Faculty & Staff

A passionate film producer, screenwriter, novelist, and former journalist, Eric recently produced the feature film “Rickshaw Girl,” the first ever US-Bangladesh co-production.

Eric wrote the feature “Supremacy,” starring Mahershala Ali and Danny Glover and “My Suicide,” winner of 21 major film festival awards.

As a journalist, Eric’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The LA Times, Wired, and many travel, inflight and business magazines.

Eric is the author of four novels, including the thriller “Birdland” and satire “Cosmic Fever.” Along with his wife Kathleen (a counselor on this journey!), he co-wrote the children’s book “On The Day His Daddy Left.”

Eric and Kathleen live in Sonoma Wine Country and are proud parents of two grown sons, both in the film and music business.

Ruth M. Alexander is Professor of History Emerita at Colorado State University. Ruth’s interests and expertise as a teacher and researcher extend from modern world history and the transnational history of gender and race to American and world environmental history and the global history of national parks. In addition to teaching on Semester at Sea and at CSU’s Fort Collins campus, Ruth teaches at the CSU Center in Todos Santos, Mexico. Her most recent book is “Democracy Mountain: Longs Peak and the Unfulfilled Promises of America’s National Parks.”

Gayle Allard is a professor of Economics at IE Business School in Madrid. She is a native of California, but has lived and worked in Europe for most of her adult life. Her research centers on labor markets in developed countries, and development issues, mainly in Africa and in relation to innovation. She has an NGO that funds projects in water access and women´s education in Ethiopia. Besides her academic publications, she appears regularly in international media as a commentator on economic issues.
Dr. Allard teaches three courses on Coursera and her “MOOCs” have had hundreds of thousands of students. She has authored numerous interactive exercises and games to enhance learning in the classroom, and has written three e-textbooks.

Sona Karentz Andrews is a professor emerita of geography & provost emerita at Portland State University. She has held faculty positions at the Univ of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Univ of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Boise State Univ, Portland State Univ, and taught at Semester at Sea. Her academic area is geography, cartography, and Geographic Information Science. Sona has held administrative positions at several universities, including Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at Portland State University, Vice Chancellor of the Oregon University System, and Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs at Boise State. Sona is bilingual (she speaks fluent English and Armenian). She grew up in New England and she and her husband, Steve, like to hike, bicycle, travel, read, and attend live performances.

Alissa Arp has extensive experience as a marine scientist and educator. She has conducted research, mentored graduate students, 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 at sea on many university research vessels. She currently travels extensively as an eco-tourist and has sailed on more distant oceans, including the Arctic, Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean and South Pacific. These travel experiences are woven into her teaching, bringing personal first-hand experience to classroom discussions. Alissa recently relocated to Portland, Oregon, and is an avid collector of folk art from her world-wide travels, and an avid textile enthusiast.

Xiao was born and raised in Harbin China. During her senior year at Beijing University, she hosted a group of Semester at Sea students and faculty. She has worked as an academic librarian at Loyola University in New Orleans, Ball State University in Muncie, University of Southern California, Woodbury University and finally Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC) in Los Angeles. In addition to working in the library, she also led a team of librarians in California to create an open education resource information literacy textbook, Introduction to College Research. She is passionate about information equity, climate justice, and life-long learning. She is so excited about being a part of Semester at Sea Voyage, a dream that is over 30 years in the making.

Christopher Blocker (Chris) is an Associate Professor in the College of Business at Colorado State University. He has taught business courses at the university level for 20+ years and has a background in high-tech and consulting. Chris expertise is in value creation in services, sales, and society. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee and his MBA at TCU. Chris’ research has been published in premier journals and he enjoys blending research, real-world projects, and students’ perspectives in his courses. Chris is married to his best friend Amanda, and they have four wonderful children, Ryan, Rebekah, Jacob, and Hallelujah. Chris counts it a privilege to work with students and help them develop the skills, knowledge, and passion they need for their careers and life.

Colleen’s interests include sustainable food systems, global nutrition, public health, and foodways. Her passion for this discipline stems from curiosity about the physiological and psychological interplay associated with health behaviors, and the relationship among food, culture, and society. It is a dynamic field where everyone has a voice, opinion, and story to share. The influence among social, environmental, historical, political, and economic variables on food, nutrition, and health is complex and constantly evolving and responding to change. The Semester at Sea voyage will provide a unique platform to explore these interacting factors through a global comparative framework. Colleen looks forward to sharing this journey with you and her partner, Jeff!

