Continuing Education at the University of Utah: Classes for All Ages!

Current Instructors

LAUREN ANDERSEN
Lauren Andersen is the director of the Utah Judicial Institute. For two and a half years, Lauren practiced appellate law in the state of California and presented arguments to the California Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court. During this time, Lauren closely studied the Roberts Court. She has lectured about the Supreme Court and the death penalty. Her opinions were quoted by The New York Times as well as the ABA Journal. She was previously the director of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Utah for four years.
NICOLE ANDERSON
Nicole Anderson is a Utah native, communications professional, researcher, and freelance writer. She holds a Master's degree in strategic communications from Westminster College along with a Bachelor's degree in environmental studies from the University of Utah and a certificate in rhetoric from Harvard. Nicole currently teaches interpersonal and intercultural communications at Salt Lake Community College. She also works as a freelance writer and writing coach. She is the author of "The As & Bs of Our Inland Sea", a children's book about the Great Salt Lake. Her essays and writing collection have appeared in Airboating, Betterboat.com, Breathing Stories, Gateway, Utah Stories, and Utah Life, among others. She is a former volunteer member of the Nature Conservancy's Speaker's Bureau and a certified Utah Master Naturalist in Watersheds.
CAROL SUE ANDERSON
Dr. Carol Anderson recently celebrated her twentieth season as Principal Coach of Utah Symphony | Utah Opera (USUO) and has been a member of the music staff at the prestigious Santa Fe Opera each summer since 2002. Dr. Anderson is passionate about audience education, presenting the immensely popular Prelude talks before all Utah Opera performances as well as appearing as a lecturer at the Santa Fe Opera Prelude Dinners. She also co-hosts the USUO Ghostlight Podcast, now in its eighth season, with Jeff Counts, General Manager of the Grand Teton Music Festival. An active performer of chamber music and vocal repertoire, she most recently joined mezzo-soprano Katharine Goeldner in Silenced Voices: Music of the Holocaust, presented by the Wagner Society of Santa Fe. Originally from Houston, Texas, Dr. Anderson holds degrees from the University of Southern California, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Baylor University.
CAROL ARNZEN
Carol is an accountant by trade but her real passion is in helping others. Over the last 30 years, she has facilitated support groups for people with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Arthritis. When her husband of 37 years died from a chronic illness, she moved forward in her grief towards a new life purpose of helping others who are also suffering with the pain from loss.

Carol is a certified Grief Educator through David Kessler, a world renown grief expert and author. She has also been trained by Paul Denniston, creator of Grief Yoga, as a Grief Movement Guide using yoga movements, breath, and sound to help individuals to release pain and struggle from their bodies. Carol owns Hearts Healing Together and provides grief workshops, Grief Chat groups, one-on-one grief peer support and teaches Grief Yoga.
JOON BAE
Joon Bae received her BFA in visual arts with an emphasis in painting and drawing from the University of Utah. She began learning traditional Korean ink painting methods during her childhood. After a lifetime of practice and an exploration into Western forms of painting through her studies, she has found her rhythm as an East Asian ink painter. Her work has been collected internationally and exhibited in Utah at the Salt Lake City Library, the University of Utah, the Springville Museum, the Jewish Community Center, and more. She has given countless demonstrations and was featured in the 2019 edition of Sunshine Artist magazine. Joon has taught Korean Ink Painting for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute since 2017 and was selected as the artist in residence for summer 2024 at the University of Utah Taft-Nicholson Center. She is excited to continue teaching and learning through storytelling by putting brush to rice paper.
MIRIAM BARTH
Dr. Miriam Barth Kaiyo is an educator, researcher, and human development specialist whose work explores the intersections of psychology, spirituality, and social systems. She earned her Ph.D. in Human Development and Social Policy from the University of Utah, where her research focuses on psychedelic therapy, trauma healing, and integrative models of care. With almost a decade of university-level teaching experience, Miriam is known for her ability to make complex material accessible, meaningful, and engaging for diverse learners.

