Study Abroad Program

Jitka Odehnalová, from Prague, Czech Republic, earned her Bachelors degree from the University of Economics, Prague, in the Faculty of International Relations. During her studies, she successfully took part in courses in the UK, France, and Germany, where she began her career in teaching. After finishing her Masters in International Trade and Commercial Communication, Jitka decided to continue with her Ph.D. Studies at University of Economics, Prague specializing on Cross-Cultural Management. Focusing on the Chinese negotiation culture, Jitka spent three years in Shanghai, China, conducting research and collecting data and working for the Czech National Pavilion on the World EXPO 2010, Shanghai. Since 2010 she has been teaching at the University of Economics, Prague as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of International Relations, while also serving as a Visiting Faculty at partner universities in Ireland, Russia and USA. Jitka has been twice rewarded for her academic work, first by the Rector’s Prize for Ph.D. publications 2008, University of Economics, Prague, second by the Josef Hlávka’s Prize for the best students and graduates in the Czech Republic. Jitka speaks fluent English, German, Spanish and Chinese and is working on her Russian and French.

Dr. Zamastil is an accomplished international educator and founder of the European Study Abroad Center. She earned her Ph.D. in Adult Studies/Higher Education with a cognate in International Studies from the University of Denver, her J. D. from John Marshall Law School, and her B.A. in English and Interdisciplinary Writing from the University of Northern Colorado. Dr. Zamastil spent five years as an Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County, Chicago while teaching part-time at Robert Morris College and the Chicago Police Academy. In 1994, Dr. Zamastil moved to the Czech Republic to complete a one-year visiting lecturer position at Charles University Law Faculty in Prague. Upon completion of the lectureship in Prague, Dr. Zamastil founded an International Training Centre, coordinated continuing legal education courses for Central and Eastern European lawyers on behalf of John Marshall Law School, coached Moot Court competitions and was the Country Manager of a U.K based Executive Recruitment Consultancy firm. After 4 years of international experience, Dr. Zamastil returned to the United States to teach a variety of international business, management, and law courses at the University of Denver, Metropolitan State College of Denver, and Johnson & Wales University. In addition to teaching, Dr. Zamastil organized and coordinated the international study abroad term for International Business Students and Co-Chaired the Honors Program. From 2005-2006, Dr. Zamastil taught Business Law at KIMEP in Kazakhstan. Currently Dr. Zamastil teaches the Introduction to Global Business, Business Law, and International Law courses at various universities including The University of Economics, Prague and Webster University, Thailand. She is involved with NAFSA and has published numerous articles on legal issues in higher education and the impact of short-term study abroad programs on undergraduate students.

Anyone looking for an enthusiastic supporter of the Hospitality & Events Industry look no further than Cynthia Vannucci. Cynthia was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Las Vegas as a young woman. “When you live in Las Vegas, you work in the hotel industry,” she says. While working full-time in the hotel business, Cynthia was a full-time student at UNLV in the Hotel Administration program. After graduation from UNLV, Cynthia worked for several years in the hospitality industry, starting as a management trainee and moving into catering and sales, and on to marketing. Her company relocated her to five different cities, although, her base was mostly in the southwestern U.S. She studied for her Master’s in Business, with a specialization in human relations. During this time she married Peter Henkel, and raised their children, Petra, Christa and Phillip! The combined responsibilities of a demanding career in hotel sales and marketing, along with the frequent travel of a young family became excessive. Former professors at UNLV prompted her to consider teaching. So, it was off to Penn State to get her Ph.D. in Management of Environment Relations. At Penn State she specialized her research in the area of meeting planning. Dr. Vannucci is the Director of Event Planning and is a fully tenured professor at Metropolitan State College of Denver. She has earned numerous awards and says “the awards are a result of teaching some of the greatest college students!” Dr. Cynthia Vannucci also holds a Certified Meeting Professional (CMP), CHE, CHSP & CHME designations in the professional industry. She was honored to serve and be selected as the Educator of the year in 2008 for the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA).

