Meet the Team

Founder and CEO

Phil started Living & Learning in 2006 while living in Quito, Ecuador. He oversees the academic semester program, summer internship program, and short-term academic trips known as Study Tours. Phil is based out of central Washington state but frequently travels to our program locations.

Director of Soul Care

Elizabeth Payne loves Jesus, reading, ocean, gardens, laughing, and good conversations with good coffee! She is committed to being a life long Christ following learner in every area of life and provides soul care to the Living & Learning staff.

Vice President

Greg is on the US team. He oversees our partnerships with universities and other organizations. Greg also manages organizational operations. Greg is based on the Central Coast of California.

Director of Operations & Outreach

Bethany works closely with our institutional partners and connects with the departments across L&LI. On the side she’s probably looking into some new technology to help enhance our operations.

When not in the office, she’s either outside on a run or telling everyone to look at her cute dog.

Marketing Coordinator and Program Manager, Italy

Have you seen our trendy Instagram and our snazzy marketing? That’s all Sequoi!

Sequoi is passionate about community development, maternal health, nonprofit work, and storytelling. You can often find her sharing lots of laughter and good food with family and friends.

Director of Enrollment

Ashleigh has been with L&LI for over a decade and has held many roles and responsibilities. She now manages the enrollment process for students interested in our semester programs in Ecuador and Italy. She'll help you from initial interest to getting on the plane!

Ashleigh is based out of Long Beach, California but she’s probably on a plane headed to a country she hasn’t been to yet.

Enrollment Manager - East Coast

Vincent connects with students and creates opportunities for experiential growth in some of the most dynamic cities in the U.S. He enjoys great conversations, playing chess, watching basketball, cheering on the Dallas Cowboys, and spending time with family and friends. He is passionate about discipleship and helping others grow in their walk with Christ.

Enrollment Manager - London

Sara is a part of our Enrollment Team and visits our partner institutions, connects with students, and does enrollment and onboarding for our London program.

She loves food and coffee, not just because they taste good, but because of the relationships that are often built around tables. She is passionate about experiences that introduce people to new ways of learning about who the Lord is and who His people are.

Director of Experiential Tours

Rachel is responsible for the design and oversight of all custom programs and faculty-led study tours. She works closely with L&LI program staff abroad as well as designs programs for L&LI globally. Rachel is based out of Austin, Texas.

Experiential Tours Senior Program Manager

Behind our short-term program planning is Ashley! With a passion and love for exploring new cultures, Ashley has traveled to over 45 countries, both for work and personal adventures. Currently based in Nashville, you’ll find her enjoying live music at a concert or cheering on local teams at a sporting event. Always seeking new experiences, Ashley brings a global perspective to every project and thrives in bringing people together.

Experiential Tour Program Manager

Blake works alongside the Director of Experiential Tours to ensure teams have a successful experience from ideation to execution. Blake is based in Hawaii.

Experiential Tour Program Manager

Sara works alongside the Director of Experiential Tours to ensure teams have a successful experience from ideation to execution. Sara is based in Ecuador.

Account Executive

Nicole is a L&LI Ecuador Alum now living with her family in Middleville, MI. When not working, Nicole loves spending time reading or playing outside with her son.

ET Assistant & Virtual Programs Coordinator

Diana Yepez-Hock has served on the Living and Learning team for over 8 years both on the Ecuador side as well as on the US Team. She currently lives and works out of Indiana and coordinates all Virtual Programs.

Grand Canyon University Global Fellowship Coordinator

Kristen informs and guides students interested in studying abroad. She works closely with students and provides more information about our programs and aiding them in applying. She works with the GCU study abroad office to make the student’s application and acceptance process run as smooth as possible.

Stop by the GCU Study Abroad Office to learn more!

Student Coordinator at Biola University

Riley studied abroad in Rome, Italy for the Fall 2023 semester. She is excited to be a Student Liaison for L&LI at Biola University. Riley says that her experience in Rome, “truly transformed who I am and who I live to be … One of the most valuable parts of my experience was the lifelong Christ-centered friendships that I made within my cohort.”

Stop by the Biola Study Abroad Office to learn more!

Student Coordinator at Southeastern University

Cassie, a recent Southeastern University graduate, studied abroad in Quito, Ecuador during Fall 2024. With a passion for travel and cultural exploration, she loves learning from different perspectives and sharing her adventures. Cassie believes studying abroad is a life-changing experience everyone should have.

Visit her at the Southeastern Study Abroad Office!