Her recent work includes an in-depth qualitative study of psychedelic facilitators across the United States, offering insight into best practices around preparation, safety, integration, and ethical care. She approaches the field with both academic rigor and deep curiosity, drawing on interdisciplinary knowledge from neuroscience, developmental theory, sociology, and consciousness studies. Miriam is particularly passionate about the biopsychosocial-spiritual model and its potential to reimagine how we approach healing and human flourishing.

Class members in her courses are encouraged to think critically, reflect deeply, and engage with both research and lived experience. Miriam's teaching invites meaningful inquiry into the evolving landscape of mental health, the role of psychedelics in personal and cultural transformation, and the possibilities of more compassionate, integrative systems of care.
Charlie Belusa
Charlie Belusa has been addicted to bridge since she began playing in 2012. She is a local bridge player and director, and a Life Master through the American Contract Bridge League. She plays bridge casually with friends and has played competitively throughout the US and Canada. Her objective at the bridge table and in the classroom is to uncomplicate the game as much as possible, and to help others learn to love it as much as she does. When Charlie isn't focused on bridge, she's focused on writing, or on spending time with friends--many of whom she's met at bridge tables.
ROBERT BIGELOW
Robert Bigelow has a BS in physics and is an amateur astronomer. He recently retired from Clark Planetarium (formerly Hansen Planetarium) after nearly 27 years, where he gave presentations on science and astronomy, both at the Planetarium and in schools throughout Utah. He has previously taught courses on astronomy and physics for the Osher Institute and Lifelong Learning. He is also a NASA Solar System Ambassador.
SANDRA CAMERON-GREENE
It's never too late to begin again. Sandi Greene knows this truth firsthand. After a successful career as an Administrative Director at the University of Utah, she reinvented her own life and now helps others do the same. As a certified Reinvention Life Coach, passionate yogi, and devoted meditator, Sandi created The Second Act Experience--a compassionate, empowering approach for people 50 and better who are ready to reclaim their dreams, explore new possibilities, and rise into their next chapter with clarity and confidence. With her warm, encouraging style, Sandi invites you to peel back the layers of limitation, rediscover your authentic self, and create a life filled with purpose, joy, and freedom.
TIMOTHY CHAMBLESS
Tim Chambless, PhD, has taught seven different courses for the University of Utah's Department of Political Science since 1987. He has also taught courses for the U's departments of Communication and History as well as the English Language Institute. Tim has worked for a mayor, a governor, a senator, and a congressional representative. He served for over 20 years on Salt Lake City's Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment, and he has participated in more than 30 political campaigns. Tim emphasizes current events and contemporary world problems in the study of American government as both an experiment in democracy and as a tool for solving societal problems. He has taught for Osher since 2007.
MARCIE COLLETT
Moving to Salt Lake City from Denver in 2005, Marcie has spent her professional and volunteer life working to advance film programs, the arts, health, and educational causes that serve the community. Her work includes organizations such as the American Cancer Society, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the University of Utah, Utah Film Center, and the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. Since 2017, Marcie has been associate director of the Salt Lake Film Society, thrilled to advance their mission and programs through the Broadway and Tower cinemas, slfsathome.org, and the Studio Backlot Motor Cinema.
CANDICE CRAVINS
Candice L. Cravins is the Development Coordinator at the John Wesley Powell River History Museum in Green River, Utah. She holds an M.S. degree in Anthropology from Utah State University and has been designing and implementing in-person and online educational programs for K-12 students and teachers, undergraduate students, and adults in academic settings in Utah, Texas, and Alabama since 2012. Outside of her work in museum education, she maintains a nationally recognized Group Fitness Instructor certification with the Athletics and Fitness Association of America and instructs yoga and other group fitness classes for all ages, sharing her passion for creating accessible health and wellness resources with her rural community. She enjoys spending her free time exploring the great outdoors with her partner and their two sweet rescue dogs.
DAVID DEREZOTES
DrDave Derezotes is Professor in part time retirement at the College of Social Work at the University of Utah. He also served this past academic year as Director of the Peace and Conflict Studies Program in the College of Humanities, as a Fellow at the Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, as an Osher instructor, and as a MUSE Professor. As a therapist with about five decades of experience helping people and as a teacher and consultant in mental health practice with over three decades of teaching experience, drDave is interested in helping people develop as "ecobiopsychsocialspiritual" beings, who can continue to find joy and meaning in their lives as they enter the aging process. DrDave is currently working on many service projects, including community dialogues on social justice issues through Utah Humanities and on KRCL radio. His latest textbook, "Inclusive social work" which addresses many of the issues we will discuss in class, will be published by Cognella later in 2022. Finally, on days when he is not working, DrDave can often be found somewhere in the desert where he loves to wander and wonder in the wild beauties of Utah.
JONATHAN DUNCAN
Jonathan Duncan has over 20 years of experience working as a professional adventure photographer and digital storyteller. His work has taken him through many of the world's most remote landscapes and cultures. He is driven by a passion for wild places and for understanding and communicating the way different people relate to the natural world. He has served on the faculty of The Art Institute of Portland, Western Washington University, and Westminster College, where he is currently an adjunct professor teaching Adventure Media and Photography.

