Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange

Fiscal Year 2016 ANNUAL PROGRAM REPORT Program period: October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016 Contents

Grant Activities ...... 06

US Grantees in AY 15-16 and AY 16-17: Activities and Accomplishments ...... 06

US Scholars ...... 07

US Specialists ...... 08

US Graduate Students ...... 10

ETA Program ...... 12

Conclusion ...... 15

U.S. Alumni Accomplishments in AY 2015-2016 ...... 16

Bulgarian Grantees in AY 15-16 and AY 16-17 ...... 20

Bulgarian Grantees’ Accomplishments in AY 15-16 ...... 24

Grant-Related Activities ...... 27

Academic Advising ...... 29

Participation in International Events ...... 33

General Factors Impacting the Program ...... 34

Administration, Budget, Fund-Raising, Income-Generating Activities ...... 36

Conclusion ...... 37

Appendix 1: Bulgarian Media Coverage of Fulbright Activities ...... 39

2 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange

he Bulgarian-American Commission for The board members at the time of publication are: Educational Exchange (Bulgarian Fulbright TCommission) was officially inaugurated US Members on February 9, 1993, under a ten-year bilateral l Thomas Higgins (CEO, Yatoto) agreement between the governments of the United l Stratsimir Kulinski (President, American States and the Republic of Bulgaria. On December University in Bulgaria) 3, 2003, a new bilateral agreement was signed l Tammy Paltchikov, Treasurer (Attaché for between the governments of the United States and Educational and Cultural Affairs, US Embassy) the Republic of Bulgaria establishing the Fulbright l Brian Stimmler, Chairman (Counselor for Public Commission in perpetuity. Prior to the establishment Affairs, US Embassy) of the Commission, the Fulbright exchange in l Jeffery Warner (Head of Teacher Support, Teach Bulgaria existed on a limited scale: between 1967 and for Bulgaria) 1993 there were 102 Bulgarian and approximately

80 American Fulbright grantees. The total number Bulgarian Members of Bulgarian and American Fulbright grantees since 1967 is 1187. Of these, 560 are Bulgarians and 627 l Ivan Dimov (Deputy Minister, Ministry of Americans. Education and Science) l Kaloyan Damyanov (Advisor to Minister of The Commission board consists of ten members, five Education and Science) American citizens and five Bulgarian citizens. They l Viktoria Melamed (Minister Plenipotentiary, represent the major areas of state and public activity: Eastern Europe and Central Asia government, education, the arts, and business. The Directorate,Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Ambassador of the United States to the Republic of l Maria Metodieva (Family Economic Success Bulgaria and the Minister of Education and Science Officer, Trust for Social Achievement, Sofia) of the Republic of Bulgaria serve as honorary l Julia Stefanova (former Executive Director of the chairpersons of the Commission. Bulgarian Fulbright Commission)

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 3 The main function of the Commission directly derives 6. Involve Fulbright alumni more actively in the from the goals of the Fulbright Program worldwide promotion of the Fulbright program in Bulgaria and consists in administering the exchange of and the US. Bulgarian and American scholars, students, teachers, school administrators and professionals and providing 7. Assist Bulgarian universities to develop educational advising about opportunities for study partnerships with US universities and other in the U.S. During FY 2016 the Bulgarian-American institutions. Commission for Educational Exchange continued to serve the goals of the Fulbright program as defined in 8. Promote the Specialist Program among the 1961 Fulbright-Hays Act and the 2003 agreement potential candidates from the US and in between the US Government and the Government Bulgarian universities and educational of the Republic of Bulgaria. In the past year, the institutions. commission underwent a major change, namely moving to new premises at 12 Vitosha Boulevard 9. Increase Fulbright presence in Bulgaria by after more than two decades at its previous location. using the resources of AmericanCorners and Various economic challenges and domestic and US Embassy-supported libraries and involving regional factors also impacted the Fulbright fiscal ETAs more actively. and academic year under review. Below is the list of our major goals and objectives over the past year: 10. Maintain and expand productive cooperation with the America for Bulgaria Foundation, 1. Promote academic exchanges in all fields. especially with a view to the ETA program.

