Summit Study Abroad
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• SUMMIT GLOBAL EDUCATION •

PROFESSORS

Academic Faculty
At Summit Global Education, we are committed to providing high-quality education to our students. To achieve this, we have assembled a talented and diverse faculty of experienced university professors from around the world. 
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All of our classes are taught in English, allowing students from a variety of language backgrounds to fully participate and engage in their studies. Our professors bring a wealth of knowledge and international perspective to their teaching, providing a rich and enriching learning experience for our students.

1.  Professors in Brazil:

For our study abroad programs in Brazil, we are proud to have a distinguished faculty of professors from the University ESPM in Sao Paulo. These professors bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in a variety of fields, and are committed to providing a high-quality education to our students. By studying with these professors, students will have the opportunity to learn from some of the best and brightest minds in Brazil.

 

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Fernando Padovani, ESPM
Professor Padovani is a Brazilian economist, having worked over 10 years in international cooperation agencies, such UNDP and Swedish Cooperation, serving in posts in Africa, Asia and Latin America.  His academic background includes a master degree in International Economics at Geneva University (IUHEID, Switzerland), a PhD in International Relations in S. Paulo University (USP) and a 2 years post-doctoral research at IMI of New Delhi, India (2010 and 2011).  

 

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Ricardo Gomes, ESPM
Ricaordo is a professor of International Relations Theory, International Political Economy, Modern and Contemporary Political Theory at ESPM. He is a Political Scientist with a Masters Degree in International Relations from the Institute of International Relations (IRI) at The Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC/RJ), and holds a Bachelor Degree in Social Sciences from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). 


 

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Luciana Lage, Portuguese Professor
Brazilian born Luciana Lage is the founder of “Street Smart Brazil’, an online learning platform offering customized Portuguese language instruction to clients globally.  Luciana currently lives in San Francisco, and has taught courses at the University of California, Berkley as a lecturer in the department of Spanish and Portuguese.  While at Berkley, Luciana taught the following courses: “Elementary Portuguese 12, Advanced Portuguese 101B for Spanish Speakers, and Readings in Portuguese 102.  Previously, Luciana taught courses at FBV in Recife Brazil.  She holds an MBA degree from San Francisco State University, and a BS in Business Administration from the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil.



2.  Professors in Europe:

For our study abroad programs in Europe, we have partnered with two prestigious universities: IQS in Barcelona, Spain and UNYP in Prague. Our faculty of professors come from these universities and bring a diverse range of expertise and international perspective to their teaching. By studying with these professors, students will have the chance to learn from leading educators in Europe and gain valuable insights into European culture and society.

 

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Dr. Carlos Moslares García, IQS School of Management
Dr. Carlos Moslares is a professor of Economics and Finance at the Ramon Lull University in Barcelona, and is the Director of the Department of Economics and Finance.  Since 2008, Dr. Moslares has been the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the IQS School of Management.  Dr. Moslares was born in Barcelona and graduated in Economics and Business Administration from the University of Barcelona.  He studied International Business at the University of Miami, and then received his Masters and PhD in Economics from Florida International University (USA)

 

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Jean-Philippe Charles, IQS
Jean-Philippe Charles is a Belgian consultant in Cross-Cultural Management trainer, helping companies to effectively manage cultural differences.  He graduated from the Solvay Business School in Brussels in 1982, and during the past 15 years, he has given cross-cultural trainings in Spain, France, Italy, Romania, Germany, Scotland and Sweden.  Among his clients, Jean-Philippe has worked with: Iberdrola, Endesa, Ferrovial, Citigroup, La Caixa, Deutsche Bank, Mango, Solvay, Hewlett Packard, BASF, and more.  Prof. Charles has given courses on Cross-Cultural Management in several Business Schools and Universities in Barcelona, including: IQS, UAB, EAE, IESE, and ESEC. Previously, he held positions of Marketing Manager and Branch Manager with multinational companies in 3 countries.




