Term 2 Courses with Openings

Environment

Kathy Thornton
3 classes
1:00pm-2:00pm
Semans-Griswold Environmental Hall
This course is limited to 14 students.

Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of extreme environments—from tropical storm-swept coastlines to volcanic landscapes covered in ice—and discover the remarkable strategies organisms use to thrive under stress. In this three-session course, we will journey to faraway ecosystems to explore the delicate balance of life under pressure and how environmental and human changes are challenging these systems. Then we will bring these lessons back home to the Chesapeake Bay, uncovering practical ways for supporting life in our local landscapes. Through lively discussions, we will empower you with ecological concepts to connect global insights with local resilience, starting in your own backyard.

KATHY THORNTON is a naturalist, explorer, and lifelong learner. She serves as the Field Technician for the Natural Lands Project at Washington College’s Center for Environment & Society, where she designs and implements early successional habitats across Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Kathy is pursuing her master’s in Biology through Miami University’s Project Dragonfly Global Field Program, bringing a global perspective to her work. Her adventures have taken her to the Galápagos, Easter Island, Belize, Iceland, and Alaska, and she delights in sharing stories that weave together people, nature, and history. At home on her small homestead, Kathy studies herbal medicine and explores her fascination with glaciers and jellyfish— curiosities that reflect her broader love of ecological discovery.

Humanities

Raymond Vergne
4 classes
Class Time TBD
This course is limited to 30 students.

Doña Bárbara, written in 1929 by Rómulo Gallegos, is the classic epic novel of the plains of Venezuela. Doña Bárbara, a powerful and mysterious woman, harbors a profound hostility to all men. Santos Luzardo, bred on the plains but educated in the city, returns to reclaim his property, which Doña Bárbara has appropriated. Their struggle becomes one of seduction, magic, violence, and superstition. The novel deals with numerous issues, including white slavery, the impact of civilization on life in the plains, governmental corruption, and natural and human violence, and is a well-balanced story of fantasy, romance, and adventure.

An English translation of the novel by Robert Malloy is available on Amazon and Kindle.

RAYMOND VERGNE is a retired cardiologist and educator with interests in the humanities.

Social Sciences

Bayly Janson-LaPalme
4:15 - 5:30 PM
This course has a limit of 50 students.

Chestertown's architectural heritage is displayed along its streets, many of which contain buildings that date from the development of the town in the eighteenth century to the end of the 20th century and beyond. This course, while beginning with well-known colonial era structures, will concentrate on the era between the end of the Civil War and the 1920s. This was a period when the town experienced growth that more than doubled its population and during which most of its surviving structures and infrastructure were built. Along with prosperity came an increasing aesthetic sophistication which is reflected in the built environment. Styles and construction details will be highlighted, as well as some of the builders and architects who left behind the townscape enjoyed today.

While local examples will be shown and discussed in class, there will not be a walking tour in this course. Several handouts will be provided, including the locations of the examples given.

BAYLY JANSON-LA PALME, PhD., a veteran WC-ALL faculty member, is Professor Emerita of History, Catonsville Community College. She has advanced degrees from the University of Virginia and the University of Maryland. She is a specialist in Maryland history and American architecture and has published 5 books and 13 articles relating to Maryland history, mostly focused on 19th century social and economic topics. Since moving to Chestertown three decades ago she has published six articles about Chestertown's business community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Humanities

Donna Van Dusen
5 classes
4:30pm-5:30pm

Today, when artificial intelligence, political division, transactional diplomacy, and auto-correct may implicitly influence our understanding of communication, the concept of dialogue as defined and expressed by philosopher Martin Buber offers a way to rethink what has become a taken-for-granted model of communication as monological: as one-way and top-down, and as a formula or technique. Martin Buber's “I-Thou” relationship in contrast to the “I-It” relationship offers insights into the self-creating, self-affirming and relationship-building potential of dialogical communication. Dialogue is not simply conversation, not simply mediation, not simply the informed exchange of ideas. Instead, genuine dialogue is a way of communicating that recognizes the essence of personhood and allows us to engage with each other authentically. Come explore and join in a discussion of what dialogue is, its ethical and philosophical bases, and its power to affirm self and build relationships. There are no required books for the course. A reading list and some reading materials will be provided.

