The Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) is a community-based organization of retirement-age people, who share a love of learning. At its heart is an academic program designed by its members and taught by knowledgeable instructors.
Please note some courses are four weeks, some eight weeks, and the dates vary. Some courses offer a Zoom option, all are available for attendance in person on campus.
Cops, Convicts, & Coroners: A History of Organized Crime in the Mid-Ohio Valley
DATES: Each Monday, September 14 November 2
TIME: 35 p.m.
LOCATION: Thomas 124, 厙ぴ勛圖 Campus, or Zoom (please specify when registering)
FEE: $35 (8-Week Class)
PRESENTER: Bob Newell, retired after 25 years with the Parkersburg Police Department, including 10 years in the Detective Bureau, five years as head of the Narcotics Task Force, and service as Chief of Police. He later served as a Magistrate Court Judge. Mr. Newell earned a graduate degree in Psychology from Marshall University and has taught criminal justice and forensic psychology courses at WVU Parkersburg and Washington State College of Ohio.
DESCRIPTION: Take an in-depth look at some of the most significant criminal investigations in Mid-Ohio Valley history. This course examines organized crime, mob-related murders, serial killers, serial rapists, robberies, narcotics investigations, and other major crimes spanning more than five decades. Participants will gain a behind-the-scenes perspective on how local law enforcement officers and coroners on both sides of the Ohio River investigated these notorious
John & Annie Glenn:
A Love Story from Cradle to Grave
DATES: Each Tuesday, September 8 September 29
TIME: 35 p.m.
LOCATION: Thomas 124 or Zoom (first three classes); John and Annie Glenn Museum, New Concord (September 29)
FEE: $20 plus $10 museum admission (4-week course))
PRESENTER: Presented by: Barbara Hansen, Ph.D., Ohio University; B.S. and M.A., The Ohio State University. Dr. Hansen is the former Superintendent of East Muskingum Schools, a retired middle and high school English teacher, and Executive Director of the Museum Association of East Muskingum, which oversees the John and Annie Glenn Museum and the National Road Zane Grey Museum, both affiliates of the Ohio History Connection.
DESCRIPTION: John Glenn and Annie Castor knew each other from infancy, growing up together in New Concord, Ohio. Their lifelong friendship became one of Americas most enduring love stories. This course explores how their devotion to one another, commitment to community, loyalty to home, and dedication to public service shaped their lives and contributed to John Glenns legacy as an American hero, astronaut, senator, and statesman. The final class will be held at the John and Annie Glenn Museum in New Concord.
No More Being a Wall Flower: Line Dancing for Everyone (No Partner Needed!)
DATES: Each Tuesday, October 13 November 3
TIME: 35 p.m.
LOCATION: The Gathering Place, N 7th St., 厙ぴ勛圖 campus (parking beside the venue) or Zoom (please specify when registering)
FEE: $20 (4-week course)
PRESENTER: Anita Lockhart, longtime line dance instructor and volunteer. Anita began line dancing in the late 1980s while living in Minnesota, where she performed on a twelve-member line dance team. Since moving to West Virginia, she has coached cheerleading and dance teams and currently teaches weekly line dancing classes at the Parkersburg Moose Lodge.
DESCRIPTION: Whether youre preparing for weddings, reunions, or simply looking for a fun way to stay active, this course is designed for dancers of all experience levels. Learn todays most popular line dances at a comfortable pace while enjoying great music, light exercise, and plenty of laughter. No partner is requiredjust bring comfortable shoes and a willingness to have fun.
Making HERstory: The Womens Movement
DATES: Each Wednesday, September 9 September 30
TIME: 35 p.m.
LOCATION: Thomas 124 or Zoom (please specify when registering)
FEE: $20 (4-Week Class)
PRESENTER: Amanda Haney-Cech, Associate Dean of Student Success and Senior Director of the Academic Resource Center at 厙ぴ勛圖. She has taught Gender and Sexuality Studies at 厙ぴ勛圖 since 2008.
DESCRIPTION: From the Seneca Falls Convention to todays ongoing discussions surrounding womens rights, this course examines the evolution of the Womens Movement in America. Participants will explore the various waves of feminism, the social and political changes each inspired, and the continuing challenges and opportunities facing women today. The course concludes with a discussion of current issues and ways individuals can continue advocating for womens rights in 2026.
Hidden Flights and Secret Missions of the Cold War
DATES: Each Wednesday, October 14 November 4
TIME: 35 p.m.
LOCATION: Thomas 124 or Zoom (please specify when registering)
FEE: $20 (4-Week Class)
PRESENTER: Mike Hushion, CMSgt (Ret.), United States Air Force; B.A., Columbia Southern University. Mike is a 30-year Air Force veteran who served as a Loadmaster aboard multiple variants of the C-130 Hercules. Between 1982 and 1987, he flew more than 200 covert reconnaissance missions over East Germany and completed 66 covert missions over El Salvador.
