Faculty & Staff

Dr. Anderson is a Geology Professor and the Winchester Distinguished Scholar at the University of Northern Colorado. His research focuses on how active lava flow surfaces are influenced by volcanic behavior. He has published more than 40 peer-reviewed scientific articles, including four in Nature. He has studied active volcanoes in more than a dozen countries, and is funded by NASA to study lava flows on Mars and Venus. He has been interviewed by the BBC, the Discovery Channel, and the New York Times regarding his work on active volcanoes. Dr. Anderson received several awards as an educator, including the EPA’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Environmental Education. One of his greatest passions is teaching in field settings, and he has taught field courses for 7 different universities.

Bradley J. Bond, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Communication. His research examines the development and maintenance of parasocial relationships with media personae and the influence of media on identity and outgroup attitudes. Much of his current work focuses on the depiction of marginalized individuals in entertainment media and the effects of exposure on identity, stereotypes, and prejudices. He currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Communication. He also extends his work into the entertainment industry, consulting for major content creators in film, television, video games, and online video.

Born in Washington DC, grew up in Virginia, Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya and Benin, Africa. Education faculty member at the University of Wyoming for 22 years, with a Fulbright award in Riga, Latvia, and sabbatical in Benin with an integrative arts NGO. Extensive world travel, speaks French and Swahili. Co-owner of ranch in Laramie, Wyoming, raising and training horses and raising hay commercially.

Scott Denning is passionate about understanding and explaining the Earth and the larger cosmos from which we’re made. A world-renowned climate scientist, he led a large research group using many kinds of observations and models to understand the metabolism of the Earth’s biosphere. His research has included extensive field work in the great north woods of Wisconsin, the farms of Iowa, and the Amazon rainforest. He was Director of Education & Outreach for a major climate research center, working with K-12, undergraduate, and graduate students as well as informal education and public presentations. An engaging and sought-after public speaker, Denning is also an extraordinary astrophotographer. He spends clear moonless nights imaging the galaxy from remote dark sites in the Rocky Mountains.

Andrea Duffy, Ph.D., serves as assistant vice provost and associate professor of history at Colorado State University. Her research examines human-environmental relations around the world in the modern era, with an emphasis on imperialism and colonial contexts, cross-cultural connections, and the role of climate change. She is the author of numerous publications including the award-winning book Nomad’s Land: Pastoralism and French Environmental Policy in the Nineteenth-Century Mediterranean World (University of Nebraska Press, 2019).

John R. Duffy, Ph.D., is a cognitive neuroscientist whose work explores how mindfulness shapes brain connectivity and enhances mental health interventions. His research integrates neuroimaging (MRI), connectivity analysis, and psychometrics to examine the value of mindfulness-based interventions in treating psychopathology and helping people thrive. Currently a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard Medical School, he collaborates with the Dana Foundation and Harvard’s Neurotech Justice Accelerator to improve accessibility and ethical applications of neurotechnology. He has extensive teaching experience and a passion for making neuroscience impactful and inclusive.

Sal Genovese is a Senior Lecturer in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Boston University’s College of General Studies. Trained as a marine biologist with research interests focused at the intersection of oceanography and subtidal benthic marine ecology, his research has examined population and community dynamics of corals and other marine invertebrates and algae in the Gulf of Maine, the Caribbean and Florida Keys, French Polynesia and Antarctica. He previously served as faculty on the SAS Summer 2013 and Spring 2015 voyages.

In all of Laurie Glover’s work, she thinks about humans’ relationships to place: how they make themselves at home, how they treat the habitats and homelands of others. This has led her to seek out unusual teaching assignments and to write across many genres. For example, after spending three years leading study abroad programs in Sydney, Australia, she completed a travel memoir, Travelling Alone in the Company of Others, and she is currently in the midst of finishing a book of poetry arising from a shipboard residency in the Arctic seas of Svalbard, halfway between Norway and the North Pole. Upon return from the Fall 2023 voyage, she will be taking up a part-time position in the Environment, Spirituality and Religion graduate program at the California Institute of Integrated Studies.

