Travelers

Students

Wesley Bloeme is a junior Finance/Accounting major. He is excited to see the new places we will discover in Ecuador, and to get to know the group better. He likes flying a lot, and plans on taking lots of cool videos while we're in Ecuador with the GoPro he got for Christmas.

Blaine Coyle is a senior Neuroscience major on the Psychology track. As a bit of an adrenaline junkie, she is most looking forward to jumping head first into the wild, outdoor adventures offered in Ecuador, especially in Banos. She is especially excited to experience Ecuadorian culture in a way that helps give back to the local communities we will visit.

Kelsey Hanko is a junior Marketing major. She is exited to experience the beautiful scenery and vibrant culture that Ecuador has to offer. As a lover of architecture, she is looking forward to visiting Alousi, a town in Ecuador known for its architecture. She is also an equestrian and has had a passion for horses her entire life.

Halle Hill is a junior Religious Studies major. She is looking forward to interacting with new cultures and exposing herself to a simpler, non-American way of life. She is ready to travel simply so she can experience things in a concentrated way, soaking up as much as she can with few exterior and unnecessary distractions. She is also double jointed in her shoulders and does a decent Dolly Parton impression!


Jessica Jenkins is a sophomore History major. She is looking forward to seeing all of the amazing sights we will see and meeting local people. She hopes that this experience will change the way she looks at the world. She loves to travel, and she hopes to see the whole world someday!

Kristin Kimberlain is a senior Philosophy and Religious Studies double major.She is especially looking forward to trying new foods, shopping at the Otavalo market, and getting to learn about new cultures firsthand through the homestays we will be participating in. In her free time, she likes to pet cats and has recently taken up crocheting, so she is somewhat of a grandma.

Loudine Louis is a senior Psychology and Theatre Studies double major. She is most looking forward to experiencing an entirely new culture. As a third culture kid, a person who grew up in a culture that was not their parents' culture, she knows how interesting and cool culture is and how it affects people and societies. She is excited to push herself a million times out of her comfort zone! She has never enjoyed a hike or camped, but she is ready to take on the Amazon jungle! She was born and raised in Florida, but Haitian-Creole was the first language she learned to speak.

Caroline Stuart is a junior Music major. She is most looking forward to the scenery in Ecuador. Her goal is to take advantage of every view by adventuring out into the landscape every chance she gets.

Kat McNeely White is a junior Neuroscience/Psychology major. She is looking forward to experiencing a culture filled with people, food, and traditions that differ from her own!

Alex Willard is a junior Finance/Accounting major. This being his first trip abroad, he is most looking forward to the overall experience he will have in Ecuador. He is especially looking forward to seeing the flora and fauna the country has to offer and meeting new people.

Staff Leaders

Kirsten Sheppard is the Director of International Programming at Maryville College. She is responsible for overseeing and managing study abroad programs and international student services, including advising international students and scholars and providing services and programs for international students, faculty, and staff while at the College. Originally from Calgary, Canada, she chose to continue her education in the United States by earning a Master of Arts in International Education from the School for International Training in Brattleboro, VT. 

Brynn Smith is the International Programs Coordinator in her position as the Graduate Intern at MC's Center for International Education. While she was an undergraduate, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Ecuador, and is very excited to return and to travel with a group of students where we can learn together. She is most looking forward to our indigenous homestays and spending time along the coast in San Clemente.