Italy Team
US Team | Ecuador Team | England Team
Staff
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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.
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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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Sequoi Phipps-Hawkins
Marketing Coordinator and Program Manager, Italy
Sequoi is from Central Virginia and, after completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Mary Washington (UMW, '16) she spent a year supporting different Christian nonprofits and ministries on three different continents. Sequoi is passionate about community development, maternal health, nonprofit work, and storytelling. She finds joy in weaving these passions into her daily life and career. You can often find her sharing lots of laughter and good food with family and friends.
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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.
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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). 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.
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Amanda Strom
Resident Coordinator
Amanda is a GCU grad (‘23) in 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!
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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.
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Katie Busike
Resident Coordinator
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!
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
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Dr. Peter Kerr
Professor - History of Western Thought
(Fall Semester)Dr. Peter A. Kerr is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and holds degrees in engineering, leadership, communications, divinity, and a PhD in Business Administration with emphases in Leadership and International Business. He has traveled to more than 50 countries on six continents, speaks multiple languages, and served at the Pentagon with deployments to the Middle East.
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Dr. Brian Shelton
Professor - History of Western Thought
(Spring Semester)Brian Shelton has served for nearly 20 years in higher education and he loves engaging college students and sorting through the ideas of life. Dr. Shelton is the Chair of the Christian Studies and Philosophies Department and a Professor of Theology at Asbury University.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.