Dr. Molly J. Gutilla is an Associate Professor in Epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health and in Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University. With expertise in epidemiology, public health data, and community-driven solutions, her work addresses population health through teaching, research, and practice. She holds a DrPH in Epidemiology from the University of Colorado and Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees from The Ohio State University. Dr. Gutilla is known for her student-centered, inclusive teaching. She mentors graduate students, serves on interdisciplinary committees, and leads initiatives to improve teaching and learning. Her research focuses on environmental epidemiology, social determinants of health, and public health data.

Michelle Inderbitzin is an Associate Professor of Sociology in the School of Public Policy at Oregon State University. Her work and research center around juvenile justice, prison culture, and transformative education. Along with her on-campus classes, Professor Inderbitzin has spent her career regularly teaching and volunteering in state prisons and youth correctional facilities. In addition, she has led more than 10 summer study abroad programs to London. Professor Inderbitzin has received a number of awards for her teaching and engagement, including the American Society of Criminology’s lifetime Teaching Award. Being selected as a faculty member for Semester at Sea is fulfilling a bucket list goal!

Todd H. Kuethe is a Professor and Schrader Chair in Farmland Economics in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University. Todd has an active research and extension program in farm real estate markets, agricultural finance, and agricultural policy. His work has been profiled in a number of major media outlets including the New York Times, Washington Post, The Economist, National Public Radio, and VICE. He has won a number of national research and teaching awards. Todd previously worked at the University of Illinois and the USDA Economic Research Service and served as Editor of Agricultural Finance Review. Todd is also a consultant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

An educator at several U.S. institutions of higher learning and in the Czech Republic, an interdisciplinary and an international scholar, a former director of the Center for the Study of Human Trafficking and Interpersonal Violence, and the Fall 2019 Voyage Director of Global Studies. Areas of expertise include teaching International and Global Studies, Global Migration, Social Movements and Human Rights, and Films and the World, introductory and upper-level courses in History. A founder and a member of several nonprofit organisations in the U.S. and in the Czech Republic.

Elvira Masson is College Professor of History at New Mexico State University, where she focuses on East Asian History, specifically the cultural histories of China, Vietnam, Korea, and Japan. Prof. Masson is also based in the Department of Language & Literature, where she teaches introductory Linguistics courses and is the former Head of the Chinese Language program. In the Honors College, she teaches courses on Buddhism and Chinese Literature. Over her teaching career, she has also taught courses in Chinese theater and film, gender and sexuality studies, American History, and Chinese language. A former study abroad student herself, Prof. Masson has developed and led numerous study abroad programs for high school, college, and lifelong learners in China. Her favorite maxim: “Begin again.”

Dr. Chris Melby has served as a professor at Purdue University and Colorado State University for 43 years. He served for 12 years as Head of the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at CSU in addition to his regular faculty appointment. His research and teaching focuses on human metabolism and the role of nutrition and physical activity to reduce risk factors for hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease with an emphasis on improving health inequities. He has published more than 100 research papers in nutrition, health science, and medical journals, and taught graduate and undergraduate classes in nutrition, exercise physiology, epidemiology, and metabolism. Chris has lived and worked in the Middle East, Australia, and South America.

Dr. Teboho Moja is a Professor of Higher Education at New York University. She is an expert on higher education systems and in particular on African higher education systems. She was instrumental in the transformation of the higher education system in South Africa, serving as the Executive Director and being a Commissioner of the National Commission of Higher Education, appointed by the late President Nelson Mandela.

She is the recipient of several distinguished awards, including the Lifetime Achiever by the National Research Foundation and an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Pretoria in South Africa, as well as the Martin Luther King Junior Award and the James Weldon Johnson Distinguished Faculty Award in the USA.

Juliane Mora, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Communication Studies at Gonzaga University teaching classes on meaning-making, power & identity; struggle & resistance; and the politics of space & place. She has taught communication content across the curriculum to students in the humanities, sciences, engineering, and business at 5 different institutions across the U.S. Additionally, she holds a position as Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Pedagogy in the Center for Teaching and Advising where she works to facilitate understanding and implementation of inclusive teaching practices by instructors across disciplines. Her research foregrounds critical communication pedagogy at the college level, particularly the practices educators use to work for social justice through classroom instruction.

