Professors
Samer Ajour El Zein Ph.D.
International Money and Finance.
Background: Applied Math and Finance.
About me: Masters in Finance from UPF and a Ph.D. from UPC.
I love to teach: International Finance Sustainability.
Someone I admire: Leonard Bernstein.
My pillow book: The Black Swan – Nassim Nicholas Taleb.
Favorite place in BCN: La Rambla de Catalunya.
Ferran Armada Ph.D.
International Monetary and Financial Economics.
Background: Economics, Economic Theory, International Economics.
About me: Applied economist with interests in a long range of economic topics.
I love to teach: How to feel passion for economics.
My pillow book: Misbehaving: The making of behavioral economics – Richard Thaler.
Favorite place in BCN: Montjuïc, it has everything!
Tod Bergstrom
The Legal Environment of Business / Business, Government and Society
Background: Tod has taught undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Washington since 2000. In addition to teaching, he coaches case competitions and leads overseas programs.
A.B., Political Science, Stanford University; A.M., History, Stanford University; J.D., The University of Washington.
About me: Tod Bergstrom has also practiced law for more than 30 years, and has tried more than 120 jury trials.
I love to teach: Can businesses voluntarily self-regulate?
Someone I admire: Nelson Mandela.
My pillow book: Books I can build a class around…current events…
Favorite place in BCN: Getting coffee every morning outside my apartment in the Gothic Quarter, in front of a 15th-century church.
Raisa Cañete Blazquez
Spanish Language.
Background: BA in Translation at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona; Master’s in Education at Oregon State University. Currently working on my PhD in Education: Language, Equity, and Education Policy at OSU.
About me: Free spirited and adventurous, social, love sport and any outdoors activity. Grew up in Barcelona and Mallorca, living in Oregon.
I love to teach: Cultural differences and social norms.
Someone I admire: Brené Brown.
My pillow book: The four agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz.
Favorite place in BCN: The street between Arc de Triomf and Parc de la Ciutadella.
Luis Castilla
Spanish Language & Culture.
Background: Bachelor’s Degree in Audiovisual Communication and a Master’s Degree in Teaching Spanish Language and Literature, I have been working for many years teaching Spanish as a second language.
About me: Enthusiastic, modern and always up to date. My background is very diverse, always trying to look ahead in my teaching methods.
I love to teach: Spanish Literature and Culture.
Someone I admire: Richard Dawkins, David Attemborough, Maria Montesori.
My pillow book: A good book of Spanish Grammar & On the Origin of Species.
Favorite place in BCN: Los Jardines del Guinardó.
Marina Diaz-Cristóbal Ph.D.
Catalonia and Barcelona in a Globalized World / Western European History. History of Spain.
Passionate about international education.
About me: After travelling the world, I made Barcelona my home. I love teaching its history and its idiosyncrasies.
Lessons I love to teach: The world is a complex place! Beware of the simple
Someone I admire: Artist Marcos Grigorian.
My pillow books: Moby Dick
Favorite place in BCN: Santa María del Mar
Massimo Di Ricco Ph.D.
Mediterranean Politics.
Background: BA Literature and History (University of Bolonia); MA Research in Media and Communication (UAB Barcelona); PhD Mediterranean Cultural Studies (URV Tarragona).
About me: I love reading non-fiction books and long form article, doing historical research on the recent past and write.
Lessons I love to teach: The Arab world and the West.
My pillow books: History Is a Contemporary Literature: Manifesto for the Social Sciences – Ivan Jablonka
Favorite place in BCN: Montjuic
Cesar Duch Ph.D.
International Trade: Theory and Policy.
Background: Ph. D in Economics. University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain Doctoral Courses in Economics (Concentration: Marketing Research) October 1993 Thesis title: “Técnicas de investigación de mercados aplicables al sector industrial” (Industrial Market Research Techniques) Qualification: Cum laude.
About me: Since 2004, I have been teaching in English to International students.
