Italy Team

Staff

  • Donald Hawkins II and Sequoi

    Donald Hawkins II

    Program Director

    Donald was born in Houston, Texas to Donald and Regina Hawkins but lived most of his life in Virginia. He attended school at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and Liberty University. Donald came to faith in Jesus as a kid through youth ministry at Antioch Baptist Church. Donald loves spending time with family, reading and writing, watching and playing sports, spending time at the beach, and traveling. He has worked in Education and International Education since 2016.

  • Ariana Damaske

    Assistant Program Director

    Ariana was born in California, but grew up in Milan, Italy. After high school, she attended Portantochas Bible School in Costa Rica. She has a BA in International Relations from Wheaton College (IL) and a master's in Student Affairs from LUMSA University in Rome. She now lives in Rome with her family, where she has been working in higher education for over 7 years. She has a passion for cross-cultural experiences and ministry, and loves to see how God works in these beautiful yet challenging spaces.

  • Meg

    Meg van Rijn

    Director of Student Life

    Meg has been a part of Living & Learning since 2019 and loves partnering with the Lord in the work He is doing in the lives of students.

    I’m a teammate, friend, and disciple of Christ. I have been a part of Living & Learning for the past five years and have fallen in love with L&LI's desire to partner with the Lord in what He is doing in the lives of students. Some other things that get me pumped on life are cheese, my family, card games (Dutch Blitz always), treats, Jesus, hanging with college students, music, my niece and nephews, & travel (obvi not in that order)! :) I absolutely love what I do and who I get to do it with.

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    Davide Ibrahim

    Spiritual Life & Community Director

    Born in Milan to Egyptian parents, Davide holds a bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Milan and a master’s degree in Cultures and Religions from Sapienza University of Rome. He is currently a PhD candidate in theology, and lives with his wife in Rome. He is a member of Breccia di Roma Evangelical church. He enjoys reading, art, and architecture.

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    Liberato Vitale

    Logistics Coordinator

    Born in Salerno and lives in Rome with his family. Liberato graduated in Administration and Organization Sciences at the University of Salerno and in Labor Market, Industrial Relations and Welfare Systems at the Department of Economics of the Roma Tre University. He currently serves as administrator, librarian and head of the projects area at the Institute of Evangelical Culture and Documentation in Rome and Deacon of Chiesa Evangelica Breccia di Roma San Paolo. Husband and father of two children.

  • Abigail Brown

    Resident Coordinator

    Abigail is from Washington State and an alumna of Azusa Pacific University, holding a bachelor's degree in International Relations ('23). After graduating, she completed a year of service in college ministry in Bosnia and Herzegovina before serving with Living and Learning International Rome for the ’24-’25 school year. She has seen the Lord’s faithfulness this past year in Rome and is excited to share Jesus with students over coffee, pasta, and downtown adventures this year.

  • Bryce Heggen

    Resident Coordinator

    Bryce has a deep affection for both of his homes: Los Angeles, CA, and Houston, TX. While studying Entrepreneurial Leadership, he served as a creative director at his church, nurturing his passion for exploring the creative gifts bestowed by the Lord and helping others do the same.

    When asked what he likes to do, he usually responds with, “I don’t know, I just love to have fun, I guess!” But you’ll probably find Bryce playing various instruments or spending time with friends and family.

  • Katie Busike

    Resident Coordinator

    Katie is originally from Southern California and is returning to Rome for her second year with Living and Learning International. Prior to working with L&LI, Katie worked at North Coast Church in youth ministry while completing her bachelor's degree from California State University, San Marcos. Katie has a heart for ministry and working with students, and talking about all things Gospel. She typically can be found making a moka pot or baking no matter the hour!

  • Eden Street

    Resident Coordinator

    Eden was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona and is alumna of Liberty University. She holds a bachelor's degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She attended the Rome Spring 2024 semester with LLI and it sparked a desire to work with college students in ministry. She is passionate about travel and engaging in community with students and looks forward to seeing the Lord work through this program.

  • Eli Hill

    Resident Coordinator

    Eli was born and raised in Southern California. He graduated from Biola University with a Bachelors in Psychology. He enjoys a good cup of coffee and a book in front of him. He also enjoys working in ministry! Whether that’s being with Hume Lake Christian Campers, or interning in the Junior High or High School ministry at his church. He is passionate about discipleship and is so excited to walk alongside college students wherever they find themselves in their journey!

Want to hear from a student?

Our Student Ambassadors are alumni of our programs and would love to share about their experiences!
From budget tips to housing experiences, our Student Ambassadors are here to share it all.

Faculty

  • Andrea Fiori

    Professor - Exploring the Art of Italy

    Andrea Fiori has many years of teaching experience in the visual arts ranging from middle school through university, as well as community arts workshops, program development and being a docent at Grounds for Sculpture, NJ. She has led several university student and adult groups to Italy. She loves helping students engage with art and art history and connecting the visual arts to their Christian faith.

  • Robert Clay Kannard

    Professor - Faith and Food In Italy - A Theology of Food

    Co-pastor of the church Breccia di Roma. Serving through discipleship, church planting, and leadership and theological formation. Primarily partnered with Italian evangelical leaders and the church Breccia di Roma for the advancement of the Gospel in the city of Rome, the training of new pastors and leaders, the planting of new churches in Italy, and the equipping of the saints.

  • Dr. Corrado Primavera

    Professor - Cultural Understanding

    Though he was born in the United Kingdom, Corrado Primavera grew up in Rome. In addition to planting the Evangelical Church in Rome, he has worked as a historical consultant for Day of Discovery Television Production and has written extensively for Italian and English publications. Professor Primavera teaches Ancient Roman Culture as part of the Cultural Understanding course.

  • Dr. Jeffrey Sherlock

    Professor - International Business

    Jeff Sherlock grew up in rural Ohio until in 1990 he and his family moved to Macau, East Asia to work in an English Language Program and to assist in a church plant. He has taught full time at Huntington University, Tri-State University, and Taylor University as well as part time at Indiana Wesleyan University, Xi’an International Studies University (during a sabbatical year in China), Hunan University of Technology and Business, and LCC International University. He and his wife Joan are empty-nesters with three grown sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren.

  • Dr. Leonardo De Chirico

    Professor - The History of the Christian Church, Ethics

    Leonardo De Chirico is an Italian citizen and a resident of Rome, Italy. Currently Leonardo serves as the pastor of Breccia di Roma, a Reformed Baptist church, while also serving in a number of other roles in Italy. He is Adjunct Director of Istituto di Formazione Evangelica e Documentazione (an Italian evangelical research center), and editor of its theological journal Studi Diteologia.

  • Joey Dodson

    Professor - Western Thought

    Joseph R. Dodson holds the Craig L. Blomberg Endowed Chair of New Testament at Denver Seminary and serves as a visiting lecturer in Religious Studies at Purdue University. He completed his postgraduate studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, followed by advanced research at the University of Tübingen in Germany.

    Outside the classroom, Joey is an avid mountaineer who has climbed dozens of peaks across the globe, including two-thirds of the “14ers” in the continental U.S. and a “17er” in Peru. More importantly, he has been married for 30 years to his elementary school sweetheart, Sadie. Together they have five children, a son-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and what he insists are the greatest granddaughter and two grandsons in the entire multiverse.”

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    Chiara Lamberti

    Professor - Cultural Understanding

    Chiara is a freelance reporter for Christian magazines. She holds a Master’s degree in Communication Science from Roma Tre University and a theological formation from Italian Institute of Evangelical Formation and Documentation. Chiara lives in Rome with her family, where they are involved in a church planting project. She has a strong passion for teaching and engaging with young students.