"The Instructor, Jonathan, was always prepared and shared great information and techniques. He is open to assisting us in developing our continued journey through successful implementation. I would take another class from this instructor." -Camille B.

"Jonathan is a thoughtful, engaging instructor with a great deal of experience to share. He creates a positive learning environment, very enjoyable!"-Bruce Q.
CHRISTINE DYSON
Chris Dyson received a BA in English and a Master's of Education from the University of Utah. Before retiring in 2016, she worked for Granite School District as a geography teacher for 16 years and a District Teacher Specialist for 11 years. While working at the district office, she coordinated a Character Education/Service Learning Program for 90 schools and also served as a National Trainer for the Community of Caring Program. Her last six years of teaching she focused on AP Geography and loves teaching about the elements of culture around the world.

Chris became fascinated with calligraphy over 40 years ago and has studied with international master calligraphers from across the U.S., Canada, and England. Her experience includes studying at St. John's University in Minnesota under Donald Jackson, who is the official scribe and calligrapher to Queen Elizabeth II. Chris focuses on ancient alphabets and illuminated letters. She has taught calligraphy classes in the public schools and also though community education. Her pieces have received Best of Show and Honorable Mention awards in juried exhibitions.
GABINO FLORES VALINO
Gabino Flores has been teaching classical guitar for over 20 years, bilingually, as he is in fluent Spanish and English. He studied at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City. He has performed in Mexico, Europe, and throughout Utah. He currently teaches for the Harmony Hub program, part of the Mundi Project at the Sorenson Unity Center, and the Madeleine Choir School in Salt Lake City.
STEPHEN HALL
Stephen C. Hall (Col., USAF, retired) is a former senior fellow at L-3 Communications Systems-West, in Salt Lake City. He is a 1967 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and received his master's degree in management from Troy State University in 1976. Col. Hall lectures on World War II history at Georgia Tech, Morehouse College, BYU, and Osher at the University of Utah.
AMY HARGREAVES-JUDZIS
Amy began making things when she discovered sticks and mud as a toddler, and has been creating ever since. For the past fifteen years, the sticks she has been using are knitting needles (which have the added benefit of being attached to yarn.) Not nearly as messy as twigs and mud, plus the results are usually warm and wearable. She is a member of the Salt Lake Knitting Guild, and has been teaching others to knit for a dozen years.

What Students are Saying:

"Beginning Knitting was a course that I found to be totally worth it. The instructor was beyond helpful and very knowledgeable about the local knitting community. This is a perfect course for anyone who is trying wanting to learn and build basic skills."
-Erika L.

"Amy was a great teacher and very supportive. Her sense of humor was delightful and she was very patient with us. She also helped us connect with the knitting community and resources more broadly, which is very welcome. Thank you!!!"
- Jordan G.

"Amy Hargreaves was an awesome instructor for beginning knitting. Patient, attentive and always eager to offer EXTRA HELP"
- Lija M.

