Short-Term 2011 Deans, Faculty, and Staff

Dean Abernathy (Architecture)

Dean L. Abernathy earned his undergraduate degree in Architecture at California Polytechnic University and his Master's in Computation and Design and PhD in Architecture from the University of California in Los Angeles. His research interests have focused on the changes to architectural design practice through computational developments in design methods, communication and fabrication as well as the issues of preservation and access. While on the faculty of the University of Virginia he was the associate director of the Institute for Advanced Technologies in the Humanities and received the Virginia Design Medal. At UVA he led studios and digital projects that worked within the contested landscape of the Sacred Valley of Peru. The efforts brought together local and international groups for the purpose of designing services for the transportation needs of the local population while protecting and preserving cultural heritage. He is currently the chair of the architecture department at Orange Coast College in Orange County, California where he teaches architectural design, digital fabrication and leads students in two community improvement efforts; Orange County with studio projects focused on transportation and housing for underserved communities and home building projects in Tijuana, Mexico with the non-profit Corazon.
Back to Faculty List

Ed Berger (Engineering)

Dr. Berger currently serves as the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Programs in the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia. He is also Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. He joined the faculty at UVa in January 2005 after serving on the faculty at University of Cincinnati for almost 10 years. He has been the Associate Dean for 18 months. Dr. Berger earned the PhD from the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue University in 1996, and also graduated from Penn State University in 1991 and 1992 with the BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering. His technical research has focused on nonlinear dynamics, specifically nonlinear and non-smooth systems including friction and contact. He has been the PI on research awards from the NSF, AFOSR, Sandia National Labs and others for technical research on the behavior of mechanical joints and interfaces. Since 2006, Dr. Berger has also focused on the use of web 2.0 technologies in higher education, and he currently serves at the PI on the NSF-funded project "HigherEd 2.0" (highered20.org). The goal of the project is to deploy and evaluate web 2.0 technologies for instruction in engineering mechanics. This four-university collaboration includes faculty from the UVa School of Education. Dr. Berger has been recognized with UVa's All University Teaching award (2007) as well as the Outstanding Faculty Award for "Teaching with Technology" from the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), Virginia's highest teaching honor for higher education faculty (2008).
Back to Faculty List

Rae Blumberg (Sociology)

Dr. Blumberg is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology at the University of Virginia. She received all her degrees from Northwestern University: B.S. (Journalism); M.A. (Sociology) and Ph.D. (Sociology). She is the author of over 100 publications. Currently she is finishing The Queen Midas Chronicles (2011). Some of her other books include: Complex Ethnic Households in America (2006, with Laurel K. Schwede and Anna Y. Chan); Engendering Wealth & Well-being (1995), Blumberg et al. and Gender, Family and Economy (1991). Her key articles include “A General Theory of Gender Stratification,” Sociological Theory (1984) 2:23-101 and “Extending Lenski to Hold Up Both Halves of the Sky,” Sociological Theory 22:2 (June 2004):278-291. Academically, she is best known for her general theory of gender stratification and her still-evolving gender and development theory. Since Peace Corps service in Venezuela, she has worked in over 40 countries worldwide and has area and/or research experience in Trinidad, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala; additionally, she is bilingual in Spanish. Her overall work in international development includes: Country Experience-- 4-1/2 years' residence/research in Venezuela; 1-1/2 years in Bolivia. Shorter stays for research and/or development consulting in: Latin America/ Caribbean – Ecuador (>30 times), Peru, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Jamaica, Curaçao, Trinidad; Asia/Pacific – India, Thailand, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka, Burma, Australia, Fiji, S. Korea, Japan; Middle East/Europe - Egypt, Israel, Bulgaria, Hungary, former DDR, Kosovo/ Yugoslavia, Ukraine; Sub-Saharan Africa – Nigeria, Swaziland, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi.
Back to Faculty List

Mandy Bratton (Engineering)

Dr. Mandy Bratton is the Director of Global TIES - Teams in Engineering Service, an innovative humanitarian engineering program at UC San Diego. A psychologist by training, she holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin, as well as a B.A. and M.Ed., from the State University of New York at Oswego and the University of South Carolina, respectively. At UC San Diego, she is a founding member of the advisory board and an affiliate of the Center for Research on Gender in the Professions. She is also a founding member of the advisory board for the system-wide UC Haiti Initiative, a partnership between the University of California and the Université d'état d'Haïti. She has completed three academic voyages with the Semester at Sea global studies program and serves as a member of the Faculty and Staff Council of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. She has held a variety of clinical, faculty and administrative positions during her twenty-five year career in higher education. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Back to Faculty List

Julie Ellis (Engineering)

Julie Ellis is Professor of Engineering and Department Head of the Engineering Department at Western Kentucky University. She holds a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Duke University, as well as MSEE and BEE degrees from Georgia Tech. She is a licensed professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. She is keenly interested in the most effective ways to incorporate real-world projects into every level of engineering education. At WKU, the Engineering Department uses course projects, industrially-sponsored projects, competitions, and service projects in all three of their programs. It’s in these experiences that students master the engineering skills they begin to learn by doing homework problems, working exams, and performing laboratory exercises. In truly solving problems--in designing, building, and testing prototypes, often working in teams—engineering students begin to transform themselves into engineering practitioners, well equipped with technical and professional skills that our world needs. For the past five years, Dr. Ellis has been involved in an service-learning project in mountain villages in the Dominican Republic.

