Semester at Sea celebrates 60th anniversary with keynote address by author, alum Rachel Louise Snyder

The Institute for Shipboard Education/Semester at Sea will celebrate its 60th anniversary later this month with a keynote lecture by Guggenheim Fellow and best-selling author Rachel Louise Snyder at Colorado State University.

The Semester at Sea alum, whose new memoir Women We Buried, Women We Burned was recently featured in The Washington Post and The New York Times, will anchor an Oct. 19 celebration at 5:30 p.m. in the Lory Student Center Theatre on the campus of Colorado State University.

Rachel Louise Snyder
Photo by Don Rutledge

The event, which is being co-hosted by the Office of International Programs at CSU, is free and open to the campus community and general public. KUNC-Northern Colorado Public Radio and The Colorado Sound is the event’s media sponsor. ISE President and CEO Scott Marshall, CSU President Amy Parsons and others will appear at the event.

CSU has been the Semester at Sea academic partner since 2016.

About Snyder

Snyder is a critically acclaimed author, journalist and professor known for her thought-provoking work on social justice, global issues and interpersonal dynamics. Her new memoir begins by detailing her time on Semester at Sea and includes a full chapter dedicated to her transformative experience on board — an experience she detailed in an extensive interview on NPR this summer. Her experiences with the program, she says, profoundly influenced her worldview and ignited her passion for exploring and addressing global challenges.

Snyder’s bestselling books, including No Visible Bruises and Fugitive Denim, have garnered critical acclaim and have been instrumental in raising awareness about critical social issues. Her commitment to shedding light on topics that impact society aligns with Semester at Sea’s mission to foster global citizenship and cultural understanding. Notable features include those appearing in The New York Times, NPR and Time Magazine.

The 60th anniversary celebration promises to be a memorable event, bringing together alumni, faculty, staff and supporters of Semester at Sea.

“We are honored to have Rachel Louise Snyder as our guest speaker for this momentous occasion,” Marshall said. “Her journey as a Semester at Sea student and her dedication to social justice issues exemplify the spirit of global citizenship that we strive to instill in our students. We look forward to her inspiring words as we celebrate 60 years of transformative education and cultural exchange.”

While registration is not required, attendees are asked to register to help estimate food and beverage needs for the event. To learn more, visit the Semester at Sea website at www.semesteratsea.org/60th-anniversary.

About Semester at Sea

Semester at Sea is a global study abroad program that has been offering transformative educational voyages since 1963. With a mission to educate students with the global understanding necessary to address the challenges of our interdependent world, Semester at Sea provides an unparalleled experiential learning opportunity by sailing to multiple countries, immersing students in diverse cultures, and fostering lifelong connections.