Professor Ingrid Bianca Byerly directs the Humanitarian Challenges Focus program at Duke University. A South African ethnomusicologist, her early research explored the anti-Apartheid music movement, later expanding to global protest music. Her music lectures introduce students to the history, culture, and politics of musical soundscapes. She has led intercultural communication courses throughout South Africa, currently facilitates the Public Speaking seminars at Duke, and serves as a coach for TEDx talks. This will be Ingrid’s fourth voyage, having taught on Summer ’11, Spring ’14, and Fall ’19. She shared these voyages with her 3 sons, who sailed as ship-kids and then students. She treasures the company of family and friends, and relishes the inspiration of students and fellow travelers.

Dr. Carvalho is a Professor of Marketing at Dalhousie University, Canada. He has published research papers in the areas of international marketing and consumer behavior. He sailed with SAS four times and taught in the US, Canada, Finland, Poland, Switzerland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Israel, and Brazil. He received the 2016 A. Gordon Archibald Teaching Excellence Award given by Dalhousie and The Olive Beatrice Stanton Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2009 given by the University of Manitoba (UofM). In addition, he received the UofM-UMFA Merit Award for teaching for six consecutive years (2007-2012). In the USA, he was nominated for the 2003 Presidential Excellence Award for Distinguished Teaching and received the 2004 Dean’s Distinguished Teaching Award both at Baruch College.

Dr. Erin Davis is an professor at Indiana Wesleyan University with over 25 years of experience in the fields of student development, higher education, psychology and graduate counseling. She enjoys interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly in the areas of psychology, neuroscience, and sociology. Dr. Davis has studied and participated in service work in several countries around the world, including England, Uganda, Egypt, Australia and Portugal, and her research interests include cross-cultural and international psychology. Dr. Davis’ areas of interest include international student adjustment; neuropsychology and empathy; relational aspects of sexuality; dreamwork; cross-cultural and international psychology; positive psychology and coaching.

Born in Argentina and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Juan teaches philosophy at Kenyon College. He also taught at Brown, Notre Dame, and was a visiting professor at the University of Louvain, Belgium and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Juan’s teaching interests are broad, embracing existentialism and phenomenology, philosophy of art, philosophy of religion, and Zen Buddhist philosophy. Juan is multilingual and has traveled throughout Latin America , Europe, and Asia. He is married to Carola Sanz, a Cuban-American sociologist and textile artist. They have four grown children. Juan has a PhD from Brown University, a L.Phil from Louvain University, Belgium, and a BA from Queens College. Juan is an avid hiker, woodworker and carpenter, and a published poet, mostly of Japanese short-form poetry.

Dr. Lindsay Gary (PhD, MFA, MA, MPA) is a professor-scholar (of History, Dance, and Africology/African American Studies), conceptual diasporArtist, Afrocentric entrepreneur, and cultural curator. She is the author of The New Red Book: A Guide to 50 of Houston’s Black Historical and Cultural Sites, and the director and creator of “Who Yo’ People?”, a documentary film that explores the African heritage of Louisiana. She has traveled to 39 countries, and is a Semester at Sea alumna.

Dan Graham is a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at Colorado State University (CSU), and is the Faculty Lead for the Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyles concentration in the Colorado School of Public Health. He is the director of CSU’s Behavioral Medicine Lab, which promotes better health through modifying social and physical environments to facilitate active living and healthy eating – for example, he has used eye-tracking cameras to see how people actually use nutrition labels and he likes walking on a treadmill desk while working, so he studies how active workstations affect health and performance. He is the author of the picture book How Can I Wait When There’s a Treat on My Plate (Magination Press, 2021).

Peter Harris is Associate Professor of Political Science at Colorado State University, where his teaching and research focus on international security and US foreign policy. He is the author of Why America Can’t Retrench (And How It Might) (Polity Press, forthcoming) and co-author of Deterrence Gap: Avoiding War in the Taiwan Strait (US Army War College Press, 2024). He is a Non-Resident Fellow with Defense Priorities, a Washington-based think tank. Peter is originally from Wigan in the northwest of England, and has also lived in London, Vancouver, and Austin.

Dr. Tim Hibsman is very excited to serve on the Semester at Sea voyage. In Spring 2025, he will be serving as the Director of the onboard Writing Center and teaching Business Communications and Non-Fiction Writing.

Dr. Tim Hibsman has always had a sense of adventure and desire to experience different cultures. In 2014 he taught Professional Communications and Nautical Film & Literature at Sichuan University in Cheng Du, China. In 2016 he taught Sports Film & Literature at Kyungpook National University in Daegu, South Korea. Dr. Tim Hibsman is a Professor of English at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

He is delighted to be joining the program for an amazing adventure.

Megan Jacobs is an Associate Professor in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Megan’s interdisciplinary honors courses range from evaluating art’s role as a socio-political tool, to a philosophical exploration of the good life, to exploring identity through photography. Jacobs earned a BA in Fine Art from Smith College and an MFA from the University of New Mexico.
Jacobs’ work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and has been part of exhibitions at Aperture Gallery, Saatchi Gallery, the Museum of New Art (MONA), and The FENCE. Her recent work explores the intersection of motherhood and the climate crisis and was recognized as the Society for Photographic Education’s 2024 Lauren Shrensel Zadikow environmental art award.