Nicole Eramo (Assistant to the Academic Dean/Registrar)

Nicole Eramo is an Associate Dean of Students in the Office of the Dean of Students. In this position, she serves on the on-call team and assists with crisis management as well as providing students general information and support. Nicole also Chairs the University’s Sexual Assault Board and works closely with the student groups around the University Grounds that work to build student awareness and education about issues of sexual assault and sexual violence. She also coordinates the leadership programs offered through the Office of the Dean of Students, including stewarding the planning for the Blueprint Emerging Leaders Program, the Leadership 2000 summer program for established student leaders and a program for high school students called Leadership on the Lawn. Prior to moving to the Dean’s Office, Nicole worked for many years with the University’s Honor Committee as their Special Assistant and continues to supervise the work of the professionals who support the Honor Committee. Nicole received her B.A. with high distinction from the University of Virginia in Political and Social Thought in 1997. She subsequently received a Masters in Education from the Curry School of Education at the University in 2003 and completed her doctorate in Education just this past May. Nicole wrote her doctoral dissertation on the University of Virginia and the unique structure of student self-governance at the institution.
Back to Faculty List

Reginald Garrett (Biology/Lifelong Learner Academic Director)

Reginald H. Garrett is Professor of Biology at the University of Virginia. He received his Ph.D. in Biology at the Johns Hopkins University in 1968 and joined the faculty at the University of Virginia later that year. In 1975, he was a Fulbright Senior Lecturer in Vienna, Austria, and in 1976, a visiting scientist in the Department of Genetics, Cambridge University (U.K.). In 1983, Professor Garrett returned to Cambridge and the Department of Genetics as Thomas Jefferson Visiting Fellow in Downing College. In 2003, Prof. Garrett was Professeur Invité at the University of Toulouse (France) and the CNRS Institute of Pharmacology and Structural Biology there. Prof. Garrett taught marine invertebrate zoology and coral reef ecology for 20 years in the Bahamas and Mexico, and he has traveled informally in the West Indies and Central America as a biology tourist. He is co-author of A Field Guide to the invertebrates of San Salvador Island, Bahamas. Prof. Garrett’s research interest is focused within biochemistry and molecular biology. His published research investigations include about 50 articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. He is the author, with his colleague, Charles M. Grisham, of a widely used textbook, Biochemistry, the fourth edition of which appeared in 2009. Prof. Garrett has an abiding interest in science education and has taught biochemistry for 40 years. Over the past dozen years, he has brought science to non-science majors through his course, Principles of Nutrition. He is also a strong advocate of study abroad opportunities for science majors. Prof. Garrett was Academic Dean for the spring, 2009 Semester At Sea voyage that circumnavigated the globe.
Back to Faculty List

John Girard (Business)

John Girard, Ph.D. is a full professor of management at Minot State University, North Dakota. John’s current research interests include knowledge management, social media, virtual business, and international management. John is actively engaged in research, having written more than 30 articles and chapters for peer-reviewed or trade journals and books. He is the lead author/editor of three books: Building Organizational Memories: Will you know what you knew?, A Leader’s Guide to Knowledge Management: Drawing on the Past to Enhance Future Performance and Social Knowledge: Using Social Media to Know What You Know, which is scheduled for publication in early 2011. John is a graduate of TUI University, where he completed a PhD in Business Administration and an MBA, and of the University of Manitoba where he achieved a BSc. In addition, John is a graduate of Canadian Forces College, Toronto and the Royal Military College of Science in the United Kingdom. John is frequent international speaker who has spoken at events in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and South America including KM World, APQC’s Knowledge Management Conference, the World Congress on Intellectual Capital, KM Australia, InfoVision India, KM Asia, and many other events.
Back to Faculty List

Stephanie Guerlain (Systems and Information Engineering)

Stephanie Guerlain received a B.S. in Psychology from Tufts University in 1990 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Industrial and Systems Engineering from The Ohio State University in 1993 and 1995, with a specialty in Human Factors Engineering. Stephanie was a Research Scientist at Honeywell Technology Center from 1995 to 1999 and is now Associate Professor in the Department of Systems and Information Engineering at the University of Virginia (UVA) where she is head of the Medical Informatics Training Program and the US-Brazil Cognitive Systems Engineering Exchange Program. Her research focuses on information visualization, training system design, and the design of decision support systems. She has received grants from the National Science Foundation, the National Patient Safety Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, and the Office of Naval Research and has worked with several companies to improve designs of products and processes. Dr. Guerlain holds five patents related to user interface design and over 100 publications related to human factors engineering. Dr. Guerlain is currently Program Chair for the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Healthcare Systems Technical Group.
Back to Faculty List

Christina Haden (Teaching Assistant)

Christina Haden is a doctoral student in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Virginia. Her research is focused on the development of a novel artificial excitable cell which could revolutionize the way we treat cardiac arrhythmia. She received her Masters degree in Biomedical Engineering from UVa in 2007, as well as her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2004. She is a “Teaching and Technology Support Partner” Fellow, received a Virginia Space Grant Consortium Fellowship for her research and was awarded the Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Graduate Award by Pi Tau Sigma in 2004. She is originally from a small town north of Montreal in Quebec, Canada. Her first language is French. She has an avid interest in trying to solve global issues of poverty, famine, health and education. She has lobbied on Capitol Hill for the interest of some of the world’s poorest nations. She also established and presided over the local ONE Campaign chapter at UVa in 2009-2010, hoping to bring awareness of these issues of human hardship to the greater UVa community.
Back to Faculty List

Gearold Johnson (Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science)

Gearold R. Johnson is the Emeritus George T. Abell Endowed Chair in Engineering and Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University where he was professor of mechanical engineering and computer science. He co-founded the Solar Environmental Engineering Co. and was Chairman of the Board of Directors of Village Earth from 2003-2007 where he oversaw sustainable community development projects in the State of Kwara in Nigeria, Nicaragua, Peru, India, Indonesia and the Pine Ridge Lakota Reservation in South Dakota. From 1992 until 2002, he was an advisor to the Director-General of UNESCO in Paris, France on engineering education. As a professor at Colorado State University he was the recipient of many outstanding teaching awards including five departmental awards, three college awards as well as the college’s first award for Innovation in Teaching. Johnson holds degrees from Purdue University: a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering, a M.S. in Engineering and a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. He has published over 180 refereed journal papers, book chapters, articles and research reports.
Back to Faculty List

Miguel Karian (Environmental Studies)

