Lifelong Learning Lipscomb University

We firmly believe the old adage: “You are never too old to learn something new.”

Sponsored by the Office of Alumni Engagement, the Lifelong Learning program offers people of retirement and semi-retirement age an opportunity to expand knowledge and explore new ideas in an informal, non-competitive environment.

Learning occurs in a pleasant social atmosphere in classes with your peers—without exams, grades or credit hours! Plus, no previous educational requirement is needed. Select one or more of the courses offered, and engage in the ongoing work of learning.

Fall 2024 Session

The frequency of Lifelong Learning courses for Fall 2024 ranges from five to 10 sessions. Class formats are either in-person only, hybrid (in-person and Zoom) or Zoom only. Check the Class Offerings page for specific details. One video-only course that consists of five sessions is also available in on-demand format. Links will be provided for viewing the video-only course and any Zoom courses before classes start. Also, check out the Special Gatherings page for details about one-day learning experiences that are separate from regular courses.

Class Location

Unless otherwise specified, all in-person classes and Special Gatherings "lunch and learn" events will meet at Longview Mansion, located at 811 Caldwell Lane in Nashville, Tennessee. Free parking is available on-site at Longview Mansion. Details for the two field trips are located in their respective event description.
We look forward to seeing you this semester!

View the Fall 2024 Classes

Lifelong Learning Faculty

Jim Arnett (’67)

Dr. James Arnett, Professor of Biology (Retired), Lipscomb University; A. A., Freed-Hardeman College; B. A., David Lipscomb College; M.S. and Ph. D., University of Arkansas. On June 1, 2021, Dr. Arnett completed 47 years of service to Lipscomb University.

Mary Nelle Chumley (’53)

Chumley’s unbroken legacy of volunteerism at Lipscomb began when she and her husband returned to the university in 1958 after a period during which he taught in Indiana. In those days at small colleges, faculty had wide-ranging responsibilities beyond the classroom.

Pam Cowley

Pam Cowley is a senior population/public health manager at the Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer's Center.

Eric Davis

Eric Davis is the director of programs for young adults at Crossroads Campus, where he oversees all aspects of the programs, including job training, affordable housing and support services. Davis has dedicated his life and career to giving back to the system that once supported him.

Jackie Edwards-Henry

Jackie Edwards-Henry is professor emeritus of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at Mississippi State University, where she also served as coordinator of Group Piano for more than 20 years. She has also served as an adjunct collaborative pianist at Lipscomb University since October 2023.

David French (’91)

David French is a columnist for The New York Times. A graduate of Harvard Law School, David was previously a senior editor at The Dispatch and a contributing writer at The Atlantic. He is a former constitutional litigator and a past president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

Kem Hinton

Kem Hinton is an architect, urban designer, historian, LEED professional, and visual artist. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tennessee (Torchbearer Award) and his Master of Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

Tim Johnson

Tim Johnson joined the Lipscomb University history faculty in 1991. He is the author/editor of eight books and over two dozen articles that focus primarily on early U.S. military history.

Janet McMahan (’75)

Janet McMahan has worked as a professional pianist since she was 16 years old. She's also worked as a writer, performing artist and producer of music, audiobooks and dramatic works.

Steve Ortiz

Dr. Steven Ortiz is the director of the newly established Lanier Center for Archaeology at Lipscomb University where he is also a professor of archaeology and biblical studies. He currently serves on the board of the Albright Institute of Archaeological Research, Jerusalem.

Elizabeth Owen (’70)

Elizabeth is a 1970 graduate of Lipscomb University, and proudly claims that the knowledge and skills she learned at Lipscomb enabled any success she had in her professional career. She freely admits she bounced around a lot, but wouldn’t trade her experiences for anything else.

Paul Prill

Paul taught at Lipscomb for 42 years, and he served as director of the Honors College for the last 22 of those. He was also the minister of the Acklen Avenue Church of Christ from 1981-2011.

Scott Sager

Spiritual formation and serving churches are at the heart of Lipscomb University. Scott Sager knows that a university has many resources to help guide students, faculty and staff, alumni, friends and others as they seek to develop and claim their faith and that a Christian institution can provide valuable resources to churches across the country.

Linda Peek Schacht (’72)

Linda Peek Schacht has advised government, business and nonprofit leaders on communication and strategy for over 40 years. A veteran of the Carter White House press office, she has held the top communication positions for a national Presidential campaign, USA Today, the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate and the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.

Willie Steele (’95)

Willie Steele grew up in Ohio before completing his undergraduate degree (English and Speech Communication) from Lipscomb University where he ran cross country and track. He stayed in Tennessee to coach and complete his M.A. in English from Middle Tennessee State University.

Ming Wang

Dr. Ming Wang, Harvard & MIT (MD, magna cum laude), PhD (laser physics, University of Maryland), is a world-class cataract and LASIK eye surgeon, philanthropist, and community activist. He is the founding director of Wang Vision Institute and a Clinical Professor for Meharry Medical College, both in Nashville, TN.

Megan Woodall

Megan Woodall has been serving as our animal care and adoptions manager since 2023. She transitioned into animal rescue from the zookeeping field after caring for carnivores for about eight years.