2. Extend outreach to Bulgarian universities, high 11. Maintain cooperation with other donors and schools and other educational and research identify more fund-raising opportunities. institutions to provide a higher quality, a greater number, and diversity of applicants. 12. Participate in international events relating to the Fulbright program and international 3. Further popularize the Fulbright program education. in Bulgaria in the context of increasing competition from European universities by 13. Maintain good communication with ECA, strengthening EducationUSA and broadening cooperating agencies and educational the use of Internet resources and social institution in the US and Bulgaria, and other networks. Fulbright Commissions to ensure high standards of program administration on 4. Increase the number of Bulgarian candidates the basis of binationalism, peer review and by promoting diversity through program professionalism. outreach to underserved areas and social groups, attracting students in STEM areas, offering non-degree opportunities to doctoral students, young researchers and NGO officers.

5. Disseminate information about the Fulbright opportunity in Bulgaria at US universities and educational institutions so as to attract more and better quality US applicants in all categories.

4 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange To help meet these objectives, throughout FY2016 Fulbright Bulgaria’s social media outreach has one of the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission’s major expanded considerably over the past year, as the goals was to update and expand its communications following statistics indicate: and outreach efforts, especially its Internet and social media presence. The commission’s paper/ 1,276 current Facebook friends plus 81 followers: PDF newsletter was completely redesigned as of https://www.facebook.com/Fubright.Bulgaria (as Spring 2016 as a bi-annual magazine meant to be compared to 875 last year, a 45% increase) more attractive to alumni and partner organizations, while a bi-monthly newsletter was launched in 128 members in the closed Fulbright Bulgaria late 2015 to offer regular updates to the Bulgarian Community group (as compared to 81 last year, a Fulbright community. ED Angela Rodel and staff 58% increase) coordinated a complete reconstruction and redesign of the commission website, which was launched 147 members of the closed ETA Facebook group (as in November 2015; the news and information compared to 118 last year, a 25% increase) published there is far more integrated with our social media and e-newsletter than the previous 421Twitter followers (as compared to 254 last year, a website. Our current website statistics (for Fulbright. 66% increase) bg) for the period October 2015-September 2016 are as follows: We also started a Fulbright Bulgaria LinkedIn account, which already has 397 connections l Unique visitors: 29,344 l Sessions: 46,942 We have developed a strategy for more frequent and l Page views: 109,391 coordinated posts between our website, e-newsletter and various social media, so as to increase the Although still modest compared to larger European likelihood of reaching a larger number of alumni and Fulbright Commissions’ social media presence, partners through such channels.

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 5 Grant Activities US Grantees in AY 15-16 and AY 16-17: Activities and Accomplishments

n AY 15-16 the number of US grantees working women/gender studies, migration, special education, in Bulgaria was 43: five scholars, four graduate speech-language pathology, and education/ Istudents, twenty-nine English teaching assistants, curriculum development. Fulbright graduate students and five specialists. The scholars came from the conducted independent research in the field of following fields: political science, American literature, social entrepreneurship, social work, and history, filmmaking, and psychology. They were affiliated while the student selected under our joint program with the University of National and World Economy, with the Romanian Fulbright Commission studied Plovdiv University, the University of Veliko Tarnovo, how to play Bulgarian woodwind instruments. The the National Academy of Theater and Film Arts, and twenty-nine English Teaching Assistants worked with the National Centre for Addictions. The Fulbright Bulgarian high schools in twenty-four towns around Specialists were experts in the following fields: the country.

US Fulbright Scholars in Bulgaria, AY 2015 - 2016

6 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange US Scholars

The group of scholars in AY 2015/2016 was very Dr. Isabelle White, who taught Nineteenth Century active. All of them had guest lectures at institutions American Literature and American and Canadian that were not their official hosts. Dr. Boyka Stefanova Culture and History at the University of Veliko (University of National and World Economy) offered Tarnovo, made a guest appearance at the University guest lectures and research seminars at New of Plovdiv. Bulgarian University, the American University in Blagoevgrad, Sofia University, and the University Mira Niagolova, a documentary filmmaker from of Plovdiv. She developed a joint proposal for a Vermont, taught two courses at the National conference presentation with a colleague from Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, but she also her host institution; started a new research project volunteered to teach a whole senior class at Sofia on political memory with two colleagues from University’s Journalism and Mass-communication the American University in Bulgaria; collaborated Department. She did a research for her new multi- with several interested institutions to develop their platform documentary film, with the working title curriculum in the field of innovation policy and “Mapping Paradise,” set to discover how Bulgarians international governance, and submitted for approval perceive happiness. She travelled to different parts proposals for institutional cooperation between of the country to conduct video interviews with Bulgarian universities and her home institution, the people from all walks of life. With the assistance of University of Texas San Antonio. the Fulbright Commission and US Embassy, Mira did a screening of her film “Welcome to Vermont,” followed up by a discussion on promoting cultural understanding through film. She also presented a guest talk entitled “Producing Independent Social Documentaries in the USA” at the Sofia International Film Festival.

