Dr. David Swerdlow, Westminster College professor of English, will share his experiences during a Semester at Sea at Faires Faculty Forum Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 11:40 a.m. in the Sebastian Mueller Theater of the McKelvey Campus Center.

Swerdlow's presentation, "From Iceland to Egypt: Teaching at Sea," will focus on travel as one of the great ways of learning through experience.

Swerdlow was one of about 30 faculty teaching 725 students during the semester-long ocean voyage. He taught "20th Century Mediterranean Poetry" and "20th Century Mediterranean Fiction." He and his family visited ports in Spain, Italy, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Morocco.

"From riding camels at the pyramids in Egypt to witnessing the dance of Sufi whirling dervishes, our experiences were magical and, at times, life-changing," Swerdlow said. "Semester at Sea is one fine example of experiential learning."

Swerdlow's first Semester at Sea was in 2005. The positive evaluations from students, colleagues, and supervisors on that voyage prompted an invitation for his return for a second voyage.

"Teaching on Semester at Sea is one of the most intensive teaching experiences I've ever had," Swerdlow said. "It is also one of the most invigorating and exciting teaching experiences I've ever had. In other words, it's terrific, hard work."

Swerdlow, who has been with Westminster since 1990, earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland and master's and Ph.D. from Ohio University.

Faculty Forum was established in 1990 by Dr. Barbara Faires, Westminster professor of mathematics emerita, during her term as Dean of the College and Vice President for Academic Affairs. Faculty members from all disciplines volunteer to present lectures on their current research, artistic productions, and/or scholarship of teaching and learning. Each forum presents new ideas with innovative lecture techniques.

Contact Swerdlow at (724) 946-7345 or e-mail dswerdlw@westminster.edu for more information.

Dr. David Swerdlow