Columbia International University alumni are having a huge impact on a college on the other side of the world.

Renata Hanscamp, the new principal of Eastwest College of Intercultural Studies in Gordonton, New Zealand is the third CIU alumnus to lead the school and reports that she is “enjoying the responsibilities and challenges of being the principal of a WEC Missionary Training Center.”

WEC (World Evangelism for Christ) is a multicultural, interdenominational church-planting mission agency, committed to finding new, creative and culturally-relevant ways of doing missions. Their passion is “to see the Kingdom of God being established throughout the world, through the work of men and women trained and equipped to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ into every nation and culture.”

The other CIU alumni who have led the school since its founding in 1996 are Alan Shadbolt, the first principal of Eastwest, followed by Pat Myers. Hanscamp, Shadbolt and Myers were CIU students together in the early to mid-1990s.

Hanscamp has three degrees from CIU. An undergraduate degree in Bible, a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies, and a Master of Arts in International Theological Education from CIU’s Korntal, Germany campus. She will also be awarded with an Education Specialist degree in August. Shadbolt and Myers both have Master of Arts in Missions degrees from CIU.  

While Hanscamp was a CIU undergraduate student, her father, Peter Hanscamp, graduated from CIU in 1994 with Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies.  

CIU is celebrating 100 years of its mission to “educate people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.” The university consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South. Apply now or request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or admissions@ciu.edu.