"The instructor was great! The projects were well aimed for a total beginner and we received a lot of useful tips about continuing to learn on our own after the course was over. Personalized attention and encouragement helped everyone succeed and the group dynamic was friendly and supportive. I'd love to take more classes from this instructor."
-Gillian S.
ALEXANDER HARRELSON
Originally from North Carolina, tenor Alex Harrelson is pursuing a DMA at the University of Utah. Recent operatic roles at the U include Martin in The Tender Land, Rodolfo in La boheme, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, King Kaspar in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Ferrando in scenes from Cosi fan tutte, and leading roles in new operas A.L.I.C.E. by Amy Scurria and A Christmas Carol by Leavitt and Buck. With Lyrical Opera Theater he has performed as Fenton in Falstaff, El Remendado in Carmen, and as Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia. Alex's recent non-operatic performances include Messiah with Nebo Holiday Chorus and Orchestra and several ambitious recitals featuring Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch and Schubert's Die schone Mullerin. Alex recently directed a production of Vaughan Williams' opera Riders to the Sea. He regularly teaches classes on vocal classical music with Osher Lifelong Learning and sings with the Cathedral of the Madeleine.
STAN HENDERSON
Stan and Diane Henderson are a team-teaching dynamic duo. They are both avid readers: Stan reads history; Diane reads fiction. In other lives, Stan would have been a history professor and Diane an English professor. They have teamed up to share their passion for history and literature with the Osher community. In their previous worlds, Stan was the vice chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Life at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Diane was an educational program planner and consultant. Both earned baccalaureate and degrees at Michigan State University. Stan earned an MA in Government at Cornell. Diane earned an MA in Communication at MSU. Both say they are currently failing retirement.
DIANE HENDERSON
Stan and Diane Henderson are a team-teaching dynamic duo. They are both avid readers: Stan reads history; Diane reads fiction. In other lives, Stan would have been a history professor and Diane an English professor. They have teamed up to share their passion for history and literature with the Osher community. In their previous worlds, Stan was the vice chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Life at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Diane was an educational program planner and consultant. Both earned baccalaureate and degrees at Michigan State University. Stan earned an MA in Government at Cornell. Diane earned an MA in Communication at MSU. Both say they are currently failing retirement.
PAUL HOLBROOK
Paul Holbrook earned his masterâ€™s degree in gerontology from the Fischer Institute for Wellness at Ball State University. He interned at the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University under the direction of Dr. Maria Fiatrone and Dr. Miriam Nelson, where he studied the social and psychological aspects of aging in relation to health. He went on to earn his certification as a strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association, along with certifications from the Titleist Performance Institute, Original Strength, and in the Functional Movement Screen.

In 2005, Paul founded Age Performance, where he continues to develop comprehensive training programs to improve the physical function and human performance of adults over 40, specializing in speed and power development as we age. In his 30-year-and-counting career, Paul has clocked over 70,000 personal training hours.