Robert W. Robertson is the Director, Graduate Business Studies at Saint Leo University, Florida. In addition, he serves as a Visiting Faculty member with the University of Ljubljana in the Executive MBA program. Dr Robertson was the Dean, Bang College of Business and Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Urban Futures at the Kazakhstan Institute of Management, Economics and Strategic Research (2005-2006). He has more than twenty years of management experience in the public sector in Canada leading award winning organizations. Most recently, he served as the City Manager, City of Hamilton, Ontario an organization with more than 8,500 employees and a budget in excess of one billion dollars. Robertson has lectured at universities in China, Brazil, Canada, Central Asia and Europe and he is an invited speaker at conferences world-wide. Robertson holds a Doctorate degree from Stirling University, Scotland (Management and Organization); Master of Studies in Law, Vermont Law School; Master of Public Administration, Dalhousie University; and, Master of Art, Eastern Kentucky University. Dr Robertson’s research and consulting interests include corporate and strategic planning, business planning, quality management, continuous improvement, organizational behavior, economic development, public sector management, city planning and international business.

Katerina studied Art History at the Faculty of Arts and Letters at the Charles University (Prague), where she obtained her Mgr. and PhDr. degrees. She worked at diverse art galleries in Prague and Paris (Paul Prouté S.A, Old Master etchings and drawings). She was awarded different scholarships and internships in France (BNF Paris, Montpellier) and Italy (Perugia). Katerina is a lecturer for several study abroad programs in Prague, such as the Charles University (International Studies Abroad) and she teaches Prague Art and Architecture at the Anglo-American University. She works equally at the National Gallery in Prague, Collection of Old Masters (St. Agnes Monastery, Sternberg Palace). Katerina specialized in French and Flemish late medieval manuscript illumination. Her fields of interest include medieval painting in Bohemia, baroque architecture in Rome and Bohemia as well as contemporary sculpture and painting. Katerina is fluent in four languages, namely English, French, Italian and Czech (mother tongue), she understands German and she has a reading knowledge of Hebrew and Spanish. In her spare time Katerina enjoys dancing, reading and cooking, she loves skiing and swimming too. Most often she travels around Europe, especially to Austria, France and Italy.

Dr. Stadnik has Masters Degree and Ph.D. from the University of Economics, Prague, (Vysoká škola ekonomická v Praze) in Integrated Information Systems and Marketing. He teaches courses in Czech, English and Russian in the Department of Banking and Insurance (FFU), specializing in Consumer Behavior. His research interests include Comparative Market Economies and globalization.

