Nine new classes are on the itinerary for the Winter 2026 Institute for Learning in Retirement at Marietta College.

Classes are held from 3-5 p.m. in Thomas Hall Room 124, unless otherwise noted in the course description. Fees for four-week classes are $15 and $30 for eight-week sessions, unless otherwise noted.

For more information and to register online, go to www.marietta.edu/ilr.

Classes are:

¯ Understanding Autism: From Awareness to Acceptance, a four-week course meeting Mondays beginning Jan. 12, will be presented by Virginia O’Connor, a speech and language pathologist. O’Connor has 50 years of experience and is on the Advisory Board for the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence.

The course will offer an introduction to autism spectrum disorders, focusing on understanding the diversity of experiences and strengths within the spectrum. Participants will explore key characteristics, communication styles and common misconceptions.

¯ The four-week Feminine Evolution class will meet on Tuesdays beginning Jan. 13. Dr. Ali Doerflinger, who teaches at Marietta College, will present the argument for an evolutionary psychology topic about how the females of the species have driven evolution, as opposed to the male.

¯ Writing the Body: Creative Explorations of Grief, Discovery and Loss will meet eight consecutive Wednesdays beginning Jan. 14. Dr. Nicole C. Livengood, writer and a former English professor, will blend mini-lectures, discussion and writing workshops to help participants grapple with the body in all of its glories and griefs.

The fee is $30.

¯ River Pirates: The Lawless Banditti is a four-week class beginning Thursday, Jan. 15. Bill Reynolds, a local historian, will discuss piracy on the Ohio River, which posed risks to settlers more dangerous than sand bars and gravel banks.

“Piracy on the Ohio provides us with some fascinating tales for our exploration,” said Reynolds, the long-time Exhibit Specialist for the Campus Martius Museum and author of several articles and books.

¯ Architectural Sampler of Early Marietta Homes: A Study in Style and History will meet on four Fridays beginning Jan. 16. Judith Piersall will teach the history of four Marietta homes and the people who lived there.

Each class will be held in a different location, which will include a tour of that home. Registered students also will receive a full schedule in advance of the first class meeting.

Piersall is an author of history articles, a former education director and a board member of The Castle. She also is the lead recruiter and liaison for the annual Castle Historic Marietta Tour of Homes.

The second series of four-week classes will begin Monday, Feb. 9.

¯Honorable Soldiers, Too: African American Female Teachers in the Post-Reconstruction Era will meet on four Mondays with retired Marietta College Professor Emerita Carole Hancock.

The course will focus on the women who parlayed their experiences in the classroom to advance to a host of additional careers and advocacy positions. Most of the women discussed have ties to Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.

¯ Ed’s Encore: Popular Music Through the Ages, 1950’s-1970’s will meet on Tuesdays starting on Feb. 10. Retired Marietta College Faculty Member Ed Osborne will lead participants on an exploration of a wide variety of music, including both group and individual performers.

Topics will include how they got started, how they got their names, awards and other trivia and samples of their music.

“Singalong and dancing in the aisles will be permitted,” Osborne said.

¯ The Top 10 Wellness Tips for a Happier, Healthier Life and the Tai Chi Sun Style Arthritis Foundation will meet on Thursdays beginning Feb. 12. Instructors Linda McClead and Chris Poe will offer tips and tools for a better quality of life.

Among the topics covered will be sleep quality; community and connection; soul and spirit; and weight management. The course will also include an opportunity to explore Tai Chi Sun, which can help improve balance and reduce stress, along with additional health benefits.

McClead is a health educator in Wood County Schools, board certified health and wellness counselor, certified personal trainer and fitness instructor, author of “Healthy Living by Design” and “Your 7 Week Wellness Transformation Guide.”

Poe is a group fitness instructor for the National Exercise Trainers Association and the Tai Chi Sun representative in West Virginia who lobbies for therapy bills and grants.

¯ The Artist’s Style with Joyce will meet on Fridays beginning Feb. 13. Instructor Joyce Fogle is a retired art teacher and will share her gift with others by offering classes for both children and adults.

Participants in the four-week course will have an opportunity to create artwork using a variety of media. The course will end on March 6 with an art show, accompanied by a wine and cheese reception.

Materials for the class have been covered by a grant from Artsbridge.