When not helping clients achieve their fitness goals, Paul sits on the advisory board of the Huntsman World Senior Games and the Functional Aging Institute and consults internationally. He also competes in Senior Games, medaling in the 50-meter, 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter events and is a 30 year Zen practitioner.
MARTINA HOLLEARN
Martina Hollearn is a fifth-year graduate student in the University of Utah's Psychology Department. Her area of expertise is in memory enhancement research within the Cognitive Neuroscience field. Currently, she explores her research hypotheses in adults with drug-resistant epilepsy, which provides direct access to deep brain regions that control learning and memory functions. Martina's prior experiences built expertise in neuroimaging and neuropathology techniques to understand various dementia types and differentiate them. She has 10 years of research experience, working alongside world-leading experts in dementia, memory enhancement, and emotional memory fields to further understand how memory systems operate and may be altered in individuals with neurological disorders affecting memory.
JULIE HOWELL
Julie Howell is a certified mindfulness facilitator who trained at the Mindful Awareness Research Center within the Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA. She continues to enjoy a decades-long meditation practice. She previously worked at the Huntsman Cancer Institute facilitating mindfulness-based classes for patients and staff. Having personally experienced the benefits of a mindfulness practice, she delights in teaching the experiential practice of meditation and the practical application of mindfulness to everyday life.
SHEILA JACOBSEN
Sheila has been a valuable part of the University of Utah's Osher Lifelong Learning Institute since December 2019. She has worked in the field of education since 2004 and has loved every minute of it. Sheila has a BS in Psychology and an Applied Positive Psychology Certificate from the University of Utah.
LYDIA JONES
Lydia Jones grew up in California and moved to Utah when she enrolled at BYU, where she earned a bachelor's degree in Humanities (the study of the ideas and endeavors that help us understand our lives and our world: philosophy, history, art, music, literature, language, religion, etc.). She later went on to earn a master's degree in Humanities from California State University. Her teaching experience began as a concurrent enrollment teacher of humanities for Coconino College while she was living in Kanab, where she also served on the school board. When the family moved to Cedar City, she worked at Southern Utah University as the Director of Museums and Galleries and as an instructor in the Master of Arts Administration program for ten years. As her children left home for college, she returned to California where she earned her elementary teaching certificate and taught grades 4-6 in the public schools there. In the evenings, she taught post-graduate courses in museum administration for JFK University in Berkeley. After retiring from education, she earned a certificate from UC Berkeley and worked another eight years as a freelance book indexer. Now, she serves as the executive director of the Dicentra Foundation, a non-profit organization that creates and donates floral bouquets to local hospitals.
Abdulnaser Kaadan
Prof. Abdulnaser Kaadan is from Syria. He was an orthopedic surgeon, and received his Ph.D. in History of Medicine in 1993. He was the chairman in the History of Medicine Department at Aleppo University, and a professor of history of medicine and medical ethics. He now teaches as a visiting international professor at Weber State University's Department of History. His work and writing led him to be nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2012.
DAVID KEYES
David Keyes completed his yoga teacher training soon after retiring from the Salt Lake City School District. He teaches yoga, qigong, and other healthy living classes in the community. His interest in walking meditation began in earnest after attending a labyrinth workshop at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
Bruce Maw
Bruce L Maw became enthused about a career as a landscape architect after completing a botany class as a prerequisite for entrance into pharmaceutical school and subsequent to concluding numerous courses in art and graphic design. He is a licensed landscape architect, a former member of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), and a 1981 Utah State University graduate in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning. He has worked in all aspects of the profession of landscape architecture, including residential and urban/recreational park design, large-scale planning, and public facilitation, and provided design services in campus and institutional planning to Brigham Young University for 25 years as the campus landscape architect in Physical Facilities. Bruce also ran a residential landscape design business in the evenings and weekends for all those years in Utah County, thus, improving the beautification of the area â€œone residence at a time.