Dr. Miguel Karian is Founding Director of Earth Education International (EEI), an experiential learning organization in Costa Rica accredited by Humboldt State University (U.S.A.) and the Universidad de San José (Costa Rica) offering interdisciplinary courses and programs in 'sustainable global stewardship'. Prior to founding and directing EEI, Dr. Karian was an Associate Professor at St. Cloud State University, and has directed various study abroad programs in Costa Rica since 1996. He holds a Doctorate of Education in Technology, Environmental Education, and Sociology from Arizona State University, and has over 25 years of interdisciplinary teaching experience in Departments of Environmental Studies, Cultural Science, Sociology, Technology, and Industrial Education. Dr. Karian has published various articles and contributed to textbooks in topics ranging from the ecological footprint of study abroad to the instruction of technology and environmental studies from a social science perspective. He is a multi-cultural 'global nomad' who grew up in Thailand, Nigeria, Kenya, and Jordan; and has also lived in Mexico, Costa Rica, and the United States. He speaks English, Spanish and varying degrees of other languages. In addition to directing EEI, Dr. Karian teaches courses in environmental studies, appropriate technology, sustainability, deep ecology, community development, and renewable energies.
Back to Faculty List

Carla Lee (Librarian)

Carla Lee is currently the Director of Science, Engineering and Education Services at the Charles L. Brown Science & Engineering Library. She began working as a science and technology librarian in 1990, where she served as a Library Associate at the Natural Sciences Library of the University of Michigan. In 1992, she moved to Science Library at Loyola University Chicago, where she was promoted to Head of the Science Library in 1998. Through the course of her career, Carla has been an instructor and reference librarian for a variety of subjects, including chemistry, biology, geology, biomedical engineering, physics, nursing and computer science. Carla will be sharing the voyage with her husband and two school-age children, who share her love of learning and exploring new cultures.
Back to Faculty List

Garrick Louis (Engineering)

Garrick Louis is Associate Professor of Systems Engineering at the University of Virginia. He received his BS Degree in Chemical Engineering from Howard University, his MS in Chemical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and his PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. Garrick has published over 100 articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings in US and international journals on water and sanitation planning, infrastructure services evaluation, and service learning. He began his international experience as a Warren Weaver Fellow in the Global Environment Division of the Rockefeller Foundation in 1994 working on plant oil in Brazil, Nepal, and Zimbabwe, and on establishment of the Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) program in Southern Africa. He is the Founding Director of the Small Infrastructure & Development Center at the University of Virginia, which focuses on capacity building for safe water and sanitation access and local economic development in rural areas. He founded and directs the non-profit, Development Inter-Action (DiA), which provides technical assistance to rural water and sanitation projects in developing communities. Garrick was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2000, was named a University of Virginia Teaching Fellow in 2002, received the Best Paper Award from the American Water Works Association – Small Systems Division in 2005, and was named an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Energy, Environment and Natural Resources Fellow in 2006-2007. Garrick is a member of the American Society for Civil Engineers, The American Society for Engineering Education, and the Society for Risk Analysis.
Back to Faculty List

Emma Mitchell (Global Public Health)

Emma McKim Mitchell, MSN RN will defend her PhD dissertation through the University of Virginia School of Nursing and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in March 2011. She received her BSN from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, and her MSN in Community/Public Health Leadership from the University of Virginia. Her research interests include: global health; women’s health; international development and sustainability; the ethics surrounding international health care; and community based participatory research. In her dissertation research she used photovoice and ethnographic research methods to explore the health experiences of Creole women in Bluefields, Nicaragua. Her work is supported by a National Institute of Health National Research Service Award. She has been a teaching assistant for four years for the January term class focused on sustainable development taught in Bluefields, Nicaragua by Professor Brad Brown (McIntire School of Commerce). She has also been the teaching assistant for four Jefferson Public Citizens research projects in Bluefields, Nicaragua, focused on: community assessment; women’s health promotion through radio programs; composting; and biogas stoves.
Back to Faculty List

J.P. Mohsen (Civil Engineering)

J.P. Mohsen is professor and chair of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at the University of Louisville. He holds a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Cincinnati and for the past 30 years, he has taught courses in civil engineering including; structural analysis and design, surveying, construction materials, pavement design, and structural dynamics. He also holds a Masters in Engineering Management and has taught courses in engineering design economics as well as project management. His area of research has been non-destructive testing and evaluation of materials with a focus on concrete structures. He also conducts research in the areas of pavement design and construction, and health monitoring of bridges using remote sensing. Dr. Mohsen is the Immediate Past President of the American Society for Engineering Education [ASEE]. He served as ASEE President during 2009-10. He has served on the ASEE Board of Directors previously as Vice President for Member Affairs and Vice President for Professional Interest Council. He is also active in the American Society of Civil Engineers [ASCE], and is currently serving as a Region 4 Governor on the ASCE regional Board of Directors. In the past, he has served on the Educational Activities and Continuing Education committees as well as the Technical Council for Computing and Information Technology. Dr. Mohsen is currently Chair of the ExCOM for ASCE Technical Council in Computing and Information Technology. Dr. Mohsen is also active in the Transportation Research Board [TRB] serving on Properties of Concrete and Design of Pavements committees. He has also published a surveying field book. In 1999, he was named Engineer of the Year in Education by ASCE Kentucky Section. In the same year, he also received the University of Louisville Distinguished Service to the Profession Award. In 2003, he received the University of Louisville Distinguished Teaching Professor Award in recognition of his career teaching excellence.
Back to Faculty List

David Muñoz (Engineering)

David R. Muñoz, Associate Professor and director of humanitarian engineering (Engineering Division) Colorado School of Mines. His Ph.D. and M.S. degrees are in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and BSME degree from the University of New Mexico. His work experience includes stints at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. He spent a year long sabbatical as a Visiting Professor to Monterrey Tech. (ITESM) Monterrey, Mexico. For a second sabbatical he worked as a technical analyst on the design of an advanced guideway transportation system for the I-70 Colorado mountain corridor. Dr. Muñoz has taught courses in the thermal-fluids area, various laboratory courses and senior design. He recently introduced a new course entitled, “Sustainable Engineering Design” that incorporates Life Cycle Assessment into the engineering design process. He also participated in the development of a course entitled Engineering and Sustainable Community Development. He has advised several hundred undergraduates in senior design projects that include hybrid electric vehicles through potable water and waste water treatment systems for Honduras, Uganda and Kenya. He has also advised 17 graduate theses (5 Ph.D., 12 M.S.) largely in fluid-thermal systems. His current interests include humanitarian engineering design and global sustainability.
Back to Faculty List

Pamela Norris (Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering)

