After a period of uncertainty, the Cheshire Academic for Lifelong Learning (CALL) program is returning for the entire semester with Mark Gempler taking up the role of program coordinator.
Gempler explained his experience with the college and his reasoning for taking the position.
“I previously worked at Keene State for 25 years until 2022,” Gempler said. “I was laid off due to financial reasons. I worked at Antioch for two years and I’m not ready to retire. I still want to work with higher education, I’ve spent my whole career in higher education, and that’s where I’m comfortable. Coming back here made a lot of sense.”
CALL’s future had been in jeopardy since the departure of Heather Jasmin, the former CALL coordinator. The 2026 spring session was canceled due to that reason.
“It was the consistency, the program was discontinued last spring because the coordinator at that time was laid off,” Gempler said. “So there wasn’t any administrative support for the program.”
Gempler added that at the moment there are plans to continue CALL for the upcoming spring 2027 semester.
According to Gempler, the current goal is to restore the program and get it back to where it was before Jasmin’s departure.
“I think that all over town, and in my life outside of the college, I was hearing from a lot of people that they were really excited it was coming back,” Gempler said.
Debbie Bowie, a longtime participant in the CALL program and a member of Citizens for Keene State College, expressed her happiness at the return of the program.
“I think that it’s a great thing that it’s coming back,” Bowie said. “It’s a limited relaunch, with potential to strengthen the program in the future. I think it’s a very important program. From a CALL member’s perspective, it keeps us connected to the present day.”
Bowie, who is a member of the CALL subcommittee for Citizens for Keene State College, said that the committee has already met with and spoken to Gempler. Additionally, Bowie said that she has spoken to other CALL participants and that she had explained to others the return of the program after previous concerns.
“I think the other important part about CALL is strengthening our intergenerational understanding,” Bowie said. “It gives us opportunities to learn new things. It benefits everybody.”
Bowie said Citizens for Keene State College is currently working with professor Julio DelSesto, the chair of the journalism department, to create videos showing the importance of KSC to the community.
Registration for the CALL program began on Sept. 11, with classes running from Sept. 25 to Nov. 13.
Anyone who is interested can look at the course catalog for the program, which is available online.
Chloe Erno can be contacted at
cerno@kscequinox.com