From left to right: Mira Niagolova, Dr. Ronald Harvey, and Dr. Carol MacCurdy at the “American Challenges (In)Tolerance” panel discussion

Dr. Carol MacCurdy, who taught writing courses, Contemporary American Literature, and Ethical Dilemmas in Contemporary American Fiction at Dr. Ronald Harvey leading an improv comedy the University of Plovdiv, was invited to deliver the workshop at “Peter Bogdan” Foreign Language plenary address to the 11th Biennial Conference of High School in Montana the Hungarian Association for American Studies (HAAS) held in Pecs, Hungary, on May 12, 2016. She was the driving force behind the organization of Dr. Ronald Harvey, whose project was to research a panel where US visiting scholars in the country possibilities for creating an Oxford House in Bulgaria discussed contemporary issues in American life that as a form of residential aftercare for substance challenge the boundaries of tolerance from their addicts, actually ended up starting the first Oxford own perspective. The panel was entitled “American House on the European continent. He received Challenges (In)Tolerance,” and was held on April 8, a three-month grant extension to complete this 2016, at the University of Plovdiv. project in collaboration with Bulgarian researchers

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 7 and practitioners at “Open Your Eyes” drug treatment This honorarium is usually very small, because it is centre in Varna. They translated Oxford House calculated by Bulgarian standards (about 1.5 USD program materials into Bulgarian, created a house per academic hour). Despite that, it is becoming operations manual for the residents and transition more difficult for public universities to provide such staff, paid initial rents and security deposits, and payment. Therefore, we have decided not to ask provided communal housing for four men. Along hosts for such contributions anymore. The monthly with his official research work, Ron also conducted Fulbright stipend is generous for Bulgarian living improv comedy workshops for high school students standards, and most scholars are satisfied with the and adults for team building and general training in amount. Also, they usually do not work only with one Montana, and for the general public in Varna. He also university - we encourage them to reach out to more performed at “Tears and Laughter” and “@lma @lter” institutions, colleagues, and friends, which leads to a theatres in Sofia. greater visibility of their projects, and the results are far more satisfying than the results from teaching The final reports of the US lecturers and the evaluations a single course at a single university. All scholars of the partner institutions were very positive. The expressed interest in returning to Bulgaria to continue only challenge we had was related to the cost-share their work here and have been very helpful to the provided by Bulgarian host institutions. They were Commission in their capacity as resource persons for expected to provide an honorarium to scholars the new cohort of grantees, and as reviewers for the who taught courses, but some could not afford it. Bulgarian Fulbright grant competition.

US Specialists

The 2016 fiscal year was marked not only by greater interest in the Specialist Program, but also by new joint initiatives. The Commission carried out a project entirely funded by ECA under their call for Specialists working in the field of Migration. This led to the establishment of new partnerships with the Association for Integration of Refugees and Migrants, the Red Cross, the International Organization for Migration, the UNHCR, and Council of Women Refugees, and to a successful visit of a Specialist with Fulbright Specialist Bill O’Keefe (fifth from left to many productive meetings, and two public lectures right) on a visit to the refugee center in Harmanli at Sofia University and New Bulgarian University. Specialist Bill O’Keefe works for the Catholic Relief Services and is eager to continue his collaboration by a grant they received from DOS Office of Global with his partners in Bulgaria. We sincerely hope that Engagement. The goal of the Specialist’s visit was there will be new opportunities to encourage the to research ways to increase American students’ exchange of experts in the field of refugees and presence and to help improve marketing of Bulgarian migration, because the topic is very relevant and universities to the U.S. During his stay in Bulgaria, requires special attention. Fulbright Specialist Dr. Scott Waring had meetings with Sofia University and New Bulgarian University in Another new form of collaboration was a joint Sofia, the American University and the South-West project with the US Embassy in Sofia, entirely funded University in Blagoevgrad, and a business school

