Florence
Program Staff
Faculty-in-Residence
2026-2027
Tim Willis
Professor of Religion
Religion and Philosophy Division, Seaver College
I have been at Pepperdine since 1989, focusing on interpretation of the Bible, especially the Old Testament. I expect to teach at least two Core classes in Italy, REL 200 (The Story of Scripture) and REL 501 (World of the Old Testament), where we will compare life in the ancient Mediterranean world with the present day. My wife, Jan, and I were faculty-in-residence in Florence in 2006-2007 and Summer 2013. We fell in love with Florence the first evening, when we walked into the city center and viewed the Duomo in the twilight. From Cinque Terra to Pompeii, from Ravenna to Venice and the Tyrolean Alps, exploring the sights and sounds and tastes of Italy never gets old.
2027-2028
Dr. Chris Soper
Distinguished Professor of Political Science
Social Science Division, Seaver College
My wife, Jane, and I have been at Pepperdine since 1992, and we have been fortunate to be the faculty-in-residence for several of the IP programs, including Florence in 2023. I expect to teach a Core class (POSC 104) in Florence as well as a course on Religion and Politics (POSC 459) for political science and international relations majors. There is no better way to learn about American politics than by living in a foreign country. Jane and I love Florence, Italy, and being with the students. We plan to visit as many gelato and coffee shops as is humanly possible, wandering the hidden streets of that amazing city, and getting to know each of the students in the program. And on weekends there is Rome, Venice, Cinque Terra, Sienna, Assisi, and more all within a few hours of the villa. We can’t wait!