Harding University in Florence, Italy, will soon have a new staff member on their campus. Emily Woodroof, a 2008 Harding graduate, will begin her new job as assistant to the director of the HUF campus on June 1. As soon as Woodroof heard about the job opening, she said she decided it was too good of opportunity to pass up. After a month of waiting anxiously, she was contacted and offered the position.
Woodroof’s job responsibilities will include coordinating group trips for all the HUF students, helping students get oriented with the city of Florence and assisting the directors, Robbie and Mona Shackelford, with any responsibilities they need help completing.
In 2009, Woodroof was able to participate in the Avanti Italia program, a two-year missions program that is supported by the College Church of Christ. This program allowed her to spend her time teaching English in schools around Scandicci. Woodroof also got the opportunity to do volunteer work in Scandicci and travel around Italy working with various churches of Christ.
Over the two-year period, Woodroof had the chance to meet and tour Italy with the different HUF students that came to Florence and also had fond memories of being a HUF student during her time in college.
“I loved spending time with them and getting to see them experience everything,” Woodroof said.
She said the biggest thing that she is looking forward to about her new job is making sure these students get to experience Italy to the max, including the culture, customs and people.
“One of the best experiences of my college career was spent at HUF, and I am looking forward to sharing that with each new group that comes,” Woodroof said. “I am so excited and honored by this opportunity. I hope to make a positive impact on the program and am really looking forward to working with the team over there.”
While in Italy, students can take the following courses: International Studies, Speech, Geology, Italian, Paul, The World Christian and an activity class. HUF is conducted every spring, summer and fall semester. These students live in an authentic 16th century villa and eat Tuscan meals prepared by the campus’s own Italian chefs. The students learn to speak Italian, bargain in outdoor markets and visit Rome, Southern Italy and numerous other locations. HUF students also have the opportunity to free travel all across Europe while abroad.
