Italy Team

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.

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.

Things that bring Meg joy are her family, card games (Dutch Blitz always), treats, Jesus, hanging with college students, music, & travel (obvi not in that order)! She is passionate about what she does and the team she gets to do it with.

Resident Coordinator

Riccardo grew up in Ostia, just outside of Rome. He is fluent in both English and Italian–and understands both American and Italian cultures well. He plans weekend activities for students, helps with Italian language learning, and introduces students to Italian culture.

Resident Coordinator

Hannah moved from Connecticut to California to attend Concordia University in Irvine the country to study International Studies with an emphasis in Missiology, minoring in Anthropology and Global Cultural Studies. Hannah participated in Concordia’s Around the World semester, traveling to 14 nations for service and study, and studied in Quito, Ecuador through Living and Learning for a semester.

Resident Coordinator

Camryn is from Southern California and graduated from Azusa Pacific University with a degree in Communication Management (’23). During her time in school, she was highly involved in student leadership opportunities. She is passionate about cultivating community, creating belonging, and walking alongside others. Camryn enjoys the beach, going to concerts, and spending time with friends. She is thrilled to join the team!

Resident Coordinator

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.