Audrey is an SAS alumnus, having traveled on two previous SAS voyages, including a Seminar at Sea in 2006-07 on which she took 25 family members! Audrey was an art teacher for 25 years and her love of the sea has involved her in activities including lighthouse keeper (15 years!), kayaking, and shelling. Audrey has traveled in 39 countries and all 50 U.S. states, which included climbing the tallest lighthouse in the U.S. (269 steps). She has become a favorite to many students who seek her out at meals and to become a member of her Extended Family.

Bob is a retired CEO whose business and personal pursuits have taken him to 56 countries. His modes of travel have been the usual and unusual, including yak and camel. In Bob's opinion, snow skiing is the only really important sport, and he writes skiing features for internet magazines and any other publication, as he says, that will accept his articles. His energy amazes even the most active of students on the voyage! Bob has embraced the intellectual opportunities on board and, during the day, you will find him diligently attending classes.

The Smiths have traveled extensively, in over 31 countries, as well as pursuing extended motor home trips in the U.S. and chartering sailboats for Caribbean adventures. This is their first SAS voyage, however. Their personal interests include cooking, gardening, bird watching, golf, theater, wine, and time with family - especially grandchildren. Remember the Concorde? Well, the Smiths circumnavigated the world on the Concorde in 1989! David, a retired physician, shares that he has met Bob Hope - twice!

Another SAS Alumnus (2005), Anne has several unique experiences in her life: she currently lives two blocks from where she grew up; she once crewed on a sailboat from Ft. Lauderdale, FL to Annapolis, MD; and she dined privately with Chief Justice Warren Burger on once occasion. She currently works as a Senior Vice President - Investments with a major firm and, when she can get time away, has traveled extensively in over 15 countries. While her many interests include opera and politics, one of her favorite activities is introducing her two grandchildren to experiences that will broaden their horizons. Anne has also embraced the spirit of SAS by consistently attending several classes each day at sea.

Entymology evolved as the career of choice for Stuart when he finally got eye glasses as a child and could actually observe and appreciate the details of the world about him. Stuart has worked as a museum curator and has also been very involved at a Florida university where he has cataloged over 100,000 species of insects. He has been instrumental in securing funding over the years to maintain a small but active and successful entymology program that has helped fund students in their pursuit of graduate degrees in the field. Stuart is a voracious reader and has many fascinating tales to tell.

Somehow during her working years, Wilma managed to become a well-traveled person in and outside of the U.S. She's actually cruised the St. Lawrence Seaway and has had nine adventures to Alaska, including one by vehicle. This is Wilma's first SAS voyage, and she has enjoyed soaking up the culture in all of the ports. She is accompanied on this cruise by her sister and brother-in-law, Nadine and David Vigdal. When she's not at sea, Wilma is involved in her community as a volunteer hospital "Pink Lady" as well as a volunteer with the Voluntary Action Center.

Nadine is the envy of all the LLL and other SAS participants as we hear of the many great books she has read and the remaining books she brought to read. David and Nadine are recent retirees (David was an executive for a sailboat manufacturer in Minnesota) and have joined SAS to soak up the culture and experiences this voyage has to offer. They are not novice travelers, however. Their list of adventures includes travels in 27 countries, including Estantia, Latvia, and Belarus.

It's ironic that we have a retired podiatrist on a voyage where extensive walking in port is the norm! Susan has joined the voyage along with her sister and brother-in-law, Lynn and Tom Walters, both of whom are faculty members. Susan is enjoying her time on ship learning how to sketch and enjoying meals and casual get-togethers with students and other LLL.

Jeffrey is one of those fortunate individuals who figured out how to work hard and retire early. We are fortunate that he has been living in Thailand for 12 years, so that we can draw from his knowledge and experiences to help us plan adventures in port. Jeffrey is a retired CPA who worked in the U.S. and abroad for a major accounting firm. He is devouring the classes on board, enjoying the intellectual challenges. He has tapped into his passion for history, so who knows - maybe after this voyage he will take the leap to start a second career as a history teacher!

Who said that LLL's have to be baby boomers! Jonathan, who participated in SAS 2003 as a student, has returned with his wife to share this incredible experience with her. Hopefully this time, however, the ship will not be diverted due to a major health crisis like the SARS crisis that affected Jonathan's previous voyage. Jonathan graduated with a degree in computer science and finance and Vanessa completed her master's degree in Education. They have recently moved from Pittsburgh to Arizona and decided this was a perfect time to travel before settling in again to new jobs. Vanessa volunteered to teach the dependent children, and the shipboard community and the kids have been in awe of her talent, efforts, and dedication. Jonathan has generously shared his talents in assisting the IT staff and in helping design and develop our voyage web site.

Ebony thought she was going to have a relaxing voyage to celebrate her recent graduation and years of hard work completing a degree in Applied Mathematics at Harvard University. In fact, because of her academic and leadership accomplishments, she has become involved with Prof. Strenecky in a leadership development class. Not only is Ebony preparing and conducting a few lectures, she is helping to advise and mentor students involved in a major leadership project. Ebony has also volunteered to tutor one of the dependent children in math, who has really bloomed under her tutelage. But, Ebony is also enjoying her involvement with the students and others on the voyage and has the best of all worlds being a youthful LLL!

There is always a silver lining, and Nancy is a perfect example. When her job of many years was not meant to continue, Nancy seized the opportunity to fulfill a dream. So, here she is on Fall 07 SAS, enjoying her new acquaintances and the incredible adventures on the many extended overnight trips she has selected to participate in. She is enjoying getting the "big picture" in all of the countries, so that she can circumnavigate again sometime in the near future and explore in more depth specific aspects of each country. Nancy has met many students and frequently dines with them and faculty, as well as other LLL. What better way to ease a transition into the next phase of life, right?!