¿Quiénes somos?
As you plan for your study abroad experience, it is important to learn not just where you will live and what you will study, but also who it is you will be trusting to facilitate and guide your experience.
Here you can learn about the pillars of who we are and the values SIS has been founded upon.
Our Mission
Living & Learning
Semester in Spain (SIS) is a program of Living & Learning International that operates out of Seville, Spain. We serve as an off-campus study abroad institution, opening our doors to students of diverse backgrounds and all walks of life. As an academic immersion program that offers an incorporation of the Christian faith, our frontline calling is to equip students as intercultural scholars along the journey of their chosen fields of study, and cultivate an experience where students, regardless of background or belief, can develop a deeper understanding of their truest self, as inspired by Christ.
Academics
SIS is rooted in a pedagogy of academic excellence and holistic immersion, integrating a longstanding dedication to scholastic rigor with the captivating application of experiential learning. It is the goal of SIS to facilitate a depth of study in the Spanish language and culture through opportunities in grammar, literature, history, art, modern civilization and service learning. These opportunities create a unique development platform for personal and professional skills, fostering growth not only in linguistic and cultural experiences, but in aptitudes for life.
Community
As an intercultural community, SIS seeks to maintain a posture of cultural humility, commitment to accessibility, and inclusivity of all races, ethnicities, biological sexes, genders, sexual orientations, religions, nationalities, ages and abilities. At the crossroads of diversity we aspire to be a community that is humble, hospitable and honoring of each other’s commonalities and differences. As a result of participation in this community, it is the intention of SIS that every member involved, whether student, faculty or staff, become more community-engaged and globally-oriented citizens of the world.
Location
Semester in Spain (SIS) welcomed its first students to Sevilla in 1978. Over the years, SIS has resided in various neighborhoods of the city, though our current center, TCCSevilla, is located in the heart of Sevilla’s Casco Antiguo (Old Town) district. The building itself was a Sevillian home of the 1920s, then a wedding dress shop, and is now our academic center and homebase for students to explore Sevilla. It boasts a colorful façade, beautiful Sevillian tilework and a rooftop terrace with scenic city views. The combination of our school’s cultural relevance, historic value, and geographic grandeur make it a premier location for an immersive study abroad experience.
Our Team
From the time you first contact us through the entirety of your study abroad experience, our team is with you.
U.S.-Based Staff
Greg Belgum
Vice President - Living & Learning
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Greg oversees our partnerships with universities and other organizations for both semester and faculty led programs. Greg also manages organizational operations. Greg is based on the Central Coast of California with his wife and two children.
Greg oversees our partnerships with universities and other organizations for both semester and faculty led programs of Living & Learning. Greg also manages organizational operations. Greg is based on the Central Coast of California with his wife and two children.
Natasha Zimmerman
Enrollment Manager - Spain
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Natasha is passionate about people, Christ, and good coffee –– not in that order! She’s excited to walk beside students in this profoundly formative season of their lives as an L&LI Enrollment Manager. In her free time, you can find her at a bookstore or taking long drives in her pickup truck. She is based in San Diego, CA.
Natasha is passionate about people, Christ, and good coffee –– not in that order! She’s excited to walk beside students in this profoundly formative season of their lives as an L&LI Enrollment Manager. In her free time, you can find her at a bookstore or taking long drives in her pickup truck. She is based in San Diego, CA.
Maria Hodapp
International Director
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- Abroad Experience: Studied abroad in Central America
- Passionate about: Cultural immersion experiences that are the good kind of uncomfortable. Y café con leche.
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: TCCSevilla folks, delicious Spanish olives, and fragrant orange blossoms
- Connect with her about: Program policies, collaborations, and student visas.
- Abroad Experience: Studied abroad in Central America.
- Passionate about: Cultural immersion experiences that are the good kind of uncomfortable. Y café con leche.
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: TCCSevilla folks, delicious Spanish olives, and fragrant orange blossoms.
- Connect with her about: Program policies, collaborations, and student visas.
Spain-Based Faculty and Staff
Leslie Routman
Director of TCCSevilla
On staff since 2000
- Abroad Experience: Studied abroad in Spain in 1993
- Passionate about: Reading and traveling
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: The orange blossoms in the spring
- Connect with her about: Living abroad, getting involved in Sevilla, travel, Sting, and anything else!
- Abroad Experience: Studied abroad in Spain in 1993.
- Passionate about: Reading and traveling.
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: The orange blossoms in the spring.
- Connect with her about: Living abroad, getting involved in Sevilla, travel, Sting, and anything else!
