Florence

Dr. Daniel A. Rodriguez

daniel.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu

Professor of Religion and Hispanic Studies
Religion and Philosophy Division, Seaver College

Dr. Daniel A. Rodriguez, aka “Dr. Dan”, a native of Los Angeles, California, is Professor of Religion and Hispanic Studies at Pepperdine University. Dr. Dan holds a Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. He has published a book, numerous journal articles, and contributed chapters to edited volumes on the subject of Hispanic culture and religion in the United States. Besides teaching several ministry courses for majors and graduate students, Dr. Dan also enjoys teaching the Foundational Religion courses in the Seaver Core, especially to curious students asking important existential questions that matter today.

Dr. Dan and his wife Jeanette, met at Pepperdine as undergraduates where they also participated in the Heidelberg Program. Since returning to Pepperdine as a professor in 1994, Dr. Dan and Jeanette, aka “Mama J,” have participated in year-round and summer IP programs. When living and traveling abroad with Seaver students, the Rodriguez’ enjoy sharing their curiosity and excitement about other cultures with their students. They are very excited to have been selected to serve as the Faculty in Residence (FiR) for the Florence IP Program during AY 25-26. 

Tim Willis

timothy.willis@pepperdine.edu

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.