Krista Johnson is Professor and Director of Center for African Studies at Howard University. She received her Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University and has published on a wide range of topics including health policy, gender and HIV prevention, global health governance in Africa, and race and racism in International Relations. She has lived and traveled extensively throughout Africa and completed a Fulbright Fellowship at the University of Botswana.

Dr. Kohel has taught counseling and social psychology-related courses for over fifteen years, most recently as a professor at Cottey College. Before, she served as a student academic affairs administrator, with a focus on student development. Integrated throughout her work is an emphasis on social and cultural identity. She aims to continually increase her and others’ multi/cultural intelligence to be able to facilitate greater equity, equality and inclusion in an ever-broadening and changing world. For example, she has led several student trips to Thailand. Dr. Kohel’s specific areas of interest include exploring different kinds of justice and causes and interventions for injustice, such as recategorization, self and organizational assessments, strategic planning, training, and dialogue.

Born in Chicago, IL, Rachel Lucas-Thompson has lived in Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, and now, Colorado. She has a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Psychology and Theatre Arts (Acting and Directing), a master’s degree in Social Ecology, and a PhD in Developmental Psychology. As a faculty member in Human Development & Family Studies at Colorado State University, Rachel does research on families, mindfulness, stress, and mental health in adolescence and teaches classes on research methods, statistics, family relationships, and adolescent development. She loves living in Fort Collins with her spouse, two kids, and their dog.

Moriah is passionate about venture creation and social entrepreneurship and is excited to be teaching on this voyage! Her research focuses on the role of partnerships in social ventures. She taught Strategy and Entrepreneurship at the University of San Diego and FIU for over a decade. Moriah also worked in finance and microfinance in New York and Florida. She speaks Spanish and Portuguese fluently and has lived in Venezuela, Mexico, Germany and Brazil. Her husband Dany from Argentina and her sons Dante (14), Enzo (11), and Tiago (7) will be on the voyage. She has homeschooled her children the last few years and taken them across the US & Europe in RV and lived in Argentina. Moriah’s mother and uncle went on SAS in the 1960s! She can’t wait to continue the family tradition and meet you!

Nina Namaste is Professor of Spanish in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Elon University, NC. Her core disciplinary research focuses on food-related imagery as a means to express issues of race, class, and gender identity formation within contemporary Spanish texts. Her Scholarship of Teaching & Learning (SoTL) research explores transformative learning experiences, interdisciplinary thinking skills, and intercultural development, particularly in study abroad contexts, for both students and faculty. She has led two semester-long experiences abroad (Costa Rica & UK); all of her courses focus on interdisciplinarity and intercultural development, regardless of whether they are on or off-campus.

Salme Neubert, Ph.D. is a passionate scholar whose journey in academia has been shaped by her travel experiences. After earning her Master’s in Tourism Management from CSU in 2016, Salme pursued doctoral studies in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. Her academic interests have been enriched by a focus on Gender and Power Studies, particularly in exploring social equity and inclusivity within outdoor experiences and tourism.
As an instructor, her mentorship has inspired students to explore the vibrant dimensions of tourism, preparing them to navigate this evolving field. Before shifting to academia, Salme gained valuable professional experience in the tourism industry, working in various leadership roles across Australia and Switzerland.

Agnès Peysson-Zeiss is Senior Lecturer at Bryn Mawr College where she is in charge of the intensive language program. Her research interests focus on comics from the French Speaking world. Her latest works examine the text-image relationship in graphic narratives. In 2019, she published « Dans la marge de la BD : Génocide et résilience » in Nouvelles Etudes Francophones and co-edited the volume Handicap et études francophones : état des lieux, in which her article revisits disability issues. Her current research deals with trauma and disability representations. Her article « Entre enfermement et réinscription visuelle : les enfants albinos sortent des cases dans Dipoula et Pour une couleur de peau » (La revue de l’enfance irrégulière, forthcoming Fall 2024).

My substantive interests and expertise center around research related to the promotion of health among minorities, specifically focusing on populations that have been traditionally marginalized as a result of age, race, sexual orientation, and/or social conditions. In addition, my research focuses on methodological approaches, including the utilization of technologies, to facilitate community-based research with vulnerable populations. I have been fortunate to be involved in multiple health promotion practice, research, and teaching initiatives in academic, corporate, governmental, and community-based settings, providing me with rich insights into community health issues across a broad range of cultures and geographic regions.

