2010 Sultana Crew

Tanya Banks-Christensen - Captain:   A native of Philadelphia, and a cum-laude graduate of Alfred College, Tanya Banks-Christensen served as SULTANA’S First Mate in 2004 and Alternate Captain in 2008 before taking command for the 2009 season. Tanya has an impressive sailing resume that includes previous service as the Executive Captain of the schooner Quinnipiack out of New Haven, Connecticut.  Tanya has also served as Mate on several traditional sailing vessels including the schooners PROVIDENCE, A.J. MEERWALD, WESTWARD and SPIRIT OF MASSACHUSETTS.  Tanya holds a United States Coast Guard 200 Ton Near Coastal Master’s License.
   
  Morgan Diederichs - Cook/Deckhand/Educator:  Morgan comes to us from St. Cloud, Minnesota.  A University of Minnesota-Duluth May 2010 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in History/French, Morgan has studied in England and Paris.  Many of Morgan's experiences provided her with a solid background working with the public as Preservationist/ Housekeeper/Banquet Server/Cook.  Morgan founded the UMD French Club and served as its vice president along with secretary in the History Club.
   
 

David Goldman -  "Chief Mate":  David Goldman comes to Sultana with a varied background in sailing having served as Third Mate aboard the schooners Spirit of Massachusetts and Lettie G. Howard.  With sailing experience that spans the western Atlantic from Gloucester, Massachusetts to Costa Rica, and includes time on all five of the great lakes, Goldman brings an impressive resume to Sultana.  David holds a 100 ton Near Coastal Masters License.

   
Leona Dalton - Deckhand/Educator:  A graduate of Washington College with a B.A. in Anthropology and a M.A. in History, 2009 will be Leona Dalton's third year on the schooner Sultana. An experienced rower, Leona was a four years member of the Women's Varsity crew team and later an Assistant Women's Rowing Coach at Washington College.  In the summer of 2007, Leona spent 121 rowing and sailing1,500+ miles as part of Sultana Projects' Captain John Smith Four Hundred Project - a reenactment of John Smith's 1608 Chesapeake expedition
 

 

 

Kirstin L. Schoeninger – Education Director:  A Magna Cum Laude graduate of La Salle University with a degree in Communications, Kirstin Schoeninger brings a strong background in education to her new role on Sultana.  Schoeninger has previously worked with the Philadelphia Phantoms, Work for Progress, and comes to us most recently from Echo Hill Outdoor School, where she was a teacher and staff naturalist.  Ice hockey and rugby have been among Kirstin’s outdoor activities as both player and coach.

 

 

 

Shannon Bridget Reilley – Deckhand/Educator:  Shannon Reilley  hails from Bristol, Vermont, and holds a BA in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Shannon’s interest in marine biology and sailing highlight her previous work experience.  Reilley has worked as an Aquarist at Lahinch Seaworld in Ireland - where she was the caretaker of axolotls (neotenic salamanders) – and as a deckhand aboard the state ship of Delaware, Kalmar Nyckel

 

 

 

Jonas Caleb Burns – Deckhand/Educator:  An outdoorsman with varied interests, Jonas Caleb Burns holds a BS in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management from North Carolina State University where he graduated first out of 6674 students.  Burns has volunteered with Helping Hands, North Carolina Senior Games, and as peer tutor in Chemistry and Mathematics.  Jonas’ hobbies include sailing, cycling/mountain and road, kayaking/canoeing, running, triathlons, and tennis.

 
 

 

Sultana Projects is always looking for good crew members.


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Click here to view Sultana Crew bios from previous years.