When Lisa Slavid, a five-time Semester at Sea voyager, thinks of the overall impact of the SAS experience, one word immediately comes to mind: transformational.
“I see the total transformational power of this learning experience–both for students, but also faculty and staff and Lifelong Learners,” Lisa said. “There’s just nothing else out there like it.”
A higher education leader and executive coach, Lisa first sailed in Spring 1998 as a Resident Director and went on to serve as Dean of Students in Summer 2007 and Fall 2012, Assistant Executive Dean in Fall 2017, and, most recently, as a partial Lifelong Learner in Fall 2023. She has also served as a past Alumni Association President, member of the Board of Trustees, and, in Fall 2026, Lisa will return to sea once again–this time as Executive Dean.
For Lisa, one of the most awe-inspiring moments in her own SAS journey came during a field program in Varanasi, India, focused on exploring diversity within religion. “We happened to be in Varanasi during a major holiday called Chhath Puja, a celebration of the sun. We were out on the Ganges during sunrise, and when the sun rose, around 300,000 people were lining the banks, and they all just erupted in joyous music. Everyone on that field program felt such humility and beauty and wonder in that moment,” Lisa said. “And to get to share that with so many cool students who became friends was just incredible.”
A long-time resident of Santa Barbara, California, and now bi-coastal with a home in Western Massachusetts, Lisa continues to feel inspired by the many people she meets through the program. “Every time I sit down and have a conversation with somebody from SAS, they just blow my mind,” she said. “The people I’ve sailed with, and even those I’ve just met at reunions, have become an incredible cohort and community of people.”
Lisa’s support of Semester at Sea includes not just her time and leadership on voyages, but also in her philanthropy. As a proud member of The 1963 Society, Lisa has committed to leaving the program with a legacy gift that will help future generations set sail. The 1963 Society is an honorary association established in appreciation of those alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends who have informed the Institute that Semester at Sea is included in their estate plans through a bequest or a beneficiary designation on retirement assets, insurance, or bank accounts.
Lisa’s giving–both through The 1963 Society and through her other contributions of time and financial support–is grounded in a belief that the program offers something no other educational experience can. “I always feel like when I’m on Semester at Sea, I am getting a glimpse into the future,” she said. “It’s an honor to get to hear what the students are learning and thinking about. Because they are the future. To have a conversation as you’re sailing away from a country and hearing what a student is thinking about, and what that trip sparked in them, is a look into the future of our world.”
To those considering joining The 1963 Society, Lisa offers this encouragement: “Think about the impact the program had on you. I would encourage you to call up a former shipmate you sailed with and ask them one way they think Semester at Sea changed their life. And then, I would encourage everyone in the conversation to think about how to help keep this program going–part of that is through giving back to the program in an ongoing way. And every dollar counts, big or small.”
Through her ongoing leadership and generosity, Lisa Slavid ensures that the spirit of Semester at Sea—and the life-changing journeys it makes possible–will continue to thrive for decades to come.
To learn more about The 1963 Society or to discuss your estate plan options, please contact the Planned Giving Team at giving@isevoyages.org.
