2025 Christian Study Abroad Conference Recap with Dr. David Martínez
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
Release Date: 04/24/2025
2025 Christian Study Abroad Conference Recap with Dr. David Martínez
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
On the podcast, we're joined by Dr. David Martínez, Director for the Center for Study Abroad, Associate professor of Spanish, and Honors Faculty Fellow at . David attended the 2025 multi-day Christian Study Abroad Conference in April presented by Living & Learning at hosted at Biola University. On this episode, Living & Learning VP, Greg Belgum and David shares their thoughts about the conference, what was discussed, why it's important, and a few exciting things that came out of a space where Christian study abroad senders and providers gather together to encourage and learn together....
info_outline
Dr. Bo White - Baylor University
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
Bo has served within international education for over twenty years, creating opportunities for students to study, intern, research, or serve abroad. He has earned degrees from Central College, Covenant Theological Seminary, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the University of Southern California. He has been a director at the University of Illinois and at for education abroad most recently and has presented at the Forum on Education Abroad and NAFSA annual conferences in addition to regional events. He grew up in rural Illinois, has been married for 28 years and currently...
info_outline
Bonus - Dr. Rick Langer - CSAC Keynote Speaker from the Winsome Conviction Project
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
During his undergraduate career, Dr. Langer studied abroad in Germany where he spent his entire junior year of college. Now, he is a Professor Emeritus at Biola University where he served for almost 20 years as the Director of the Office of Faith and Learning and a professor of Biblical Studies and Theology. Dr. Langer works as the co-director of the Winsome Conviction Project, teaching in the Doctorate of Ministry program at Talbot School of Theology. He has authored several books including Winsome Persuasion (2017) and Winsome Conviction (2020), which deal with discourse in the public square...
info_outline
12 - Jennifer Moeschberger - Taylor University
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
Jennifer is the Director of Off-Campus Programs at , where she has spent many years leading global engagement experiences, sending hundreds of students around the world for short-term, faculty-led trips, and serving as an on-site director for Taylor’s study abroad program in Ireland. Trained as a counselor, Jennifer has worked in residence life and honors and currently teaches courses in intercultural learning. She is married to Scott, and they have 2 teenage boys, Ciarán and Rónán, who have also caught the travel bug and most recently enjoyed spending a semester in Belfast in 2023. ...
info_outline
11 - Kayleigh Sommerfeldt - Bethel University
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
Kayleigh Sommerfeldt is the Global Operations Coordinator at . She holds an MBA in Finance, as well as degrees in Spanish and International Relations from Bethel. In her current role, she supervises student workers, oversees various aspects of the faculty-led program lifecycle, and manages budgets, data, and application processes. She is passionate about supporting the transformative study abroad experiences that shape the next generation of students. You can reach Kayleigh at [email protected]
info_outline
10 - Victoria Malone - Union University
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
Professor Victoria Malone has been at in Jackson, Tennessee since 1999. Professor Malone began as a French adjunct and then assistant professor. In 2005, she became Union University's first study abroad coordinator and established the Study Abroad office. In 2011, she began accompanying students to Angers, France for a 4-week summer semester program. She is now Director for Study Abroad and enjoys providing study abroad opportunities for her students.
info_outline
09 - Dr. Stephanie Gomes - Liberty University
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
Dr. Stephanie Gomes has been at for over four years. In her current roll as the Director of Global Programs in the study abroad office (LU Send), she serve on the university's Global Travel Advisory Committee to implement practical and effective international health and safety standards, policies, and guidelines for programs and activities for approximately 600 students in the academic year. In today's episode, Stephanie shares about retention rates in Higher Education and discusses “how many actual ‘touches’ it takes before someone actually ‘buys’ something.” ...
info_outline
08 - Dr. Elizabeth Roe - Malone University
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
Elizabeth Patterson Roe, PhD, LISW-S is a professor of social work and the director of the Center for Intercultural Studies at , in Canton, OH. Her research and practice experience has focused on intercultural practice, including how study abroad experiences have impacted students beyond graduation. Prior to teaching, she lived and served abroad in Romania and she now lives in an urban context, working to live out principles of Christian Community Development. You can reach out to Dr. Roe at [email protected]
info_outline
07 - Dr. Kayli Hillebrand - Vanguard University
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
Our guest on the podcast is Dr. Kayli Hillebrand, Dean of Student Success and Academic Services at in Southern California. Over the past decade, Kayli has had oversight of Global Education while serving in a variety of roles. In our conversation today, we’ll hear about Kayli’s professional journey and current role, how Study Abroad is structured at Vanguard, and we’ll discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of providing global education at a Hispanic Serving Institution. To connect with Dr. Kayli Hillebrand, you can email her at
info_outline
06 - Mark Barneche - Abilene Christian University
Christian Study Abroad Podcast
Mark Barneche is the Executive Director for International Education and Study Abroad at . Before his role at Abilene, Mark was the Associate Director of Pepperdine University’s Lausanne Program in Lausanne, Switzerland. While directing this program in Switzerland, Mark also served as the President of the Association of American Universities and Colleges in Switzerland and served as the Treasurer of the European Association of Study Abroad. Mark is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Global Education at SIT Graduate Institute. You can reach out to Mark by sending an email to
info_outlineOn the podcast, we're joined by Dr. David Martínez, Director for the Center for Study Abroad, Associate professor of Spanish, and Honors Faculty Fellow at George Fox University. David attended the 2025 multi-day Christian Study Abroad Conference in April presented by Living & Learning at hosted at Biola University.
On this episode, Living & Learning VP, Greg Belgum and David shares their thoughts about the conference, what was discussed, why it's important, and a few exciting things that came out of a space where Christian study abroad senders and providers gather together to encourage and learn together.
If you'd like to be involved with any initiatives that came out of 2025 CSAC, please email us at [email protected]
To learn when the next Christian Study Abroad Conference is, visit our website.