Carly earned her PhD from the University of Texas at Austin in 2024. Currently, she’s working at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. She’s interested in how organisms and their symbionts are adapting to climate change. For her thesis work, she studied how corals, their associated algae, and their microbiome change over long term time periods (up to 6,000 years!) through ancient DNA, genomics, and mathematical modeling.

When she’s not working in the lab or coding on her computer, you can find her diving, rock climbing, or playing board games.

Pete Seel is professor emeritus at Colorado State University where he taught video production, photojournalism, telecommunication, and documentary history/production. This is his fourth voyage with Semester at Sea and his positive experiences with students and experiential education on these voyages led to the creation of media-related study-abroad courses for Colorado State that he led in Europe and Australia/New Zealand. He has extensive professional experience in photojournalism and video production. His research is focused on the global effects of new communication technologies, primarily concerning the internet, artificial intelligence, and social media.

Allison White is an Assistant Professor at Colorado State University with a PhD in Government, focusing primarily on domestic politics in dictatorships. In particular, she is interested in policymaking, elections, and corruption in one of the world’s most prominent autocracies–Russia. As the former Assistant Director of International Studies at Colorado State University, Allison enjoys engaging with students about all things international politics and policy. She currently directs the International Policy and Management specialization of CSU’s Master of Public Policy and Administration program. Allison also serves on the Executive Board of the Section for Comparative and International Administration of the American Society for Public Administration.

Kathleen Adams, LCSW, has worked with children, adults and families for over 35 years in both the USA and overseas. She has a psychotherapy and mediation practice in Northern California where she focuses on transition, trauma and inspiring hope.

Kathleen is co-author of the award-winning children’s book on divorce, “On the Day His Daddy Left.” She is also a film producer passionately focused on issues such as suicide prevention and girl empowerment. Her most recent feature film, “Rickshaw Girl,” won 10 major film festival awards and was the first-ever US-Bangladesh co-production. And just for fun, she does some travel writing.

Recently she was honored by the National Association of Social Workers with the “California Social Worker of the Year” award.

Hawk is an experienced professional in Student Affairs and Residential Life with a strong focus on intercultural leadership and LGBTQIA+ advocacy. They hold a Master of Education in Human Relations from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside. Hawk is passionate about fostering inclusive communities, promoting diversity, and supporting marginalized voices. They are also dedicated to storytelling, aiming to amplify the narratives of underrepresented communities through their work.

Jalysa is an ENFJ-Leo sun from the east coast. After studying biology at Spelman College, she lived 2+ years in West Africa as a Peace Corps health development volunteer. She has spent most of her career in the healthcare field. More recently, she has been working in business operations and product management in the biotech-pharma space. She really enjoys ceramics and hopes to pursue it professionally. Jalysa has lived in many places and worn multiple hats in her career, but the main thread that connects these experiences is her passion for exploration, connection, and adventure.

Michelle has been the office manager for the family rentalreal estate business and construction company for the last 28 years. She will be joining her husband, Dwight, who will be the Care Team Director. She volunteered within the public school system for 13 years and volunteered numerous years with her church. She is currently volunteering with several organizations, including HABIC (Human Animal Bond in Colorado) and Caring Canines. Michelle, along with her dog, Zeb, work within various settings, including reading with the youth at their local library, joining with foster children during summer camps, visiting with the residents of long-term care facilities, and partaking in “de-stress” events at the local college campus.

Jenai Copeland, LCSW, is passionate about supporting students and families through their trials and triumphs. She has an eclectic therapeutic style that is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and relational. Prior to joining this voyage, Jenai provided therapy for individuals, couples, and groups through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Towson University, and Oaks Integrated Care. Her career in higher education has also included serving as a Residence Director at Montclair State University, Wesley College, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and Rutgers University Newark. She values creativity and enjoys engaging folks through innovative groups including improv therapy, laughing yoga, and dancing mindfulness.

Joe is a high school science teacher/department chair at Mountain View High School in Loveland, Colorado, where he has been teaching Earth/Space Science, Physics and Astronomy/Meteorology for five years. He began his career in education as a high school soccer coach and continues to mentor high school students outside of the classroom as the boys/girls head golf coach at MVHS. In addition, Joe is very proud to be the coach of the U12 Bauder Elementary School boys soccer team, otherwise known as the Sweaty Socks Soccer Club.

Hello! My name is Kyler, I’m 23-years-old and from Rapid City, South Dakota. I graduated college back in May of 2023 from the University of South Dakota. My degree is in Strategic Communications where I’ve been working in social media and influencer marketing for three years. I love to mountain bike, play pickle ball, ski (even though I’m not very good), and spend time at the lake. I also love to shop, travel, go to concerts, and try new food places. If I’m not doing one of those things, I’m probably making my next plan to! 😉 I’m really looking forward to the Spring 2025 voyage and I can’t WAIT to meet you!