Kimberly Poitevin is Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Salem State University in Salem, Massachusetts, where she coordinates the university’s honors program. Dr. Poitevin’s scholarship has focused on women’s roles in the construction of racial identities in the early modern world. Her translations of the Guatemalan poet Manuel Jose Arce have been published in the North American Review. Over her teaching career, Dr. Poitevin has taught a wide range of courses, from first-year seminars to Shakespeare, world literature, medical humanities, women’s and gender studies, and research methods. She is thrilled to be joining the voyage with her partner Sal, and son Julien (16).

Dr. Jennifer Reinke is an Associate Professor and Coordinator of Experiential Learning in the Department of Human Development & Family Studies (HDFS) at Colorado State University. She has led service-learning study abroad programs in sub-Saharan Africa, including a program focused on supporting children with disabilities in South Africa and a program focused on community education and health in Zambia. Dr. Reinke teaches undergraduate courses in HDFS and oversees the HDFS practicum and internship programs. She is a CSU Faculty Institute for Inclusive Excellence Fellow and CSU Teaching Effectiveness Fellow, and is also a Certified Family Life Educator and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She is joined on this voyage by her partner, Jonathan, and 9-year-old twins, Reece and Rowan

Lori currently works as the Reference Librarian/Associate Professor at Luzerne County Community College in northeastern Pennsylvania. She began her library career working at several of the Boston College Libraries. A life-long learner, Lori loves learning new skills and has obtained post-graduation certificates in Digital Public Humanities from George Mason University and Publishing from Emerson College. Lori served in the U.S. Peace Corps, teaching at colleges in Sichuan, China for two years. She also taught English in Kyoto, Japan for a year and in Singapore for three months. Lori has built houses with Habitat for Humanity Global Village and Fuller Center Global Builders which took her to Samoa, Egypt, Paraguay, South Africa, Romania, Madagascar and Portugal.

Professor Joy Shields is a marketing educator, consultant, and researcher whose work explores how sensory marketing, specifically touch and haptic engagement, influences consumer perception and decision-making in physical and digital spaces. With experience spanning Fortune 500 campaigns, CPG strategy, and international education, she brings a practice-informed perspective to the classroom. She is known for creating experiential learning environments that blend theory with application that reflect today’s evolving marketing landscape. Dr. Shields is a recipient of the 2023 George Award and the Engaged Management Scholarship Outstanding Proposal Award. Her work has been recognized by the American Academy of Advertising and the Journal of Advertising.

Shauhin Talesh is Professor of Law at the University of California, Irvine, with courtesy appointments in Sociology and Criminology, Law & Society. His research interests include the empirical study of law and business organizations, dispute resolution, consumer protection, insurance, and the relationship between law and social inequality. Professor Talesh is considered one of the leading scholars on organizational responses to law and compliance and the relationship between insurance, regulation and inequality. Talesh’s scholarship has won multiple awards in Sociology, Political Science and Law & Society. He was voted by UCI Law Students 1L Professor of the Year in 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22 and Teacher of the Year in 2022 by the Association of American Law Schools.

Nina Tannenwald is Senior Lecturer in the Political Science Department at Brown University. Her research focuses on the role of international institutions, norms and ideas in global security issues, efforts to control weapons of mass destruction, and human rights and the laws of war. Her book, The Nuclear Taboo: The United States and the Non-use of Nuclear Weapons Since 1945 was awarded the Lepgold Prize in 2009 for best book in international relations. She has taught at Stanford and Cornell universities and served as a Franklin Fellow in the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation in the U.S. State Department. In 2023 she spent six months as Fulbright Visiting Professor of International Studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna.

Samuel M. Tham is an associate professor in the department of Journalism and Media Communication at Colorado State University. As a media psychologist, Tham’s research interests lies in the domain of digital advertising, ad avoidance, and problematic media use especially in social media and video gaming. Prior to academia, Tham worked in the advertising and public relations industry for over a decade, first as a founder of his online gaming company, then as an advertising account executive, and later in corporate communications. His return to academia after a successful industry career was driven towards mentoring students and developing their research toward careers in academia and industry.

Diego Vega is a proud citizen of Costa Rica and will be happy to share his views about the political, economic, and cultural landscape of his own country. Spanish is his first language. He has had the privilege of sailing as a faculty member with Semester at Sea in Fall 2016, Spring 2018, Fall 2019 (interport lecturer for Costa Rica), and Spring 20223. He understands culture and ethnicity through experience.
He is a Psychology professor and a holds a full-time private practice in Costa Rica.
As a practicing couples’ therapist for more than 20 years, he has work with many Costa Rican and U.S. couples living in Costa Rica. His research interests include: trust issues in romantic relationships, understanding culture and ethnicity, aging, and bilingualism.