Pamela Norris is Frederick Tracy Morse Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at University of Virginia. She is the founder and director of the University of Virginia's Nanoscale Energy Transfer Laboratory. A native Virginian, she received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics from Old Dominion University and her Ph.D. from Georgia Institute of Technology in 1992. She served as a Visiting Scholar and a Visiting Lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley from 1993-1994, where she developed her interests in microscale heat transfer and in aerogel technology. In addition to teaching courses in the thermosciences and energy systems, she teaches a graduate course in microscale heat transfer, and both graduate and undergraduate probability and statistics. She is a fellow of ASME, and an associate editor of both Nanoscale and Microscale Thermophysical Engineering and ASME Journal of Heat Transfer. She has published more then 70 referred journal articles and 4 book chapters. Pam loves traveling with her husband, Eric, and kids, Abbey and Alex. They have mostly explored Asia and Europe (where Pam visited at a University in Paris for a while), but have experienced bareboat sailing in the Caribbean, which was a favorite!
Back to Faculty List

Stephanie Pollack (Teaching Assistant)

Stephanie Pollack (SAS F90 alum) is an interculturally and artistically focused experiential educator, trainer, facilitator, writer, and consultant with 20 years of experience working/studying/living in a variety of cultures and environments in more than 35 countries on 6 continents (most extensively in Thailand, Nepal, Australia, and oPt-Gaza). With her business Creative Facilitations she develops and leads innovative organizational and individual transformation processes, retreats, trainings, educational programs, and community building events around the globe. She specializes in study abroad, service-learning, cultural proficiency, leadership development, conflict prevention, and supporting organizations and people in transition. Selected clients include University of Virginia, Bard College, Fulbright, Mercy Corps – Gaza, Bioneers and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. Stephanie was the founding Director of Transnational Experiential Education for The Scholar Ship, a traveling shipboard Intercultural Leadership Development university program of Royal Carribbean Cruise Lines. Stephanie has a B.A. in Organizational Psychology from the University of Michigan, an M.A. in Leadership, Education, and the Arts from Long Island University, and numerous certificates in Intercultural Communication and Game Design, and received a fellowship for Rotary’s Peace and Conflict Studies Program in Thailand. Stephanie has been an adjunct professor at Portland State University for graduate-level Intercultural Conflict Resolution and the National Labor College (for people in unions) for Instructional Methods. Articles have been published in journals for the North American Simulation and Gaming Association, Sri Lanka’s Koothharangam Theatre, and included in a classified U.S. government CIA "Virtual Learning Community" network. Stephanie is a happy nomad who loves flatwater kayaking, hiking, organic cooking, Theatre of the Oppressed, yoga, and serves on the Board of Directors of Clowns Without Borders.
Back to Faculty List

Armin Rosencranz (Political Science)

Armin Rosencranz, a political scientist and lawyer, has taught a variety of environmental policy courses at Stanford since 1995. He has received three teaching awards at Stanford, including “Teacher of the Year” in 2005. Armin has had two Fulbright lectureships to India and one to Australia. He taught one of India’s first courses on environmental law, and his book, Environmental Law and Policy in India (3rd ed.2011) is widely used throughout India. Until 1996, Armin was president of Pacific Environment, an international NGO that he founded in 1987. His most recent book, co-edited with Schneider et al., is Climate Change Science and Policy (2010). In a recent article, he explored the plight of banana workers in Nicaragua. Armin taught on Semester at Sea in Spring ’04 and Fall ’08. He enjoys reading, bluegrass music, bicycling and playing poker.
Back to Faculty List

Noel Rosencranz (Political Science)

Noel is currently President of Tutor Corps, a premier private tutoring company in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the Founder of the Tutor Corps Foundation, a non-profit organization. In 2002, Noel graduated with Honors from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies. He continued his education at Stanford earning a Masters of Arts in Cultural and Social Anthropology. Noel has over eight years of tutoring experience working as a Teaching Assistant, teaching at the Education Program for Gifted Youth, and tutoring independently. He has designed original and engaging educational programs and directed leadership enrichment trips. Noel feels privileged to have attended the Fall 2000 Semester at Sea voyage and looks forward to sharing his experience and expertise with the shipboard community. He will also be happy to discuss his recently completed screenplay, The Temp.
Back to Faculty List

Carol Saunders (Management)

Carol Saunders is currently Full Professor of Management at the University of Central Florida. She earned a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Management from the University of Houston, M.B.A. from the University of North Carolina, and B.A. in German/B.S. in Mathematics from Florida State University. She served as General Conference Chair of the International Conference on Information Systems’99 and Telecommuting ’96. She is an AIS Fellow and has served on a number of editorial boards, including a three-year term as Editor-in-Chief of MIS Quarterly. She recently returned from Austria as the Distinguished Fulbright Scholar at the Wirtschafts Universitaet – Wien (WU). She also held a Professional Fulbright in Malaysia and research chairs in New Zealand, Singapore, and the Netherlands. Her current research interests include the organizational impacts of information technology, overload, virtual teams, virtual worlds, time, sourcing and interorganizational linkages. Her research is published in MIS Quarterly, Information Systems Research, Journal of MIS, Journal of AIS, Communications of the ACM, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, (IEEE) Computer, Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, and Organization Science. She and her husband taught on the Spring 2005 SAS voyage.
Back to Faculty List

Candice Shoemaker (Horticulture)

Candice Shoemaker is a Professor of Horticulture and Human Health in the Department of Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources at Kansas State Univesity. As Director of Graduate Studies in Horticultural Therapy she oversees the campus M.S. and Ph.D. programs and the online graduate certificate program in horticultural therapy. Dr. Shoemaker is also involved in the Urban Food Systems specialization in the M.S. in horticulture program. Dr. Shoemaker earned a B.S. and Ph.D. in Horticulture from Michigan State University and a M.S. in Horticultural Therapy from Kansas State University. Dr. Shoemaker’s research focuses on gardening for health with a focus on the older adult and children. Dr. Shoemaker has more than 30 publications in scientific journals, proceedings, and books and has presented her work around the world. She has received numerous awards, including a national publication award for the book Interaction by Design: Bringing People and Plants Together for Health and Well-being. Dr. Shoemaker is also the executive chair of the People Plant Council, an international council that promotes research and communication on the effect that plants have on human well-being and improved life-quality.
Back to Faculty List

