Fall 2010 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 he was director of Counseling and Guidance, having also taught English, Speech and Drama. He is active in Elderwise in Ann Arbor and has been a presenter for Exploring Musical Theater. Chris Lenehan resides in Chelsea with her family and pets. She enjoys the arts, especially music, and dance. She loves to sing, play cello and serves on the board of the Chelsea Area Players. Their course is Exploring Musical Theater.
Rev. Joy Barrett is an ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church, currently serving at Chelsea First United Methodist Church. A graduate of Michigan State University and Boston University School of Theology, Joy has served as a pastor for over 27 years. Her course is Speaking of Faith. 
Craig Common is Executive Chef and owner of the highly acclaimed Common Grill, Chelsea, MI. Craig’s first cookbook, The Common Grill Cookbook, debuted in November 2000, and the sequel Return to the Common Grill, was released in Fall 2005. Join Chef Craig for Wine and Dessert 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 The War of 1812 in the Old Northwest.
Marsha Daigle-Williamson, with a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Michigan, is an instructor in the English Department at Spring Arbor University. She has lectured on C.S. Lewis at Spring Arbor, Elderhostel sessions, and various churches. Her favorite authors are Dante and Lewis. Her course is C.S. Lewis' Screwtape Letters and The Great Divorce.
Steve Daut with an M.S. from the University of Iowa has studied micro-earthquakes. He has been a geologist and seismologist for the oil industry and has worked with the environmental industry on geological, geophysical and engineering projects. His course is The Dynamic Systems of Earth.
Francisca Fernandez, with degrees from Notre Dame of Maryland, was raised in Puerto Rico. She has over 25 years experience in the food industry, working in Latin America and Europe. She and husband Kevin Riley own the New Chelsea Market . Her course is From Carnivore to Vegan ... and Back.
Tom Hodgsonhas been a naturalist and environmental educator 
in the Waterloo Recreation area for forty years. Tom is fascinated by animals, particularly Sandhill Cranes. Tom has bonded with schoolchildren through his programs, highlighting the lives of animals through song and story. His course is The Fascinating Life of Sandhill Cranes.
Ken Kozora is a Board member of Riverfolk Arts and Flutes and has explored sound for over 35 years, playing trumpet, bass, synthesizer, wind synthesizer, flutes, electronic and hand percussion. He performs and records widely and leads the jazz quartet Kozora. His course is Appreciating Music (Even the Wierd Kind).
David Mastie was 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. Father of two married sons and grandfather of five, David and Marjorie enjoy traveling, entertaining friends, gourmet cooking, and just having family members gather in their lovely home and gardens in Chelsea. His courses are 25 Fun Science Things and Designing Small Landscapes in a Big Yard.
Betsy Maxwell has been a historic presenter at Greenfield Village for 12 years and loves it! Before this surprise second career, she was the Cultural Arts Specialist with Ann Arbor Public School Community Education and Recreation for 23 years . Her course is Greenfield Village.
Susan Nenadic has degrees in History and English and has taught at Saline High School. After retirement she became interested in local history, now giving talks and classes in Michigan. A board member of Washtenaw County Historical Society, she is now writing a book on 19th century women’s employment in Washtenaw County. Her course is Herstory's Place.
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. Her course is Journeys Through Western civilization: Proto-Renaissance and Renaissance in Italy.
Charlie Taylor has lived in Chelsea for 27 years and has written many scientific journal papers and presented at research forums in neuroscience. Charlie has previously worked as an NIH postdoctoral fellow and a research scientist with Parke-Davis and then with Pfizer in Ann Arbor. His course is How Does Your Brain Work?
Michal Taylor has worked in Michigan for 16 years, being recruited in 1994 to implement the early literacy intervention, Reading Recovery, at the Ingham ISD site. Dr. Taylor completed her Ph.D. in Reading Education at Oakland University in April 2006, and in February 2010 became a citizen of the United States. Her course is Welcome to New Zealand.
Grace Shackman is a history columnist for the Ann Arbor Observer, the Community Observer, and the Old West Side News
She is the author of four books: Ann Arbor in the 19th Century, Ann Arbor in the 20th Century, Ann Arbor Observed, and Webster: A Time, A Place, A People. From 1985-88 she was a staff writer for the Chelsea Standard/Dexter Leader. After leading us on tours of Western/Eastern Washtenaw County, this time Grace will teach The Architecture of Claire Allen: Chelsea and Beyond .
Wendy Warrick is an honors graduate of Parson School of Design in Interior Design. While working on her degree, an instructor mentioned feng shui and she was immediately hooked. She has trained with nationally known feng shui experts on the east and west coasts and has been teaching and consulting in feng shui for about twenty years. Her course is Introduction to Feng Shui.
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 American Art: come See Why We're a Melting Pot of Culture and Art.
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.