8 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange in Varna. Dr. Waring represents one of the largest Dr. Robert Orlikoff, taught an intensive lecture course, Universities in the US, the University of Central Florida, presented workshops and seminars, conducted and he is committed to forming various institutional consultation-based research work with his Bulgarian linkages, so we are eager to see the follow-up of this colleagues, and took part in academic courses initiative. Also, it is crucial for the Program to be co- evaluation and assessment. The project was also the financed under such joint projects, because while first successful realization of combined international Bulgarian institutions are greatly interested in hosting Erasmus+ and Fulbright programs in Bulgaria. short-term specialist visits, unfortunately most of them are unable to afford even the modest cost- The main role of the Specialist in Early Childhood sharing required by the program. Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education hosted by the Karin Dom Foundation in Varna was In FY 2016, two universities and one NGO that to support the development of services for children received funds from European Programs for with special needs and their families. Cathy Hyslop their projects were able to host a US Specialist. assisted the development and expansion of their Sofia University attracted a prominent American current Parent-Mediated Group, and she was feminist and historian, Dr. Linda Gordon from New involved in their attempts to increase the inclusion York University, for a series of open lectures at the of parents whose children receive therapy in University, and for evaluation and upgrading of their Center for Children with Special Needs. She their curriculum and teaching resources. Professor attended individual and group therapy sessions, Gordon also met students and colleagues from other conducted trainings for the professionals working universities in Bulgaria: the New Bulgarian University in at the Center, developed a formal assessment and Sofia; the American University, and the Southwestern data collection system for children in their Early University in Blagoevgrad, and took part in a TV show Intervention Program (age 0-3), and was invited by for one of the major Bulgarian TV channels. the Medical University in Varna to share practical experience for parent-mediated services, and to The Specialist in Speech/Language Pathology raise awareness about the involvement of parents in hosted by the South-West University in Blagoevgrad, the care for their children.

Fulbright Specialist Dr. Robert Orlikoff with Dr. Georgieva, SWU’s Deputy Rector of International Relations, and Dr. Deliyski from Michigan State University

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 9 US Graduate Students

university-sponsored trip to the island of Samothrace in May, and submitted a paper for a conference in Plovdiv, which was accepted. Thus, Julia returned to Bulgaria in October to participate in the conference and present the outcomes of her research.

Michelle Asbill, affiliated with the University of National and World Economy, came to Bulgaria to explore the role of education and its potential to reduce the percentage of Bulgarians turning to the sex industry to meet legitimate economic needs. Her future dissertation will involve interviewing Fulbright Graduate Student Julia Irons, New past and current Bulgarian traffickers in order to Bulgarian University investigate community and societal factors identified as significant by traffickers as influential in their own process of deciding to become a trafficker. During In AY 2015/2016 the Commission hosted four US her Fulbright project, Michelle participated in a graduate students in social entrepreneurship, social conference on social service delivery to children in work, history, and music. They were affiliated with Vienna, Austria, and co-taught a course organised by the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the University her home university (University of Illinois) in Greece. of National and World Economy, New Bulgarian University, and the Academy of Music, Dance and Rachel Susser was a recipient of the joint Bulgarian- Fine Arts in Plovdiv. The researchers collaborated Romanian Fulbright grant. Her project was to learn with other local institutions, attended research to play traditional folk music on kaval (Bulgaria) and conferences, established networks and connections nai (Romania). She was placed at the Academy of that will be of use throughout their careers, and Music, Dance and Fine Arts in Plovdiv, where she gathered a wealth of material during their time in the attended individual classes in kaval, folk singing, country. and folk dancing, funded by the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission. In addition to working with the kaval Julia Irons researched bilingual inscriptions from Roman Thrace. She identified and when possible examined in person bilingual inscriptions known in the former province of Thrace, established relationships with Bulgarian scholars in relevant fields of study, gathered archival and field data in anticipation of incorporating her work into her future dissertation. Her host institution was New Bulgarian University, but she also volunteered extensively with the Balkan Heritage Foundation, a Bulgarian NGO that oversees archaeological field schools in Bulgaria and Macedonia. She reviewed English-language documents and edited and created Wikipedia pages for their projects. She presented alongside several Fulbright Graduate Student Michelle Asbill, other Master’s-level students at a gathering of New University of National and World Economy Bulgarian University students and faculty preceding a