Tom Siller (Civil Engineering)

Tom Siller received his BS degree in Civil Engineering at SUNY Buffalo in 1979. He went on the get a MS degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts in 1981. After spending three years in a consulting engineering firm he then completed a Ph.D. in civil engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 1988. Since then he has been on the faculty at Colorado State University in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department and is currently an Associate professor. During this time he has taught first-year engineering courses for over 12 years. Currently he serves as the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs for the College of Engineering. During the 2007-2008 academic year he was awarded an American Council on Education Fellowship. Recently he helped create a Professional Learning Institute that develops students’ professional skills related to ethics, leadership, civic and public engagement, and cultural training. His most recent publications deal with the need for greater attention to interdisciplinary preparation of engineering students. He serves as the Newsletter editor of the International Division of the ASEE, and was recently awarded the Distinguished Service Award from the Office of International Programs at Colorado State University.
Back to Faculty List

Catherine Skokan (Geology)

Catherine Skokan is Associate Professor of Engineering, Colorado School of Mines. BSc, MSc, and PhD in Geophysical Engineering with an emphasis on Electromagnetism, Colorado School of Mines. Dr. Skokan has published over 80 articles and extended abstracts in numerous geophysical and educational journals including the Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research ,Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, World Innovations in Engineering Education and Research, and ,Journal of Engineering Education. Her research interests include geophysical measurements of volcanoes and geothermal areas, energy resources, and groundwater. Another research thrust involves curriculum development in problem and project based learning. Her research also addresses humanitarian engineering – an application of earth science and engineering skills to aid underserved populations. She has led student humanitarian projects including travel to Tribal Communities in Alaska, South Dakota, and New Mexico as well as international projects to Ghana, Honduras, and Senegal. Dr. Skokan has traveled with students for summer studies in former Czechoslovakia, Romania, Turkey, Southeast Asia, and Morocco. She also traveled on the Fall 2002 and Fall 2009 Voyages of Semester at Sea.
Back to Faculty List

Anne Stachura (Spanish)

Anne Marie Stachura is a graduate of the University of Michigan. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras from 2004-2006, where she worked in the field of health on the Child Survival and HIV/AIDS Education project. Anne received her M.A. in Spanish from the University of Virginia in 2008. She has taught elementary and intermediate Spanish classes (SPAN 1060-SPAN 2020), as well as Grammar Review (SPAN 3010) and Composition (SPAN 3020). Anne was the Graduate Teaching Assistant for the U.Va. Summer Study Abroad in Costa Rica program in 2007 and 2010, and for the U.Va. Summer Study Abroad in Peru program in 2008. While at U.Va., Anne has had the opportunity to study in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil in 2008, Montrouis, Haiti in 2009, and Sainte Anne, Guadeloupe in 2010. She is currently a Ph.D candidate (ABD) at the University of Virginia and serves as the In-Residence Director of the Casa Bolívar, the University of Virginia’s Spanish House. Her dissertation is tentatively entitled “An Inhospitable World: The Post-National Imaginary in Latin American Novel and Film, 2000-2010”.
Back to Faculty List

Bernard Strenecky (International Education)

Bernard J. Strenecky presently serves as the Scholar in Residence at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky. His responsibilities at the university center on internationalization, student engagement and service learning. He holds a master’s degree from the University of Scranton and a doctoral degree in Education and Curriculum Design from the University of Rochester. Dr. Strenecky’s recent publications and professional presentations center on the development of interdisciplinary international service learning program design. Dr. Strenecky has taught or consulted in over thirty countries. He has received numerous awards for his contributions to international education development. The highest of these honors is the Gold Crown of Merit which was awarded by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth for outstanding contributions to the development of the country of Barbados. This award is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a non-Barbadian citizen. Dr. Strenecky serves in the Diplomatic Corp of Barbados and holds the title of Honorary Consul from Barbados to Kentucky. He was designated Rotarian of the Year for his contributions to international understanding in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In concert with The Prospect/Goshen Rotary Club, Semester at Sea and Western Kentucky University, he has developed a humanitarian project entitled the $100 Solution. Through this project, students are provided with knowledge, skills and funds which are used to solve social problems at the national and international levels. To date, projects have been established in twelve national and international service learning sites, six colleges and universities have adopted the program and over one thousand students and faculty have been educated in the use of the model.
Back to Faculty List

Christopher Yoder (Teaching Assistant)

Christopher Yoder is currently working as an Engineering Consultant in the Energy Policy division of Navigant Consulting, Inc. Chris holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from University of Pittsburgh’s Swanson School of Engineering and minors in Political Science and Economics. While at Pitt, Chris was a teaching assistant for Productivity Analysis, Human Factors Engineering and Engineering Economics. Chris also performed research to discover team trends in the design process for which he co-authored the paper ‘Bio-Engineering Process Maps: Elements Used to Produce Innovative Design.” Chris currently is involved in Engineers without Borders where he is working on a project to develop a clean water supply and latrine systems for the community of Tingo Pucara, Ecuador. Chris loves travelling and was last aboard the MV Explorer on the summer 2008 voyage.
Back to Faculty List

Marian Anderfuren (Communications Coordinator)

Marian is the director of media relations in the Office of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia. She and her staff produce the UVa Today website and daily e-newsletter, as well as write and edit press releases, respond to reporters' requests and generally try to put the University's best foot forward in the media. Anderfuren holds a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill., and a master of arts in English from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. Before joining UVa in 2008, she held a variety of editing and management positions for 30 years at The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk.
Back to Staff List

Adrienne Barna (Psychologist)

Adrienne is Director, Psychological Services in Counseling and Psychological Services at George Mason University where she coordinates the clinical and emergency services as well as educational and consultation services for the Mason community. Adrienne also worked in counseling centers at Emory University and the University of Texas at Austin. She completed her PhD. in counseling at the University of Maryland at College Park, and earned a masters degree from Rutgers University and an A.B. in sociology from Drew University. A licensed clinical psychologist in Virginia, Adrienne is board certified in counseling psychology and serves on the American Board of Professional Psychology Counseling Psychology Board. She is a Master Trainer for the American Association of Suicidology training “Recognizing and Responding to Suicide Risk: Essential Skills for Clinicians.” In her counseling work, Adrienne helps individuals to develop skills and knowledge that enable them to lead more productive lives. She draws from cognitive and behavioral approaches as well as developmental and psychodynamic theories. She has led groups on mindfulness, and depression and anxiety management. Adrienne served as a psychologist on the Summer 2009 Semester at Sea Voyage and is very excited to return to the MV Explorer in this role. Her husband, Allen, is also excited to again participate in an SAS voyage.
Back to Staff List