Jing Zhai is an independent scholar with a Ph.D. in History from the University of Texas at Austin (2023). Her dissertation, “Raising the Communist Successors: Childrearing in Rural China (1953–1983),” examines the transformation of childcare during the commune system, where care evolved from family-based practices to state-organized systems of early education. Her research uses grassroots sources like county archives and interviews.

Zhai’s teaching and research focus on socialist culture, everyday life, gender and sexuality, childhood, and social history. Her article, “Childhood under Collectivism,” was published in the Journal of Chinese Women’s Studies (2017), a leading academic journal in China.

Elle has worked in higher education for five years, driven by a passion for international education. She is committed to supporting students’ growth in perspective, intercultural competence, and global citizenship. Her purpose was sparked during the Spring 2019 Semester at Sea voyage; an experience so transformative it inspired her to pursue a career promoting equitable access to educational and professional opportunities abroad.

A travel enthusiast and checklist fiend, Elle is currently on a mission to check off all 63 U.S. national parks (33 down!) and all 30 Major League Baseball ballparks (20 down!). Originally from Michigan, she now calls Phoenix, Arizona home.

Sarah Burroughs (she/her/they) grew up in Richmond, Virginia and attended Virginia Tech, where her love for understanding human behavior drove her to major in Psychology and work as an undergrad researcher for VT’s Center of Applied Behavior Systems. Her passion for behavioral science and group dynamics also led her to Columbia University’s Organizational Psychology program, where she graduated with her MA in 2019. She also holds an Advanced Certificate in Cooperation and Conflict Resolution from Columbia. Since 2019, Sarah has worked in organizations helping individuals, managers, and teams become more successful in their professional roles. Sarah’s passion for fostering and instilling empathetic leadership in organizations and institutions motivates her continued work in the field.

Ashley has worked abroad for most of her adult life, having lived and worked in 6 different countries. Highlights of this time include completing the Peace Corps in Moldova and teaching in China. Most recently, Ashley has been working in Higher Education at Northeastern University, supporting students who complete their first semester of university abroad as part of The N.U.in Program. Ashley believes international experiences are transformative, and she is looking forward to embarking on this incredible journey and learning more about all the fantastic students, staff, and faculty who will be on board.

Jennifer retired in 2019 from a 30 year career as a Plant Physiologist for the USDA and within 48 hours was on her way to California to join the SP2020 voyage as a staculty companion. The challenges of that pandemic trip cemented her interest in traveling and living with younger adults and kindled her love of voyaging aboard the MV World Explorer. She particularly enjoys sojourning in ports around the world with her husband and with Field Program groups. Her current favorite quote is “Equal rights for all does not mean fewer rights for you! It’s not pie!”. Jennifer encourages you to stop by the reception desk, so she can get to know you a bit and offer her support as we travel together.

Tyler has worked in various capacities within Student Affairs since 2017, including orientation, residential life and housing, service-learning, leadership development, outdoor programs, and assessment. He finds the most joy in supporting students in their personal growth and seeing the connections they build with each other when taking on challenging endeavors. Most recently, Tyler moved from North Carolina to Oregon, where he has been working in Residential Life to support on-campus residents. His enthusiasm for seeking new opportunities has led him to Semester at Sea, where he is excited to guide students in creating meaningful experiences of their own.

Dr. Miya Elie, MD, is a physician with clinical experience in both the United States and the United Kingdom. She has served in women’s health and mental health settings, including the NHS psychiatric ward, where she supported patients experiencing acute crises with empathy and calm leadership. Passionate about global health, education, and cultural connection, Dr. Elie is committed to promoting wellness and emotional resilience within the Semester at Sea community. Her approach centers on compassionate care, advocacy, and cultural understanding while fostering a safe and supportive shipboard environment.

Camryn Harris is a 2025 Master’s graduate who lived and studied in Florence, Italy. She is originally from North Carolina and has also lived in Maryland. She has a passion for law and has worked in all levels of government, including Congress, the MD State Senate, the NC Governor’s office, and for a local bipartisan non-profit. Camryn loves to travel and caught the travel bug when she went on the Semester at Sea Spring 2023 voyage. She has traveled to over 20 countries in the last two years and is excited to continue her journey to see the world. She believes in the importance of studying abroad to learn diverse perspectives and broaden your understanding of different cultures. Camryn is super excited to meet, support, and learn from the students and staculty on the Spring 26 voyage!