Presently, Dr. Patrick Low is Professor of Management and Marketing in Brunei. With an International PhD in Business and Management from the University of South Australia, Dr. Patrick Low also holds a Master of Business from the CURTIN University of Technology and a BA (Singapore). His other qualifications include being a #Chartered Marketer (CIM, UK) #Chartered Consultant and an Accredited Professional Consultant (American Consultants’ League) as well as holding a #Graduate Diploma in Marketing (UK) #Graduate Diploma in Personnel Management (SIM/ SIPM) #Graduate Diploma in the Marketing of Financial Services (MIS) #Certificate in Administrative Mgt/ Organisation & Methods. Dr. Patrick Low is also the licensed administrator, user and interpreter of MBTI personality type profiling for several years. A behavioral consultant, he is also DISC-certified. Dr. Patrick Low has been a human resource professional since the late 1980s. He has work experiences in the Civil Service, electronics, trade and financial industries. He has handled HRD projects/ assignments in all ASEAN countries, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. His previous appointment was with a foreign bank as the Senior Training Manager, Management Development (Asia Pacific Region). Since 1995, Patrick runs his own consultancy (BusinesscrAFTTM Consultancy), undertaking consultancy work for other companies, both Singapore and overseas which include: Matsushita Electric Singapore, Kotobuki, MINDEF, Natsteel, Trans-Link Express, National Healthcare Group, Singapore National Employers’ Federation, KAFCO (Bangladesh), Singapore National Co-operative Federation, NTUC, Comserv, Eagle’s Wings, KKB Engineering Sdn. Bhd., Sawarak Craft Council, Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Rimbunan Hijau, SESCO, Sarawak State Library, Khind Marketing, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Islamic Bank of Brunei, Maybank, Maersk Singapore, Hornbill Airways, Nam Ho Travel, Standard Chartered Bank, Sales Academy (MIS) and others. Awarded the MIS/ Standard Chartered Gold Medal Award – 1994 for being the most outstanding graduate in the Graduate Diploma in Marketing of Financial Services, Patrick is also the author of (2000) (revised in 2002) Strategic Customer Management (one of Border’s Top 10 Business Books as featured in Asian Entrepreneur). The reading public has also given good rating of his second book, (2001) The Power of Relationships. Developing True Leadership Potential is his fourth book while his third book (co-written with Dr. Daniel Theyagu), recently out, is Team Success. His fifth book is Training Success, published by the Institute of Chartered Financial Analyst India (ICFAI). Besides, several of his articles have been published in magazines (such as Horizons and Today’s Manager) and journals including the Emerald Insight, the Management Development Journal of Singapore and the Effective Executive.

Professor Holmes comes to us from England, where he was a Senior Accountant with JP Morgan, Investment Bank. When he moved to Prague, he started his career as a Lecturer and has been consistently evaluated by students and peers as top lecturer at least once in each university where currently teaching. With an extremely practical background in accounting, business and management and extensive international experience, he continues to teach with us at the University of Economics and students love his hands on approach. Professor Holmes holds a Diploma in Management from Open University Business School in Vienna, Austria, a Certificate in Training Practice (leading to associate membership of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) from Manchester, UK and a prestigious MA in International Relations, Sheffield University, U.K.

Professor Durham is currently leading his department as the expert on International Management Strategy at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. as well as serving as a Visiting Lecturer at the Prague University of Economics and as a Director and Professor at ESAC, USA. Prior to this he was the leader of Marketing studies as Business Faculty at Webster University, USA at the Thailand campus. He previously served as Business Lecturer and Degree Coordinator at Dong Hua University, Shanghai China and has been active as athletic advisor at these institutions. Professor Durham’s area of research is in Global Strategic Management and he continues to consult on projects involving feasibility evaluations, fundraising, training, small business formation and management integration in small to medium sized mergers and acquisitions through his own DE Consulting Firm.

Ms. Rerichova holds an M.A. International Trade, University of Economics, Prague and an M.A. Spanish Philology, Charles University, Prague. With these two prestigious degrees, she spent two years with PRO-ARTE, Mexico D.F., MUNDO REAL, México D.F. and she currently is a Lecturer with the University of Economics, Prague, teaching International Business and Cross Cultural Communications. A valued member of the ESAC team, she has also been an Adviser for the program for 7 years.

Don C. Smith is the Director of the Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Graduate Program at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. He specializes in environmental law, with particular emphasis on environmental law and policy of the European Union. Mr. Smith formerly worked as a water policy advisory for Kansas Gov. John W. Carlin. After leaving Gov. Carlin’s office he served as the governor’s appointee to the Kansas Water Commission. He practiced natural resources law before joining the legal publishing arm of McGraw-Hill, where he was an associate publisher. He has also served as a publisher for an Anglo-Dutch publishing company, Reed-Elsevier, where he was responsible for a series of publications (e.g., “The Air Pollution Consultant” and “The Hazardous Waste Consultant”) about U.S. environmental law. He has also had extensive experience working on environmental publications involving European Union policy. He is a member of the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators, the Colorado Bar Association, and the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. He is editor in chief of Utilities Policy, a peer-reviewed journal, published by U.K.-based Elsevier Science, Ltd.