DONNA VAN DUSEN, Professor Emerita, finds retirement to be the time to engage with others in exploring a number of topics from her graduate work in rhetoric and communication and the application of that study as a professor, mediator, corporate trainer, and curriculum developer. Her philosophy of communication as well as her outlook on life has been influenced profoundly by Martin Buber's philosophy of "I and Thou" and continues to provide hope to her as a way to overcome divisiveness.

Tech in Every Day Life

Karen Davis
4 classes
4:30pm-5:30pm
This course has a limit of 30 students.

Curious about all the buzz around AI but not sure where to start? Think that AI is only for businesses or tech-people? Think again! This four-part, hands-on class will show you how to use ChatGPT — a friendly AI tool — to make daily life easier, more fun, and even more creative. No technical background is required, just a willingness to explore and try something new. Together, we’ll discover how ChatGPT can: • Spark new ideas for meals, hobbies, and travel plans • Help you stay organized with reminders, lists, and family schedules • Support learning, creativity, and personal growth in a variety of subjects • Add fun to family time with stories, games, riddles, and trivia. Each one-hour session blends demonstrations with plenty of guidelines so you can experiment for yourself at home. You’ll learn how to ask better questions, design prompts that really work, and walk away with ready-to-use examples. From writing a thank-you note to planning a trip, brainstorming a quilting project, or entertaining the grandkids with a bedtime story, you’ll be amazed at how versatile this tool can be. By the end of the course, you’ll know how to “talk to the bot” with confidence, creativity, and curiosity, and have a personal plan for how to use AI regularly in ways that truly enrich your everyday life.

KAREN DAVIS has more than 40 years of experience in corporate learning and development. She brings both depth and enthusiasm to teaching others how to harness new tools in practical ways. She most recently served as the Global Head of Talent Development for a Fortune 500 company, where she specialized in preparing high-potential executives for C-suite leadership roles. She now leads Orchard Consulting, her own practice dedicated to leadership development, coaching, and helping organizations prepare their next generation of leaders. Karen sees an important opportunity in helping people understand how AI could make their lives easier, improve productivity, and enhance results. Known for her friendly, practical, and engaging teaching style, Karen enjoys making complex topics accessible and fun.

Agrotourism

Judy Crow
4 classes
4:15pm-5:30pm
This course has a limit of 20 students.

A Generational family farm takes a new direction, namely farming diversification and a sustainability plan, by creating a wine destination in Kent County. The process began 17 years ago with the intention to reinvent a 365-acre working family farm into a thriving Agritourism venue. Before this change, Crow Farm was growing corn and soybeans and had a few head of Angus beef and many old barn buildings. With intentionality to preserve the history of the buildings and the farm, much has been renovated and improved, yet still preserving an authentic farm feel. A herd of 90 grass-fed Angus beef roam rotational grass pastures. There is a thriving retail business that hosts special wine and food events, and sells Angus beef, award-winning wines, and other local products in the Haybarn Tasting Room. The participants of this course will immerse themselves in the many aspects of Crow Farm operations including the wine making process. This course includes a tour of the farm with the owners and winemaker to see the many changes and challenges in the Agritourism business.

JUDY CROW retired from 30 years of teaching to return to her farming roots. Judy and Roy Crow were married 17 years ago, and then they began on a journey to reinvent the family farm as their way to preserve the farm and allow for visitors to immerse themselves in a variety of ways. Together they offer a Farmstay BB, a herd of Angus beef, a 12-acre vineyard, and a 5,000-case state of the art winery. They have a wine tasting room that is open each day 12 noon to 5 pm for guests to enjoy award winning wines and farm to table lunch specials.

Humanities

Stephanie Gosman
6 classes
1:00 to 2:15 pm
Classes will be held in the museums
This course has a limit of 30 students.

Did you know that Kent County has 8 museums? Learn about the history of the county by exploring the intriguing collection of historic, cultural and lifestyle museums and buildings. Discover the ways of the watermen, view artifacts of farm life, and learn about the history of flight and the African American experience in Kent County. Contributors with extensive knowledge of local history will share the unique stories of each museum. Classes will be held in each museum. Students will provide their own transportation (or carpool), and some classes will involve short walks. A schedule of museums and addresses will be emailed to students before the course begins.