Lauren (L.J.) is a lifelong international educator with a passion for cultural exchange and transformational learning. She has served as an AD of Residence Life at UC San Diego, worked as a Program Director/Training School Instructor with Education First. L.J. has traveled to 75 countries and all 50 U.S. states, experiences that shaped her belief in the value of connecting with people and places across cultures. She has led student groups on projects in Honduras, Peru, Ecuador, and Indonesia, and most recently pre-veterinary programs in Costa Rica. Originally from the tiny town of Defiance, Missouri and now based in Globeville, Colorado, she is thrilled to join her 5th SAS voyage and looks forward to sharing new adventures and perspectives at sea.

Addy is a professional videographer and photographer based in Raleigh, NC. He has a background in sports, travel and doc-style videography, as well as a strong passion for analog photography. He spends his summers in the Caribbean creating content for Broadreach, a scuba diving and sailing company, and is happiest in, on, under and around the water. He’s sailed previously as the videographer for the Spring 23 and Fall 23 Semesters.

Jami is a connector! Jami has been producing TEDx events since she founded the first TEDxSemesterAtSea in 2011. She is the Producer of TEDxStGeorge and Produces TEDxSanDiego. Her immersive events have amplified ideas that reach millions globally.

Through her Lifelong Learning Worldwide initiatives, Jami creates transformative experiences that revolve around how to live a rich and meaningful life. She is on the Advisory Board for The Multarity Project® and works on partnerships that unites people around challenging issues. Multarity Thinking™ combines AI-driven technology to analyze and map dialogue with symbology, resulting in deeper empathy and inspired insights for new solutions. Jami also works on strategic partnerships for Naqi Logix, a leading neurotechnology company.

Chris Lah is excited to serve as one of the Global Studies Coordinators for Semester at Sea. He is the COO and a partner at Lifelong Learning Worldwide. Previously, he spent 20+ years in healthcare operations, leading customer service at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) and holding leadership roles at the Mayfield Clinic and Ensemble Health Partners.

A committed educator and community builder, Chris has taught at Xavier University, coached speakers for TEDx communities in San Diego, St.George, TEDxOnBoard, and serves as Executive Director of TEDxCincinnati. Chris is an avid traveler who has circumnavigated the globe twice and visited all 50 states, he looks forward to helping students and being part of the SAS shipboard community.

Dan is a passionate facilitator of international experiences and a nomad at heart, having explored 52 countries (and counting!). For the past five years, he has traveled the world, working with students abroad and helping them discover the magic of stepping outside their comfort zones.

For the past 5 years in the fall semesters, Dan has supported Northeastern University’s first-year study abroad students as they completed their first semester at a European campus. In the springs, Dan has enjoyed leading gap year programs, teaching English in Austria, or working as an Outdoor Educator. Summers he has dedicated to mentoring teenagers by leading service and adventure programs with Rustic Pathways. Dan is excited to bring the energy and support our students on the Spring 2026 voyage!

Cat Mahoney is a filmmaker and storyteller passionate about adventure, the outdoors, and capturing life’s best moments. She grew up in upstate New York and moved to California to study at Chapman University, where she earned a B.F.A. in Animation and Visual Effects with double minors in Leadership Studies and Advertising. From interning in video production at KEEN Footwear to working as a videographer at Cheley Colorado Camps after graduation, Cat has developed her eye for visual storytelling. When she’s not behind the camera, you’ll find her hiking, camping, or backpacking- always chasing the next adventure. Cat is excited to join Semester at Sea to document the students voyage, help families experience the journey from afar, and tell stories from around the world.

Meg McGuffin (she/her) is a passionate, energetic, and empathetic student affairs professional dedicated to the holistic development of students and young people. Her work experience in higher education extends to numerous areas of expertise, including First Year Experience, Residential Life, Admissions, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and Accessibility Services. Meg’s career began at her alma mater, Auburn University, where she became inspired to improve issues of access and equity within higher education; her scholastic pursuits led her to Teachers College at Columbia University where she is currently a PhD candidate focused on the sociology of American higher education. Outside of work and scholastic pursuits, Meg is a classically trained dancer, certified fitness instructor, and cat mom.

