Executive Director & Founder
Chris Elisara, Ph.D.
A visionary educator, social entrepreneur, and filmmaker, Dr. Chris Elisara and his wife Tricia founded CCSP in 2002. A native New Zealander, Dr. Elisara earned a B.A. from the University of Auckland, an M.B.A. from Eastern University, and a Ph.D. in cross-cultural education from Biola University, CA. More recently he founded the Center for Environmental Leadership in Buffalo, NY, and in late 2011 Dr. Elisara became the inaugural chair of the World Evangelical Alliance's creation care task force. Closer to home Dr. Elisara is a board member of the Volcan Mountain Foundation, a conservation organization which has preserved over 17,000 acres of critical habitat in San Diego County.
New Zealand Staff
Peter Schramm - INterim Program Director
A Minnesota native, Peter has spent the past several years living and working in Kaikōura, New Zealand. He currently serves as Program Director at CCSP, a role he stepped into after a year with the organization, including prior experience as a Student Life Coordinator. Before relocating to New Zealand, he was based in Santa Barbara, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolution from Westmont College.
He is deeply passionate about the outdoors, spending much of his free time surfing, spearfishing, and gardening, and is always eager for new adventures. He also enjoys playing board games, engaging in thoughtful conversations about life’s complexities, playing the guitar, and dancing.
Peter participated in a study abroad program in South Africa with the Organization for Tropical Studies (OTS). This experience further ignited his passion for biology and experiential learning. He believes that immersing oneself in new cultures and actively engaging with the subject matter provides a powerful pathway to deeper understanding—both within one’s field of study and in personal growth.
Leah Schaad
Student Life Coordinator
Beka kaufman
Student Life Coordinator