Morgan got her start in video at a 3D printer manufacturer early in the industry’s boom, interviewing customers with applications ranging from cutting-edge aerospace engineering to old-school bronze casting. She fell in love with the human storytelling aspect of the work and the ability to satisfy her curiosity by immersing herself in new and different fields for each project. Now as a freelancer and a contract videographer at longtime Brooklyn arts and media institution, BRIC, she still enjoys capturing those human portraits on video. Morgan is from California, now lives in New York, and has spent a few stints abroad and on the road. She feels right at home traveling to new places and is excited for this opportunity to visit a lot of spots she hasn’t been to before!

Kriss Hayward is SAS alumni who served as a Resident Director and Social Events Coordinator (F87). Most recently, she was the Director of Marketing & Communications at a large private school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Working at six universities, in the U.S. and abroad, and two private schools, Kriss has over 30 years of experience in education, including admissions, business and alumni relations, event planning, student advising and counseling, crisis response, project management, and staff development. Kriss is a skilled communicator, facilitator, program coordinator, and leader. Her goal is to combine excellent organizational skills, a “can do” enthusiasm, and attention to detail with fresh thinking to serve others and create impact and memorable moments.

Amy is a creative, enthusiastic, and values-driven collaborator with 16+ years of higher education experience focused on community building, event planning, program design, student engagement, and leadership development. She is known for innovative problem-solving, adaptability, and authenticity. Her top 5 Clifton strengths are responsibility, intellection, input, learner, and relator (which sometimes swaps out with deliberative). She was an exchange student in high school through the Rotary Youth Exchange program and values global perspectives deeply. In her daily life, she strives to help co-create deep, supportive, diverse, and inclusive communities; you can frequently find her volunteering in her local community (Colorado Springs) with organizations addressing food insecurity.

Aki has worked as a licensed psychologist in the counseling center at the Colorado State University Health Network since 2011 and has been the Training Director there since 2012. She loves training master’s and doctoral-level graduate students who are learning to do therapy, while also providing individual and group counseling to CSU students. She identifies as multiracial and particularly enjoys providing support to students who are working to understand their own identities, including working with historical and identity-based trauma. Aki also has worked within the VA Medical Center, at a rape crisis center, and at an intensive outpatient program for eating disorders.

Aki is accompanied on this voyage by her partner and two young children.

Jeff’s career in the technology industry spans more than 25 years and includes sales, supply chain, and finance leadership roles. He currently works in an advisory role for Hewlett Packard Enterprise and enjoys mentoring early career professionals. Living in Colorado, he enjoys outdoor activities with his wife Colleen and participating in Semester at Sea whenever possible. Jeff looks forward to being a member of the Global Studies team and to supporting students on our voyage of discovery.

Kody Maynard was born in St. Louis, MO, but currently calls Colorado home. Kody has a heart focused on kindness and a creative mind motivated by curiosity. Performing from a young age, and trained as a theater educator, Kody taught in the classroom setting for several years before shifting his focus to experiential learning with a global reach. Kody’s professional experience has charted him a course across the world and has led him to his next chapter as the Field Program Coordinator for the Spring 2025 Voyage!

Mr. Orsborn has over 24 years of experience in emergency medicine. He began his career at an early age, joining Utica Emergency Medical Services during the 10th grade. He later joined the Mount Vernon Life Support Team (LST) and was certified as a Basic (BCLS), Advanced (ACLS) and Pediatric (PALS) Advanced Life Support Instructor, and a Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) Instructor.
Mr. Orsborn was selected to join the Grant LifeFlight EMS Helicopter team, where he helped staff our nation’s first remote-based EMS Helicopter program. While at Knox Cardiology Associates, he became one of only four physician assistants in the U.S. to become Board Certified in Lipidology. Mr. Orsborn also helped establish Knox County’s first Urgent Care.

Marcia is a retired educator with 35+ years in public education. She is traveling on the voyage with her husband, Randy Orsborn, who will be the Physician Assistant. Marcia and Randy have three adult children and three young granddaughters. Their sons participated in Semester at Sea on two different voyages.

Daniel Parks is an Enrollment and Partners Coordinator for Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. He has a degree in philosophy from the University of North Texas and has worked in the field of higher education for the past year. For most of his career, he actually worked in the sports industry coaching swimming. Daniel’s hobbies include cycling, swimming, playing board games, and spending time with his dog Einstein. Daniel has traveled around most of the United States, and to some countries in Europe. He is looking forward to traveling with his fiance, Carly Scott, on this voyage and experiencing new places and cultures around the world.

