Course Listing - by Instructor
| Name | Biography |
|---|---|
| LERN Staff | UFM partners with LERN to offer a wide range of online, self-paced courses designed to expand learning opportunities in the Manhattan community and beyond. These courses support professional development, CEUs, and certificates across areas such as business, leadership, technology, marketing, education, and personal development. All classes are fully asynchronous, with flexible pacing within set start and end dates, making it easy for learners to fit education into their schedules. |
| Ayumi Amama | Growing up in Osaka, Japan, Ayumi always enjoyed cooking. Since she started making rolled omelets at 7 years old, she has continued learning new techniques and developing new recipes. Ayumi has also taken calligraphy lessons in Japan for about eight years and is trained in architectural design. She enjoys sharing Japanese culture. |
| Carol Barta | Carol Barta is a founding member of the Flint Hills Resilience Coalition and certified permaculturist. |
| Dave Carlson | Dave grew up feral, running the woods and waters of rural Kansas. Long before the internet and even cable TV, he was in the woods learning primitive skills. Since 2012, he has been an instructor at Blackthorn-USA, Outdoor Adventure School. |
| Craig Coffman | Craig Coffman is an experienced piano and guitar instructor, professional pianist and music director. He has over 30 years experience teaching piano privately. His piano and guitar seminars have been offered live through Community Colleges and Community Education Programs nationwide for over 30 years. Over 30,000 students have attended these popular classes. Now the classes are offered exclusively online and they are more popular than ever. He has a degree in Sociology from Illinois Wesleyan University in Illinois (where he also studied piano) and a Master of Divinity degree from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. |
| Melissa Copp | Melissa Copp, R.D., L.D., is a registered and licensed dietitian who has always had an interest in health and fitness. She is an ACE certified personal trainer and AFFA certified group fitness instructor who loves teaching classes and assisting clients in their exercise and nutrition journey. Melissa became a Red Cross instructor after being CPR/AED and First Aid certified for many years through her career. She began instructing because it allowed her to teach participants how to turn knowledge into action that can change outcomes in critical moments. She knows that her Red Cross classes empower individuals with confidence, awareness, and the ability to save lives. Each class offers a dynamic and engaging hands-on educational and practical experience. She values the responsibility that comes with representing Red Cross and upholding its mission of preparedness and safety. |
| Angela Durtschi | Angela Durtschi is a licensed Realtor with Alliance Realty and has called Manhattan home since 2011. In real estate since 2018, she has strong knowledge of the process of buying, selling, investing and all things real estate |
| Enchanted Eclipse | The instructors of Enchanted Eclipse 888 provide compassionate guidance through Reiki, Sound Healing, meditation, intuitive practices, and holistic wellness, creating welcoming spaces that inspire healing, self-discovery, and empowerment. |
| Kyle Foerschler | With 16+ years of personal experience in guitar, archery, and motorcycling, Kyle loves sharing his passions. After a decade as a traditional teacher, he’s excited to bring hands-on, community-focused instruction to your next favorite hobby! |
| Monica Franco | Monica Franco Franco is an English-Spanish teacher who works in a public high school. Monica has over ten years of experience teaching foreign languages and is a K-State alum who lives in Equador. |
| Alex Garcia | Alex is a local artist who regularly films videos with their phone to build and promote their business. |
| Vern Henricks | |
| Katharine Hensler | Katharine Hensler is the new Director of the Riley County Historical Museum. She moved to Riley County, Kansas in 2017 and brings over 20 years of experience in collections management and museum administration. Originally from northcentral Pennsylvania, Ms. Hensler received an undergraduate degree in History from Lock Haven University of Penna. and a graduate degree in Historic Preservation from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. |
| Gaige Huber | I am a 5th grader who has experience keeping chickens, goats, and pigs. My family has kept chickens for more than 6 years. I am an animal lover. My favorite breeds of chickens are silkies and polish chickens. |
| Brady Inman | Brady Inman and Steve Johannes are local amateur astronomers and founding members of EVENT HORIZON, a Manhattan organization whose purpose is to inspire curiosity. |
| Steve Johannes | Steve Johannes and Brady Inman are local amateur astronomers and founding members of EVENT HORIZON, a Manhattan organization whose purpose is to inspire curiosity. |
| John Knight | John Knight, who goes by the name Billy O'Riley, is originally from Liverpool, England. He has been singing sea shanties since childhood, when he first learned them in school. Billy's goal is to create a fun, interactive group experience where everyone joins in. His sessions are not performances to watch, but an opportunity for participants to sing together and enjoy the spirit of traditional sea shanties as a community. |
