Fall 2011 Instructors
Angelo Angelocci is a retired professor from Eastern Michigan University and was responsible for dramatic and musical productions. He moved to Western Washington State University and performed in Three Penny Opera and Little Mary Sunshine. Upon returning to Michigan, he became involved in producing, directing and performing in musicals produced by the Dexter Community Players; Oklahoma, Pippin, Oliver and Hello Dolly. Bob Southgate is retired from the Plymouth-Canton School District where where he taught English, speech and drama and later became Director of Counseling and Guidance. He is a member of Elderwise in Ann Arbor, serving as Chair of both Curriculum and Council, as well as presenting musical programs there. Chris Lenehan is happy to reside in Chelsea with her husband, Peter, their three children and multiple pets. Chris enjoys the arts - especially music and dance. She loves to sing, play the cello, and serve on the Board of the Chelsea Chamber Players. Their course is Exploring Musical Theater.
Bill Allen is a retired attorney and a history buff. He is past president, treasurer and director of the Jackson County Historical Society, where he has presented papers on such subjects as Coins Our Ancestors Used, and Paper Money Our Ancestors Used. Bill holds A.B. and J.D. degrees from the University of Michigan and a CPA certificate from the University of Illinois. His course is Coins and Money.
Craig Common is Executive Chef and Owner of the highly acclaimed Common Grill, Chelsea, MI. Craig’s first cookbook,
Common grew up in Dearborn Heights, Michigan and attributes his love of cooking to his mother, Donna. He began his career at the age of fourteen as a dishwasher and knew from the first day that a "restaurant was where I would hang my hat". Craig's first cookbook, The Common Grill Cookbook, includes many recipes of patrons' favorite dishes. The sequel cookbook, Return To The Common Grill, was released in 2005. Join Chef Craig for Wine and Appetizer Tasting.
Tom Collier studied military history at the U.S. Military Academy, Duke University and the University of Michigan, and has taught at the Academy, University of Maryland, and the University of Michigan. Retired himself, he now enjoys teaching fellow retirees. His course is Deconstruction and Reconstruction: 1865-1877.
Yael Dolev coaches people how to sustain nourishing eating habits in a program called, "Enjoy Eating and Never Diet Again." With a background in agronomy, botany, ecology and coaching, Yael brings to her teaching a new multidisciplinary approach about the connection between the body that we need to sustain, the food that we eat, and the environment in which our food is grown. Yael has over twenty five years of hands-on work experience in agriculture and conservation as a researcher, a professional food industry magazine editor, a farmer, as well as many years of experience in training kids and adults. Yael follows a Mediterranean diet and keeps wholesome food habits as second nature. Her course is The Bible as a Food Guide.
Tom Hodgsonhas been a naturalist and environmental educator in the Waterloo Recreation area for forty years. Tom has bonded with schoolchildren through his programs, highlighting the lives of animals through song and story. His course is Herons, Eagles and Alligators, Oh My!.
Mike Kizer has been in this business for 11 years. He is self employed, licensed and insured. He started out in 1980 with a high school student home building program and continued to do carpentry on his own ever since. He loves older homes and restoration. He will do anything from minor home repairs to remodeling kitchens, baths and basements, decks, and replacement doors and windows. He is also a proud mentor for Chelsea High School First Robotics Team, 1502 Technical Difficulties . His course is Basic Home Repairs and Maintenance.
Ken Kozora has been exploring sound for over 35 years playing trumpet, bass, synthesizer, electronic percussion, wind synth, flutes, hand percussion and any other new noisemaker he happens to stumble upon. Ken has recorded and performed with a wide variety of artists, leads his own world/jazz quartet "KOZORA", performs solo for special events and composes music for dance and various media. He is also the founder and Director of Horns for the Holidays, an instrument recycling/donation program for underprivileged children. His course is Appreciating Music (Even the Wierd Kind).
David Mastiewas an earth science teacher in Ann Arbor for over 43 years. Since then, he has been a popular local and national presenter to both students and adults.
His talks draw in surprising connections from art, geography and historical events to the topic in hand. He is a resource person for the American Meteorological Society. His course is One Potatoe, Two Potatoes, Three Potatoes, Four.
Susan Nenadic has degrees in History and English. She taught for 27 years at Saline High School. After retiring in 2004, she became interested in local history. She is on the Board of the Washtenaw County Historical Society and chair of exhibitions at the Museum on Main Street. She gives talks and classes throughout lower Michigan and is writing a book concerning 18th century women’s employment in Washtenaw County Her course is Shakespeare Authorship Controvery: Have We Been Played.
Nancy Booth Nilsson earned her graduate degree in Art History from the University of Michigan and has been teaching the arts and humanities for nearly 40 years. Her diverse audiences range from public high school, college undergraduate and graduate students, to senior citizens, church groups and business organizations. Twice nominated for Michigan Teacher of the Year and a guest lecturer for the Detroit Institute of Arts, Nancy has traveled widely in Europe, including Italy, France, England, mainland Greece and the island of Crete Her course is Journeys Through Western civilization: More High Renaissance Art and a Taste of Mannerist Art.
Erik Pedersen received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Eastern Illinois University, and his doctoral degree from Indiana University. He taught at Eastern Michigan University for 37 years in the Teacher Preparation Program in the Department of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. His areas of specialization included curriculum, international relations, lifetime wellness and fitness, and history. An extensive sport artifact collection eventually evolved from his interest in sport history . His course is History of Sport Through Artifacts.
Jim Schardein has been in the business of conducting and/or managing scientific studies of this nature for over 50 years. He had one of the first laboratories in the United States pharmaceutical industry for testing newly discovered drugs for birth defects induced in models. He has also worked not only in this industry, but in several research contracting companies to conduct studies for the industry as a whole. His scientific career culminated in receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award in Toxicology. For the past ten years, he has been a consultant to the industry. Jim has published the results of such studies in about 150 scientific journals and in five books on the subject. His course is Introduction to Search for Causes of Birth Defects.
Ed Riske has been taking photographs since high school and was photo editor for his college newspaper and yearbook. Over the years he has attended many classes and seminars on photography. His course is Introduction to Digital Photography.
Charlie Taylor has written many scientific journal papers and presented at research forums in neuroscience. Charlie previously worked as an NIH postdoctoral fellow, received his Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley, and a BS degree from University of Texas. He has 25 years experience studying medicines for diseases such as epilepsy, pain, anxiety and bipolar disorder. Previously he was a research scientist with Parke-Davis/Pfizer in Ann Arbor. His course is Introduction to Physics.
Kyle Webber has been Director of Music Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Chelsea, since 2007. There, he leads a comprehensive music ministry of musical groups from kindergarten to adult. Kyle was born and raised in Northwest Indiana and graduated from Valparaiso University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music. Kyle has served numerous churches as organist and/or director of music since he was 13 years old. He is a member of the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers, and serves on the Executive Board of the Ann Arbor American Guild of Organists.. His course is What do You Know About Pipes.
Rick and Deb Zuccarini insist some things go better together. “It takes two of us to be a whole artist,” explains Deb. “Rick has the technical skills and I’ve got the design and educational background.” The Zuccarinis have been harmoniously learning about creating, repairing, and teaching art for over thirty years. Their course is WPA Art: Defining America.
Who We Are
Based in Chelsea, Michigan, the Adult Learners Institute (ALI) provides a diverse selection of quality community-based learning experiences and camaraderie for adults in western Washtenaw County. ALI is a Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) affiliated with the Elderhostel Institute Network (EIN), a group of 320 similar organizations. We conduct our programs in cooperation with Washtenaw Community College.