10 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Global Optimal Strategies for SMEs - Book Chapter) or reports at conferences (Conference of the Romanian Academy of Sciences “Victor Slăvescu,” Centre for Financial and Monetary Research, Conference of the French Higher School of Management ESFAM in Bucharest, Warsaw workshop of the Warsaw School of Economics.)

The students’ reports indicated that they have been Fulbright Graduate Student Rachel Susser, very satisfied with the exchange and would like to Plovdiv Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts continue the established contacts and relationships. We have taken steps to engage them further by teacher at her host institution, Rachel worked with inviting them to a Facebook group that was originally kaval players in Sofia, Kotel, Shiroka Luka, and with intended for Bulgarian alumni only, but we expanded the Trakiya Ensemble in Plovdiv. She attended various it to include current grantees and alumni from both rituals, events, and festivals in Plovdiv, Rakovski, countries in an effort to establish a community Brestovitsa, Pernik, Trud, and Blagoevgrad to learn where they can ask questions, discuss hot topics, or about the use of folk music in various traditions. share information about their publications or other achievements. Zachary Wenner, placed at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, researched social entrepreneurship, impact In December 2015 and in May 2016, mid-term and investing and development finance in Bulgaria. He wrap-up seminars were organized for US Scholars, addressed local audiences during several conferences Students, and ETAs. The events were a great related to social entrepreneurship, participated as a opportunity for the grantees to showcase their lecturer in the EMPATHEAST Forum (Empathy Driven achievements and discuss the challenges that they Social Change in Eastern Europe, 13-15 November face. Student grantees arriving early were given the 2015, Sofia), and joined EU level events such as opportunity to join the Bulgarian language course local events surrounding Startup Europe Week. He during the ETA training in the beginning of September, was sponsored by the Commission to participate and there was one-day orientation program for all in the Seminar on the EU, organized by the Belgian graduate students in the end of September. Scholars Fulbright Commission. A good part of Zachary’s arriving for the second semester also attended one- research studies culminated in publications (IGI day orientation program in February.

Fulbright Graduate Student Zachary Wenner (last person to the right, last row) at the annual EU Seminar organized by the Belgian Fulbright Commission

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 11 ETA Program

holidays such as Halloween and Thanksgiving, typical American food, sports and music, American regional dialects and urban slang, etc.

All 291 AY2015-2016 Fulbright ETAs started their school year on September 15, 2015, after an intensive ETA Orientation Training organized by the Fulbright Commission. Throughout the months of October, November and December the Fulbright Commission conducted its annual site visits. Meetings were held with ETAs, mentor teachers and school principals, starting with the schools hosting a returning ETA in Sofia, Lovech, Vratsa, Sliven, Pernik, Kardjali and ETA Sirena Wurth, Ekzarh Yossif FLHS, Razgrad Gabrovo. Commission Director Angela Rodel and program officers Rada Kaneva and Iliana Dimitrova also observed each ETA deliver a lesson and visited The ETA program is Fulbright Bulgaria’s largest and the accommodations provided by the partner most visible exchange program: in the period under schools. US Embassy English language specialist review, the direct beneficiaries of the program Jesse Kiendl joined Commission staff for many of the are over 7,000 students from 24 high schools with schools visits and provided detailed and individual intensive foreign languages instruction, three regular feedback to ETAs on their teaching methods and secondary schools (one in Vidin, two in Sofia), one lesson materials. Program officers followed up in mathematics school (Varna) and one professional cases where issues of various natures were identified school (Silistra). Direct beneficiaries are also the ETAs during the visits and made sure actions were taken to themselves, their Bulgarian mentor teachers and resolve those issues. For example, with support from their local communities. Throughout the year, the the schools’ management, the ETAs’ schedule and Bulgarian Fulbright Commission staff conducts site workload were adjusted in Blagoevgrad, Vidin, Silistra; visits to each school, hosts a Mid-Term meeting in problems with accommodation were addressed in December and a Wrap-Up seminar in June in order Haskovo, Gabrovo, Pazardzhik, and Pravets. The site to support ETAs in their role, monitor performance, address various challenges and explore best practices.

