A Place for Curiosity: Enriching Education for Lifelong Learners
The Institute for Learning in Retirement is a community-based organization whose goal is to encourage life-long learning for persons in retirement from every walk of life. At its heart is an academic program of courses designed by its members to suit their interests and taught by knowledgeable instructors. Most classes are offered on the Marietta College campus, some are offered in the community or online via Zoom. Courses encourage study and discussion but require no assignments, tests, or writing of papers. They are simply for the enjoyment of learning.
Organized by local citizens, the Institute offered its first non-credit courses of cultural interest in the Spring of 1992 with two two-week courses. Over the years, the scope of the courses broadened to include such diverse subjects as river lore, genealogy, forestry, applied art, the world of opera, literature, science, and many more. When members expressed enough interest in a particular subject, an authority in that field, usually a college professor or other professional, was sought to teach it. Occasionally, a course was enhanced by day or overnight trips to museums or theaters in nearby cities or field trips to strip mines and river locks and dams. Since its origins, ILR has involved hundreds of individuals, many of whom return time and time again, creating friendships and enjoying the opportunity to learn new things.
Over the years, the program offered by the Institute has grown. The ILR offers three sessions of four- or eight-week classes each year: fall, winter, and spring. The courses range from such hands-on subjects as hand sewing to archeology, from birdwatching to music and art history, and from geology to Shakespeare. Click here for a list of courses offered since 1992. You may take as many courses as you wish in any session. The cost is $30 for eight-week courses and $15 for four-week courses.
Contact
For more information:
M.J. Ebenhack, Director
Email: ebenhack@gmail.com
Phone: (740) 434-5638
Or
Joy Cowdery, Program Chair
Email: drjoycowdery@gmail.com
Phone: 740-706-0306
For any problems with registering, contact the webmaster at: tedgoertzel@gmail.com
Mary Jeanette (MJ) Ebenhack was elected to serve a two-year term as ILR Director at the May 23, 2024 ILR Annual Meeting. She had previously served two years as the Recording Secretary. MJ’s involvement with ILR began in 2012 when she offered a course on the United Nations Year of Sustainable Energy for All. At the time, she was serving as President and CEO of AHEAD Energy, a nonprofit that assists schools and hospitals in Africa with their energy needs. In 2017, MJ coordinated an ILR course on Interfaith Dialogue: Finding Common Ground -- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. That summer, in conjunction with the course and an upcoming visit of the Interfaith Amigos to Marietta, she coordinated an ILR trip to the Arab American Museum in Dearborn, MI. In 2020 she was one of four persons assisting with a course on Movies That Expand Compassion. MJ is married to recently-retired Marietta College professor Ben Ebenhack. The couple has called Marietta home since 2010.
Joy Cowdery is serving as Program Chair for the Institute of Learning in Retirement. She is a Professor Emeritus of Diversity Education and Director of TESOL at Muskingum University. Joy has taught Undergraduate and Graduate Education, Communication, and English at Marietta College, WVUP, and West Liberty University. Having also taught high school at Warren Local and supervised student teachers in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Philadelphia, and local schools supporting ESL students, she is passionate about education and lifelong learning. Being newly retired, she has taken and taught classes in ILR in the past year and is excited to be part of the program. Joy is a lifelong resident of Marietta and enjoys traveling the world with her husband, Joe Cowdery, their three sons and six grandchildren and many friends.
Ted Goertzel is the Webmaster, appointed by the ILR Board of Directors. He retired as Professor of Sociology at Rutgers University in 2012 and moved to Barlow where his wife, Linda Lawton, grew up. In addition to his webmaster chores, Ted has taught eleven ILR courses covering topics as varied as Latin American Culture, Social Movements, Artificial Intelligence, H.G. Wells, and Conspiracy Theories.
Kathleen Frazier, the Recording Secretary, moved to Marietta with her husband and four children in 2004. She began taking classes through ILR in 2013 after their youngest child left for college. Her education and work experience were focused in the sciences, so she has taken the opportunity that ILR offers to take classes in subjects that are out of her usual comfort zone. That has opened whole new realms of interests for her. Given the large variety of classes offered, she finds ILR is a fabulous way to explore new subjects or delve deeper into known ones in a relaxed, safe and fun environment.
Jim Williams is serving as Public Information Officer, appointed by the ILR Board of Directors. Jim is a retired educator, having taught in the Belpre City Schools, the Warren Local Schools, and the Caldwell Village Schools. Jim and his wife Lisa have two adult children and reside in Marietta. As a newcomer to ILR, Jim is looking forward to learning more about the program.
Jane Murray was elected to serve a two year term as ILR Treasurer. She is a degreed accountant who has been employed by large and small companies in her career. She has been a yearly attendee of ILR classes for over 15 years.