Support Our Team

Campus Pastor and Professor
Baltimore, Maryland

Rev. Upshaw has more than 30 years of experience as an urban and multicultural pastor. He is passionate about teaching spiritual formation, emotionally healthy leadership, and theology to college students and public health practitioners. Bev Upshaw oversees the maintenance of the BUS campus and creates hospitable spaces for students, staff, and visitors. Danté and his wife, Beverly live in Baltimore and have three children.

Academic Director & Associate Professor
Baltimore, Maryland

Dr. Hughes has 28 years of international and multi-cultural experience. As the Academic Director and Associate Professor, Dr. Hughes provides student mentorship, instruction, academic leadership, and curriculum oversight for the Baltimore Urban Studies.

Program Director
London, England

Born in Texas and raised in Connecticut by a wonderful Lutheran pastor's family of seven, Hannah went to school for International Studies with an emphasis in Missiology at Concordia University Irvine in Southern California. She was able to study abroad twice during her undergraduate career which ignited a passion for sustainable short term mission work that the Lord brought to fruition in her own life as she became a Resident Coordinator in Rome for two years. She will be directing L&LI's new London semester this upcoming spring.

You can find her photosynthesizing outside in the sun or drinking a matcha at a café with a tote bag overflowing with more books than she'll have time in her life to read.

Director of Student Life
Rome, Italy

After serving in the L&LI Ecuador semester program from 2019-2023, Meg joins the L&LI Rome to serve as the Director of Student Life.

Meg is a teammate, friend, and disciple of Christ. She loves being a part of and sharing in the desire to partner with the Lord in what He is doing in the lives of students. Some other things that get her pumped on life are cheese, her family, card games (Dutch Blitz always), treats, Jesus, hanging with college students, music, my niece and nephews, & travel (not in that order)!

Resident Directors
Quito, Ecuador

Cole and Abby graduated from Vanguard University ('21) with Cole's BA in Psychology and Education and Abby's BA in Psychology. Through L&LI, Abby studied abroad in Ecuador ('19) and Cole participated in the Virtual Internship Program ('20). Cole received an M.A. in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership through Wheaton College (‘23) while Abby's floral business served the local community. Together, they aspire to cultivate intentional discipleship and holistic growth for RCs and students in the heart of Ecuador.

Resident Coordinator

Baltimore, Maryland

Caity is originally from South FL and did her first 2 years of college at Palm Beach State College and finished at Texas Lutheran University(TLU) in Seguin, TX. While there she has made lifelong friends and found her love for advocacy and racial reconciliation work. Caity visited the BUS last May for a one week immersion experience and fell in love with the city. As a '24 graduate of TLU with a degree in interdisciplinary studies and a concentration in Education and Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, she is so excited to be working with the BUS program for the summer, fall, and spring semesters.

Resident Coordinator
Baltimore, Maryland

Isis is a recent graduate from Wheaton College (IL) with a BA in Biblical and Theological Studies. She has a special interest in the way our lives and cultures shape our theology, and how our theology shapes our lives and cultures.

Resident Coordinator
Rome, Italy

Katie is from Southern California and has just recently graduated from California State University San Marcos with a degree in Psychology (‘24). While attending college Katie has been on a staff at her church in high school youth ministry and has a heart for connecting with students, talking about the Gospel, and doing life in community! She has a heart for Global missions and is so excited to join the Living and Learning International team!

Resident Coordinator
Rome, Italy

Abigail is from Washington State and an alumna of Azusa Pacific University, holding a bachelor's degree in International Relations ('23). She recently completed a year of service in college ministry in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She is passionate about working with college students and is excited to see what the Lord has in store for students and staff in Rome, Italy, this coming year.

Resident Coordinator
Rome, Italy

Amanda is a GCU grad (‘23) with a degree in Biology and is originally from North Dakota! Since finishing college, Amanda has interned with a missions organization, led a college girls’ Bible study, and served as assistant director of a Bible camp. These experiences have grown her passion for living on mission and pointing people of all ages and cultures to Jesus through relationships! Amanda looks forward to the relationships that will be built through the Resident Coordinator role, and to seeing God work in the lives of students studying with LLI in Italy!

Resident Coordinator
Quito, Ecuador

Katrina is from Virginia and a graduate of Liberty University ('24), holding a BA in Spanish. She has loved being involved in student ministry on her college campus and is passionate about discipleship, teamwork, and community-building. Participating in Living and Learning's internship program in Ecuador during the summer of 2022 had a huge impact on her heart and life, and she's excited to see God work as she returns to Ecuador to serve as RC!

Resident Coordinator
Quito, Ecuador

Elena Calderon is an International Relations and Economics graduate who spent the past three years contributing to her community in San Diego, CA. Engaged in missions and outreach at her local church, Elena spearheaded communication efforts and participated in impactful mission trips centered on evangelism and outreach initiatives. Now, as she heads to Ecuador to serve as a Resident Coordinator, she eagerly anticipates witnessing the profound ways in which God will work through her to make a difference.

Resident Coordinator
Quito, Ecuador

Faith is from Oklahoma and recently graduated from Colorado Christian University where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies with Languages and a minor in Intercultural Ministry. While she attended CCU, she had the privilege of being an RA and a Chaplain as well as getting to study abroad with L&LI in Ecuador (’21). Faith’s love for connecting with people and fostering spiritual growth has been shaped by her international experience on mission trips to Israel, Guatemala, Uganda, Romania, and so on. These experiences have ignited her passion for life-on-life discipleship and she is excited to see how God uses what she’s learned to now minister to college students in Ecuador!

Resident Coordinator
London, England

Born and raised in Southern California and the oldest of three daughters to missionary parents, Olivia finished her education at Vanguard University in Intercultural and Interpersonal Communication after spending a year on the mission field in Budapest, Hungary teaching English and coaching soccer. That year ignited her heart for international spaces and global outreach and she has continued to pursue that calling on her life. In between trips you can find her surfing, pressing deep into her community, or hiking with her dog. She is excited to help launch the program in London with L&LI for the Spring 2025 semester.