistry at Georgia Tech. He worked at Coca-Cola Co. as a research and development chemist from 1958-1993.
Patrice Tanner
Patrice has been attending formal classes devoted solely to stretching for over 15 years. She believes flexibility and balance are the foundation for fitness. She is very attuned to limitations and modifications to encourage and enable full participation by each individual.
James Taylor
James earned his BA in Philosophy from University of Massachusetts Amherst and completed graduate work at Trinity College, Oxford University. He earned his MLn (Masters in Librarianship) from Emory University. For 31 years, he has been a professional librarian at the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library. He has also hosted the television show "Writers-in-Focus" for the past 30 years.
Wanda Yang Temko
BA Psychology, Liberal Studies; MM and DM Voice Performance
Wanda is a respected singer, voice teacher, and arts advocate. She holds a doctorate in voice performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington, Indiana along with degrees from Georgia State University and Emory University. Based in Atlanta, she made her international operatic debut in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte in Rome. Other highlights include Morgana in Handel's Alcina, and Belinda in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas. Sought after as a recitalist and soloist, she also performs and records with the Grammy-Award-winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Choruses. Dr. Yang Temko maintains an active private voice studio, and teaches at Lovett, Paideia, and Atlanta International Schools.
Robert Tolentino
Robert began his career instructing ballroom in 1991. He obtained his certification in bronze, silver, and gold levels and gained experience in most types of social, competitive, and performance dancing. Over the years, he has competed in many forms of ballroom and held multiple regional titles in American Rhythm. As an instructor, Robert excelled, becoming a 3-time recipient of the Top Teacher award. He became an experienced trainer in amateur and professional dancing, as well as professional teaching. He specializes in developing dance programs to suit individual students' needs. His teaching adaptability and ability to teach each individual in their best learning style is a rare skill that is surpassed only by his dedication. Robert is a recipient of the Top Manager Award, and he is often called on as a consultant to troubleshoot and to help studios build up their student body.
Manhar Valand
As Consultant to the Pharmaceutical industry, Manhar provides Continuous Medical Education Credits to Physicians at teaching institutions. On assignments, he has travelled extensively to Middle East and Africa. Manhar received his BS (Hons) London UK and his MA (Phil). He teaches adult classes at the Hindu Temple in Riverdale. In 2011, he finished Vedanta Course at Mission Ashram in CA.
Karen Van der Vort
Karen has 35+ years of wine-making, grape-growing and wine education experience. She started a Chateau St. Jean in 1977 working with Richard Arrowood. An opportunity to learn about grapegrowing emerged with a position at DeLoach Vineyards and Winery where she became the vineyard manager and assistant winemaker to Cecil DeLoach. At Mark West, she had the opportunity to make her first champagne and after winning numerous awards decided to begin an education in viticulture and enology at CSU Fresno and UC Davis. In 1999, Karen was inducted to the Women for Winesense Hall of Fame for her contribution to the creativity and enjoyment of wine. Since moving to the east coast, she has made wine and planted vineyards and is here to give you her passion and knowledge to create a style all your own.
Hank Van Driel
Executive Chef, Culinologist, Manager of Research and Development at Nestle
Chef Hank got his culinary education at Rotterdam and The Hague in the Netherlands. He also received diplomas in Hotel and Restaurant Management. Hank has worked as a chef at Hotels, Restaurants in the Netherlands, Switzerland and Great Britain. In England, he worked at the Airport Restaurant in Liverpool in 1962, at that time the Beatles became popular and he saw them play at their "Cavern" club. He then worked on the "SS Nieuw Amsterdam" from the Holland-America Line, when they mostly still did regular Atlantic Crossings between Rotterdam and New York. On one of his visits to NYC, he decided America was the place to be and has been here ever since. He has worked in the Pocono's in PA at a Honeymoon resort and at restaurants and clubs in NYC and Baltimore. While at the Baltimore Country Club as an Executive Chef, he took care of the reception for V.P. Spiro Agnew's daughter's wedding. President Nixon also attended that reception. In 1969, he became a Research and Development Chef for the Nestle Company. There he worked on Flavor Development and on numerous food products from soups to nuts (but not on chocolate products). He retired from Nestle after 25 years in 1994, but remained working as a consultant for several other food companies for a number of years. He will now attempt to pass on to his students some of his 65 years of culinary knowledge.
