After years working first as a registered nurse and later as a professional fundraiser, Marie Rader began her third act: an artist who specializes in fabric dying.
From the first time she created a piece of art, Rader felt drawn to the discipline and eager to learn more. She took a few classes at Kent State University, including courses in marketing and textiles.
For Rader, what started as an interest blossomed into something more. Since then, she’s taught textile dying workshops for Kent State fashion students, sharing her knowledge, expertise and passion with others. Rader is also the CEO and founder of Clarity Colors, an entrepreneurial venture she started to sell her one-of-a-kind creations.
Jim Angiulo, Marie’s husband, also took courses at Kent State. At the time, he was the director of IT at two hospitals locally and wanted to get an edge as electronic medical records were becoming a big topic in healthcare. Aiming to gain knowledge that would help him advance in his career, Angiulo began an online master’s degree in health informatics.
“I wanted to be promotable, and it was the best online program I could get. I checked. Kent State had it and still does,” Angiulo said.
Due to some family medical needs, he withdrew from the master’s program, earning a certificate with the credits he accumulated. Still, Angiulo was grateful for what he learned and for the people he met along the way.
Curiosity Has No Age Limit
For Rader and Angiulo, learning took different forms at different stages of their lives. But both stories illustrate a larger idea: education isn’t only for young people, and it doesn't have to end when you cross the commencement stage.
From learning on the job and continuing education opportunities to picking up new hobbies and engaging in eye-opening conversations, life offers chances to explore and discover every day.
Morgan Iorio, ’09, ’11, senior corporate director of talent and business development at Maplewood Senior Living, has seen first-hand the impact of staying open to learning and new experiences in his work with older adults.
“Curiosity keeps you young in a way that nothing else can,” Iorio said.
“Those who stay connected tend to have more energy, resilience and a stronger sense of identity. They handle challenges better because they have a wider support system and a sense of purpose they can lean on. When people withdraw or stop engaging, we often see a faster physical and cognitive decline.”
Iorio also sits on the Panel of Professionals for Kent State University’s Long-Term Care Administration program each semester and is a member of the Nursing Home Administrator Advisory Committee for the university. He brings a tremendous amount of knowledge and first-hand experiences from his professional work, and he emphasizes the importance of continuing to engage the mind.
“A mind that is still asking questions is a mind that is still growing,” Iorio said.
Learning at Every Stage of Life
Today, Kent State offers opportunities for people at all stages of life to follow their curiosity, build new skills and connect with others – just as Rader and Angiulo have done and continue to do.
As executive director of Lifelong Learning at Kent State, Audrey Lemmons understands the value of learning no matter your age. She oversees the many lifelong learning programs, courses and opportunities the university offers the community, from workforce training and career advancement to personal enrichment and more.
These offerings span every age group, ranging from summer youth programs for kindergartners to the senior guest program, which allows Ohio residents aged 60 and older to attend university courses tuition-free, if space is available.
For Donna Alexander, associate lecturer and coordinator of the Long-Term Care Administration program, the senior guest program is incredible for older adults in the community, noting that Kent State also has a culture that values differing perspectives and accessibility.
“The fact that you can register for any course as long as there's room and the instructor provides approval, I think that it is wonderful,” Alexander said. “There needs to be a culture to appreciate all ages and people from all backgrounds. You either have that culture at a university, or you don't, and Kent State does.”
In addition, the Lifelong Learning team uses data and works with the colleges and other professionals to build professional development programs to keep our region’s workforce current and relevant. Since these courses are offered through a university, they can sometimes be designed to build upon or possibly even translate as credit toward future degrees or certificates.
“If you’re looking for professional development, why not come somewhere that if you choose to grow later, you can,” Lemmons said.
But there’s an unseen advantage to taking courses from a university as well – the community it builds and the value that can be derived from intergenerational settings where people are sharing very different lived experiences and perspectives with each other.
Rader's own story illustrates how lifelong learning can become a cycle. What she first pursued as a personal interest eventually became something she could share with others through workshops with Kent State fashion students.
Small Habits, Big Impact
Lifelong learning can begin with the small choices people make every day: reading something unfamiliar, learning a new skill, meeting someone new or simply asking questions. Iorio encourages people to “start small and start now,” noting that these small acts of curiosity can become habits that keep people engaged with the world around them now and into the future.
Stay Curious
Though he’s retired now, Angiulo is still interested in taking classes to explore new topics, most recently a class in the School of Fashion.
“I like to study. I’m curious about everything. It’s just a good lifestyle to have,” he said. “I don’t feel you can ever get too much information and education. That’s what keeps me young and vital.”
Rader agrees, encouraging others to step out of their comfort zone to learn something new.
“Find something you love and do it. Just keep trying things if one doesn’t work,” she said. “Go have fun taking a class.”
As Rader knows, it’s never too late to discover a new passion.