Linda Bostwick (Nurse Practitioner)

Linda has served for the past ten years as a Family Nurse Practitioner at Baylor University Health Services. She is also involved in the Medical Humanities program at Baylor and co-created a new course, "Visual Arts and Healing" that was launched this spring. She received her BSN at Vanderbilt University and her MN at University of Washington. She is excited about the opportunity through Semester at Sea to "test the waters" in incorporating a broader, international component to her professional career. Back to Staff List

Akirah Bradley (Living Learning Coordinator: Academic Success)

Akirah is currently an Academic Program Coordinator at the University of California, Berkeley. She earned a Master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont. Akirah has worked in the areas of: Residence Life, LGBTQIA services, International Education and Academic Services while infusing her passion for multiculturalism and social justice into her work. She has also focused on bridging the gap between student affairs and academic affairs to support college students’ journey to successful completion of their degree. Akirah has presented at national and regional conferences, taught Education courses, authored articles in the Vermont Connection Journal, serves as a mentor for two NASPA Undergraduate Fellows and was named the 2010 Outstanding New Professional by California College Personnel Association (CCPA). Akirah’s vision is to ensure that students are well equipped to become globally conscious citizens exercising compassion for humanity and inter-cultural exchange to inspire social change and acceptance of diverse ways to live and be in the world. Akirah sailed as a Resident Director in fall 2007, and is ecstatic to join the May 2011 team for the inaugural short-term voyage.
Back to Staff List

David L. Brown, M.D. (Physician)

Dr. Brown is a practicing emergency physician with over 25 years of emergency medicine experience in the Pacific Northwest. He has also served as a clinical instructor of emergency medicine with the University of Illinois Peoria Emergency Medicine Residency Program and as director of a community hospital based occupational medicine program. Dr. Brown joined the staff of the Curry Student Health Center at the University of Montana for the 2007-2008 academic year. He has further been active as an educator serving as a preceptor for the Central Washington Family Medicine Residency Program, a lecturer for the University of Washington Medex Physician Assistant Program and an American Heart Association Pediatric Advanced Life Support instructor. He served as physician for the Spring 2008 voyage of Semester at Sea and the May 2009 Enrichment Voyage aboard the MV Explorer.
Dr. Brown received an undergraduate degree from Iowa State University, an M.D. degree from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed a residency in emergency medicine at Geisinger Medical Center. He is board certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine and has been certified by the American Heart Association in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. He has special interests in wilderness and environmental emergencies.
Back to Staff List

Stephanie Chang (Living Learning Coordinator: Graduate Intern)

Stephanie is a second year doctoral student and research assistant at the University of Maryland, College Park in the College Student Personnel program. Stephanie received a University of Maryland Counseling and Personnel Services Fellowship which allows her to teach two undergraduate courses focused on issues of social justice, diversity, and intergroup dialogues. Stephanie is fortunate to have the two undergraduate courses she teaches align with her research interests, which include studying how students learn about social justice, identity, and action. In her professional student affairs experience, Stephanie served as the first Coordinator of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Center with the Office of the Dean of Students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and also worked as a Program Coordinator for the LGBT Resource Center at the University of California, Irvine. Additionally, in her master’s program, Stephanie worked with Student Activities where she did work with Leadership programs and Service-Learning initiatives. Stephanie earned her bachelor’s degree in Afro-American and African studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002 and her master’s in education degree with the College Student Affairs program from The Pennsylvania State University in 2009. Outside of work and school, Stephanie loves to spend quality time with her family’s six dogs, travel, and enjoys bubble tea and cupcakes. This is Stephanie’s first voyage and is ecstatic to serve as a Living Learning Coordinator: Graduate Intern.
Back to Staff List

Debbie Clifford (Alumni & Development/Outreach Coordinator)

Debbie is presently the Director of Student Conduct at Westfield State University in MA. She has worked as a student affairs professional for the majority of her professional career. She received a Master’s in higher education administration from Springfield College. Debbie has been involved with Semester at Sea since 1993 when she sailed on her first voyage. Since that time she has served as a part-time recruiter and a member of the Alumni Board/Faculty-Staff Council. She is thrilled to be traveling around the world once again with all who share the love of adventure and travel. Passions include travel, the great outdoors, beaches, golf and yoga. She is looking forward to new places, new faces and new adventures.
Back to Staff List

Joey Coe (Living Learn Coordinator: Graduate Intern)

Joey graduates from the Honors College at Western Kentucky University six days before the voyage departs. He will have graduated with a Bachelor’s of Interdisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Humanities; most of his course work is in Geography and English. Having a strong interest in environmental and international affairs, Joey is a two time recipient of The Udall Scholarship and was a finalist for the State Department’s Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship. He is a Teacher’s Assistant for two courses, Community Development through Service Learning and Cultural Diversity in the US. He is employed as a Program Assistant at the WKU Institute of Citizenship and Social Responsibility. He got his sea legs and shaved his head on the 100th Voyage of SAS in the Fall of 2009. As a student on that voyage, he co-authored a program plan to institutionalize service into the curriculum of SAS. He also founded an environmental group that ran a climate change information campaign, ultimately leading to 150 letters being sent to US Senators from the Indian Ocean. The creative arts are also a big part of Joey’s life. For his senior undergraduate thesis project, Joey is writing and recording an album of original folk-rock music, informed by the roots of music traditions in Kentucky. Back to Staff List

Eileen Dalenberg-Strenecky (Lifelong Learners Coordinator)

