President Gary Ransdell was announced today as the next president and CEO of the Semester at Sea study abroad program according to a Semester at Sea press release.

Ransdell has served on the Board of Trustees for the Semester at Sea program for the past four years. His new duties as the Semester at Sea president will begin on Jan. 1, 2018, according to an email sent to WKU faculty and staff announcing the selection.

“The timeline is important because it allows me to stay with my plans for 2017,” Ransdell said in the email. “The important message to our campus community is that I am very much ‘all in’ as the WKU President until June 30. There will be no distractions, or any reason to divide my attention.” 

Semester at Sea is a study abroad program operated by the nonprofit Institute for Shipboard Education taking students around the world on a ship, visiting countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and North America, according to its website.

In his email, Ransdell said he is not ready to fully retire and would like to have the opportunity to “write one more chapter” in his higher education career.

“This opportunity will allow me to remain fully engaged with students and faculty from some of America’s leading colleges and universities,” Ransdell said in his issued statement regarding the selection. “It also brings my passion for global learning into full focus.” 

The Herald will have more information as this story develops.