Sylvia Santoro
Student Ministries Coordinator
On staff since 2008 as Sevillanas Dance Instructor, since 2022 as the SMC
- Passionate about: Mis hijas, viajar, descubrir nueva gastronomía, componer y cantar, bailar, abrazar
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: El Río Guadalquivir y pasear por la Avenida de la Constitución de día y de noche con su cálida iluminación.
- Connect with her about: Faith and spiritual life, creative expression, dance and anything else!
- Passionate about: Mis hijas, viajar, descubrir nueva gastronomía, componer y cantar, bailar, abrazar
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: El Río Guadalquivir y pasear por la Avenida de la Constitución de día y de noche con su cálida iluminación
- Connect with her about: Faith and spiritual life, creative expression, dance and anything else!
Ana Bello Linares
Housing Coordinator & Administrative Assistant
On staff since 2002
- Abroad Experience: Studied abroad in England and the U.S. in 1992
- Passionate about: Viajar
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: The view of the Cathedral from the Puente de Triana
- Connect with her about: Host-families and roommates, cooking, things to do in the city, travel
- Abroad Experience: Studied abroad in England and the U.S. in 1992.
- Passionate about: Viajar.
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: The view of the Cathedral from the Puente de Triana.
- Connect with her about: Host-families and roommates, cooking, things to do in the city and travel.
Salvador Gallego de la Rosa
Department Chair and Professor
On staff since 2000
- Passionate about: Traveling with his family and the beach
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: Pasear por las calles and El Real Betis Balompié
- Connect with him about: Spanish and Hispanoamerican history, literature, poetry and fútbol
- Passionate about: Traveling with his family and the beach.
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: Pasear por las calles and El Real Betis Balompié.
- Connect with him about: Spanish and Hispanoamerican history, literature, poetry and fútbol.
Cristina Torres Palmero
Professor
On staff since 2019
- Abroad Experience: Lived and taught Spanish in South Africa.
- Passionate about: Cinema, the beach and nature.
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: Flamenco.
- Connect with her about: Spanish healthcare, teaching in a foreign country and fun things to do in Sevilla.
- Abroad Experience: Lived and taught Spanish in South Africa.
- Passionate about: Cinema, the beach and nature.
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: Flamenco.
- Connect with her about: Spanish healthcare, teaching in a foreign country and fun things to do in Sevilla.
Ignacio Olea Llamazares
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct since 2023
Ignacio Olea Llamazares es Licenciado en Historia por la Universidad de Sevilla. Por otro lado, cuenta con una Maestría en Historia de América Colonial, finalizando recientemente su tesis doctoral sobre esta misma temática, todo ello en la Universidad de Sevilla. En 2023 comenzó su andadura en SIS, descubriendo que enseñar Historia y Cultura española es su verdadera pasión. Entre sus aficiones se encuentra la lectura, viajar, el cine y el futbol, siendo un fiel fanático del Betis, yendo siempre que hay partido al estadio.
Licenciado en Historia por la Universidad de Sevilla. Por otro lado, cuenta con una Maestría en Historia de América Colonial, finalizando recientemente su tesis doctoral sobre esta misma temática, todo ello en la Universidad de Sevilla. En 2023 comenzó su andadura en SIS, descubriendo que enseñar Historia y Cultura española es su verdadera pasión. Entre sus aficiones se encuentra la lectura, viajar, el cine y el futbol, siendo un fiel fanático del Betis, yendo siempre que hay partido al estadio.
Violeta Pérez Torres
Adjunct Professor
Adjunct since 2023
Violeta Pérez Torres. Licenciada en Filología Hispánica por la Universidad de Sevilla y Diplomada en Aptitud Pedagógica por la Universidad de Granada. Profesora de vocación. Después de casi 20 años enseñando español y cultura a estudiantes internacionales, piensa que la clave para conseguir resultados satisfactorios en este trabajo es la empatía y el conocimiento mutuo. Le gusta cocinar, viajar, el arte, la naturaleza, la arquitectura y abrazar a su sobrina Lola.
Licenciada en Filología Hispánica por la Universidad de Sevilla y Diplomada en Aptitud Pedagógica por la Universidad de Granada. Profesora de vocación. Después de casi 20 años enseñando español y cultura a estudiantes internacionales, piensa que la clave para conseguir resultados satisfactorios en este trabajo es la empatía y el conocimiento mutuo. Le gusta cocinar, viajar, el arte, la naturaleza, la arquitectura y abrazar a su sobrina Lola.
Partnerships
- Official Partners
- amigos de SIS
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Accreditation
Semester in Spain is a program of Living & Learning International.
For the 2025-2026 academic year, Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois is the school of record. TCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Beginning in fall 2026, Biola University in La Mirada, California will be the school of record. Biola University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commision.
