Quality Team Members Joining L&LI
The Living & Learning team is growing, and we're excited to introduce a few new staff members as well as L&LI staff stepping into new positions!
From our US team to our program campuses, it's encouraging to see the growth of our current team, and even more exciting to bring on new members with expertise, incredible skills, and unique gifts.
Read below to "meet" the newest members of the L&LI staff, but we'll give you a teaser:
They ALL love coffee ☕️
They're passionate about their faith
Each new member is bringing talent, diverse perspectives, and immense quality to the team!
Natasha Zimmerman has joined our US team as an Enrollment Manager. Natasha is passionate about people, Christ, and good coffee –– not in that order! She's excited to walk beside students in this profoundly formative season of their lives as an L&LI Enrollment Manager. In her free time, you can find her at a bookstore or taking long drives in her pickup truck.
If you're ready to learn more about our semester program in Italy, reach out to Natasha! She'll be visiting campuses this fall, connecting with students, and supporting them as they enroll in and prepare for their semesters in Rome.
Eli Freeman, our new Marketing Associate, is now a part of our US team! Eli is a business marketing graduate from Jessup University. He grew up in Sacramento CA, graduated and moved down to San Luis Obispo. He worked as a head roaster at a local coffee roastery and started his own media and production company. He loves extreme sports and “regular sports,” traveling and backpacking, drawing, design, and videography. He's bringing these skills to the team to help effectively demonstrate what Living & Learning is providing for all of their students.
Be on the lookout for more incredible video content from Eli, like this semester recap video from the spring semester in Quito!
Laura Nelson has joined the Quito team as the Director of Student Life and as a Social Work Professor. Laura was born and raised in Minnesota and moved to Ecuador in 2021 to pursue missions with her degree in Social Work. She is passionate about advocating for others and helping them recognize their potential and she desires to love in a way that reflects the heart of the Father. She has supported children and families in various positions over the past several years. Laura is often found sipping on an iced coffee, on the lookout for more houseplants, or petting the neighborhood dogs.
We're so excited for the impact Laura will have on students and their experiences in Quito. If you're sending students to spend a semester in Ecuador with L&LI, they will be in great hands!
Molly Russell has joined the East Coast Team as the Director of Student Life! Molly is a lover of the Lord, people, a solid cup of coffee, and a good, long run. She grew up with her three younger siblings in Birmingham, Alabama and recently graduated from Wheaton College with degrees in Latin American / Latino Studies and Applied Health Sciences. At Wheaton, she studied abroad in Querétaro, Mexico for a semester and in Baltimore with Living & Learning East Coast for a summer, discovering a love for cross-cultural relationships. She met her people in residence life at Wheaton, serving as a Resident Assistant and an Assistant Resident Director. She is so excited to see how the Lord will move over this next season.
Students spending a semester on the East Coast will be well taken care of; Molly is thoughtful, experienced, and excited to be a part of the team in Baltimore!
Abby Nelson will be leading the student life team in London as the Student Life Director. Abby is from Hawai’i and California. She graduated from Vanguard University. While at Vanguard, she became passionate about integrating psychology and discipleship. After graduating from her undergraduate experience, Abby moved with her husband Cole, to Wisconsin to continue their education. Abby served as the Resident Director in Quito with Living & Learning Ecuador, providing leadership, guidance, and care for students and staff.
Cole Nelson is now leading the London team as the Program Director. Cole is from Minnesota but moved to California for his undergraduate degree at Vanguard University. While studying, he became passionate about integrating psychology and discipleship. After graduating, Cole and his wife Abby moved to Wisconsin to continue their education. Cole graduated from Wheaton College with a master’s in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership. Cole served as the Resident Director in Ecuador, and now gets to do that and more in London as the Program Director.
We're so happy to have Abby and Cole as a long standing part of the Living & Learning team. We know that their experience, desire to support students, and love of cross-cultural experiences will create an incredible space for students to grow and learn in London, England!
Meet all of our Living & Learning team members on our Meet The Team page!