Marlene was born and raised in Soledad, a small agricultural town on the Central Coast of California. Her experience navigating higher education as a first-generation college student of immigrant parents influenced her decision to pursue a career in Student Affairs. She has experience in orientation programs and residence life. Marlene is an impassioned mental health advocate and most recently spent over six years as a non-clinical case manager for college students experiencing various forms of distress. In her spare time, Marlene enjoys traveling, baking, hiking, bike rides along Manhattan Beach, and exploring new coffee shops with her partner and friends.

Eddie has worked in a variety of student services areas within higher education (residential education, admissions, int’l education, disability services, financial aid), and has taught at the junior high, high school and college levels; he most recently served as an adjunct assistant professor at the University of Southern California. He lived in Japan for nearly five years, has led int’l student service learning trips around the world (India, Guatemala, Belize, Thailand, Peru), and has spent significant time working with orphanages in Uganda and Kenya.

Dr. Smith is a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician. She has over 12 years of experience working in emergency departments treating patients of all ages and backgrounds. Following medical school and residency at the University of Virginia, she worked in the Boston area for one year, then returned to Central Virginia. Dr. Smith has also spent time working with medical teams in Guatemala and Honduras. She counts it a privilege to care for patients, and learns from every patient encounter.

Dr. Smith is married to Justin, a psychiatrist, and they have four children, a pandemic pup, and two gerbils. The whole family is eager to learn from the Semester at Sea community and the people and cultures they are fortunate to visit on the Spring 2025 Voyage.

Thomas Trzepkowski is the Associate Director of Orientation, Transition, and Family Programs at Buffalo State University. He plays a crucial role in guiding the planning and implementation of orientation programs for new students, including first-year and transfer students, as well as their families. His responsibilities also extend to assisting in the coordination of Homecoming and Family Weekend, Weeks of Welcome, and various leadership development initiatives.

Thomas earned his Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Buffalo State University. Beyond his professional life, he has a background as a personal trainer, enjoys running, and is passionate about traveling.

Kathleen Adams, LCSW, has worked with children, adults and families for over 35 years in both the USA and overseas. She has a psychotherapy and mediation practice in Northern California where she focuses on transition, trauma and inspiring hope.

Kathleen is co-author of the award-winning children’s book on divorce, “On the Day His Daddy Left.” She is also a film producer passionately focused on issues such as suicide prevention and girl empowerment. Her most recent feature film, “Rickshaw Girl,” won 10 major film festival awards and was the first-ever US-Bangladesh co-production. And just for fun, she does some travel writing.

Recently she was honored by the National Association of Social Workers with the “California Social Worker of the Year” award.

Jennifer Alanis is the executive director of the Taylor Family Center for Student Success at Washington University in St. Louis. She is a first-generation Mexican American and a justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) leader. Jennifer has over 16 years of professional experience in student affairs administration in a variety of institutional settings such as community college, large research institutions, small privates, and Hispanic Serving Institutions. Jennifer believes in creating an inclusive campus through providing transformative experiences to enhance the learning within the classroom. Jennifer has sailed on three voyages of Semester at Sea, most recently as the assistant executive dean for the fall 2019 voyage.

Hawk is an experienced professional in Student Affairs and Residential Life with a strong focus on intercultural leadership and LGBTQIA+ advocacy. They hold a Master of Education in Human Relations from Northern Arizona University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside. Hawk is passionate about fostering inclusive communities, promoting diversity, and supporting marginalized voices. They are also dedicated to storytelling, aiming to amplify the narratives of underrepresented communities through their work.

Jalysa is an ENFJ-Leo sun from the east coast. After studying biology at Spelman College, she lived 2+ years in West Africa as a Peace Corps health development volunteer. She has spent most of her career in the healthcare field. More recently, she has been working in business operations and product management in the biotech-pharma space. She really enjoys ceramics and hopes to pursue it professionally. Jalysa has lived in many places and worn multiple hats in her career, but the main thread that connects these experiences is her passion for exploration, connection, and adventure.

Dwight Burke serves as the Director of Support and Safety Assessment at Colorado State University. In his role, Dwight coordinates systems to address the safety and welfare of students, faculty, and staff. His duties include oversight of threat management services, early intervention and support services, and various security programs. He has worked in higher education for 40 years in roles including law enforcement, behavioral intervention, threat assessment, multidisciplinary treatment programs, civil rights investigations, and serving as the university’s Title IX Coordinator.

Michelle has been the office manager for the family rentalreal estate business and construction company for the last 28 years. She will be joining her husband, Dwight, who will be the Care Team Director. She volunteered within the public school system for 13 years and volunteered numerous years with her church. She is currently volunteering with several organizations, including HABIC (Human Animal Bond in Colorado) and Caring Canines. Michelle, along with her dog, Zeb, work within various settings, including reading with the youth at their local library, joining with foster children during summer camps, visiting with the residents of long-term care facilities, and partaking in “de-stress” events at the local college campus.