Eileen retired on November 30, 2006, after thirty-four years in education. She taught Home Economics, was the coordinator of a nationally recognized Magnet Program in Public Safety, assistant principal at a large urban high school and building principal of an all-girls middle and high school for pregnant and parenting teens. She was named a Fulbright Scholar and taught one year at Mansfield Comprehensive High School in Nottingham, England. Her passion is travel and she has worked in the travel industry since 1975. She received her CTC (Certified Travel Counselor) and has worked as a group coordinator and FIT specialist.
Eileen sailed on Fall 07 voyage as assistant field office coordinator and the Fall 09 voyage where she served as the Lifelong Learner Coordinator. She and her husband have also sailed on the inaugural Semester at Sea Leadership Forum on Global Affairs held June, 2008 and the Forum on Global Engagement June 2010. They have also sailed on the May-June 2010 Enrichment Voyage. She received her Bachelor Degree from the University of Illinois, a Master’s Degree from VPI and State University (Virginia Tech), and has completed advanced studies at the University of Tulsa, Oral Roberts University and the University of Louisville in secondary school administration.
Back to Staff List

Nghi Dao (Information Technology Coordinator)

Nghi holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, M.S. in Industrial Engineering, and M.S. in Information Science. She is currently an assistant professor at Eastern Gateway Community College, where she teaches engineer and information technology courses. Prior to her teaching position, Nghi tested and supported internet equipment at a major telecommunication firm. Nghi has sailed on the Fall 1998 Voyage and Summer 2005 voyages of Semester at Sea. She will be sharing the voyage with her husband and two daughters.
Back to Staff List

Ashley Dye (Living Learning Coordinator: Community Service & Learning)

Ashley is the Assistant Dean of Students for Fraternity & Sorority Affairs at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At Illinois, Ashley is responsible for coordinating the Fraternity & Sorority Affairs department within the Office of the Dean of Students. A University of Illinois alumna (B.S. & M.Ed), she returned to the UIUC campus in August 2006 after working as the Director of Greek Life at the University of California, Irvine since 2001. Outside of the office, Ashley volunteers with the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, Pi Beta Phi, Beta Theta Pi, and the Circle of Sisterhood Foundation. She was recently honored to receive the 2010 Interfraternalism Award from Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. Ashley lives in Champaign, Illinois with her dog Gerty.
Back to Staff List

Rita Enders (Field Office Coordinator)

Rita Enders completed both undergraduate and graduate studies at San Diego State University. She teaches computer workshops in Palm Desert, CA, while maintaining an extensive private computer client base. Additional teaching experience includes a private university in Phoenix, AZ plus over 2500 Elderhostel students. Her love for education and travel found a connection to Semester at Sea Shipboard Education. Rita has sailed in various positions in 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. You will see her checking out local food markets and textile locations to compliment her interests in cooking, weaving and spinning. She is a Palm Desert resident since 1986. Summers are devoted to personal world travel, her lake home in northern British Columbia, Canada, and continued learning.
Back to Staff List

Stefanie Lucas (Living Learning Coordinator: Graduate Intern)

Stefanie is pursuing her Master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Colorado State University. She works in Health Education and Prevention, Orientation and Transition Programs, and advises Colorado State University’s chapter of Delta Sigma Phi. Stefanie facilitates workshops in CSU’s Back on TRAC program, a treatment program for students facing potential separation from the university due to drug or alcohol related issues. In Orientation and Transition Programs she works with the First Year Peer Mentor Program, a non-credit opportunity for first-year students to meet in groups based upon an interest, passion or identity. Stefanie has a passion for empowering students to find their purpose through meaningful academic and extracurricular experiences. She is committed to engaging students in dialogue with a focus on social justice and student wellness, and giving students opportunities to gain a global perspective in local and international settings. Stefanie graduated in 2008 from California Lutheran University and worked in Human Resources at Bunim/Murray Productions before moving to Colorado. Stefanie is thrilled to be sailing for the first time, and looks forward to working with students as they explore global challenges on the inaugural Maymester Voyage. Back to Staff List

Shawn Mauer (Dependent Children Coordinator)

Shawn is currently the Director of Programming at the Vestal Boys & Girls Club in Knoxville, TN. He has worked for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley for the past eight years. In his eight years with the organization, he has worked in many different capacities and with children ages five to eighteen. Shawn has run many different programs with children of all ages and thrives at helping children learn through fun activities. He has also run many summer camps with the Boys & Girls Club and is always ready with new and fun activities when needed. He was named Staff of the Year for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley in 2005. On this voyage, Shawn hopes to help the children learn as much as possible from the places that they visit and have as much fun as possible while on this voyage! Back to Staff List

Mer McLernon (Administrative Assistant)

Mer graduated from the State University of New York (Geneseo) with a degree in Art History and Museum Design. Her passion for travel has taken her to many locations, primarily the Caribbean. She is a certified sailor. While on land, she has enjoyed occupations ranging from Volvo buyer for Edgecomb’s Imported Auto to Training Specialist for Whole Foods Market to Instructor for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. Mer also worked in Admissions at the University of Virginia’s Darden Graduate School of Business Administration as Director of Financial Aid and Office Manager. She is presently temping for the University of Virginia, and is looking forward to her first adventure with Semester at Sea. Back to Staff List

John Myrick (Audio Visual Media Coordinator)

Currently the Post Production Supervisor on the 20th Century Fox Television show Raising Hope, John was a student on the Spring 1999 voyage of Semester at Sea where he participated in the on board photography program and contributed photos to that SAS Spring 1999 yearbook.
A graduate of Brooks Institute of Photography in 2001, he studied under renowned SAS photography instructor, and author of "Sea of Light", Paul Liebhardt. At Brooks John wrote, produced, directed and edited two festival award-winning short films, and upon graduating landed a Dreamworks television internship on the hit TV show, Spin City.
John has worked in film and television as Production Supervisor, Post-Production Supervisor, and Producer on such shows as Threat Matrix (Touchstone TV), The Secret Service (Touchstone TV), Greek (ABC Family), Miss Guided (20th Century Fox TV ), Better off Ted (20th Century Fox TV), and Crazy on The Outside (feature film directed by Tim Allen).
John attributes his strong desire to travel and explore the world to the experiences gained on SAS and his time studying under Paul Liebhardt. Future plans include traveling the Pan American Highway through North and South America on his BMW 1200GS motorcycle. John is a member of The Producers Guild of America and currently lives in Los Angeles, California.
Back to Staff List

