Six new classes are in the Spring 2026 schedule at the Institute for Learning in Retirement at Marietta College.

Classes are from 3-5 p.m. in Thomas Hall, Room 124, unless otherwise noted in the course description. Beginning this term, all courses will be available via Zoom. For complete course information and to register, go to www.marietta.edu/ilr.

Classes are:

“Formation and Evolution of the Moon and Mars,” a four-week course beginning March 24, will be presented by Professor Andrew Beck, chair of the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Marietta College. Participants will have an opportunity to explore these two rocky inner solar system bodies.

“Spilling the Tea at Buckingham Palace: The Lives, Loves and Times of England’s Queens, Consorts and Princesses from Victoria to Catherine” will meet on four Tuesdays beginning March 17. Presenters Melissa Bannister and Jayne Whitlow will focus on women who have influenced the Houses of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Windsor-Mountbatten with their beauty, intelligence and sex appeal. Each biographical presentation will be accompanied by a “special teatime treat.”

“From Celebration to Sorrow: The Music of the Civil War,” a four-week course, will meet on Wednesdays beginning March 25. Presenter Steve Ball, a musician from Columbus, will help students gain a better understanding of pre-war and Civil War events through the music of those eras. The course will highlight the development of Stephen Foster’s music, along with a variety of material relevant to 19th Century America.

“Moves Poets Make: Poetry as a Game” will meet on six Thursdays beginning March 26. “This class is for readers who find poems puzzling and are intrigued,” Mark VonKennel, a retired teacher with over 40 years experience, said. The course will explore examples of poetry from the oral tradition and from the transition to the printed page. As the title of the course suggests, there will be a focus on “playing the game of poetry.”

“Charisma in American History: From the Puritans to Donald Trump” will meet on six Fridays beginning March 27. Presenter Dr. Ted Goertzel, a retired Rutgers professor, will help participants better understand how charisma influences the relationship between leader and follower. The course will use the textbook “Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History” by Molly Worthen.

“Special Event: Author Talks” is a new six-session course featuring authors from April 20-22 and April 27-29. Each meeting will have a different presenter and will focus on a particular theme and publication. For a complete list of the authors, books, and class meeting dates, go to www.marietta.edu/ilr.

The Institute for Learning in Retirement is a community-based organization of people who share a love of learning. It is an academic program designed by its members to suit their interests and taught by knowledgeable instructors. All are welcome. The cost is $15 for a four-week course and $25 for a six-week course.