Christian Study Abroad Podcast

The ACSD annual conference just wrapped up and we're recapping some stand-out moments on today's episode with Sara Hernandez and Eric Fehr, the Assistant Dean of Student Life & Learning at Grove City College. ACSD is the Association for Christians in Student Development and has grown a community of leaders and professionals within the field of higher education who are dedicated to caring for stude...

Join us as we reflect on the 2026 Christian Study Abroad Conference. On today's episode, Greg and Rachel discuss CSAC 2026, how the theme was lived out, the impact of the speakers and presentations, and where we're headed. The future of the CSAC community of professionals is exciting, as best practices are established, partnerships are developed, and opportunities for students continue to grow.  J...

Dr. Kevin Conner is Department Chair and Professor of Psychology at Liberty University. He has led students on short-term study abroad trips to Europe, Central America, South America, and Africa. On today's episode of the podcast, we talk about Dr. Conner's passion for healthy marriages, families, and relationships which drives how he teaches students to see the study of psychology as an avenue to...

Once seen as a bad decision for students in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, study abroad was reimagined so that students could continue to grow in their faith even while away from their Christian community on their home campus.  Joining the podcast today is Adri Fonteijn, the National Director of Study Abroad at Intervarsity Christian Fellowship. We talk about how Intervarsity now offers a uniq...

Introducing Further Up: The Journal of Christian Study Abroad Today's guests, Anastasia Kingsley, and David Martinez, PhD, both have deep experience in study abroad and global education and serve as the Editors of Further Up: The Journal of Christian Study Abroad. This new academic journal is a peer-reviewed, annual publication dedicated to advancing thoughtful reflection, scholarship, and practic...

Stay up to date by subscribing to our podcast on  Youtube ,   Spotify , and  Apple Podcasts , or by connecting with us on LinkedIn. Get news, resources, and job opportunities in Christian Study Abroad in your inbox every month by  subscribing to our newsletter. Our guest today is Dr. Amanda Kaminski.  The Christian Study Abroad Podcast is hosted by Greg Belgum, Vice President of Living & Learning...

Dr. Micah Hughes joined Greg Belgum on the Christian Study Abroad Podcast today to discuss the importance of experiential learning and how different steps along that cycle manifest through cross-cultural experience. Dr. Hughes, a study abroad alum himself, is the Director of the domestic study away program, Living & Learning East Coast at the Baltimore Urban Studies Center. The Art of Crossing Cul...

We've "flipped the microphone" on today's episode with guest host, Rachel Roskoski. Rachel and Greg discuss the 50th CCCU International Forum in Dallas, Texas, focusing on the importance of Christian higher education as a transformative, rather than purely transactional, experience. They also explore themes from the conference like viewing higher education beyond career preparation, and how commun...

Dr. Rikki Brons serves as professor of language studies at Dordt University. She teaches Spanish at all levels, from Spanish 101 to upper levels of grammar and composition. She works with students interested in studying abroad. On today's episode, she shares about her earliest memory of travel and how it's impacted her. She sees language as a way to connect with others who are image bearers of God...

Dr. Ryan Hartwig serves as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Vanguard University. On today's episode he shares his personal and professional connection to study abroad and global education as well as the challenges and benefits of global education through the lens of university leadership. Stay up to date by subscribing to our podcast on Youtube ,  Spotify , and Apple Podcasts , o...

Cynthia Slagter serves as the Director of Off-Campus Programs at Calvin University, where she oversees semester and short-term global programs and supports faculty in creating transformative learning experiences. She has more than two decades of experience leading academic and cultural travel programs and has presented and published on the impact of study abroad on language acquisition; her recent...

We're excited to bring you Season 2 of the Christian Study Abroad Podcast. This season, we'll be journeying through interesting conversations and interviews as we dive deep into specific topics across the field of Christian Study Abroad. If you're a study abroad advisor, faculty or a leader at your institution, researcher, or study abroad practitioner, this podcast is for you. How does faith forma...

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 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...

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 Baylor University for educ...

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 Doc...

Jennifer is the Director of Off-Campus Programs at Taylor University , 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 co...

Kayleigh Sommerfeldt is the Global Operations Coordinator at Bethel University . 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 transforma...

Professor Victoria Malone has been at Union University  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...

Dr. Stephanie Gomes has been at Liberty University 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 a...

Elizabeth Patterson Roe, PhD, LISW-S is a professor of social work and the director of the Center for Intercultural Studies at Malone University , 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...

Our guest on the podcast is Dr. Kayli Hillebrand, Dean of Student Success and Academic Services at Vanguard University 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...

Mark Barneche is the Executive Director for International Education and Study Abroad at Abilene Christian University . 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...

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 George Fox University . David joined the university in 2017 as an assistant professor of Spanish. He completed his PhD at the University of Georgia (2017), where he focused his studies and wrote his dissertation on the representation of the Span...

Dr. Joshua Britt joined Southeastern University in 2019 as the Director of Global Education and Assistant Professor of History. He has very recently been promoted to the Chair of the Humanities Department. W hile still passionate about Christian study abroad and working closely with the incoming study abroad director, he is currently shifting out of the position to focus on his work in the Humanit...

Julie Johnston Hermann serves as the Director of Global Opportunities at Concordia University, Nebraska in Seward, Nebraska. Julie returned to her alma mater, Concordia, in 2001 to first work in student life and teach leadership classes. Since 2008 she has been directing the Global Opportunities Center where students can come to find out about experiences abroad – study, intern, international stud...