For more information, visit www.museumsofkent.org or contact Stephanie Gosman at [email protected].

STEPHANIE GOSMAN, Chairman of the Museums of Kent, is always looking for new ways to promote the local museums of the county. She will be your tour guide, answering all your questions as you explore the county.

Health and Wellness

Debra Silberg
6 classes
4:15pm-5:30pm

Nutrition for a healthy gut will discuss how what we eat influences the health of the gastrointestinal tract and the body in general. The classes will include (but not limited to): 1. An overview of pre-biotics, what they are and why they promote the maintenance of the beneficial microbiota that inhabit the GI tract. 2. How food can influence not only how the GI tract functions but also its relationship with the immune system, physical well-being and mental health. 3. Discussion of dietary strategies to improve gut health including recipes – with class participation on how the strategies have worked for them (this will include a survey for each participant in the beginning of the class and at the end to see if the interventions changed their well-being – this will only be reviewed by the participant, not shared) 4. Understanding labels on food packaging to make better choices on what we eat. 5. Discuss dietary supplements, what they are, how to use them and how they are regulated.

Students do not have to have taken the previous course that Debra taught (Making Sense of Your Gut) to take this course.

DEBRA SILBERG MD, PhD is a retired Adult Gastroenterologist who trained, taught, and practiced at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. After 15 years at Penn, Debra began a 20 plus year career in the Pharmaceutical Industry developing drugs for the GI tract. After retiring, she became a consultant for biotech companies in the GI space including companies that interested in fecal transplant for multiple indications. Currently, Debra is the Chief Scientific Officer of Beyond Celiac, a patient advocacy organization for patients with celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. Debra has an interest in gut health with a particular focus on the microbiome.

Humanities

Wendy Costa
6 classes
4:15pm-5:30pm

America’s colonial era, from 1607 until 1776, recedes from our memory every day, and sometimes seems merely quaint. In this course we will discuss the founding and cultural development of four 17th Century colonies: Massachusetts, Virginia, New York, and South Carolina, as well as the only 18th Century colony: Georgia. There is no required reading but a good, though somewhat dated, overview is Daniel Boorstin’s volume: “The Americans: The Colonial Experience”.

WENDY COSTA holds degrees from Vassar College, Columbia University, and UC Davis. She has taught in community colleges and at California State University, Fresno, where she also was on the founding team of a charter high school. A Kent County resident since 2004, she managed educational programs at Mount Harmon for 12 years.

Business, Finance, and Law

Sarah Schut
5 classes
4:15pm-5:15pm

Retirement is when careful planning meets real life. In this five-week course, we’ll explore the essentials of living well in retirement — from organizing your finances and protecting your estate, to planning for long-term care, managing portfolio risk, navigating taxes and healthcare, and making room for the “fun stuff.” You’ll gain clarity, tools, and strategies to help you live fully in this next stage of life.

Retirement is the beginning of a new chapter where careful planning meets real life. This course explores the essential elements of living well in retirement, from organizing your finances to navigating important decisions with confidence. We’ll cover estate planning, long-term care with and without insurance, understanding your portfolio’s risk in retirement, tax strategies, legacy planning, charitable giving, and more. Whether you’re newly retired or have been for years, you’ll leave with tools, clarity, and ideas to help you live fully in this next stage of life.

SARAH SCHUT is the founder of Envision Wealth Planning, where she helps individuals and families create financial lives that align with their values and vision for the future. A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, Retirement Income Certified Professional® (RICP®), and Chartered SRI Counselor® (CSRIC®), she offers expertise in retirement planning, investment management, and values-based investing. Sarah earned her graduate certificate in Family Financial Planning from Iowa State University, an MA in English from Washington College, and a BA from Arcadia University. Her background includes business development for a local manufacturer and investment banking, giving her a strategic, holistic approach. She believes “wealth is the ability to fully experience life” and blends practical planning with values-driven coaching so clients feel confident and connected to their financial choices.

Fine and Performing Arts and Crafts

Wendy Sand Eckel
6 classes
4:15pm-5:30pm
This course has a limit of 6 students.

