Senior Learners, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization run by volunteers, has provided educational opportunities to seniors 50 years old or more. We offer courses covering a broad range of academic interests, including Health, Science & Technology, The Arts, History, and Languages. Our outstanding instructors come from a wide range of backgrounds and include current and retired artists, musicians, teachers, professors, doctors, engineers, and scientists.
Anne Berra holds a BA in the field of English and education. She has taught English at Holy Childhood School in Halfway Tree, Jamaica and at Jeann d'Arc Academy in Milton, Massachusetts. She was in the antiques business for twenty years, and taught two courses on antiques in the Continuing Education Program at the University of Massachusetts. In 1990 Anne and her late husband retired to Portugal, where they lived for fifteen years before returning to the United States.
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Phyllis Craggs has earned both a Bachelor’s Degree in Art Education and a Masters Degree in Educational Media and Instructional Design with high honors, at The University of Florida. Phyllis has taught art in many Public and Private schools as well as classes at The College of Central Florida. Phyllis also has an Art Therapy Program called Art With a Heart, a 501(c)3 entity that provides art instruction for residents in assisted living.
Her main interest is being able to share the joy of the creative process. There are many excellent artist in today’s world but very few excellent art instructors!
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Jennifer Davis earned a Masters in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University and loved every minute of it (except cataloguing and classification!). She has a Computer Science BS from George Mason University. She spent the first part of her career as a software test engineer and has worked at 4 NASA sites. She is now a volunteer for Organization for Transformative Works, where she provides technical support to users. She is also a member of the Ocala Mac Users Group board.
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Frank DiPiero spent 35 years in public education, 16 as a secondary science teacher and the rest in a variety of administrative roles from principal to superintendent. He also had a second career as an Air Force officer with 30 years of reserve and active duty service. He served in a variety of command positions ending his service at the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command as the Reserve counterpart to the Director of Security Forces. DiPiero also was temporarily assigned to US Central Command serving in the Middle East when the 9/11 attacks occurred. His education includes a BS degree in Biology and a MS degree in Education, both from Youngstown State University. He also is a graduate of the USAF Air War College.
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Gay Lynn Grigas, LMHC, CAP, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Credentialed Addiction Professional, and author of five published books. As a psychology instructor at the University of Phoenix—where she received Faculty of the Year and Students’ Choice honors—she is recognized for her clear and practical teaching. Gay Lynn has also trained professionals at Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University. Her latest book, Psychedelics, Dreams, and Rituals, explores therapeutic and spiritual practices, reflecting her commitment to advancing education and personal growth.
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Rich Hautanen is a retired engineer who worked 25+ years in the computer network and defense industries. He has a BS in Electrical Engineering from Boston University, and a MS in Computer Science from Rivier University. Rich teaches courses on Android phones & tablets, Windows 10 computers & gaming, and ancient american history (pre-Columbus). He is currently a member of the SLI board.
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Robert Holloran holds a BS in physics and an MS in nuclear engineering from the University of Washington. In 1976. as a part-time lecturer at the University of Washington, he taught graduate-level nuclear engineering and radiological science courses. His professional career culminated in co-founding National Background Data and serving as its Chairman and CEO until it was acquired by a Fortune 500 company subsidiary.
Since retiring in 2006 he served the community as Vice Chair of Healthy Ocala and the Public Policy Institute of Marion County. He also has taught a variety of courses at programs for seniors about physics, astronomy, science-based history and chocolate. His interest in chocolate is an outgrowth of a family business that made raw chocolate products commercially. Bob is currently the past chair of Senior Learners.
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Margery Howard attended Indiana U before graduating Purdue U, earned an MBA from Webster U while working in healthcare IT where she retired in 2017. She has tutored foreign languages in Indiana and taught computer and management classes here in Ocala. She is currently serving on the Senior Learners Board and has many interests, including aviation, geography and foreign languages.
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Dr. Evelyn Kelly, a resident of Marion County for 40 years, is a medical writer, public speaker, and college professor. With a PhD from the University of Florida, she teaches graduate classes for Saint Leo University. As a writer, she has published over 400 articles and is now writing her 19th book- What You should Know about Asthma.
Dr. Kelly lives on a farm in Marion County and has four children: Kurt, a former state representative and Congressional candidate, now CEO of the Florida Coalition for Children; Natalie, CEO of the Florida Association of Managing Entities (mental health); Sharlene, a former counselor at Florida State College, Jacksonville; and Marsha, a clinical social worker. Evelyn and Natalie have traveled to 85 countries and often speak to groups of their adventures.
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Gwynn Pealer has a BA in Biology from Hartwick College. She has 15 years experience teaching Advanced Placement Biology at Forest High School and International Baccalaureate Biology at Vanguard High School, both in Ocala. She has been published in journals of the National Science Teachers’ Association and has served on the board of the Florida Association of Science Teachers. She was Crown Region Teacher of the Year in 1988. Gwynn retired in 2008 after 40 years of teaching. She has taken many Senior Learner courses and taught several science-related courses. She has served in various capacities on the Senior Learners board.
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Dr. Matt Reilly moved to Ocala after retiring as Professor at James Madison University, where he helped to create the College of Integrated Science and Technology. He developed new courses in areas of chemistry, physics, economics, computer science, and energy-related topics. Matt was recognized by his students and faculty colleagues for his teaching abilities. He served as Faculty Marshall of the JMU faculty.