ETAs have regular teaching duties of between 14 and 20 hours per week and teach alone or with a co- teacher, according to the particular needs of the host school. Each has around 300 students on average. While most ETAs are required by their schools to focus on speaking activities and developing the productive skills of their students, there are 11 ETAs who also teach British and/ or American literature - in Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dimitrovgrad, Haskovo, Nikola Vaptsarov FLHS, Shumen. From left: Plovdiv, Pravets, Razgrad, Ruse, Shumen, Silistra and principal Georgi Georgiev, Jesse Kiendl, ETA Vratsa. ETAs incorporate teaching American culture 1 Lauren The Gieseke, ETA placed Angela in Rodel, Pleven ETA resigned mentor on into their regular classes or make especially themed a veryStefan short Gandev notice, which reduced the total presentations on aspects of American culture – number of ETAs to 29.

12 1The ETA placed in Pleven resigned on a very short notice, which reduced the total number of ETAs to 29. visits were a great introduction of the new executive the BEST foundation. ETAs Moriah Kent (Plovdiv) and director of the Commission to the national network Colby Fleming (Pazardzhik) raised funds and travelled of schools participating in the Fulbright ETA program to the Greek Island of Lesbos in order to distribute and their specific needs and profile. clothes, feminine care products and other items to refugees with the help of a local organization. Many ETAs engaged in extracurricular activities outside of class and school, involving the local The success of the program was not hindered community. They were actively involved in the despite of some sad events - one ETA was granted Creative Writing and Spelling Bee events run by the a month of leave in November in order to deal with CorPlus Foundation, in preparation of students for death in the family, and another ETA resigned early, in programs such as YES, Assist and Benjamin Franklin, February, for personal reasons. college counseling and various projects and competitions sponsored by the Bulgarian Ministry In the second school term the Fulbright Commission of Education and Science. Many ETAs continued supported some new extracurricular projects clubs started in their school or town by a previous through a mini-grant competition. The funds for this Fulbright grantee or a Peace Corps volunteer – such initiative were saved from bank transfer fees due to are the Women Club in Varna which was expanded the fact that many ETAs opened local bank accounts. into a Gender Club, the English Club in Razgrad, Eight out of the 13 project proposals were approved the Cooking, Basketball and Reading clubs in by the Commission Board for funding and received a Montana, the Coffee and Conversation hours ETAs total of 2000 BGN. Among them were a pen pal and have with their students in Sofia, Vratsa, Pravets, postcard exchanges in Pravets, Sliven and Smolyan, Vidin, Gabrovo, Montana, and Varna. Other activities publishing a school literary journal in Haskovo, included coaching a football team at the Teofano conducting health education workshops in Gabrovo, Popova orphanage in Stara Zagora, running Creative developing a photography club in Burgas, starting community English classes in Silistra and running a football clinic with children from the orphanage in Stara Zagora. ETAs submitted detailed budget and activity reports upon completion of their projects.

During the period under review the Commission continued to support (administratively and financially) the BEST Foundation - a Fulbright legacy organization founded by six ETAs in 2013 with the mission to promote English language skills and practice through ETA Molly O’Keefe ran a soccer clinic with speech and debate high school competitions on a students from Romain Rolland FLHS and national level. The initiative currently serves over 500 children from Teofano Popova orphanage in students and over 1000 community members. Out Stara Zagora of 37 participating schools in AY 2015-2016, 24 were schools hosting an ETA. While not all ETAs were able Writing Clubs in Haskovo and Plovdiv and preparing to field a team, all 29 ETAs participated in BEST events students for the SAT, TOEFL or Cambridge exams in in some capacity - as a coach, judge or volunteer. Lovech and Burgas. Most ETAs also helped senior A total of eight regional and national tournaments students with their college applications assisting took place in AY 2015-2016, and Fulbright staff with essay writing, interview practices or choosing attended most of them as volunteer judges. An the right school. Returning ETA Anna Fuselier (Sofia) official guest to the tournament in Ruse was also continued her art class project with refugee children Scott Righetti, Academic Exchange Specialist at the at the Voenna Rampa camp in addition to serving as Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US assistant managing director and Fulbright-liaison of Department of State, who was in Bulgaria as part of

