Meet the Instructors

Ellen Badger Hanson

Ellen Badger Hanson is a Ph.D. student studying microbial ecology at WMU. She has spent the better part of her science life working in prairies – from the tallgrass prairies of Iowa as an undergraduate, to professional work in the shortgrass-steppe of Wyoming and Colorado, and now back to tallgrass here in Michigan. She studies the ways plants, soils, and microbes interact.

Wayne Bond

Wayne Bond brings experience working with people from all over the world. When he is not working or studying, he can be found relaxing with a book or catching up on his favorite shows like Game of Thrones or One Piece. Bond comes into the instructor position as a member of the millennial generation that embraced and helped foster the popularity of anime within the United States. When he is not reading, Bond writes and directs online video essays depicting various themes and lessons within anime.

Tom Dietz

Tom Dietz is the retired Curator of Local History at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum and has taught OLLI courses on Kalamazoo history for years. He has a master’s degree in American History and was a part-time instructor at Western Michigan University.

Dr. John Geisler

Dr. John Geisler served as a faculty member in the Department of Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology from 1976 to 2005. An author of 35 articles and research reports, he presented 41 programs at local, state, and national conferences, and conducted 26 seminars and training programs on private practice, ethics, legal issues, and supervision for counselors and social workers. Geisler was instrumental in the writing and passage of the Michigan licensed professional counselor law. He testified 23 times before legislative committees, boards, and councils, as well as served on the Michigan Board of Counseling for eight years, including as chair for two years.

Dan Guyette

Dan Guyette just finished his tenth year as Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Western Michigan University. An award-winning theatre designer, he has worked on over 225 theatrical productions around the country and was the resident scenic designer for the Curious Theatre Company in Denver, where he was honored with an Ovation Award from the Denver Post for Best Scenic Design in 2002. Guyette’s work has been showcased at dozens of national design exhibits and venues around the United States, including at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, where he received the Gene Chesley Award for Scenic Design. His work was also recognized by the Kennedy Center in 2004 with a commendation for scenic design. Guyette earned a BS in Speech (Theatre) from Northwestern University and an MFA in Scenic and Lighting Design from the Pennsylvania State University.

Lynn Hall

Lynne Hall enjoys sharing her knowledge with others and has taught several classes for OLLI related to iPhone, iPad, and computer technology.

Lynn Houghton

Lynn Houghton is the Regional History Curator at the Zhang Legacy Collections Center. She is co-author of the book “Kalamazoo Lost and Found” and leader of the Gazelle Sports Historic Walks held from June through October. She has been an instructor for OLLI for many years and is a contributor to the series “Five Favorites” in Encore magazine.

Dr. Michael S. Nassaney

Dr. Michael S. Nassaney is a professor in the Department of Anthropology at Western Michigan University and the principal investigator of the Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project. He has directed the annual WMU archaeological field school since 1994. Nassaney was elected to serve as secretary (2006 to 2009) of the Society for Historical Archaeology, the world’s largest group of archaeologists interested in the study of the recent past (A.D. 1400 to present). His research interests include historical archaeology and the study of colonialism and the fur trade in the western Great Lakes. He is also the editor of Le Journal, the bulletin of the Center for French Colonial Studies.

Zaide Pixley

Zaide Pixley’s work as an educator began at P.S. 58, Bronx, then continued at Interlochen and the University of Michigan, where she earned a Ph.D. in Musicology. She was a member of Kalamazoo College’s faculty for thirty-one years, where she taught a wide range of courses, from music history and theory to rock and roll. Pixley is the author of “Great Ensemble,” a history of the first seventy-five years of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, which was founded in 1921. In celebration of the Orchestra’s centenary, she collaborated with Jane Rooks Ross to write “100 Years of Great Music: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra.” She is also program annotator for the Gilmore Piano Festival and a member of the board.

Randy Schau

Randy Schau is a former Kalamazoo City attorney and, years before that, an elementary teacher. Since retiring he’s taught a variety of OLLI classes about a wide range of topics, such as fascinating facts about birds, the Beatles, the Japanese internment in WW2, the Wright Brothers, and football.

Howard Steiner

Howard Steiner is an avid banjo player and a collector of tune history. He and his string band pals play for the delight in playing the old tunes together and keeping alive this traditional music, learning by ear during jam sessions and at music festivals. Their course will be a lively, informal session full of heartfelt expression exploring these timeless songs rather than a polished, “professional” performance.

Cheng Tao

Cheng Tao is a professor of education at Jiangsu Maritime Institute, Jiangsu, China, and a Visiting Scholar at the Haenicke Institute for Global Education, Western Michigan University. Tao has more than 30 years of teaching experience. He joined Jiangsu Maritime Institute in September 2005 and has taught English, Tai Chi, and other subjects there ever since. Tao has received several accolades, including the “Most Popular Teacher Award” in June 2011, the “Outstanding Teacher Award” in February 2014, and the “Excellent Teacher Award” in September 2017. Tao also worked as an English teacher for grades 7-12 from

September 1988 to July 2002 in Jiangsu, China. Along with his academic instruction, Tao has practiced Tai Chi for over 20 years and has taught the practice to a wide range of age groups. Tao’s wife is currently pursuing her Ph. D. degree at WMU, and his two boys are attending elementary school in Kalamazoo, MI.

James Wigen

James Wigen’s primary professional focus is on private portfolio and wealth management for individuals, businesses, and non-profits. He has worked in the financial services industry since 1996, ran the training department for two international investment firms, and has been teaching non-credit investment classes for universities, community colleges, and OLLI since 1998.