William Dyke
BS Industrial Engineering, MBA, retired Officer United States Air Force
Bill is the co-author of The Decathlon Life: Tools for Crafting Your Retirement. For more than 20 years he has provided management development, marketing, consulting, coaching and training services. Earlier in his career he worked as an industrial engineer and manufacturing manager with Procter & Gamble and had a twelve-year career as a sales representative and sales executive with IBM. He has been a frequent business convention speaker and has written more than 20 magazine articles.
Harry Vardis
BS Math; MS Industrial Psychology
Harry is the Director of the Center for Business Innovation and Creativity at The Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University. He has conducted research and offered courses in the field of Innovation and creative thinking for the past 20 years. He teaches courses in creative thinking and created hybrid courses to expand MBA and Executive MBA students' leadership abilities through creative thinking tools and processes. He is a Colleague of the Creative Education Foundation, a Leader at the Creative Problem Institute and he is the founder and president of Creative Focus, Inc. a market research consultancy. Harry has authored a book titled Potatoes? Not Yet! 33 Ways to Grow and Harvest Your Best Ideas. His passions are sailing, photography and trekking.
Sue VerHoef
Sue is Senior Archivist at the Kenan Research Center, Atlanta History Center, and staff Genealogist. VerHoef received a B.A. in International Relations from Brigham Young University (1981), a middle grades teaching certification in English and Social Studies from the University of West Georgia (2001), and an M.A. in History with a concentration in Museum Studies at the University of West Georgia (2008). She has been researching her own family history for over thirty years and has presented genealogy workshops for many groups and institutions. Sue also manages the Atlanta History Center's Veterans History Project, a collection in excess of 600 oral history interviews collected since 1999 in partnership with the Library of Congress and the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association.
Trammell Vickery, Jr., "Gene"
BA Political Science, MS Conflict Management
Trammell is a native son of Atlanta who is interested in the research of international, political and cultural issues. He was born at Emory University, where his father attended and taught as an Adjunct Professor of the Law School. Trammell received his education at the University of Georgia and Kennesaw State University. His interest in international and Asian studies developed from the study and teaching of Judo as an instructor of the West Georgia and Univ. of Georgia Judo Clubs. His graduate school study in Conflict Management included an Internship in The Conflict Resolution Program of The Carter Center and a field research study of the conflict in the island nation of Fiji. His current research concerns cross-cultural negotiations for conflict resolution and how engaged dialogue may contribute to reconciliation and transformation of cultures in conflict.
Elisabetta Weber
MA Foreign Languages and Literature (Spanish, English and Italian) at the University "Ca'Foscari" in Venice.
From 1996-1998 Elisabetta taught Italian at the Cultural Section of the Italian Embassy and at the Universidad Autónoma in Madrid, Spain. She also lived in Germany and worked as an instructor in various Colleges for Adult and Continuing Education while studying and becoming fluent in German. In 2001, she immigrated to the U.S. and has been raising a family since then.
Evan Weisman
After retiring from the practice of medicine, Evan has acted in community and professional theater groups all around the Atlanta metro area.
Nancy Weisman
PhD, Licensed Psychologist
Nancy is a Licensed Psychologist in private practice for over 20 years, practicing mindfulness meditation for 9 years. She has been married for 53 years and has 3 children and 4 grandchildren.
Mary Walton Whiteman
Mary is a retired magistrate judge who came of age in the 60's.
Carol Wien
MSEd. Special Education, MSEd. Art Education, BA Painting, AS Interior Design Technology
Carol was an instructor at the University of Miami School of Continuing Studies for 14 years, and a Special Education Instructor. In Atlanta, Carol served on the faculties of Georgia Perimeter College, The Art Institute of Atlanta, the former Atlanta College of Art, and Bauder College. She also served on the Fulton County Arts Council Museum Panel, Theater Panel, Individual Artist's Panel, as well as The DeKalb Council for the Arts, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival Selection Committee, and Atlanta Press Club Member. Carol has earned numerous Graduate School credits from Georgia State University in Film History, Art History, Theater History, and English. She is the author of "The Great American Log Cabin Quilt Book."
Michael Zeiler
Dr. Zeiler l is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Psychology Emeritus at Emory University. He came to Emory in 1969 following two years at the University of Iowa, having arrived there from Wellesley College where he taught from 1962 to 1967. He has a Bachelor's degree from Stanford University , and Masters and Doctorate degrees from the New School For Social Research. His primary research area was in learning processes in both humans and non-humans. His teaching involved both that and the history of Psychology, which he has taught since 1962 at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Dan Zins
MA, PhD
Dan received an MA in English from the University of Windsor (Ontario), where he studied with the novelist Joyce Carol Oates for two years, and a PhD in American Studies and literature and psychology from Emory University. He taught in the liberal arts department of the Atlanta College of Art for nearly three decades.
