We're finalizing the Enrichment Sessions for the Passage Through Panama Enrichment Voyages. The following speakers are confirmed for voyages as indicated below, and more will be announced soon..

Iain Campbell - Biology and Astronomy -- Dr. Campbell earned a B.Sc. (1st class honors and dux) and Ph.D., both in chemistry, from the University of Glasgow, Scotland. Recently retired from the University of Pittsburgh, his teaching record includes courses in marine biology, biochemistry, microbiology, infectious diseases, biological and cosmic evolution, general biology, biochemistry, astronomy, the Protestant Reformation and Scottish malt whiskey. He has received the University of Pittsburgh Chancellor's Distinguished Teaching Award, Tina and David Bellet Teaching Excellence Award, University of Pittsburgh and the Smith Memorial Prize, University of Glasgow. On the Enrichment Voyages, he will offer sessions on Astronomy, Birds of the Caribbean, and to celebrate Darwin's 200th birthday, "In the Wake of the Beagle: A Look at Evolution." (May 8 & 22, 2009)

Ricardo Padrón - History and Literature -- Ricardo Padrón (Ph.D., Harvard University; M.A., University of Chicago; B.A., University of Virginia) is an Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Virginia. He is in his twelfth year of teaching at U.Va., where he offers graduate and undergraduate courses on the literature and culture of the early modern Hispanic world, courses on Don Quixote and on the cultural history of the conquest of the Americas. He has carried out research in Spain, and has lived part of his life in Ecuador, his native country. His research on narrative and cartographic expressions of the Spanish imperial imagination has been supported by various grants and fellowships, including one from the American Council of Learned Societies. His Enrichment Sessions will focus on Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, History of the Spanish Conquest and Latin American Literature. (May 8 & 22, 2009)

Judy Lunn and Rita Enders - Technology -- The Judy and Rita team will provide Enrichment Sessions on some hot topics in today's technological world such as Blogging, Digital Photography, File Management and making self-published "books" of one's travels. Judy and Rita both love teaching and have spent the past ten years as computer instructors for Elderhostel, Gateway Computers, and the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, California. They also offer private lessons in homes and businesses across the Coachella Valley in a variety of computer-based subjects including Microsoft Office applications, digital music, photography and videography. (May 8 & 22, 2009)

Kenneth Munro - Central American History and Culture -- Kenneth Munro holds a degree in International Marketing as well as a Master's license for ocean-going vessels, unlimited tonnage. He has sailed worldwide on general cargo and cruise ships as Deck Officer, Supercargo and Master. He has lived and worked in several Central American and South American countries and currently serves as Director of Turismo Nuevo Mundo, a tour company that provides travel opportunities in Central and South America. Kenneth's Enrichment Sessions will focus on his expertise and first-hand experience with the history, culture and current events of Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua. (May 8 & 22, 2009)

Max Brandt - Music and Anthropology -- Dr. Brandt earned a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from The Queen's University of Belfast in Northern Ireland and M.A. from UCLA. He served as Chief Academic Officer for the Institute for Shipboard Education from 1979-2007. Max has taught Music in Latin America and Introduction to World Music for twenty-five years. He has conducted research and fieldwork in ethnomusicology, anthropology and folklore in Mexico, Panama, Venezuela and Ireland. He loves to sing, especially in barbershop quartets, and also collects musical instruments from around the world. His Enrichment Sessions will focus on the music, folklore and anthropology of our ports-of-call. (May 8 & 22, 2009)


Louis Patler - Organizational Development, Leadership and Innovation -- Award-winning author, speaker and consultant, Louis Patler is President of the B.I.T. Consulting Group, a strategic and organizational development company. Louis brings pioneering technologies for identifying emerging business and consumer trends, organization culture/integration solutions, and strategic initiatives to Fortune 500 companies, multi-national corporations and foreign governments. England's BBC-TV, SKY-TV and Canada's CBC-Radio praised him as one of America’s new breed of business thought leaders and J. Walter Thompson Agency named him one of "The 20 Most Creative Minds in America." Louis has held faculty positions at three universities and lectured at schools such as the University of San Francisco, Stanford University and Mendoza School of Business, Notre Dame. He will present Enrichment Sessions on Business Strategies at Work in Latin America, Trends in Social and Economic Leadership Styles, and Emergent Global Perspectives/Generational Values. (May 8 & 22, 2009)

Jamie Sheridan - Communications -- Jamie is a Professor and Program Coordinator of the Broadcast Television &anp; Videography Program at Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. Prior to joining Humber, Jamie worked for many of the major broadcasters in Canada as a camera operator, and editor. While at CTV, Jamie had the opportunity to travel internationally on assignment. He was responsible for all aspects of production while in the field including interviews with many political and business leaders. Jamie's enrichment sessions will focus on a comparison of the media and its role between Latin & North America, and the impact of company logos and advertising methods. (May 8, 2009)

Mary Lendway - Tourism -- Mary is Professor and Program Coordinator of the Tourism Management Program at the School of Hospitality, Recreation and Tourism, Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning in Toronto, Canada. Mary holds an MBA in Tourism and Hospitality Management from the University of Guelph. She is a seasoned tourism industry professional, has successfully started and managed a retail travel service and tour operations business, and has been a key player in large event organization and management. Mary's Enrichment Sessions will focus on topics such as Sustainability or Green Tourism, World Tourism Development, and Responsible Tourism. (May 8, 2009)

Ciel Duke - Artist in Residence -- Ciel will provide art workshops such as sketching, water colors, and copper tooling. Ms. Duke will also provide lectures on the artists, Frida Kahlo and Earl Bailly. Recently retired from 25 years of teaching high school Art and Math, Ms. Duke has launched an active painting career, with recent one-woman shows in Nova Scotia, where she spends several months each year, and gallery showings in Alaska and Arizona. Ciel Duke has shared her art with many audiences, and she has often remarked, "Anyone can learn to draw." After participating in Ciel’s workshops, many participants have come away with a big boost in their artistic confidence and with the feeling that Ciel's statement just might be true! (May 8, 2009)