Jenai Copeland, LCSW, is passionate about supporting students and families through their trials and triumphs. She has an eclectic therapeutic style that is trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and relational. Prior to joining this voyage, Jenai provided therapy for individuals, couples, and groups through the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Towson University, and Oaks Integrated Care. Her career in higher education has also included serving as a Residence Director at Montclair State University, Wesley College, West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and Rutgers University Newark. She values creativity and enjoys engaging folks through innovative groups including improv therapy, laughing yoga, and dancing mindfulness.

Dr. Tyler Crisman currently serves as the Director of Residential Life at the University of San Diego. He has worked in higher education for over 19 years as an administrator in student housing and student conduct as well as adjunct faculty at New York University, Arizona State University, and the University of San Diego. Tyler is beyond excited to sail again with Semester at Sea and is looking forward to accompanying students on this amazing, life-changing journey. Tyler is fortunate to have extensive international travel experience and has also recently been able to visit all 50 of the United States. In short, he hasn’t been everywhere, but he’s on his way!

Mike serves as the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Executive Director of the Lory Student Center at Colorado State University. Mike sailed with Semester at Sea in Spring 2018 as the Dean of Student Life and is excited to return to the MV World Odyssey.

Mike is originally from southern California where, as a first-generation student, he attended UC Irvine and began his career in student affairs. He is committed to ensuring student access to leadership opportunities in higher education which help students not only feel connected in our communities of learning, but also empowered to make a difference in our world.

Joe is a high school science teacher/department chair at Mountain View High School in Loveland, Colorado, where he has been teaching Earth/Space Science, Physics and Astronomy/Meteorology for five years. He began his career in education as a high school soccer coach and continues to mentor high school students outside of the classroom as the boys/girls head golf coach at MVHS. In addition, Joe is very proud to be the coach of the U12 Bauder Elementary School boys soccer team, otherwise known as the Sweaty Socks Soccer Club.

Hello! My name is Kyler, I’m 23-years-old and from Rapid City, South Dakota. I graduated college back in May of 2023 from the University of South Dakota. My degree is in Strategic Communications where I’ve been working in social media and influencer marketing for three years. I love to mountain bike, play pickle ball, ski (even though I’m not very good), and spend time at the lake. I also love to shop, travel, go to concerts, and try new food places. If I’m not doing one of those things, I’m probably making my next plan to! 😉 I’m really looking forward to the Spring 2025 voyage and I can’t WAIT to meet you!

Morgan got her start in video at a 3D printer manufacturer early in the industry’s boom, interviewing customers with applications ranging from cutting-edge aerospace engineering to old-school bronze casting. She fell in love with the human storytelling aspect of the work and the ability to satisfy her curiosity by immersing herself in new and different fields for each project. Now as a freelancer and a contract videographer at longtime Brooklyn arts and media institution, BRIC, she still enjoys capturing those human portraits on video. Morgan is from California, now lives in New York, and has spent a few stints abroad and on the road. She feels right at home traveling to new places and is excited for this opportunity to visit a lot of spots she hasn’t been to before!

Kriss Hayward is SAS alumni who served as a Resident Director and Social Events Coordinator (F87). Most recently, she was the Director of Marketing & Communications at a large private school in the San Francisco Bay Area. Working at six universities, in the U.S. and abroad, and two private schools, Kriss has over 30 years of experience in education, including admissions, business and alumni relations, event planning, student advising and counseling, crisis response, project management, and staff development. Kriss is a skilled communicator, facilitator, program coordinator, and leader. Her goal is to combine excellent organizational skills, a “can do” enthusiasm, and attention to detail with fresh thinking to serve others and create impact and memorable moments.

Amy is a creative, enthusiastic, and values-driven collaborator with 16+ years of higher education experience focused on community building, event planning, program design, student engagement, and leadership development. She is known for innovative problem-solving, adaptability, and authenticity. Her top 5 Clifton strengths are responsibility, intellection, input, learner, and relator (which sometimes swaps out with deliberative). She was an exchange student in high school through the Rotary Youth Exchange program and values global perspectives deeply. In her daily life, she strives to help co-create deep, supportive, diverse, and inclusive communities; you can frequently find her volunteering in her local community (Colorado Springs) with organizations addressing food insecurity.

Aki has worked as a licensed psychologist in the counseling center at the Colorado State University Health Network since 2011 and has been the Training Director there since 2012. She loves training master’s and doctoral-level graduate students who are learning to do therapy, while also providing individual and group counseling to CSU students. She identifies as multiracial and particularly enjoys providing support to students who are working to understand their own identities, including working with historical and identity-based trauma. Aki also has worked within the VA Medical Center, at a rape crisis center, and at an intensive outpatient program for eating disorders.