Bruce has served as an officer in various capacities within the Utah chapter of ASLA, editor of the chapter newsletter, on the Provo City Parks and Urban Forestry Board, and served on the Utah State University LAEP Advisory Board. He also volunteered for six years on the Hidden Garden Tour committee and assisted in the selection and hosting of gardens. In September 2005, BYU won top honors in the University Campus category from America in Bloom, a nonprofit organization dedicated to "Planting Pride in Our Communities." Landscape architecture has allowed Bruce to combine his interest in plants and design, while providing a rewarding service to a diversity of users within the community.
EMILY MILLER
Emily joined the Osher team in March 2020 as an Office Assistant before becoming an Administrative Program Coordinator. She previously worked in an Early Childhood Education Learning Center for several years as a teacher and then as the Administrative Specialist for several years. Emily enjoys reading, drawing, paddle boarding, and spending time with her family.
SEBASTIAN MISCENICH
Sebastian Miscenich graduated from the University of Utah with an M.S. in sociology, specializing in the study of religion and political-economic development. He is currently working on a Ph.D. dissertation on the politics of African Christianity in the age of globalization, specifically focusing on the role of religion in the regulation of African sexuality. As a lifelong religion nerd, Sebastian has always been fascinated with peoples' senses of faith and belief. He loves sharing this passion through research and teaching.
James Pagliasotti
James Pagliasotti at age 23 became the first rock music critic and columnist for The Denver Post, where he produced a twice-weekly column and regular articles about music and the counterculture from 1968-74. His work appeared in Rolling Stone magazine and various other publications. He also did shows as a deejay at KRNW-FM radio in Boulder, which he co-founded as a freeform station, and later at KFML AM & FM in Denver. He is the author of three books, a bi-monthly newsletter and blog jampags.com, and is the creator of Radical Radio: FREEFORM Radio Archive. His expertise is experiential rather than academic and is offered as first-hand observations in the form of a memoir from a time when he had press credentials, a back stage pass, and a front row seat at a fascinating time in history. He has taught this and several other courses at OLLI chapters across the country.
ASYA PERELTSVAIG
Asya Pereltsvaig received a Ph.D. in Linguistics from McGill University and taught at Yale and Stanford, and has been teaching in lifelong education programs since 2010. Her expertise is in language and history, and the relationship between them. Her most recent book, Languages of the World: An Introduction, 3rd edition (2020) was published by Cambridge University Press. Asya is a popular instructor for several Osher Lifelong Learning Institute programs around the country. She was the faculty host for a trip to the Baltic countries and St. Petersburg in July 2017.
CYNTHIA PERRY
Cynthia Perry has a BS in Applied Mathematics and an MBA, and spent her career in marketing analytics, competitive intelligence, and strategic planning. She is adept at making complex information easy to understand. An experienced Osher instructor, she has taught courses on political polling, big data, bionics and Quaker history. Cynthia is a researcher at heart and was an early adopter of ChatGBT in her everyday life. Cynthia currently lives in Denver, where she enjoys teaching, writing, and silver smithing.
SANDRA RICHARDS
Sandy joined the Osher team in January 2022 as a Program Coordinator, transferring from Continuing Education's Registration and Information department. Her excellent customer service skills and love of the Osher program will be an asset to our staff. She is the mother of three adult children: all graduates of the University of Utah. Outside of the office, Sandy enjoys spending time with her husband while mountain biking, gravel biking, hiking, practicing yoga, and reading.
CHESTER SCHAEFER
Historian Chris Schaefer is the author of an award-winning documentary movie, Forgotten Soldiers, and the non-fiction book Bataan Diary, both about World War II in the Pacific. He teaches courses about the history of the Middle East and is currently researching a new book about the rise and causes of terrorism. Previously, Chris was founder and president of an information technology company that served clients in north America, Europe and the Middle East. He holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees from Texas A&M University.
SHAWNA STEWART
Shawna Stewart is an Osher instructor who loves teaching adults and lifelong learning. Before retiring, she spent her career teaching and training adults as a Senior Manager for a large educational software company. She is passionate about helping adult learners discover new ideas, make connections, and learn together. Her mission when teaching is to simplify a topic, break it apart, explain it, stimulate discussion, and help everyone understand how the pieces fit together and why it matters. She's been in all fifty states and eight Canadian provinces. Among her many hobbies are technology, the Wasatch Mountains, long walks, building complex LEGO pieces, Utah football, Formula 1 racing, and singing along with the music.
DAVID STILLMAN
David Stillman received a BS from UC Berkeley and a PhD from UC San Diego. He joined the University of Utah in 1986 and retired from the Division of Microbiology and Immunology in the Department of Pathology in 2020 as a Professor Emeritus. David's lab studied the mechanisms of gene regulation, and he has published over a hundred peer-reviewed scientific papers.