Requirement: students may only apply if they have previously taken Wendy’s intro class to writing memoir.

In this class, Wendy Sand Eckel will continue teaching the art of writing memoir for students who have completed the six-week introduction to writing memoir class. This class will enable students to further their understanding of memoir, enhance their writing and editing skills, and to make forward progress on their memoir. Publishing and promoting their completed work will also be discussed. The goal is to give students an incentive to get to the finish line by assigning writing homework and providing the opportunity to receive constructive feedback from fellow students and the instructor.

The last fifteen minutes of the class will be open for participants to share their writing/creative challenges, and receive suggestions on how to overcome them.

WENDY SAND ECKEL is a trained life coach and published author of the Rosalie Hart Mystery Series. She also pens the advice column for the Maryland Writers’ Association and loves to mentor aspiring authors. She encourages questions and comments and enjoys a good discussion about writing and creativity.

Health and Wellness

Linda Foster
6 classes
4:15pm-5:30pm
This class has a limit of 16 participants.

Mah Jongg is a popular tile-based game developed in China in the 19th century that combines elements of strategy, skill, and chance. Two, three, or four people can play, however, the class will focus on 4-players. It is a great way to maintain brain health while engaging in a fun, social activity. In fact, multiple studies have shown that playing Mah Jongg slows the normal cognitive decline of aging by improving memory, concentration, and patience. In this course, you will learn the basic rules and strategies for playing Mah Jongg and then put them into practice by playing games under the guidance of the instructors.

Prerequisites: None.

Course Materials:
National Mah Jongg League, Inc Official Standard Hands and Rules card for 2025 ($15) (Request via: www.nationalmahjonggleague.org,
(212) 246-3052, or writing 450 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10123 - include a self- addressed stamped envelope).

LINDA FOSTER is a Chestertown resident who has enjoyed playing Mah Jongg 1-3 times per week over the last year and a half. Linda took a WC-ALL class Fall 2024.

JUDI GUNTER is a Chestertown resident who is self-taught in playing Mah Jongg through online play and coaching from fellow players.

JANE NIGHTINGALE is a Chestertown resident who has enjoyed playing Mah Jongg multiple times per week for over the last year and a half. Jane took a WC-ALL class Fall 2024.

MICHAEL FOSTER is a Chestertown resident who is an avid player of Mah Jongg, playing multiple times per week. Michael took a WC-ALL class Spring 2024.

Social Sciences; Current Events; Health and Wellness

Anna Lill
5 classes
4:15pm-5:30pm

What are psychedelics and why are they once again at the center of science, spirituality, and culture? This course invites participants to explore the fascinating story of these substances, from ancient ritual to modern research. We will define what qualifies as a psychedelic and how these compounds affect the brain, perception, and emotion. We will travel through time: sacred Indigenous traditions that used plant medicines for healing and connection; the scientific and cultural revolution of the 1950s and 1960s; and the long period of prohibition that followed. Participants will then examine today’s “psychedelic renaissance,” where universities and medical centers are studying classic psychedelics such as psilocybin, LSD, and mescaline for their potential roles in treating depression, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety. The final session considers questions of ethics, access, and integration as societies revisit the place of psychedelics in medicine, policy, and meaning-making. Emphasizing education and open discussion, the course encourages curiosity, critical thinking, and respect for diverse perspectives. Short readings, multimedia clips, and optional digital resources will make complex ideas approachable and engaging. No required texts or materials.

ANNA LILL, DSocSci, MS, is a Prevention Scientist, educator, and researcher whose work bridges behavioral science, public health, and education. Her scholarship focuses on innovative and ethical approaches to addiction prevention and mental health promotion, including the emerging science of psychedelics. With experience in education and over a decade in behavioral health leadership and community outreach, Dr. Lill combines academic insight with lived experience. Her research examines how biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors interact to shape health and healing, emphasizing prevention, connection, and resilience. She is trained in psychedelic peer support, harm reduction, and integration, and serves as a Research Fellow with the Center for Psychedelic Public Health.

Fine and Performing Arts and Crafts

Beverly Hall Smith
5 classes
4:15pm-5:30pm
This class has a limit of 35 participants.

