Course Listing - by Instructor
| Name | Biography |
|---|---|
| Martha Aguayo | Martha Isbel Aguayo is a residential and commercial realtor with a background in journalism, publishing and marketing. She has taught classes in Real Estate, Marketing, Sales, and Leadership at El Paso Community College and the University of Phoenix. Currently, she is a member of Member of these Associations, Committees and Boards: UTEP Alumni Association – Past President and Centennial Member; Greater El Paso Association of Realtors – 2024 Board of Directors and Governmental Affairs Committee Member; UTEP Women’s Auxiliary; Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program - 2023 TRLP Graduate; District #7 - El Paso Zoning Board of Adjustment Member; El Paso Chamber - Leadership of El Paso Class XL |
| Lauren Andersen | Lauren Andersen, Esq. practiced law in California for two and a half years before switching careers and spending the last 12 years in local government and higher education. As an attorney, Lauren wrote amicus curiae briefs for cases before the Supreme Court of the United States and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She is the former University of Utah OLLI Director. |
| Ben Avalos | |
| Arnold Blumberg | Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg is a publisher, author, artist, and pop culture historian. He has taught courses in media literacy and cultural studies at University of Maryland, Baltimore College (UMBC), the University of Baltimore, Community College Baltimore College (CCBC), and the Osher Institute at Towson University. With fifteen years of experience in the comic book industry and five years curating a pop culture museum, he now runs his own publishing company, ATB Publishing. |
| Michelle Boyd | Michelle Boyd is an epidemiologist and public health researcher dedicated to advancing health equity through data modernization and effective health communication. With a focus on infectious disease data collection, surveillance, and maternal and child health, she brings expertise in analyzing public health data to uncover meaningful patterns and trends. Boyd holds a Master of Public Health in epidemiology from Indiana University Indianapolis and BS in human communication sciences from Northwestern University. Boyd is a board member for Fearless Brown Girls, a nonprofit organization aimed at empowering young girls and increasing financial literacy. Her passion for health equity and public health education drives her commitment to improving healthcare outcomes through data and community engagement. |
| Karl Brown | Dr. Karl Brown teaches courses in modern European history, film and media studies, and the history of drugs and drinking at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Before his academic career, he installed and operated brewpubs in Japan and Greece. Brown co-founded Second Salem Brewing Company in Whitewater and is an avid homebrewer of beer, cider, wine, and mead. |
| Cristina Bueno Gorena | Cristina Bueno Gorena holds a Master's degree in Education Management from Universidad Pedagógica Nacional del Estado de Chihuahua and a Bachelor's Degree in Communication Science from Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. She is currently a Professor in the Education Program at Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, instructing the art of Andragogy and Development use of teaching materials. She has 22 years' experience in teaching, from middle school to college levels, in a variety of institutions teaching Spanish language reading and writing, Oral Expression and Research Methodology at the Colegio Latino Americano and Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey She has also served as a middle school Principal for 4 years. |
| Jacqueline Cordova | Jacqueline Cordova is a certified health nutrition coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition in New York, and the Living Foods Institute in Georgia. She has three years' experience coaching clients individually, as well as seven years' experience teaching workshops and classes. Cordova majored in Computer Information Systems from the Universidad Autonóma de Guadalajara, Jalisco in 1994, and owns Green Ingredient Express, a health-conscious restaurant located in west El Paso. She has been a guest speaker for various local events including the Wise Latinas Summit, El Paso Museum of History: Healthy Thanksgiving Workshop, Rio Grande Cancer Foundation: Keep on Dancing, Femfessionals El Paso, El Paso Community Foundation: Cultivate Forum, and the Autism Society of El Paso. She has also participated in nutrition and food preparation workshops at EPCC and the Downtown Artist and Farmers Market. |
| Cherry Duke | Cherry Duke, AD, Applied Voice, Director of Opera UTEP Cherry Duke joined UTEP's music faculty in 2015. She directs UTEP's Opera Workshop ("Opera UTEP") and teaches applied voice. A regular performer of concert, opera, and new music, Duke has appeared in premieres and workshops of several 20th and 21st century operas. She is a regular soloist with El Paso Opera, having appeared in the last several seasons. Ms. Duke graduated with from Texas Woman's University and received her graduate degree in Opera Performance from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. |
| Pablo Estrada | Dr. Pablo Estrada is a physical therapist who atended UTEP for is B.S. and DPT. He practices at EP Rehab Specialty Group and is board certified in orthopedics, focusing on holistic, functional exercising. He has worked closely with Texas Senator Rodriguez's office providing movement training and looks forward to expanding the program to UTEP. |
| Vicki Harder | Dr. Vicki Harder is a recently retired geology professor from the University of Texas @ El Paso. She has also taught forensic science, environmental science, and general science for UTEP, NMSU, WNMU, and EPCC. She has also been an educational consultant for the Mineralogical Society of America (mineralogy4kids.org) and author of numerous laboratory manuals. |
| Beth Hill-Skinner | Beth Hill Skinner has graduate degrees in Theology and International Diplomacy with a specialization in transnational terrorism. She has educated individuals and organizations for the purpose of empowering citizens to improve their community, state, and country. She believes there is a clear difference between providing information and education. She enjoys transforming the opaque or complex into clarity for her students or audiences. |
| Stacey Hughes | Stacy Hughes wears two hats: US-Japan grassroots education programs coordinator and mediator and trainer in community conflict resolution. He has been involved with or living in Japan for about 25 years, where he first met North Korean people. Stacy has traveled to 85 countries, including many 'enemies' of the US, building a strong belief in the importance of first-hand encounters and experiences. |
