Faculty & Staff

Alissa Arp has extensive experience as a marine scientist and educator. She has conducted research and published articles on the physiology of life in challenging environments ranging from the deep ocean to suburban estuaries. Alissa has been to the bottom of the ocean in research submarines and has sailed on numerous university research vessels. She currently travels as a cruise-ship lecturer and eco-tourist, and has explored distant oceans including the Arctic, Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean, and South Pacific. These travel experiences are woven into her teaching, bringing personal first-hand perspectives to classroom discussions. Alissa lives in Portland, Oregon, and is an avid collector of folk art from her worldwide travels, as well as a textile enthusiast.

Bert was born in Camagüey, Cuba and grew up in Miami, where he graduated high school in 1978. He earned his BA from New College (RIP) in 1981 and PhD in Economics from the UNC-Chapel Hill in 1985. He was at Wabash College for years, including sabbaticals as a Fulbright Scholar in the Dominican Republic in 1991, a year in Costa Rica in 1998, and a voyage around the world with SAS in F05. He has been at DePauw since 2008, with a sabbatical year in Australia. His last sabbatical was split between another sail with SAS in F19 and Malta in 2020̶, until covid-19 hit and they barely made it home. He is an avid sports fan and he like sports analytics. Bert has been to 28 of 30 MLB parks and countless other sporting events, including many Final Fours because he was a consultant for the NCAA.

My first SAS voyage was 2017, and I am excited to sail again. I enjoy socializing, traveling, mentoring students, and the challenge of encountering cultures around the world. I grew up North Carolina, lived in many places during my pre- and graduate school years, and finally settled in Colorado in 2006. As an anthropological archaeologist, my research focuses on the application of geophysics approaches to the spatial organization of settlements, especially ancient cities. My recent projects include a study of city planning at Middle Bronze Age Kurd Qaburstan, Iraq, and Iron Age Tell es-Safi, Israel. I have been fortunate to conduct fieldwork in Turkey, Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and U.S.A.

Dr. Lisa Fyffe joined the Colorado State University Occupational Therapy Department as an Assistant Professor in 2012 and developed the pediatric curriculum for the Occupational Therapy Doctorate program. Dr. Fyffe’s research and practice interests center on expanding access to developmental support for young children through occupational therapy and early childhood education partnerships. Dr. Fyffe is the author of the “Occupational Therapy Embedded in Early Childhood Partnership Model” and an expert on early intervention, play-based learning, and pediatric health promotion.

Dr. Mark Gasta is a Professor and Director the Outdoor Recreation Economy master’s degree at the University of Colorado Boulder and Founder of Adventures in Leading – a leadership consulting firm focusing on the relationship between adventure, self-awareness, and personal purpose. Prior to joining academia, Mark was Executive Vice President, Chief People Officer, and Chief Sustainability Officer for Vail Resorts, the premier mountain resort company in the world. In addition to his many corporate roles, he has served in the United States Army as a commissioned officer and aviator and on many non-profit boards including the Colorado Outward Bound School, Leave No Trace, and the Urban League. Mark lives in Frisco, Colorado where he enjoys an active, outdoor lifestyle.

I was raised in Kansas and studied at Baker University, returning to teach there in 2011. Wanting to be a Psychologist, I studied at The University of Georgia for my graduate degrees, and maintain a private practice in addition to my roles at Baker. I studied abroad at Harlaxton College in the U.K. and in Mexico. I was fortunate to grow up in a travel-loving family and travel has been one of my life’s greatest joys. In 2003, I spent a year tending bar in Edinburgh, Scotland; I’d made myself two promises; don’t fall in love, and take a break from being a therapist. Fortunately, I failed on both fronts, meeting my husband and using my therapeutic skills to cut patrons off, break up fights and soothe broken hearts. We have three children who will be joining us on the voyage.

Bert Vermeulen was born in Switzerland and grew up in the Netherlands and in Colorado. His mother’s family owned an international shipping company and his father’s family has engineering backgrounds. He has master’s degrees in both business and engineering. Bert has worked in the US, UK, Japan, Russia, Mexico, Antarctica, and Hungary in a engineering, management, and business ownership roles. Since 2009 he has taught a variety of engineering and entrepreneurship courses at CSU. He also works as a patent consultant. He currently has seven issued US Patents. To date, Bert has visited 102 countries and all 7 continents. He also taught on the Fall 2024 voyage.