2013 Member Profile

Dr. Stan Vinson 스탠 빈슨 Faculty Leader

Assistant Professor, Lander University
Financial Services

As a practicing professional with 25 years’ leadership and management experience in Commercial Banking and as a Senior Officer in a Fortune 500 Company, Dr. Vinson’s work history includes positions with strategic, bottom line and global responsibilities. This includes advising and financing small rapid growing businesses, working with international and global banks on business financings, advising merger and acquisition teams and managing groups working to address the operating challenges in businesses with global aspirations and operations.

Leveraging his operating background Dr. Vinson joined Lander University as a professor helping to build a Business School major in Financial Services. As part of a team, he has used his operating experience, education and research background, to help develop a program that lays a foundation in basic banking skills, investments, real estate and insurance, with the goal of developing 21st century leaders for financial services businesses.

Dr. Pedro Lopes 페드로 로페스 Faculty Assistant Leader

Associate Professor
Foreign Languages

Pedro is an Africa-born, Europe-raised, North America-resident citizen of the World. As a professor of foreign languages, he has taught in Europe and in several regions of the United States, always striving to transmit to his students the passion he has for foreign cultures, history, traditions, and, especially, cuisine. In the past, he has created and managed foreign student exchange programs and led groups of students in trips to Latin-America. In his free time, he enjoys playing with his small daughters, reading, doing yard work, riding his motorcycle, and watching soccer. He is thrilled with this opportunity to visit China and South Korea for the first time.

Jeff Constant 제프 콘스탄트 Study Tour Coordinator

Undergraduate degree in Business Management 1993, Lander University
M.Ed. Higher Education Administration 2010

As a true “Southern Gentleman”, Jeff has almost 20 years of experience in Higher Education. His higher education experiences include knowledge of Admissions, International Programs, and many areas of Student Affairs. As a graduate of Lander University Jeff knows firsthand what it is like to be a Lander student and can relate to students. In his free time he most of all enjoys spending time with his family. He loves experiencing new foods, animals (has five dogs at home), water sports, traveling, fishing, hunting, the outdoors in general and most sports. Although Jeff has visited over half the states within the United States, this is Jeff’s first time out of North America. He is looking forward to comparing Asian cultures and lifestyle with that of the USA and trying new things. This Study Program will assist Jeff in many ways to help make him more effective in the International Programs Office.

Christine Dorsey 크리스틴 돌시 Faculty Participant

B.A Xavier University; M Ed +30

University of New Orleans, New Orleans, Louisiana

Instructor of French at Lander University

I am currently a resident of Greenwood, SC having relocated here in 2008. I taught several subjects, including French, English, African/African American Studies, Leadership, and Study Skills in secondary schools and community college in New Orleans, LA for thirty-two years. I became an instructor of French at Lander University in 2006. I really enjoy my students and my work here, and hope to be around for many more years.

I love learning about different people and cultures, and have spent lots of time travelling, studying, and teaching in different countries. I have studied in France, Costa Rica, Kenya, Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo. I spent a year as an exchange teacher in Senegal, West Africa. I have also enjoyed visiting other European and African Countries and cities in Canada, in and the Good Old USA.

I am really looking forward to my first experience in Asia.

Kiera Hodge, 키이라 하지 Student, Senior

Ne Hao (Hi)! I’m Kiera from Atlanta, Georgia due to graduate in April 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration/Finance Economics Emphasis. I have traveled internationally to Nicaragua and Bolivia, but this will be my first trip to China and Korea. The ability to encourage and believe in others when they don’t believe in themselves is my strong suit and passion. I am fascinated with financial, political, and economical concepts in addition to languages and culture. In my spare time, I enjoy good conversation, movies, spending time with my family, music, and laughing. To be a part of an experience such as this one is a privilege and honor that will change my life forever.

Melanie McCrea 멜라니 맥크레이 Student, Junior

Junior-Mass Communications Major

Minor in African American Studies

Melanie is the third oldest of four children. She is heavily involved in campus organizations and also in the Greenwood community. She loves LANDER and everything it has to offer! She believes the greatest thing you can do on earth is to give back and serve others. She loves volunteering, acting, laughing and traveling! She hopes this trip will enhance her cultural experience and give her a true meaning of what diversity is. She is super excited and can’t wait to study abroad in Asia. After graduating from Lander, Melanie plans to attend graduate school and get a master’s degree in Public Relations.

Emily Ashley 에밀리 애슐리 Student, Senior

Hi, I am Emily Ashley and I am from Laurens, SC. I am majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Health Care Management .I love doing arts and crafts, painting, playing sports, and spending time on the lake. I have always wanted to travel abroad, so I am truly ecstatic to have been given the opportunity to study Asian culture, lifestyle, and historical sites first hand. From this trip I hope I gain a better understand and knowledge of China and South Korea.

Ashley Esposito 애슐리 에스포시토 Student, Senior

Ashley Esposito is from Charleston, South Carolina. She is graduating from Lander University in April 2013 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science with a Chemistry Minor. She has been involved in the Environmental Science Student Organization, Lander Housing, and enjoys giving back to the Earth and helping people. She loves new challenges, to meet new people, and explore new places. She hopes to gain a understanding of the culture and environmental differences between China, Korea, and the United States. She is very excited about this new experience and hope to use her knowledge in upcoming experiences later in her life.

TJ Cockrell 티제이 칵크럴 Student, Senior

My name is TJ Cockrell and I am from Mountville, SC. I am majoring in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and Economics. I enjoy learning about economics and financial structures of foreign nations and believe that this trip will forever change my understanding of culture. I have never travelled outside of the United States and look forward to this amazing opportunity. In my spare time I am an avid outdoorsman who enjoys fly fishing, hunting, and movies. The ability to take such a trip as this is an amazing adventure.

Greg Horzog 그렉 홀조그 Student, Junior

My name is Gregory Herzog and I am a sophomore mass communications major at Lander University. I am originally from Kendall Park New Jersey but I came all the way to South Carolina to go to Lander. I enjoy being on XLR lander university radio with my show Watashi no radio. I also enjoy making movies and plan to be both an actor and a director in the future. I also like to run and watch anime. I believe this is going to be a fun experience and I am looking forward to meeting new friends and exploring more of the world.