I love to teach: International Trade, International Marketing.
Someone I admire: Akio Morita( Sony).
My pillow book: Change Ressistance – Elizabeth A. Broyles and Thomas R. Harvey.
Favorite place in BCN: Olimpic Port.
Adriana Espinet
International Business: Global & Local / Marketing Concepts.
Background: Bachelor and Master Program in Business Administration and Management from ESADE-Ramon Llull University.
Certified facilitator in LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®.
Ph.D. candidate and researcher in the area of international business with a focus on the service industry.
About me: Born and raised in Catalonia. Passionate about the Service Industry. At present, mixing freelance consulting and lecturing in the areas of business and management. Currently involved in supporting entrepreneurs develop their new ventures & exploring new training methodologies based on design thinking and gamification to improve strategic decision-making and contribute to creativity and innovation within organizations.
Lessons I love to teach: That there is no such thing as the solution to the problem. Often, it’s more about the questions rather than the answers.
Books that got me into reading when I was younger: The Perfume – Patrick Süskind. The Inspector Montalbano Series – Andrea Camilleri.
Pillow books any work from Zygmunt Bauman, George Steiner and Nuccio Ordine.
Favorite place in BCN: Walk and get lost, there are always new places to discover no matter how long you have lived here.
Dolors (Loli) Hernández
Spanish Language and culture.
Background: I have worked in American study abroad and Erasmus programs at the Pompeu Fabra University. I have also worked at the ESADE Executive Language Center teaching Spanish to Master students and have participated in a Berlin Senate project as a Business Spanish teacher. I have designed and developed Spanish courses for special purposes.
About me: I was born in Barcelona and I´ve been working as a Spanish teacher for 20 years. I love cooking, cinema and photography.
I love to… Conversar con los estudiantes en español
My pillow book: The Truth About The Harry Quebert Affair – Joël Dicker.
Favorite place in BCN: Plaça de Sant Felip Neri
Hiram José Irizarry Osorio Ph.D.
Mediterranean Politics & Politics of the Developing World.
Background: Ph.D. & M.A. in Political Science (The Ohio State University) & B.S. in Chemical Engineering (Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez). I specialize in Development issues, Quantum Social Science (ideation-materiality).
About me: I am Puerto Rican; Love to write (short stories), learn languages (Spanish, Catalan, English, Portuguese, & Arabic), practice judo.
I love to teach: How challenges bring magic into your life.
Someone I admire: Nelson Mandela, Pedro Albizu Campos, Rubén Berrios Martínez, Luis Rafael Sánchez, Elif Şafak, José Luis González, Alejandro Tapia y Rivera
My pillow books: La Guagua Aérea – Luis Rafael Sánchez. El país de cuatro pisos – José Luis González. Immortality – Milan Kundera.
Favorite place in BCN: Jardins de Rubió i Lluch.
José Antonio Lanau
International Finance.
Background: Economist. MBA Tech Management. Ph.D. Candidate: Knowledge Management.
About me: I am a català, born abroad, lived in a few countries, Citizen of the World.
I love to teach: Everything related to Economics.
Someone I admire: Bill Gates.
My pillow book: The Name of the Rose – Umberto Eco.
Favorite place in BCN: Gràcia Neighborhood.
Claudia Ledesma
Spanish for Professional Development.
Background: In company Spanish Language Teacher.
About me: I think it’s essential to understand student needs & how they learn so as to know what motivates them and drives their learning.
I love to teach: Intercultural Business Communication.
Favorite place in BCN: Cadaqués.
Craig Markarian
History of Art and Architecture / Hands-on Barcelona.
Background: BA (Architecture), BFA, Rhode Island School of Design.
About me: I’m an architect, artist and designer, and professor. I teach university courses in drawing for apparel and graphic design.
I love to teach: Velázquez and Goya and 20th-century avant-garde.
Someone I admire: Artist Marcos Grigorian.