Artists in France in the second half of the 19th Century challenged the world of art forever. Impressionism and Post-Impressionism generated major attention to the changing political, social, scientific, and industrial changes in the world. The Impressionists held their first exhibition in 1874. Well-known artists including Monet, Degas, and Renoir will be discussed, but an emphasis will be placed on the lesser-known work of Pissarro (father of Impressionism), Sisley, and Caillebotte. The Post-Impressionists Seurat, Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Lautrec will also be discussed, but the emphasis will be on the Nabi artists that they inspired, Redon, Bonnard, and Vuillard, and the Symbolist artists Moreau, Redon, and Denis. The influence of Japanese art in the 1870’s and 80’ in Paris was also a major influence. No previous knowledge of these artists and styles is necessary. The class is open to all, and your thoughts and opinions are welcome.

BEVERLY HALL SMITH is a retired art history professor. Since moving to Chestertown in 2014, she has taught two art history courses a year at WC-ALL and IAL in Centerville. During Covid she began writing a weekly article for The Chestertown Spy titled Looking at the Masters. She has now reached 258 articles and counting. She is an artist and has participated in exhibitions at River Arts and painted several sets for the Garfield Theater in Chestertown.

Public Health

Steve Solomon
6 classes
4:15pm-6:30pm

In October 2025, six former surgeons general of the US, who worked for both Democratic and Republican presidents, issued a public health warning letter stating that the "foundations of our nation's public health system have been undermined." In this course we will provide an overview of what public health is, why public health is important and what/who are the components of our public health system. We will broadly explore public health at the local, state, federal, and global level with guest speakers. We will also review what is currently happening that is putting people's health at risk.

STEVEN SOLOMON, DVM, MPH, has 10 years of private veterinary practice experience primarily focused on food producing animals. Following veterinary practice, he worked in a variety of positions in the Food and Drug Administration dealing with both human and animal public health issues. He has worked with other federal and state agencies on multiple public health issues for 33 years. He retired in 2023 as the Director of FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine and currently resides in Chestertown with his wife Lisa and their pets.

Health and Wellness

Shane Brill
5 classes
Time slots: 2:30-3:30 pm; 60 min
Locations: Heron Point (ideally) and an outdoor site (TBD) for forest bathing class
This class has a limit of 100 participants.

Discover how to take an active role in your own well-being through this engaging five-week exploration of integrative health. Guided by practitioners from the Chestertown Wellness Collective, participants will gain a deeper understanding of diverse healing modalities and how they can complement conventional care. Each session focuses on a unique dimension of holistic wellness — from nutrition and reflexology to forest bathing, red light therapy, and approaches that bridge modern medicine with traditional and natural practices. Through interactive discussions, real-life case studies, and experiential learning, you will develop practical tools for understanding how to support your whole self — mind, body, and spirit. Whether you are new to holistic health or seeking ways to enhance your current care, this series offers inspiration and insight for cultivating lifelong well-being.

Instructors include Shane Brill, Mary Hardcastle, Amanda Parks, Deb Reid, and Katie Warrington.

The CHESTERTOWN WELLNESS COLLECTIVE is a network of Eastern Shore practitioners offering expertise in holistic health and wellness. Their instructors bring a wide range of skills, including counseling, functional medicine, energy healing, yoga, meditation, personal training, nutrition, and alternative therapies. They provide participants with practical tools, guidance, and hands-on experiences to explore well-being from multiple perspectives and support vibrant, balanced health.

Social Sciences

Clayton Newell
5 classes
4:15pm-5:15pm

In World War II the U.S. Army had affiliation programs in which civilian organizations provided skilled personnel to form specialized units in five different branches. Three of those programs had their roots in the Civil War as the Army responded to challenges presented by railroads, the telegraph, and rifled weapons. The course will begin with an historical overview of these three programs. In 1942 the Ordnance Department and Quartermaster Corps organized affiliation programs in response to the Army’s 1942 mobilization effort. Subsequent classes will examine how the Army developed and executed each of the five programs in World War II with examples of what specific units in each program did during the war.

CLAYTON NEWELL is a retired Army officer. He served on the faculty of the U.S. Army War College and was the Chief of Historical Services at the U.S. Army Center for Military History. He has written several books and a number of journal articles on military history.

