Our Instructors
Meet several of Encore's volunteer instructors. Like all of our other instructors, they are experts in their professional fields and/or in their avocations, like sculpting, quilting, theater and media. They create course proposals and complete instructor applications which are then reviewed and approved by the Steering Committee.Each instructor contributes a passion, knowledge and love of learning.
Pictured above: Dr. Richards, Marlena Lange, Stuart Stiles, Anne Foland, Peggy Abt
Dr. Bill Richards, SUNY Orange president, often teaches courses with both scientific and literary topics. In addition to his broad administrative background, Bill has degrees and teaching backgrounds in literature and science. He has offered Encore members in depth study of the Medieval Hero in Literature and in the marvels of physics in our everyday lives.
Marlena Lange, who teaches poetry and fiction appreciation courses for Encore, has been a teacher of English at Chester High
School, Orange County Community College, and Harriman and Mercy College. She has also worked in many local prisons; she has her BA/MA in English from St. John’s University and an MA in International Studies from
Fairleigh Dickinson University. Marlena is an active
board member of the Orange County Land Trust, Friends of
Thrall Library and a member of local chapter 363, Amnesty Int’l.
Dr Stuart Stiles teaches fascinating courses on visual processes and how we see. Professor Emeritus of Psychology, SUNY Orange, Stu now combines his teaching background with his interest in depth perception in a variety of interdisciplinary projects. Most recently Stu and his Encore students visited the IMAX theater in the Palisades Mall, toured the projection facilities, and attended an IMAX presentation of "Mark Twain's America". In his 33 year career at Orange County Community College, he also chaired the Social and Behavioral Science department.
Anne Foland, master quilter and fabric artist, is a resident of Middletown, has been affiliated with Encore, and has taught the ever popular quilting course for seven years. A member of the Claryville Quilters, she spends every Tuesday quilting in Claryville. She has also created “The Town of Wallkill Quilting Bee” which meets weekly on Mondays at the Town of Wallkill Community Center. Every spring, Anne and her Encore students display their creations at the Annual Members Meeting.
Peggy Abt, Professor Emeritus of English, SUNY Orange, enlivens Encore's classrooms with a variety of engaging and thoughtful courses. They have included "The Short Story", "Poetry", and "Images of Women in Literature & Our Culture." Active in the Orange County community, Peg also is scholar-lecturer for many of Middletown Thrall Library's Book Discussions. This May she will be presenting "I Heard The Owl Call My Name" for that organization. At SUNY Orange, she taught the World Literature courses and served as Affirmative Action Officier.