| Adam Kokurek | Adam Kocurek is a PhD candidate in History at The CUNY Graduate Center. His research lies at the intersections of LGBTQ+ history, labor history, and the history of higher education. He is an adjunct lecturer at Hunter College where he teaches modern American history. He has held fellowship positions at Queensborough Community College and Medgar Evers College, and has taught at Baruch College. He is a tour guide for Big Onion Walking Tours, leading locals and visitors on innovative and exciting tours through New York's ethnic neighborhoods and historic districts. Through his research and teaching, he is committed to illuminating the complexities of American history and fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse narratives that shape our society today. |
| Aurolyn Luykx | Dr. Luykx is a cultural anthropologist whose interests include questions of sustainability and culture change in late capitalism/post-industrial societies. Her previous OLLI courses included "Documentaries and Discussion", "Endangered Languages", and "How to Think About Weird Things". |
| Maria Massad | Maria Massad is a seasoned marketing leader and storyteller with a lifelong connection to the magic of Disney. Early in her career, she contributed to PBS's acclaimed American Experience, a Walt Disney documentary, helping bring Walt's visionary story to life for audiences nationwide. Massad also served on the leadership team of The Walt Disney Birthplace, where she led digital marketing and strategic partnerships to preserve and celebrate the Disney brothers' legacy. With an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Massad has worked across marketing, media, and storytelling, helping organizations craft impactful campaigns and connect with audiences. Her deep knowledge of Disney's history, combined with her professional expertise, offers unique insights into the company's evolution and enduring influence. |
| OLLI Moderator | |
| Bryan Olson | Bryan Olson is a retired Police Officer, Tactical EMT, Army Medic, and has worked for the Border Regional Advisory Council as the Hospital Preparedness Coordinator for the last 8 years. |
| Victor Peterson | Vic Peterson is the author of The Berserkers (Hawkwood, 2022; Recital, 2023), a novel set in a fictional Nordic country. He holds a BA in English from Kenyon College, and MA degrees in humanities from The University of Texas at Dallas and in religious studies from the University of Chicago, where he also completed coursework at the Booth School of Business. After a successful career as a business executive, Vic now focuses on writing and teaching. |
| Soledad Placencia | Soledad Placencia has been an elementary school teacher for over 25 years. She has taught bilingual education in grades Pre-K to sixth. Miss Placencia was named Teacher of the Year in 2023-2024 for the Anthony Independent School District. Miss Placencia holds a bachelor's degree in Bilingual Education from the University of Texas at El Paso. She is an active member of her community as a founding member of the El Paso Executive Women's Lion Club. |
| Lynn Provenzano | Lynn Provenzano has facilitated personal and professional deveolpment for more than 25 years in corporate, community, and no-profit groups. She has worldwide cross-cultural experience, and specializes in interpersonal skills, creative energy work, meditation, and motivation. Provenzano is a MCKS Panic Healing practitioner/facilitator and devotee of T'ai Chi and qigong. She is co-founder of the nonprofit Lotus Integrated Group for Health and Transformation (L.I.G.H.T.) and presides over the nonprofit El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future. |
| Eleanor Schrader | Eleanor Schrader is an award-winning educator, lecturer, and author. She lectures and leads tours worldwide on art and architectural history. She has been named a distinguished instructor at UCLA Extension, where she teaches history of architecture, interior design, furniture, and decorative arts. Schrader is a Professor Emerita of art and architectural history at Santa Monica College. She has completed graduate work in fine and decorative arts at Sotheby's Institute in London and New York. She has served as a design review commissioner for the City of Beverly Hills and currently serves on the board of directors of the John Lautner Foundation. |
| Angelee Shamaley | Dr. Angelee "Gigi" Shamaley has served as the El Paso County Texas A&M AgriLife Family and Community Health Agent for the past 8 years where she provides research based educational health and wellness programs to the entire community, adults, youth, and underserved populations. As Extension faculty she helps individuals take control of their own health to prevent and manage chronic disease and conditions, improve nutrition, and improve wellbeing and mental wellness. Dr. Shamaley received her Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences from the University of Texas at El Paso. In her role at AgriLife Extension Service she is committed to Helping Texans better their lives. Family & Community Health Extension Agent, El Paso County Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 301 Manny Martinez Sr. Dr. 2nd Floor El Paso, Texas 79905 Email: angelee.shamaley@ag.tamu.edu |
| David Varela | Born in El Paso, Texas and raised between Phoenix, Arizona, the borderlands and rural Chihuahua, David Varela attended Parkland High School, El Paso Community College and New Mexico State University. With nine years of study and research experience in cultural affairs and history of the border, Mr. Varela is today the chief Concierge at the historic Hotel Paso del Norte in downtown El Paso and continues to share his passion for El Paso history with both his community and those visiting the Sun City. |
| Virtual Admin | |
| Robert Warach | Robert W. Warach attended law school and graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law in 1975. Robert Warach began practicing law in 1975. Robert Warach is an attorney (retired) who has served his local community and helped people with Real Estate issues. He was selected to Super Lawyers for 2010. Super Lawyers is an exclusive list of top-rated attorneys in specific practice areas who were chosen after thorough evaluation of numerous criteria. |
| Geoffrey Woglom | Geof Woglom, PhD is professor emeritus of economics at Amherst College, where he taught for over 40 years. He has held visiting positions at Cambridge, Harvard, and the London School of Economics. Woglom was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town and at Nanjing University. Over his career, he has served as an economic consultant for the International Monetary Fund, the Federal Reserve Board, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. |