Matt is knowledgeable about energy issues. At the U.S. Department of Energy, he was responsible for assessing the environmental impacts of new energy technologies using coal, oil, tar sands, oil shale, and natural gas. He was the Executive Director of the Integrated Utilities Board of the National Academy of Engineering. He consulted for organizations such as the Gas Research Institute, Electric Power Research Institute, and American Petroleum Institute. He led studies of energy policies and technologies at the Engineering Societies’ Commission on Energy.
Prior to joining JMU, Dr. Reilly was Professor of Chemical Engineering and Director of Research Program Development at Lehigh University. He helped to form interdisciplinary research centers in structures, energy, manufacturing, process control, and polymers.
Matt began his career at Carnegie-Mellon University, where he developed new programs in environmental studies. His degrees are in Chemical Engineering and include the PhD and MS from the University of Illinois and the BS from Carnegie-Mellon University.
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John Rossi - For over 30 years John Rossi, a professor at the prestigious New York University, has educated and inspired numerous audiences on subjects ranging from North/South America, Europe, and the History of America.
An aficionado of world history, Professor Rossi’s interest was ignited on his first cruise to Alaska. Since then, he has delivered enriching lectures about the history and events of many countries around the world. He has been invited by numerous cruise lines including Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Princess, and Holland America to entertain and educate passengers on more than 120 cruises.
John’s knowledge and enthusiastic lectures highlight the history of your ports-of-call using Power Point presentations, animation, video, rich illustrations, and photos. In a friendly and informal atmosphere, John encourages audience participation, including his trivia questions about famous figures and historic sites. “You know it well” is one of his tag lines when he asks passengers to guess the answer.
Currently, Professor Rossi conducts lectures to many organizations including Brookdale Community College, Multiple Sclerosis Society, United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and the College of Staten Island (OPTIONS program). Born in Jersey City, NJ, he enlisted in the Army and served as a construction engineer. After receiving an honorable discharge, he graduated from the City University of New York with an Economics degree.
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Dr. Sarah Satterfield has taught a variety of music and humanities courses at the College of Central Florida, the University of Florida, Flagler College, and Florida Gateway College. She was recently ranked the 12th leading university professor in America based on student evaluation data. Dr. Satterfield lectures regularly throughout the Southeast, specializing in American music and music of the twentieth century, and has concertized extensively. An experienced administrator with a broad background in various sectors of the performing arts industry, Dr. Satterfield managed the San Diego State University Symphony Orchestra and Ocala Symphony Orchestra. She served as Administrative Assistant for the prestigious Arioso Wind Quintet, winning grants exceeding $50,000 for that organization. She also coordinated the Adams Project, a training program that taught collegiate-level small ensembles the art of educational, senior, and multi-cultural outreach programming.
Dr. Satterfield received a PhD in Music History and Literature with an outside specialization in art from the University of Florida, MM in Flute Performance from SDSU, and BM in Music Education from Furman University (magna cum laude). In her spare time she is a runner and competitive triathlete. She serves on the Board of Directors of the local triathlon organization Tri-Him.
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Steve Schenk - While I currently hold the rank of Professor of Biological Science at the College of Central Florida, I have been a professional scientist since 1990 with experience in academic research, industrial science, and teaching. My background includes research in bacterial heavy metal resistance, hermit crab behavioral ecology, and the ecology and evolution of crustacean body shape.
It is my fervent belief that biologists should study organisms that are both fascinating and tasty, which is why I worked extensively with blue crabs and stone crabs as a graduate student. I have parlayed degrees in biology from Duke University (B.Sc.) and Florida State University (M.Sc.) into a nearly 30-year career teaching at community and state colleges in Florida (1996-2001), Georgia (2001-2006), Nevada (2006-20012) and Florida again (2012-present). During that time I have made a point to be involved with many different forms of K-12 outreach, and to pursue the bleeding edge of college educational techniques.
As a natural story-teller, I’ve gravitated toward case study-based instruction and trying to bring the arts and sciences together to produce better science literacy among my students. I’m the creator of the College of Central Florida’s Wilton Simpson Citrus Campus Biodiversity Trail. Located on my home campus in Lecanto, this 32-exhibit STEAM experience is a hybrid open-air/digital science museum dedicated to the biodiversity and ecology of Citrus County. The full walking tour will officially open in December of 2025.
Finally, I’ll soon be leaving my position at CF to start a brand new career. In December 2025 I’ll be relocating to Montpelier, Vermont, where I’ll be starting a non-profit science education content production company.
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Elizabeth Santini - Elizabeth Santini began working at Hospice of Marion County in 2022 and is currently an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Education RN with the Nancy Renyhart Dementia Education Program (NRDEP). She has been a nurse for over 25 yrs and is dedicated to sharing her knowledge and expertise in the field of Dementia
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Elaine Smith has 20 years of experience designing, developing and deploying global entrepreneurial leadership programs for world-leading technology and professional services companies including AT&T and Lucent Technologies. She holds a BS from City University of New York and has Certificates from Babson College Executive Education, Cap Gemini Ernst and Young Guru School & Disney Leadership Programs.
Elaine currently teaches film appreciation courses at Senior Learners and at Master the Possibilities. She is a member of the American Film Institute. You can follow Elaine on Twitter @elaineentertain for commentary on the arts focusing on film, television, books and theatre.
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Burton Stephens was a researcher and manager for traffic and highway safety programs at the Federal Highway Administration. He headed the International Clearinghouse at the Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of America. He performed research at the Civil Engineering Department and was a consultant to the National Older Driver Research and Training Center at the University of Florida. Burt received a Master's Degree in Experimental Psychology from the George Washington University and has been an instructor at the University of Florida. the University of Maryland, the National Highway Institute, the CF Senior Institute and Senior Learners.
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