| Toni Kroll | Toni Kroll has been a sign language interpreter for almost 30 years and currently calls Manhattan, KS home. |
| Bronwyn Laherty | Bronwyn Laherty has worked as a filmmaker for the past six years, including serving as a fight and gore makeup artist on several short films. She's looking forward to running workshops she started at the University of Utah here in Kansas! |
| Janai Mestrovich | Janai Mestrovich, M.S., is an award-winning Social-Emotional Learning instructor with over 50 years of experience at the University of Oregon and internationally. After creating a pioneering approach focused on fun and experiential ways to manage stress, Janai is excited to share her expertise in Social-Emotional Learning. Among her many accomplishments, she is the author of nine children's books focused on this same topic. |
| Micah Nelson | Micah is a USAF vet and competitive martial artist who has played Warhammer 40K since 2023, earning 4 RTT wins. He enjoys teaching strategy, tactics, sportsmanship, and helping new players build confidence on the tabletop through fun, engaging games. |
| Debbie Newton | Debbie has been a certified yoga teacher (CYT) since 2007. |
| Pamela Nolley | Pamela has worked in youth development for over 35 years and has a caring heart for young people. She works to ensure everyone in the Teen Mentoring Program feels welcome, makes friends, and, of course, enjoys the snacks, field trips, and activities! |
| Douglas Oliva | |
| Gloria Park | Gloria Park is a Korean immigrant and psychiatric nurse practitioner who believes healing happens both in clinical settings and in everyday moments of connection. Her work is rooted in care, culture, and community, with a deep appreciation for food, storytelling, and shared experiences that nourish both body and soul. |
| Mark Perry | Mark Perry is a passionate student of history and has a deep appreciation for all things related to plants. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy (agriculture focused on row crops) and has been an avid gardener for six years. |
| Nicky Peters | Nicky is an Army veteran who graduated from K-State after six years of active service. Art has always been their happy place, and they have always enjoyed sharing their creations with others. |
| Little Apple Pilates | Little Apple Pilates is a fitness boutique that specializes in alternative fitness. Traditionally weight lifting and cardio such as running have been available to the masses. For those who need more instruction, personalized class workouts, and innovative methodologies, we are for you. People often joke that we provide workouts for people who don't like to workout. However, we also can give you an edge in your performance and biomechanics if you are concerned about injury prevention and care or if you have an injury. We are a small community where we know our students by name. |
| UFM ABLE Program Staff | |
| Jim Rigg | |
| Lisa Rubin | Lisa Rubin grew up in her mom’s catering business and fell in love with delicious food at an early age. She has taken cooking classes all over the world. |
| Karen Schroeder | Karen Schroeder, karen@karenschroederphotography.com, specializes in family, senior and pet photography. She also provides businesses with branding photography and business portraits. |
| John Schwartz | Married to Jeanette 32 years, five children ages 27 to 14, in my 30th year on staff with Ichthus |
| Robert Smith | Robert Smith was born in Nebraska and attended the University of Nebraska, where he majored in history. Bob has always had a love for history and a particular interest in military history, as he comes from a military family. Before his return to academia and advanced degrees, Bob managed a family-operated business where he learned management and organizational skills. He returned to academia in 1998, attending Kansas State University, where he earned a Master of Arts in Military History in 2004 and a Ph.D. in Military History in December 2008. Bob recently retired as Director of the Fort Riley Museum Complex at Fort Riley, Kansas, after a distinguished career preserving and interpreting military history. |
| Peakform Sports | |
| LERN Staff | |
| Neal Strathman | |
| Brenda Visoso Basilio | |
| Rachel Wahle | Rachel has spent over 10 years crafting unique, fun experiences—from scavenger hunts to murder mysteries, including this one-of-a-kind Clue event. Her goal: create memorable, unforgettable moments people love being part of. Rachel Wahle is a skincare and makeup artist with 20+ years of experience. She's passionate about helping others enhance their natural beauty in a way that makes them feel confident inside and out. |
| Stan Wilson | Stan Wilson has studied martial arts since 1970 and has a black belt in Hakkoryu Jujutsu and a black sash in Pai Lum Kung Fu. |
| Tiffany Wood | Lifelong artist and former game concept designer with 8 years of experience creating and selling custom art. Passionate about helping beginners build creative confidence through approachable, skill-focused instruction. |
| Penni Zelinkoff |
