¿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

Semester in Spain (SIS) is a program of Trinity Christian College 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.

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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.

The Staff Preparing You for Departure

U.S.-Based Staff

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Lilly Flowers

Coordinator of Recruitment & Marketing

On staff since 2024

  • 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 Fall 2023
  • Passionate About: Spanish, travel, food, people, and books. 
  • Favorite thing about Sevilla: The city is full of amazing architecture and around every corner is a sitio where you can order tapas or a café con leche
  • Connect with her about: Program interest, an alumna perspective, partnership opportunities, and faculty and student visits.
Dynitta

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

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
The faculty and staff with you in Sevilla

Spain-Based Faculty and Staff

Leslie

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

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

Mercedes Jiménez Escudero

Evening Secretary

On staff since 2003
  • 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!
Jose Maria

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: Its history and su importantísimo legado histórico 
  • Connect with him about: Spanish history, literature, current events in Spain
Salva

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, 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
Cristinia

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
Nacho

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

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. 

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.

Give us a Call

+1 708-239-3999

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