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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 | |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
