Faculty & Staff

Shaun N. Crisler first sailed with Semester at Sea as a student in FA00 and has since returned in staff roles, including Assistant Dean of Students (SU09, SU12), Assistant Executive Dean (SP18), and Executive Dean (SP22). He has dedicated 15 years to higher education and currently serves as Associate Provost for Student Development at Le Moyne College, where he leads initiatives in student success, retention, and campus life. His career has centered on housing and residence life, with emphasis on communication, human resources, staff selection, training, and occupancy management. Shaun also writes and presents on professional development, career planning, and intercultural competence, and serves as an external reviewer for the ACUHO-I Standards and Middle States Accreditation process.

Ruth M. Alexander is Professor of History Emerita at Colorado State University. She was a faculty member on Semester at Sea in Spring 2025 and Fall 2025 and is thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as Academic Dean in Spring 2027. 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. She is an expert in oral history methodologies. In addition to teaching on Semester at Sea and at CSU’s Fort Collins campus, Ruth has taught 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.”

Ben Schrader, born and raised in Colorado, served in the US Army from 2001-2005. Ben then went to Colorado State University and double majored in Political Science and Sociology, as well as earned an MA in Ethnic Studies. Ben then went on to earn a PhD in Political Science from the University of Hawaii.

Ben returned to CSU to teach from 2014-2017. Ben then went to Central European University to complete a postdoc, then to teach at Bard College for the Globalization and International Affairs program. He then conducted a research project in Vietnam for the University of Dayton. He is currently the Director of Adult Learner and Veteran Services at CSU.

Carol is the Registrar at Colorado State University Pueblo, with over 25 years of leadership in higher education. She has served at Pueblo Community College, SMU, and UC San Diego, specializing in student services, academic advising, and systems like Ellucian Banner and DARS/uAchieve. A first-generation college graduate, Carol is passionate about student success. She lives in Pueblo with her husband Dan and is proud of their two adult CSU alumni children. Carol brings to Semester at Sea a deep commitment to global learning and community building.

Dr. Michele Pino has held leadership roles across college campuses for 25 years including serving as an RD on the Fall ’07 voyage. Since ’12, she has served as chapter rep for the Los Angeles SAS alumni assoc. Dr. Pino is passionate about equity, access, and holistic development, especially supporting first-gen students, as reflected in her dissertation research, Before the Journey: Pre-Departure Experiences and Challenges of First-Generation College Students Who Studied Abroad. She enjoys exploring cultures through food, traditions, and daily life and sharing these experiences with her spouse of 15 years and their three children, who will all join her on the voyage.

Cheryl grew up on the family’s wheat and cattle ranch at the foothills of the Blue Mountains in Southeastern Washington State. She worked for more than 30 years in higher education at 4-year public and private institutions, including community colleges, in international education and admissions. Cheryl moved back to the homestead in 2017 after working, living, and traveling on all 7 continents, visiting 43 countries. She loves swimming, bicycling, and hiking/recreating in the great outdoors. She values caring for the land, our world, and its people, and is a proud global citizen. She also enjoys learning languages, experiencing international cuisine, and is curious about other cultures.

Dr. Nikkii is a licensed and board-certified bilingual psychologist with a doctorate in School/Community Psychology. She holds master’s degrees in Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, and Administration & Supervision. Her career spans education, mental health, corrections, and international service, with a focus on trauma-informed care, equity, and student development. A veteran of multiple Semester at Sea voyages, Dr. Nikkii brings deep experience in crisis response, leadership, and global engagement. She is also a certified VXN dance fitness instructor who loves empowering others through movement and connection.