FALL 2021 RISE COURSE FACILITATORS

Nancy Baker is a classicist by training and taught classical languages, philosophy, and the history of ideas for many years. In retirement she has been doing adult and programming, has been a at the Currier Museum of Art for over 10 years and is an advocate for free public libraries.

Tom Barry has an MBA from NH College; BA English Lit from UMass Boston. Tom has been a previous Rise facilitator. He taught Economics at the Vocational Tech, and has worked for Digital equipment, Compaq computer, and HP.

Dr. Barbara Hardy Beierl is an experienced teacher who has taught at RISE for about five years. She teaches a variety of courses, including literature, drama, Shakespeare, and human-animal studies.

Martha Brooks is a retired Speech Pathologist who loves family/friend gatherings, rescuing greyhounds and the Coast of Maine. As a Certified Zentangle Teacher, it is her great joy to share this fun, relaxing, and easy to do art method.

Judy Brophy has been translating technology into understandable English for over 40 years. She retired from Keene State in 2015 as an educational technologist. She currently teaches technology to seniors in area colleges and libraries. In the computer versus humans’ game, she is rooting for the humans.

Paul Carr, BS, MS, MIT; Ph.D., Brandeis U, IEEE Life Fellow, led a branch of the AF Research Lab that developed the SAW components used in cell phones and radar. He taught philosophy courses at U Mass Lowell that inspired his book "Beauty in Science and Spirit." He has facilitated for RISE in 2010 and from 2014-2020. His web page is www.MirrorOfNature.org.

Amy Jo Cielinski is a 500-hour certified Yoga Teacher trained in the shakti flow tradition of At OM Yoga in Concord, NH and Bethel Farm Yoga in Hillsborough, NH, along with additional training through the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, yoga for hip/knee replacements, and yoga for osteoporosis.

James Collins is a graduate of Engineer Manhattan College, P.E. and Adelphi U, MBA. He worked for 35 years at Arthur D. Little as a Corporate Executive, 18 years as a Corporate Management Consultant, and is also a lecturer and author.

Professor Diane Connell taught full time at Rivier University in the Division of Education and Counseling from 1996-2018. She now teaches at Rivier as an Adjunct Professor Emeritus. Her professional concentrations include , Education, Neurology, and Psychology. She uses the research in these concentrations to bring current information to students in the RISE class "Supporting Children and Adults with Special Needs." Diane is married and has two grown sons; she enjoys canoeing, yoga, meditation, and working out at the gym. She previously facilitated "Learning About Your Brain: Discovering Ways to Enhance your Life" for RISE.

Cynthia Geiger, Cynthia has been a member of RISE since 2004 when she retired from fulltime employment in nursing. Her interests at RISE, along with other topics, have included photography, history, writing and genealogy. She has facilitated courses in creating slideshows in PowerPoint and co-facilitated a variety of genealogy courses with Frances Rodier. Cynthia realizes that she will never know everything there is to learn, understand everything there is to understand, or finish all her projects. She credits RISE with offering the opportunity to continue her journey of discovery. Above all, she appreciates the social aspect of the RISE program and the community of peers.

Joan Gibson is a retired educator, a current RISE facilitator for the Shared Writing course, and has been a regular contributor to the DAWN magazine.

Joan Goeckel is a graduate of Southern NH University, B.S, Business Studies and has lived in NH since 1988. Her career included design and training classes in various organizations for customer service, call center training, etc. as well as coaching of unemployed clients for New Hampshire Housing Authority federal program. Joan’s interests include nature walks, poetry, and various healing modalities.

Robert Hoffman is a professional musician, speaker, and writer on music, with eclectic tastes and diverse experience, including facilitating for the RISE program.

Grandmaster Bobby LaMattina has helped thousands of people transform and reach their full potential with his courses, workshops, and meditations.

Robert Lemay is a retired mechanical design engineer and has over 300 projects, designed and completed at his home 3D printer workshop. He has purchased, built, and repaired 3D printers. He has taught 3D CAD and printer set up to groups and individuals.

Cheryl Lucas, M.Ed. is a Qualified Instructor of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program of the Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She is continuing her education through The Mindfulness Center at Brown University. Locally, she has taught Mindfulness courses at St. Joseph Hospital, The Greater Nashua YMCA, and The Prescott School Community Center. Cheryl has several years of experience in social service administration and is passionate about helping others achieve greater well-being. Cheryl has a in Psychology (John Carroll University) and a Master of Education in Counseling ().

Lorraine Ludwicki is a Certified Clarity Catalyst Life Coach & Trainer. Lorraine will inspire and guide you through the transformational change you desire. As a Creative Life Coach, Lorraine will share with you the experiential tools and techniques to help you shift your thinking, cultivate interests, and attain goals for living your best life yet. Lorraine started her coaching practice and classes in 2015 after certifying in the Creative Insight Journey course, based on the Stanford University Master’s Degree program, Creativity in Business - The Art of Success. The course was further developed to incorporate emotional intelligence, mindfulness and present moment thinking.

Katy Magoon-Fredette obtained her bachelor’s degree in Health Science with an Option in Nutrition from Keene State College and completed her Dietetic Internship through the University of New Hampshire. Katy’s career with Hannaford has spanned nearly 10 years. She has had the pleasure of providing point of sale education and community outreach in eight Hannaford stores to date—possibly more than any other Hannaford Dietitian. Katy currently provides services at the Nashua Hannaford Supermarket and feels that customers enjoy her approachable personality, ability to adapt education to their specific needs, and her varied expertise. Katy’s greatest pleasure is to be able to bring nutrition education to life right where people procure their food. She resides in Hopkinton, NH with her husband, two young sons, and boxer. In her free time, she enjoys running, hiking, spending time with family boating on the lake and camping in the White Mountains.

Nancy Nordstrom, M.Ed., is a frequent RISE facilitator, member of the RISE Committee and the author of “Learning Later, Living

Greater: The Secret for Making the Most of Your After-50 Years.” Prior to retirement she was the Director of the Road Scholar Institute Network.

Connie Owen has been affiliated with the RISE Program since 2005, as member, facilitator, and board member. She is a retired therapist and has worked in the substance use disorder field as well as the employee assistance arena.

Gayle Plouffe, BA Magna Cum Laude; certified NH qualified retired teacher, conservation/forestry/town government appointee/volunteer.

Charlotte Pogue graduated from Northeastern University's Co-op program with a degree in Math and added an MBA specializing in Accounting and Information Technology. She retired after forty-four years in IT designing and coding software and managing operations. She stepped into a classroom decades and decades ago and never came out!

RISE Curriculum Committee brings you The Friday Forum. They are always on the lookout for suggestions and ideas about new speakers. Please feel free to contact them anytime.

William Sawyer holds an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania and a Ph.D. from the University of New York; M.A. (B.C. Spirituality and Ministry). He presented workshops on spiritual transformation at two Franciscan centers and two prisons for more than 10 years.

John Watkins worked in IT at Raytheon for 37 years. In addition, for seven years John has been a volunteer helping adult seniors with technology. He is certified as an instructor by FEMA, CERT, ALERRT to present courses such as Disaster Planning, Until Help Arrives, and Civilian Response to an Active Shooter.