Director
Brian Butler, Founder of Summit Global Education 

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Brian Butler is the founder of Summit Global Education, known for multi-city, faculty-led study abroad programs that integrate rigorous academics with structured travel and on-the-ground engagement. Summit’s programs examine how culture, innovation, and local context shape work and society, while helping students develop the comparative insight and practical skills needed to adapt and collaborate in international settings.

Since founding Summit in 2011, Brian has developed short-term, credit-bearing programs that take students through multiple cities within a single country or region—guided by professors, grounded in daily academic reflection, and shaped by visits to companies, institutions, and cultural sites. Unlike traditional study abroad, where students are placed in a single location, Summit programs are built around movement: students travel together with faculty, comparing how ideas, industries, and cultures shift across contexts.

Summit’s model is built on close faculty-student engagement. Professors from both local and international universities co-teach courses and often travel with the student cohort. Each day includes structured debrief sessions that connect what students are seeing in the field to what they’re studying in the classroom—helping them build sharper insights and more critical awareness through guided reflection.

Brian’s background spans international education, global markets, and cross-border collaboration. He holds an MBA with distinction from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, where he later contributed to the Global MBA program in Miami, facilitating courses in Finance, Economics, and Global Trade. Prior to launching Summit, he worked as an analyst at the Columbia Institute of Tele-Information at Columbia Business School, focusing on international telecommunications and global market dynamics.

Born in Canada and raised in Switzerland, Brian has lived and worked across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and North America. His global upbringing and professional experience continue to shape Summit’s mission: to equip students with the insight, adaptability, and systems-level thinking needed to navigate—and lead in—a rapidly evolving global economy.

Connect: LinkedIn.com/in/briandbutler




Hear from our students:

“I met Professor Brian Butler in July 2009. Brian is an enthusiastic promoter of international experiences, because he traveled around the world many times, he is aware of different cultures and is able to tell you stories and interesting facts about many countries, languages and customs. He keeps a close relationship with the students, and is very responsible and maintains a professional posture.”  
  
   - Karina Fensterseifer, Feevale University, Brazil



Learn more:
  • About Summit Global Education
  • University Partners
  • Professors: Join our Team
  • Courses: Brazil
  • Courses: Europe

 

LEARN MORE:
  • Courses in Europe
  • Courses in Brazil
  • About Summit Global Education
  • Professors
  • Universities
  • Academic Credits
  • Financial Aid
  • Internships
  • Photos & Testimonials
Contact us:
  • About
  • Contact
  • Request Information
  • phone: +1 (305) 632-0227 
  • [email protected]
UNIVERSITY PARTNERS:
  • University Partners
  • IQS in Barcelona
  • University of New York in Prague
  • ESPM in Brazil
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  • Home
  • Courses
    • Courses - Brazil
    • Courses - Europe
    • Credit Transfer >
      • Detailed Credit Transfer Guide
    • Universities
    • Professors >
      • Professors - Join our Team
  • Programs
    • Apply >
      • Application Process
      • Application - Dates and Deadlines
      • Application - Additional Information
      • Payments
      • Visa information
    • Summer Programs
    • Winter Programs
    • Locations >
      • Brazil >
        • Travel Rio to Salvador
        • Rio de Janeiro
        • Paraty (Green Coast)
        • Sao Paulo
      • Europe >
        • Barcelona
        • Paris
        • London
        • Berlin
        • Prague
        • Budapest
        • Lisbon
        • Madrid
        • Athens
    • Professional and Cultural Visits
    • Photos + Testimonials
    • Health & Safety >
      • Safety
      • Safety in Europe
      • Safety in Brazil
      • Preparing to go abroad/ Returning home
  • Prices
    • Financial Aid >
      • Financial Aid Options
      • Referral program
      • Campus Ambassador Scholarships
      • Internships with Summit Global Education
      • Use Existing Financial Aid to Study Abroad
      • Scholarships - External
    • Make a Payment
  • Contact
    • Information request
  • About us
    • About: Summit Global Education
    • Request Information
    • FAQs
    • Privacy
    • Why Study Abroad?