DESCRIPTION: Go beyond the history books and discover previously classified reconnaissance missions conducted during the Cold War. Beginning with operations in the Pacific Theater in 1953, this course examines the geopolitical events that shaped covert American intelligence missions against the Soviet Union and other Cold War adversaries. Through firsthand experiences, participants will gain a unique perspective on the risks, technology, and strategy behind these secret operations.
The Art of Collections
DATES: Each Thursday, September 10 October 1
TIME: 35 p.m.
LOCATION: The Betsey Mills Club, Room TBA or Zoom (please specify when registering)
FEE: $20 (4-Week Class)
PRESENTER: Suzanne Schultz, founder of Canvas Fine Arts, author, advisor, and art consultant with decades of experience in the world of fine art, museum collections, and private collecting.
DESCRIPTION: Step into the fascinating world of art collecting through the perspectives of museums, auction houses, and private collectors. This four-part series explores how collections are developed, curated, valued, and preserved. The course concludes by examining the personal relationship collectors have with art and the lasting legacy collections leave through families, institutions, and the marketplace.
A Stitch in Time: The History of Quilting Traditions
DATES: Each Thursday, October 15 November 5
TIME: 35 p.m.
LOCATION: Thomas 124 or Zoom (please specify when registering)
FEE: $20 (4-week class)
PRESENTER: Ginny Guthrie Caplinger, M.S., owner of Log Cabin Country Quilts, quilt designer, instructor, and lifelong quilting enthusiast.
DESCRIPTION: Explore the rich history of quilting from its earliest traditions through modern American quilting. Each session examines how quilts reflected the needs, artistic styles, fabrics, and social history of their time. Participants will also explore the fascinating stories behind quilting patterns, the legends surrounding Civil War quilt codes, and the cultural significance of quilts throughout American history. Numerous quilt examples will be displayed during the course.
Wine 201: Everything You Wanted to Know About White Wine but Were Afraid to Ask
DATES: Each Friday, September 11 October 2
TIME: 35 p.m.
LOCATION: Thomas 124 (In-person only; not available on Zoom)
FEE: $20 plus $30 wine tasting fee for participants who choose to taste (4-week class)
PRESENTER: MJ Stewart, co-owner of a western Ohio vineyard, WSET Level 1 Certified with Distinction, WSET Level 2 with Honors, and Certified Sommelier.
DESCRIPTION: Expand your appreciation of white wines while exploring familiar favorites alongside lesser-known varietals from around the world. Topics include sweetness, body, terroir, regional characteristics, flavor profiles, and food pairings. Although a basic understanding of wine is helpful, all experience levels are welcome. Participants may choose to participate in wine tastings for an additional tasting fee.
Ctrl + Alt + Conquer: Taking Control of Your Digital World
DATES: Each Friday, October 16 November 6
TIME: 35 p.m.
LOCATION: Thomas 124 or Zoom (please specify when registering)
FEE: $20 (4-week class)
PRESENTER: Marilyn Wenzel, former technology professional with Marietta City Schools and 厙ぴ勛圖 Information Technology. Marilyn has worked with computers since the 1980s and has extensive experience with Windows and Apple computers, tablets, iPads, smartphones, and other digital devices.
DESCRIPTION: Technology changes quickly, but keeping up doesnt have to be overwhelming. This welcoming four-week course explores todays most common technology challenges in a practical, easy-to-understand way. Topics include recent operating system and browser updates, password and login security, artificial intelligence basics, scam prevention, robocalls, and protecting your personal information online. Participants are encouraged to bring their own devices, questions, and everyday technology concerns for discussion.
Registration Instructions
If the course you choose includes a Zoom option, you will be asked whether you prefer to attend in person or on Zoom. You can switch between Zoom and in-person from one week to the next if you like.
To Register Online
Enter the ILR storefront by registering with your name/email or enter as a "guest."
For online registration it is often easier to register as a guest rather than trying to login to your account with the payment company. Just click the Checkout as Guest button in the lower right corner of the login page
Select course(s), and proceed to checkout. Pay by VISA, Mastercard, or Discover card.
To register by U.S. Mail
To register by postal mail, email mariettacollegeilr@gmail.com to request a printed registration form.
Make checks payable to Institute for Learning in Retirement.
Mail form and check to:
Institute for Learning in Retirement
Dennis Litwinowicz, Treasurer
215 Fifth St.
Marietta, OH 45750
REFUND POLICY: Full refunds will be given for any class that a student has paid for and withdraws from up to the Friday before the class begins. No refunds will be made after a class begins. If a student has paid for a book purchased by ILR, the cost of the book will not be refunded. To withdraw, please notify ILR by e-mail at mariettacollegeilr@gmail.com.