¿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
Trinity
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
Olivia Morris
Associate Director of Recruitment & Marketing
- Abroad Experience: Studied abroad with SIS in Spring 2019
- On staff since 2022
- Passionate About: Speaking Spanish, traveling, building relationships, enjoying the outdoors, and gluten and dairy-free food
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: The ability to walk everywhere and the beauty (from the orange trees, to the architecture, to sunsets on the river)
Program interest, an alumna perspective, consortium agreements, and high school groups.
- Abroad Experience: Studied abroad with SIS in Spring 2019
- On staff since 2022
- Passionate About: Speaking Spanish, traveling, building relationships, enjoying the outdoors, and gluten and dairy-free food
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: The ability to walk everywhere and the beauty (from the orange trees, to the architecture, to sunsets on the river)
- Connect with her about: Program interest, an alumna perspective, consortium agreements, and high school groups.
Dynitta Lieuwen
Coordinator of Student Enrollment
On staff since 2021
- Passionate about: reading, writing, mentoring, public speaking
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: TCCSevilla faculty and staff!!!
- Passionate about: reading, writing, mentoring, public speaking
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: TCCSevilla faculty and staff!
Maria Hodapp
International Director
On staff since 2019
- 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, student visas and off-campus programs at Trinity
- 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, student visas and off-campus programs at Trinity
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, travel
Mercedes Jiménez Escudero
Evening Secretary
- Abroad Experience: Has traveled to over 40 countries
- Passionate about: Traveling and enjoying quality time with friends
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: Pasear through Barrio Santa Cruz
- Connect with her about: Travel, things to do in Sevilla, restaurants, and anything else!
- Abroad Experience: Has traveled to over 40 countries
- Passionate about: Traveling and enjoying quality time with friends
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: Pasear through Barrio Santa Cruz
- Connect with her about: Travel, things to do in Sevilla, restaurants, and anything else!
José María Navarro
Saínz
Department Chair & Professor
On staff since 1985
- Passionate about: His family, books, and the beach
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: It’s history and su importantísimo legado histórico
- Connect with him about: Spanish history, literature, current events in Spain
- Passionate about: His family, books, and the beach
- Favorite thing about Sevilla: It’s history and su importantísimo legado histórico
- Connect with him about: Spanish history, literature, current events in Spain
Salvador Gallego de la Rosa
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, internships, 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, internships, 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, 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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
Partnerships
- Official Partners
- amigos de SIS
Accreditation
Semester in Spain is a program of Trinity Christian College (TCC), in Palos Heights, Illinois. TCC is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
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