Meet Studia Vitae instructor Dr. Christopher Mizel ’07

Dr. Christopher Mizel ‘07 is the director of spiritual life and identity at Concordia International School in Shanghai. In January, Mizel will also serve as an instructor for Concordia University, Nebraska’s new non-credit continuing education and lifelong learning program called Studia Vitae, teaching a course titled “Sport as Faith Formation.” Studia Vitae offers Christ-centered continuing education opportunities in a variety of focused areas through an online scheduled and self-paced learning platform.  

Mizel began his ministry and coaching career in St. Peters, Missouri, where he and his wife Danielle lived for 10 years. While in Missouri he coached cross country and track and field at Lutheran High School of St. Charles County, leading the Cougars to two track and field state championships in 2013 and 2014. In 2017, he began his current work at Concordia International School Shanghai where he continues to coach and teach. Mizel has led the Concordia Phoenix to five Asia Pacific Athletic Conference track & field championships. 

He attended Concordia University, Nebraska and earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. He then attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, earning a master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees. He and his wife Danielle have been married for almost 20 years.  

Mizel will present Studia Vitae’s Sport as Faith Formation course on Mondays from January 12 to February 20, 2026, at 7 p.m. CST. 

High-impact Christian schools are places where the mission shapes every part of the day, and that includes the athletic and extracurricular programs. In Mizel’s six-week course, participants will learn about the long and inspiring legacy of using sport and athletics as a means of cultivating character and nurturing faith, the role of coach as Christian model and mentor, establishing a Christ-centered climate and culture for your team, and how to nurture the character and faith of student athletes.  

Registration is now open for this course and addition offerings in Concordia University, Nebraska’s Studia Vitae program. Each CEU course is $150 and is delivered in six one-hour sessions. Discounts are available for program participants who are members of preferred partner organizations. The short, focused sessions are available as scheduled webinars that will also be recorded for future viewing. Enrollment is flexible and open to anyone with no prerequisites required, and no commitment is needed to take additional classes.  

Registration is available at ceu.cune.edu.  

For more information about Studia Vitae, please visit cune.edu/ceu.  

For more information about preferred partnerships, please visit cune.edu/partners.