A South Carolina college instructor and mother of two who loved to travel was identified as the lone American among the 16 dead when an iconic funicular railway derailed in Lisbon, Portugal.

Dr. Heather Hall, an instructor at the College of Charleston, was in Portugal to speak at a conference when she traveled on the iconic Glória Funicular and disaster struck Wednesday.

Hall’s death was confirmed by Fran Welch, the Dean of the School of Education, where Hall taught courses as part of the Department of Teacher Education. 6

“This is a tragic loss for all of us,” Welch said in an email to students, according to WCIV. “She shared her love of travel with her students. Her energy, kindness and student-centeredness will be deeply missed.”

Hall, a first-generation college student,

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