Terrance A. Range (Living Learning Coordinator Graduate Intern)

Terrance is a first-year graduate student in the Education Policy, Organization and Leadership department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is currently pursuing his Ed.M. degree with an emphasis in Higher Education Administration. Upon completion of his Ed. M. he intends to pursue his Ph.D. in Higher Education and further investigate the social and academic experiences of males of color in college settings. Terrance has worked with minority student groups, Black male leadership organizations, and within residence life as a rising Higher Education professional and scholar. During his undergraduate career, Terrance conducted research in Rome, Italy on historic roman culture, and participated in the NASPA Undergraduate Fellowship Program, whereby, he was selected as the University of Southern California's undergraduate intern in 2007. During his time at USC, he served in a dual-appointment role -working in Judicial Affairs and Student Activities. He currently serves as the Graduate Assistant in the Office of the Dean of Students where he works with New Student Programs, and advises the Transfer Student Advisory Board. Terrance expects that the voyage will affirm his desire to work toward better understanding the development, and implementation of student development programming that encourage students of all backgrounds to learn and grow with and from each other in residential communities. Back to Staff List

Richard J. Resling (Community Resource Officer)

Richard J. Resling (Community Resource Officer) was born in raised in Westhampton Beach, NY. Rich went on to graduate with BS Degree from SUNY Buffalo State in Criminal Justice. He travelled to Colorado Springs in 1971 and began a career with the Colorado Police Department. During his career he served in all areas of the law enforcement including uniform and investigations and 5 years as the Press Spokesman. With his police experience he was asked to coordinate the staff security for the US Olympic Team delegations at the 1992 thru 2000 Olympic Games. After a diverse and rewarding career, he retired at the rank of Lieutenant in 1999. Rich is an alumni of the SAS having sailed on Spring ’99, Summer’05, Spring ’08 and several Seminars at Sea Reunion and Enrichment voyages. He is a current National officer for the US Section. He rides each year in a cross country horse ride with the Pike Peak Ranger Rider and remains active in the Colorado Spring Community. He has been married to Debbie for 34 years and together they love to travel and explore with Semester at Sea. Back to Staff List

Chris Ryan (Assistant Field Office Coordinator)

Chris holds a BA in Economics from the University of Rhode Island. Since graduating in 2008 he has worked in a consultative role to colleges and universities for improving recruiting strategies and increasing enrollment figures. This position has taken Chris to many different areas across the United States but he is very excited to gain more international exposure with Semester at Sea. Chris’s passion for travel began aboard the MV Explorer as a student during the Fall 2007 voyage and has been fortunate enough to have visited over 35 countries in various parts of the world since that time. Originally from New Jersey, Chris now resides in Boston and plans to pursue an MBA this Fall. He is very anxious to start another journey aboard the ship and looking forward to all the experiences that come along with it.
Back to Staff List

Brian Tenclinger (Assistant Dean of Students)

Brian is the CEO & Executive Director of Triangle Fraternity, the premier fraternal organization for men who are studying engineering, architecture and the sciences. He earned his bachelor’s degree in English and Secondary Education from Northern Illinois University, and completed a master’s degree in Education Administration at North west Missouri State University. He is a doctoral candidate in Leadership and Higher Education Administration with an anticipate defense date of April 2011. Brian’s dissertation topic: The role of Faculty-student interaction in predicting socially responsible leadership in undergraduate engineering students.
As a professional Brian has worked at several colleges and universities, including The Florida State University, Tulane University, Iowa State University, and Texas A & M University. During his tenure, he has advised over 700 student organizations, ranging from the residence hall association, fraternities and sororities, sports clubs, philanthropic organizations and social/cultural groups.
Brian has volunteered his time and accepted leadership roles with the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, the Mid-American Greek Council Association of Fraternity Advisors Foundation, Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, Drum Corps International, and the Children’s Miracle Network. In 2002, Brian led a study abroad experience to Greece with Sigma Phi Epsilon and a team from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He has received numerous honors and awards for his commitment to student development and the advancement of the American college fraternity. Brian has also presented workshops and seminars at the local, regional, national, and international level.
Back to Staff List

Paul Valdez (Living Learning Coordinator – Leadership Development Specialist)

Paul is a doctoral student in Higher Education Administration at Bowling Green State University and currently serves as the Assistant Director for Co-Curricular Programs within the BGSU Office of Service-Learning. He is originally from the small mountain town of Walsenburg, Colorado. Paul completed his undergraduate degree in Paleobiology at BGSU. In 2004, Paul moved to Indiana University in Bloomington, where he completed a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs. As a professional in higher education, Paul has worked for Semester at Sea (Fall 2007), the BGSU Honors Program, the BGSU Office of Campus Activities, and most recently the BGSU Office of Service-Learning. Paul has also studied abroad through the BGSU United Kingdom Study Tour, which included visiting institutions of higher education in Scotland and England. As an avid traveler and explorer, Paul has developed research interests in the areas of international higher education and queer experiences in higher education. When not at work, Paul volunteers as a board member for Equality Toledo, an advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equal rights in northwest Ohio.
Back to Staff List

Nathan Victoria (Living Learning Coordinator: Intercultural Competency & Diversity)

Nathan is the Assistant Director of Educational Programs and Social Media for NASPA-Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, the leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, and practice. He works with volunteers of the NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program, a mentoring program for traditionally underrepresented and historically disenfranchised populations, The Placement Exchange, a job board and career services placement event before NASPA’s annual conference, and leads all NASPA’s initiatives in social media. Although the prospects of being a dancing psychologist were tempting (Nathan received his bachelor of arts in dance and psychology at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT), he decided to whisk himself off to University of Vermont's Master of Education program in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration. There, his assistantship was academic support in the student services department for the College of Education and Social Services. Nathan believes in giving back to those who have brought him to where he is today, and he proudly serves as a class agent for the Wesleyan Fund, vice chair for the Wesleyan Club of Washington, D.C., and member of the Diversity Committee of ASAE - The Center for Association Leadership. He looks forward to his first voyage with Semester at Sea, hoping to connect students’ experiences with the exploration of their identity development.
Back to Staff List