The oldest surviving arch created by humans stands in the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur; St. Petersburg was built from scratch out of a tidal swamp to orient the Russian Empire towards Europe in the tumultuous years of the 18th century. The first lighter-than-air flight occurred on the grounds of the French royal palace of Versailles. I have had the pleasure of walking these and many other places of history-shaping import. From Philadelphia to Okinawa, and from Omaha Beach, Normandy to the Indian Ocean's beaches in Kenya, my life's travels and work have imparted real meaning and significance to my academic studies. If I can impart to you just a piece of the passion and interest that the human experience holds for me, then I will have counted our time together a success.