Susan Zoller
Masters in Education, Secondary in Science and gifted Ed; B.S. Bio Education
Susan taught Biology, Chemistry, Physics, World Religions and Theory of Knowledge in Gwinnett and Cobb Counties. She is a two time recipient of the Gwinnett star teacher award and was selected as the most influential teacher by her students. She has served as a minister under the Center for Spiritual Living in Hawaii, Colorado, and Atlanta, GA. She studied yoga with Dr. Valarie Wright, Hamsa Yoga Shala. One of her main interests is studying the intersection between world religions and science / quantum mechanics. She attributes her spiritual beliefs and yoga practice to successfully making it through a bout with cancer


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A friend alerted me to this very disturbing letter from a Palestinian pastor: http://maoz.convio.net/site/PageServer?pagename=_printer_printer_friendly&JServSessionIdr011=ozoff7zn32.app1a
October 25, 2007
Attention: To Whom it May Concern
My name is Isa Bajalia. I pastor in the city of Ramallah and have been ministerially active there since 1991. Most recently, over the past two months, I have been facing severe persecution from two men whom I know.
This letter is not for the purpose of just writing a story, nor is it to complain against the Palestinian Authority. This letter is a heartfelt appeal for help. There are two men: One is named Abdullah Kustandi Abu Bishara. The second one is a Palestinian Authority Officer with the Tunzim*[a terrorist organization] in Ramallah and his name is Nader Dahoud Abu Dahoud.
As a pastor, I have been receiving threatening phone calls starting August of 2007 up to the present. Both of these men have said openly to me that they will "get me", whether I was here or in the United States. They are threatening to break my ams and legs, and besides the fact that I have a visual impairment, they said they would make sure that I never walked again.
A few days ago, Nader Dahoud showed up at my friend's home in search of me, wearing a militia uniform and a weapon on his side. I am aware of the intention of these two men, and it is not good.
I went to three Palestinian Authority officials in order to request their help. The first one said that he "did not want to get involved." The other two requested money in order for them to help me. They said if I pay them $5000, they would make sure I was protected.
I retained a lawyer for personal services, concerning my land in Ramallah; and he was also threatened by these same two men. The demands being made by these men include $30,000 in cash and that I register my personal property in their names. As a minister I have pastoral duties that must be carried out; I must be in Ramallah beginning next Monday on the 29th of October, 2007. At this point I do not know what will happen to me.
I know this matter can be solved if pressure is placed on the Palestinian Authority officials to tell these two men to stop harassing me. However, if anything should happen to me physically during my visit in Ramallah next week, let it be known these two men are directly responsible.
My telephone number is 054.205.1910. From the states you would dial 001.9220.127.116.110.
Again, please help as soon as possible.
Pastor Isa

subset: commoncrawl


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Neowiz's Bless Online Team has released beautiful original paintings with their "Traveling through Bless Online with Original Paintings" to introduce the wonderful places of the game. Unfortunately, no release date has been mentioned yet, but here are the awesome game location paintings!
We want a release date!
For more information on Bless, visit MMOPulse's game overview.
"Unión's capital, Spezia, is the biggest city in the southern continent.
Due to its invaluable role in leading the Unión Alliance against the Habicht Empire, Spezia is still the heart of the UNIóN Alliance today. Spezia is also sometimes referred to as "the city of water" because it was built over a lake and gondolas are used as transportation to nearby areas.
Often called "a city frozen in time", Terny is full of ancient but well-preserved ruins and remnants. However, for reasons unknown, a thick fog now blocks the sun from this place and the undead have begun appearing, rendering Terny a place devoid of life.
The Burning Desert is a desert of eternal history with a yearly average temperature above 18°C.
You can explore many interesting areas in the Burning Desert including Sandworm Nest, a haven for dying animals; the giant, maze-like Hobgoblin's Citadel; and the Basilisk Nest (shown in the picture).
Besides the above three locations, there are many other interesting but dangerous areas.
Hieracon was originally a fortified city built for dealing with uncivilized races such as the orcs and goblins. However, as the Habichts became an empire, Hieracon was made the capital city.
Through multiple expansions Hieracon came to gradually possess the dignity of an empire's capital. Despite this, you can still find traces of a fortress city's crudeness in its high walls and steep slopes.
In the dreary and rugged Beolan Valley, the mood can change depending on the area.
Horse Mane Grassland is a place of wide, stretching flatlands and grasslands. As it is a place famous for its horses, most of its residents work in areas related to horse rearing."


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