Emily grew up in Ohio where she went to college, moved to Connecticut for graduate school and landed in Fort Collins, CO where she has lived for the past 12 years. Emily works at Colorado State University as a nurse practitioner in student health. Some of her passions include nature, animals, music and adventures of all kinds. This will be her second SAS voyage; she sailed as part of the medical team in Spring 2019 and is excited to be back!

Dr. Mary Pan is a board certified family medicine physician with a background in global health and narrative medicine. She has over 15 years in clinical practice in Seattle, has worked in rural settings in Kenya and the Dominican Republic, and has also served for the past five years as chief wellness officer at Kaiser Permanente Washington.

Dr. Pan is an avid writer, has earned her Media & Medicine certification from Harvard, and teaches narrative medicine to multidisciplinary healthcare students, practicing clinicians, and the general public. She recognizes the importance of attentive listening and storytelling in the practice of medicine.

She lives in north Seattle with her three children and is thrilled to be returning to SAS as a Fall 1998 alum!

Latasha is a licensed mental health counselor with a passion for supporting and empowering others on their journey to well-being. As a Mental Health and Wellness Counselor at Prince George’s Community College and owner of Building Blocks Counseling and Wellness, she provides counseling and dynamic wellness programs to help individuals thrive. A lifelong learner and entrepreneur, Latasha previously owned a poke’ bowl restaurant and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Urban Educational Leadership at Morgan State University. After proudly serving 20 years in the U.S. Coast Guard, she is excited to return to sea—this time as a mental health counselor with Semester at Sea—supporting voyagers through this transformative experience!

Lucy is a licensed clinical social worker with diverse experience working in medical and clinical mental health settings. Lucy began her career working with children and families, before moving into clinical practice with a focus on trauma, substance use, anxiety and co-occurring conditions. Lucy holds a faculty position at Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine, and teaches in the Masters of Social Work program at Boston University. Lucy is the Director of social work education at Dartmouth Health and enjoys this combination of clinical practice and teaching. Outside of work, Lucy spends as much time as possible outdoors in Vermont, with her family and golden retriever Waffles.

Doug holds a Doctorate in Education from NorthEastern University and brings a lifelong passion for working with children, teens, and families in a variety of educational settings. With a background as a public and private school teacher and administrator, and extensive experience in summer camp leadership, he blends educational expertise with creativity, play and fun. Doug is known for fostering environments where learning, laughter, and connection thrive and is most excited for the relationships and connections he and his family will build during this voyage while exploring the world. In his spare time Doug loves to golf, snowboard an spend time with his three children Milo, Bellamy and Otto.

Dr. Karen Rattenborg retired from Colorado State University in 2021 after a fulfilling 30-year career devoted to teaching, mentoring, and educational leadership. She taught more than 60 undergraduate and graduate courses in educational pedagogy, experiential learning, and grant writing, and spent her final decade leading CSU’s nationally recognized Early Childhood Center, a model for excellence in preparing early childhood professionals. Her passion for education has taken her across the globe—from earning a Fulbright Specialist Award at Kagawa University in Japan to advanced study of the Reggio Emilia approach in Italy. A Semester at Sea voyager in Fall 2018 and Fall 2022, Karen is delighted to once again join this vibrant community of learning, discovery, and exploration.

Deb Schneider is a clinical social worker with experience working in high school and university settings as well as in private practice. She has been providing care for Bay Area queer/trans/non-binary communities for over 20 years, specifically young queer adults. Deb strongly believes that community connections and care are imperative to shifting the factors that impact queer mental health. While Deb has lived in the Bay Area for over 20 years, they identify as an East Coaster where they were raised and went to college.

Though I am always keen to explore new places, I enjoy spending time in my home state of Colorado, walking my dogs, playing grass volleyball, and skiing at Arapahoe Basin. I love to discuss international human rights, experiential education, and new workout routines.
I am overjoyed to sail on Semester at Sea again! Having sailed as a first-year university student in Spring 2017 and in the field office on the Spring and Fall 2023 voyages, I recognize the value of the experience for young learners and travelers. I look forward to connecting with you on the voyage, whether on the sport court or on a field class!