Ecuador Team

Director of Education, Professor

• Biology 100: Introduction to Biological Principles and Lab

Master’s Science Education

Janelle is a TCK (Third Culture Kid) who has a passion for developing young adults and who has a love for nature and Science and what they can teach about God’s redemptive work.

Director of Spiritual Life, Professor

• Christian Spiritual Formation & Transformation 320

• Biblical Worldview & Global Religions 340

Master’s in Theological Studies; Master’s of Divinity

A TCK (Third Culture Kid) from Ecuador, Loren is passionate about teaching the Bible within the context of Ancient Near East studies. He loves Chealsea FC, woodworking, naps, and hiking.

Professor

Ecuador 250/350 (Spanish and English sections)

Masters in Theological Studies

José Luis works with non-profit organizations in Quito, including "End Slavery Ecuador" and "Education = Hope.” He works not only as a lawyer but as someone who deeply cares about people. He is involved in his local church and strongly invests in relationships near and far. 

Instructor for the Social Work International Field Seminar

Bachelor’s in Social Work
In pursuit of her MSW

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 desires to love in a way that reflects the heart of the Father. She is currently working alongside students & families at a local school and also oversees L&LI’s Social Work Track. Laura is often found sipping on a warm drink, on the lookout for more house plants, or petting the neighborhood dogs.

Professor

• SPA 102: Elementary Spanish 2

• SPA 201: Intermediate Spanish 1

Master’s in advanced studies in Literature from the University of Barcelona

Focused degrees in Human Rights and Memory (CLACSO & FLACSO Brazil)

From Quito, Ecuador, María Fernanda is a clinical psychologist with a focus in women’s issues, a poet, an author especially in children’s literature, a workshop presenter with collaborative research and presentations in humanities, psychology, pedagogy, and human rights, a social/human rights activist, and an avid reader and writer of literature. She was one of the first to teach in Living and Learning’s Ecuador semester Spanish department, faithfully working with L&LI since 2016.

Professor

• SPA 201: Intermediate Spanish 1

• SPA 250: Readings and Advanced Grammar

Master’s of Pedagogy in Spanish Literature and Language

María José has been teaching Spanish to foreigners since 2014, and has been teaching with Living and Learning since 2017. She is a mathematician, a photographer and a social/human rights activist. She is a life learner who is currently seeking a degree in law. She lives with her husband and enjoys life with her little dogs.

Professor

• Spanish 400: Vision General de Literatura Latinoamérica y Cultura

Postgraduate studies and Licensure in Higher Education Science

A seasoned teacher, missionary, wife of a pastor, mother, and grandmother, Susana is passionate about reading, teaching, and discipling, especially in the church. She has been teaching for Living and Learning since 2014, with a holistic approach in intercultural experience in her teaching of upper-division Spanish in literature and culture.

Professor

• SPA 310: Advanced Grammar and Conversation

• SPA 320: Advanced Grammar and Conversation

Master’s of Education Management

Teaching since 1980, Aura brings invaluable experience to Living and Learning upper-division Spanish students. She enjoys being a mother and grandmother. Her love of literature, archeology, museums and cultural heritage comes through her passion for teaching young people, even as she enjoys her retirement.

Professor

• SPA 250: Readings and Advanced Grammar

• SPA 310: Advanced Grammar and Conversation

Licensed in Education Science

María Alejandra brings many years of experience working with NGO’s, training management teams, working with individuals with disabilities and teaching Spanish to North American adults. She loves to read, play games and sports, cook and laugh. She enjoys her time with family which includes grandchildren! She is passionate about walking with and caring for students as they learn a new language and culture, and as they deepen their relationship with the Lord, helping them to be assured of His care as they are far from home.

Professor

• SPA 101: Elementary Spanish 1

• SPA 102: Elementary Spanish 2

• SPA 320: Advanced Grammar and Conversation

Master’s of Education Science

Ruth has been teaching with Living and Learning International since Fall 2018. She is an avid reader on varied topics, including literature, history, psychology and spirituality. She loves to walk and hike in nature, to travel and to get acquianted with different cultures.

Professor

• SPA 330: Voces de Ecuador: Select topics in Ecuadorian Perspectives

Masters in New Applied Technologies in Education

Teaching in many capacities since 1995, Viviana has invaluable experience with students from different backgrounds and levels. She is the wife of a pastor/counselor and a mother of two young adult children. Other than teaching with Living and Learning (since 2022), she works with young adults who grew up in an orphangage training them in life skills, and she helped to establish a hybrid online homeschool program. She loves to read and teach.