ANNE TERRY
Anne Terry joined the Osher team on December 1, 2025. She will be in charge of coordinating curriculum, supporting and recruiting Osher instructors, and working with volunteers serving on the Osher Curriculum Committee. Anne is passionate about supporting her community and was formerly the Director of Education for Tracy Aviary and the Nature Center at Pia Okwai. She also taught several Osher classes at both locations in past years. Anne has a B.S. in Biology with a focus on Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior from the University of Texas at Austin, where she also completed the UTeach Natural Sciences teacher certification program. She is a lifelong learner and has completed a Free-choice Learning Certification from Oregon State University, a Utah Environmental Educator Certification from Utah State University, and a Change Leader Certification from the Utah Division of Arts and Museums. She is in a constant state of birdwatching, and in her spare time she enjoys riding her bike, weightlifting, and goofing around with her husband, son, and two dogs.
TAUNA TOOLE
Tauna Toole is an employee at the Cardiovascular Center of the University of Utah Health and has been an AARP volunteer for over a year now. Tauna specializes in teaching the AARP Smart Driver Course with fun and enthusiasm. She has experience being in front of a crowd and takes pride in including the participants in a comfortable and welcoming classroom.
ELI VEGA
Eli Vega is a highly-published and award-winning photographer and author. He has taught photography for over two decades, including several Osher Lifelong Learning Institute groups around the country. His largest teaching venue is Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, where he teaches his three-day in-the-field workshops. As a certified workshop facilitator, he makes his classes and workshops engaging, interactive, and fun. He is the author of two photography books: Right Brain Photography (Be an artist first) and Renditions of Famous Paintings. He is also a University of Utah alumnus.
RUSSELL VETTER
Since college, Rusty has been passionate about studying foreign languages. His deep connection with France began when he lived with a French family for several months while attending an intensive language school in Normandy. Over the years, he has returned to France many times, drawn by its beauty and history along with its fabulous food! Rustyâ€™s love for languages extends beyond Frenchâ€”he has also studied Italian and Spanish in depth and volunteered for several years teaching English as a second language. Through his experiences, he has developed practical strategies to help beginners gain confidence and successfully interact in a new language.
JEFFREY WALKER
Jeffrey Walker, emeritus professor of English at Oklahoma State University, authored a critical study of Revolutionary poet and traitor Benjamin Church, edited collections of essays on James Fenimore Cooper, co-edited the annual journal "Literature in the Early American Republic" and the first scholarly edition of Cooper's 1821 bestseller The Spy, and is completing an edition of Cooper's unpublished letters. A Fulbright lecturer in Norway and Belgium, he won the Phoenix Award for outstanding graduate teaching, the A&S Outstanding Professor Award, and the Regents Distinguished Teaching Award. His teaching interests include Charles Dickens, the history of the book, comedy, mystery, film, and radio, and American literature in general.
DEBORAH WHITE
Debbie White has over 40 years of teaching experience (30 years in public education). Following her retirement, Debbie spent four years as an Apple product professional repairing computers and teaching classes. She enjoys helping adults get the most out of their Apple electronic devices, which is why she loves teaching technology classes for the Osher program.
SCOTT WILLIAMS
Scott Williams, a retired civil litigator and trial lawyer, was a partner and member of the board of directors of a prominent Salt Lake law firm, Strong & Hanni. For several years he represented Utah civil trial lawyers in a national organization. He currently is affiliated with Utah Alternative Dispute Resolution as a mediator and has volunteered legal services to some nonprofit organizations. He describes himself as a cinephile or "film buff" because of his passionate interest in movies. He has taught several classes at the Osher Institute including "Law in Film: Parts 1 and 2," "Journalism Law and Ethics in the Movies," "Short Story into Film," "The Cold War in Film," and "Medical Law and Ethics in Film" with Dr. Jay Jacobsen. Scott is the recent recipient of the Brooke Hopkins Award for Excellence in Adult Teaching.
MICHELLE WYATT
Chelle Wyatt is co-owner of Hearing Loss LIVE!. She has a progressive hearing loss and has worn hearing aids for 30 plus years, most of her life. After a big drop in hearing in 2010 she found support through the SayWhatClub and began participating with the Hearing Loss Association of America, Salt Lake City Chapter (HLAA-SLC) meetings. Through them, she found the Utah Division of Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH) classes to learn how to live more successfully with hearing loss. She worked for DSDHH for 8 Â½ years. As a Hard of Hearing Assistant for 5 years, she taught classes and gave presentations on hearing loss: Hearing aids 101, Tinnitus, Speechreading and Living with Hearing Loss. For three and a half years, she was the Hard of Hearing program manager increasing educational events and participation. Chelle credits her volunteer experience with HLAA - SLC and the SayWhatClub with giving her valuable work experience. Her volunteer experience includes being a board member for the SayWhatClub, sponsorship chair and convention setup.