My pillow books: Let the Great World Spin – Colum McCann. Wicked – Gregory Maguire. Catcher in the Rye – J.D. Salinger.
Favorite place in BCN: The beach at sunset.
Gianko Michailidis, Ph.D.
International Monetary and Financial Economics / International Trade: Theory and Policy.
Background: I hold a Ph.D. from the University of Barcelona School of Economics. I have received a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Economics and International Macroeconomic Policy from the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam. Also, I spent a semester as a Visiting Research Fellow at the Department of Economics at Brown University.
About me: I am a research economist working on topics in political economy, public economics and macroeconomics. Currently, I am teaching at Study Abroad Programs in Barcelona. On my free time I enjoy reading, traveling, cooking and playing tennis.
I love to teach: International Economics (Trade & Money) and Political Economy.
My pillow book: Thinking, Fast and Slow – Daniel Kahneman.
Favorite place in BCN: El Born.
Francesc Muñoz Ph.D.
Urban Planning and Architecture.
Background: Urban geographer. Professor at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
About me: Expert in urban planning. Books and texts on urban studies such as ‘Urbanalization. Global Landscapes, Common Places’.
I love to teach: Lessons on audiovisual support and city field trips.
My pillow books: Soft City – John Raban. Short Stories – J.G. Ballard.
Favorite place in BCN: Apart from ALBA… El Clot and Gracia neighborhoods.
Meritxell Muñoz Ph.D.
Spanish Language & Culture.
Background: Ph.D. in Spanish Language. Experience teaching since 2001 in the areas of Spanish Language, Spanish for Business Development, and Study Abroad.
About me: I love the sound of the sea, I enjoy reading and sharing good times with my friends.
I love to teach: How to buy your vegetables in Spanish, so that the next time you visit the local market, you can draw a smile on the shop tender’s face.
Someone I admire: Anyone that takes a fall and gets up again.
My pillow books: The Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck. A Widow for One Year – John Irving.
Favorite place in BCN: The gardens of the Universitat de Barcelona, the Sant Antoni Market, La Central bookstore.
Carles Murillo Ph.D.
Intercultural Communication: Sojourners / European Perspectives & Spanish Film & Literature.
Background: Degree in Humanities (Philosophy: Ethics & Aesthetics, UPF Bcn). Masters in Comparative Literature (University of Edinburgh) & Masters in Literary Creation (UPF, Barcelona). PhD in Contemporary Spanish Literature (University of Edinburgh).
Taught at an undergraduate level in Scotland, Italy (Ca’Foscari, Venice) and in a Masters program for UPF, Barcelona. Currently working for Study Abroad Programs in Barcelona. Academic publications in the area of Literature and Cinema.
About me: As a Guest Lecturer for other Universities and Business Master Programs, I teach philosophical ideas through current TV Shows to students and professionals.
I love to teach: Question the answers.
Someone I admire: David Lynch.
My pillow books: Tokyo does not love us anymore – Ray Loriga.
Marc Rocas
Business, Government and Society / Leadership & Organizational Behavior / Cross-cultural Communications.
Background: Ph.D. candidate at the Open University of Catalonia (UOC). Master’s Degree Programme in Information and Knowledge Society. Master’s Degree in Teaching. Business Administration. Electrical Engineer.
About me: I love to teach because I love to learn. I am addicted to subscriptions.
Lessons I love to teach: Lessons on inequality, ethics, and globalization.
Someone I admire: Noam Chomsky
Pillow book: Liquid life – Zygmunt Bauman.
Favorite place in BCN: Café del Centre, a coffee shop from 1873.
Cristina Rubio García
Spanish Language.
Background: Studied Spanish Language and Literature and has a Másters in Spanish Education as a Foreign Language (FPELE).
About me: I love to travel, listening to music, reading, watching films and art. I like to discover new things and enjoy good times.
My pillow books: Rayuela – Julio Cortazar.
Favorite place in BCN: Bunkers del Carmel.