Meet Dr. Kris Von Wald: Tall Ships America’s New Executive Director Tall Ships America welcomes Dr. Kris Von Wald as its new executive director at the close of 2018, after the loss last summer of Captain Bert Rogers, who led the organization since 2008. The lead author and investigator for the Sail Training Programme Evaluation Self-Assessment Toolkit, Von Wald’s experience, among a long list of professional achievements, includes serving as chief executive of the Association for Experiential Education and the Hibernian Community Foundation in Edinburgh, Scotland. The National Maritime Historical Society has enjoyed a long and robust relationship with Tall Ships America, as both organizations share mutual goals in the preservation, promotion, and stewardship of maritime traditions, skills, and heritage. Included in a Memorandum of Understanding between the organizations, NMHS members have become members of Tall Ships America and benefits include newsletters, notifications, membership cards, and member discounts to its events, and other miscellaneous benefits of membership. Tall Ships America enables NMHS members to purchase its inclusive publication Sail Tall Ships! for $10, inclusive of shipping and handling (representing a 50% discount from the normal retail cost). We know that taking charge of an organization after the abrupt passing of a beloved director can be a tough challenge, and we welcome Dr. Von Wald and wish her the best in her new role as she seeks to steer the organization to a bright and healthy future. We look forward to supporting and collaborating with the crew of Tall Ships St. Lawrence II, a brigantine out of Kingston, Ontario, leads the threemasted schooner Denis Sullivan, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during a America in their future endeavors. previous Great Lakes TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® Series. Both vessels — Burchenal Green, NMHS President and will be among the participating ships in this summer’s race series. Deirdre O’Regan, Editor, Sea History “It seems like a long journey that has taken me from the peaks of the Colorado 14ers to the sea, but I am excited to embark on this next chapter as I assume the conn of Tall Ships America. This move welcomes me back to the world of youth development, outdoor and adventure education, and nonprofit management, while being part of a community dedicated to the relentless pursuit of positive impact for all who come aboard. It is a time of change for the organization, as we set our sights on the horizon and set a course for the future of tall ships and sail training. The job of Tall Ships America is to ensure the ships in the tall ships fleet and their programs are robust with high-quality standards, safe learning environments, and top-notch crews, who have access to continuing education and professional training. We strive to make sure the public is drawn to the TALL SHIPS CHALLENGE® ports and that our fleet is recognized for its positive contributions to the economic, social, and environmental good of ports. We promote what we do, not only to the young people we hope to get onboard member vessels, but to future employers, showing them that time served in a tall ship pays dividends. We continue to share in the exploration of good practices and engage in evidence-based improvement, serving as a leader in the field of developing future leaders. It is an exciting time ahead. I’m delighted to be aboard.” —Kris Von Wald, Executive Director, Tall Ships America 44
SEA HISTORY 166, SPRING 2019