Aki is accompanied on this voyage by her partner and two young children.

Kody Maynard was born in St. Louis, MO, but currently calls Colorado home. Kody has a heart focused on kindness and a creative mind motivated by curiosity. Performing from a young age, and trained as a theater educator, Kody taught in the classroom setting for several years before shifting his focus to experiential learning with a global reach. Kody’s professional experience has charted him a course across the world and has led him to his next chapter as the Field Program Coordinator for the Spring 2025 Voyage!

Amy is a learning experience designer and the founder of Compacity Partners, an education consultancy group based in Vermont. An avid interculturalist, Amy has lived and worked on four continents and finds she thrives in environments that bring together diverse learners from a broad range of backgrounds and cultures. For 17 years she directed global learning programs for students at Dartmouth’s international affairs center. She also served as the Academic Director of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) at Dartmouth, an Obama initiative for social change makers from 40+ countries across sub-Saharan Africa. As a consultant, Amy works with clients on projects related to leadership development, team and intercultural dynamics, and experiential education initiatives.

Mr. Orsborn has over 24 years of experience in emergency medicine. He began his career at an early age, joining Utica Emergency Medical Services during the 10th grade. He later joined the Mount Vernon Life Support Team (LST) and was certified as a Basic (BCLS), Advanced (ACLS) and Pediatric (PALS) Advanced Life Support Instructor, and a Basic Trauma Life Support (BTLS) Instructor.
Mr. Orsborn was selected to join the Grant LifeFlight EMS Helicopter team, where he helped staff our nation’s first remote-based EMS Helicopter program. While at Knox Cardiology Associates, he became one of only four physician assistants in the U.S. to become Board Certified in Lipidology. Mr. Orsborn also helped establish Knox County’s first Urgent Care.

Marcia is a retired educator with 35+ years in public education. She is traveling on the voyage with her husband, Randy Orsborn, who will be the Physician Assistant. Marcia and Randy have three adult children and three young granddaughters. Their sons participated in Semester at Sea on two different voyages.

Daniel Parks is an Enrollment and Partners Coordinator for Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. He has a degree in philosophy from the University of North Texas and has worked in the field of higher education for the past year. For most of his career, he actually worked in the sports industry coaching swimming. Daniel’s hobbies include cycling, swimming, playing board games, and spending time with his dog Einstein. Daniel has traveled around most of the United States, and to some countries in Europe. He is looking forward to traveling with his fiance, Carly Scott, on this voyage and experiencing new places and cultures around the world.

Dr. Carmen Rivera currently serves as an Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and co-chair of the Student Affairs in Higher Education Master’s program at Colorado State University. One of the first things she tells folks is that she is from northern New Mexico because where she’s from is fundamental to who she is. As a first-generation college student, she earned her BA in Mexican American Studies and Spanish. She earned her MS in Student Affairs in Higher Education as well as her PhD in Higher Education Leadership. She worked in TRiO programs for over 13 years then worked in international education. Additionally, she’s a faculty member for the Social Justice Training Institute and a consultant in the areas of organizational development, DEIJ, and leadership.

Marlene was born and raised in Soledad, a small agricultural town on the Central Coast of California. Her experience navigating higher education as a first-generation college student of immigrant parents influenced her decision to pursue a career in Student Affairs. She has experience in orientation programs and residence life. Marlene is an impassioned mental health advocate and most recently spent over six years as a non-clinical case manager for college students experiencing various forms of distress. In her spare time, Marlene enjoys traveling, baking, hiking, bike rides along Manhattan Beach, and exploring new coffee shops with her partner and friends.

Dr. Smith is a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician. She has over 12 years of experience working in emergency departments treating patients of all ages and backgrounds. Following medical school and residency at the University of Virginia, she worked in the Boston area for one year, then returned to Central Virginia. Dr. Smith has also spent time working with medical teams in Guatemala and Honduras. She counts it a privilege to care for patients, and learns from every patient encounter.

Dr. Smith is married to Justin, a psychiatrist, and they have four children, a pandemic pup, and two gerbils. The whole family is eager to learn from the Semester at Sea community and the people and cultures they are fortunate to visit on the Spring 2025 Voyage.

Thomas Trzepkowski is the Associate Director of Orientation, Transition, and Family Programs at Buffalo State University. He plays a crucial role in guiding the planning and implementation of orientation programs for new students, including first-year and transfer students, as well as their families. His responsibilities also extend to assisting in the coordination of Homecoming and Family Weekend, Weeks of Welcome, and various leadership development initiatives.

Thomas earned his Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University and completed his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration at Buffalo State University. Beyond his professional life, he has a background as a personal trainer, enjoys running, and is passionate about traveling.