Math, Science, and Technology; Health and Wellness

Paul Stang
5 classes
4:15pm-5:15pm
This class has a limit of 25 participants.

Not all ‘research’ about health interventions is ‘good’ research but both bad and good research are easily accessible. As we take more responsibility for health decisions for ourselves and loved ones, gaining an understanding of the fundamentals of clinical research and its communication become critical. This course will provide the participant with a deeper understanding of how medical and health research is performed to generate evidence and how that evidence informs decisions in policy, the clinic, and our daily lives. We will cover the types of research including randomized and non-randomized studies, characteristics that define ‘good’ research design, and flags to identify questionable research. We will touch on data sources and communication of results to professional and non-professional audiences. We will explore how the field makes sense of multiple studies on the same topic and how advances have been made in systematically reviewing, summarizing, and sometimes statistically combining the results from individual studies. We will touch on the evolving role of AI in clinical decision-making as well as the approach of identifying ‘people like me’ in a large dataset. Finally, we will explore bias and how it influences our decisions in the risks and benefits of interventions. This course will help you reduce the uncertainty in your own medical decisions by gaining a better understanding of the evidence and how to ask more informed questions of your provider.

PAUL STANG PhD is a retired chronic disease epidemiologist with 40 years of experience in research, both testing new treatments in humans (clinical trials) and undertaking research to learn more about disease. He has practiced as a Physician Associate in Neurology and Neurosurgery practices, and after receiving his PhD from UNC-Chapel Hill in Public Health (Epidemiology), spent decades working in the pharmaceutical industry in Drug Safety, Outcomes Research, and Epidemiology departments, including a 10-year break from large companies to start his own research and software development company.

Leadership

Michael Harvey
In person; lecture/discussion
4 classes
4:15pm-5:15pm

In this reading, discussion, and lecture course, students will explore the range of Machiavelli's writings, from his most famous work, The Prince, to his more substantial political studies like The Discourses, as well as his poetry, comedy, and letters. We also touch on Machiavelli's life, his possible impact on Shakespeare and other English playwrights, and his enduring legacy.

Requirements: students will have to buy a copy of The Prince (inexpensive) and a copy of a course reader (also inexpensive).

MICHAEL HARVEY is the John Toll Professor of Leadership Studies at Washington College. He has taught frequently for WC-ALL. He has had a long-standing interest in Machiavelli: in fact, Michael’s doctoral dissertation explored his work and its impact on Shakespeare, especially Hamlet. Michael has published a study of Machiavelli's unfinished poem, "L'Asino" ("The Golden Ass").

Current Events

George Nilson
5 classes
4:15pm-5:30pm
This class has a limit of 75 participants.

Our federal judges are robed much like wizards – it is time we get to know them and why they matter. In this course we will explore both the federal trial courts and the 12 courts of appeal. We will learn about temporary restraining orders (TROs), preliminary and permanent injunctions, and evidentiary trials. You will learn about “en banc” proceedings and the normal circuit court decision-making by three judge panels. We will chat about “stare decisis” (critical in Roe v Wade), standing (kicking the can down the road), originalism, and the Unitary Executive. We will discuss current challenges to the elasticity of the Constitution, legal norms, and the Rule of Law (there are over 500 lawsuits and counting). We will spend considerable time on the Supreme Court, dealing with its history, ethical challenges, the reform options that have been batted around, and the Court’s most notorious decisions of the last eight years. The course will culminate with two “stump the wizard” sessions, discussing cases and issues that are pending in the Supreme Court and that we can look forward to in the next three months, before the end of the Court’s term. We will then walk through cases and issues that are still bouncing around in the lower federal courts and will capture headlines in late 2025 and 2026. We will have fun.

GEORGE NILSON obtained 3 degrees from Yale University and spent 50 years practicing law in Baltimore, both in a big law firm and in public service/governmental positions in Maryland. He practiced politics as a bit of a hobby, representing various public officials, the Maryland General Assembly, the State and City election boards, and handling a wide variety of election cases. He retired in 2016 and moved to Chestertown five years ago. He has taught at WC ALL before, mostly dealing with current legal issues and events.