Commitment to Excellence: RIT Croatia Announces its New Area Heads

RIT Croatia is happy to announce the addition of three new Area Heads to its academic leadership team. As of August 1, 2023, Dr. Iva Čondić-Jurkić will assume the position of the Area Head for the Global Business Management BS program; Barbara Perić, MA, will take on the responsibility of the Area Head for English and Modern Languages, and Dr. Kristina Šorić will assume the position of the Humanities, and Natural and Social Sciences Area Head. In addition to their new roles, all three faculty members will continue to teach on our campuses.

Dr. Iva Čondić-Jurkić joined RIT Croatia in 2014. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, which she earned in 2010. She has obtained two Master of Science degrees: MS in Economics from the University of Zagreb in 2009, and MS in Finance from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, USA, achieved in 2012. Additionally, Dr. Čondić-Jurkić pursued her passion for finance and economics through an MBA from the International Graduate Business School Zagreb in cooperation with the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University, USA.

Barbara Perić, MA, specializes in Italian and Spanish Language and Literature, and has been with RIT Croatia since 2005. She holds a master's degree in Italian and Spanish Language and Literature, from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (2000). Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in language acquisition, Barbara's areas of scientific and professional interest are second and third language acquisition and cross-linguistic influences. She actively participates in conferences and has published articles in applied linguistics. As the new Area Head for English and Modern Languages, Barbara aims to foster collaboration among faculty members and inspire students to appreciate literature, culture, and communication for success in the global landscape. Her expertise will enrich our language programs and enhance the student experience.

Dr. Kristina Šorić has been teaching at RIT Croatia since 2019. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Padua, Italy, and a master's degree in Economics from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics. Dr. Šorić is the owner of the Luyouma business consulting business, and she furthermore serves as a Board Member of the Croatian Mathematical Society. She brings a wealth of knowledge in mathematics and optimization to the college. Her areas of scientific and professional interest are operational research, especially heuristics, and metaheuristics for scheduling problems in production, as well as methods for supply chain management. As the head of Humanities, and Natural and Social Sciences, Dr. Šorić will encourage faculty to embrace interdisciplinarity in these ever-changing times. This collaborative approach will bring benefits to both faculty and students alike.

We extend our warmest welcome to Dr. Iva Čondić-Jurkić, Barbara Perić, MA, and Dr. Kristina Šorić. The addition of these three exceptional individuals to our academic leadership demonstrates RIT Croatia's commitment to providing a top-quality learning experience for its students. Their passion for teaching, commitment to excellence, and innovative approach to education combined with their expertise will contribute to the continuous improvement of our education system.