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 13 his regional tour to Fulbright Commission countries. ETAs maintained personal blogs where they shared Scott Righetti also visited one of the ETA schools in their experiences as young teachers in Bulgaria. Sofia, the Second English Language School “Thomas Jefferson,” and observed two consecutive lessons of In December the Fulbright Commission conducted ETA Connor Leach with ninth-grade students. its midterm conference for U.S. grantees, the “One Hundred Days in Bulgaria,” in a completely Along with their teaching and extracurricular redesigned format that better suits their needs for activities, ETAs had a rich cultural immersion additional professional training. Apart from giving experience. Many ETAs continued to study Bulgarian an opportunity to grantees to share their projects language independently throughout the year and experiences so far, the event offered various and made significant progress – McKinley Alden, formats of group discussions and workshops aiming Connor Leach, Christine Pardue, Jason Syphrett, to support grantees in their teaching or research Colby Fleming, Chris Mayers, and Claire Manning. projects. Such were, for example, the Q&A session ETAs in Gabrovo, Varna, Razgrad and Stara Zagora of ETAs with experienced Bulgarian and American regularly attended Bulgarian folk dancing classes. In teachers in Bulgarian schools, the workshops on March seven Fulbright English Teaching Assistants classroom management and teaching methods led represented Bulgaria at the 62nd annual seminar by Jesse Kiendl and ETAs Sirena Wurth and Moriah organized by the German Fulbright Commission Kent and the lecture on handling cultural adjustment in Berlin, Germany. ETAs Molly O’Keefe and Sirena issues, led by a professional psychologist. Wurth were selected from 50 applicants to share their presentation “Bulgaria: Beyond the Classroom” with Upon receipt of the new student applications in over 300 American Fulbrighters from 20 countries. January 2016, Commission Director Angela Rodel Their presentation, ending with a horo lesson, and program officers Rada Kaneva and Iliana attracted a lot of attention to the ETA program in Dimitrova conducted a total of 39 Skype interviews Bulgaria and our country as a destination for cultural with selected candidates in addition to reviewing their and educational research and teaching projects. paperwork. The opportunity to converse directly with the applicants and find out more about their skills and experiences enhanced the selection process and served as a foundation for a more effective further communication. The America for Bulgaria Foundation and the Commission Board approved 27 principal candidates and five of the applying seven ETAs for a second year extension of their grant – Andrew Malin (Dobrich), Molly O’Keefe (Stara Zagora), Reid Furubayashi (Montana), Lauren Gieseke (Shumen) and Wilhelmina van den Berg (Burgas). All returning ETAs remained at their current assignments for AY 2016-2017 except for Andrew Malin, who was transferred to Sofia on his request, and Reid From left: ETAs Reid Furubayashi, Andrew Malin, Furubayashi, who teaches in Sofia combining the role Sirena Wurth, Lauren Gieseke, Molly O’Keefe of a Fulbright ETA with that of an Assistant Director and Emily Herlinger at the Berlin seminar for the BEST Foundation. Outreach efforts on behalf of Commission Director Angela Rodel brought a new The ETA program also continued to receive media corporate sponsor to the ETA program - with the attention. One ETA, Anna Fuselier, was interviewed support of the American company ContourGlobal on national television and others were interviewed by the Professional School of Energy and Electrical local or national media: Colby Fleming – newspapers Engineering in Galabovo welcomes its first ETA in AY Marica and Pzdnes; Kaitlyn Alkass – BiT TV. Many 2016-2017. With the schools in Pleven and Kyustendil

14 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange to commence their 10-day orientation training. The training included methodological lectures and workshops, an intensive Bulgarian language course and an introduction to partner organizations offering volunteering opportunities in the country. On their first day of training the young teachers were greeted by Commission Director Angela Rodel and Natalia Miteva, Director Programs for Education and Libraries at the America for Bulgaria Foundation. The new cohort of ETAs was informed of the official name change for the Fulbright ETA award to “Fulbright- 100 Days in Bulgaria meeting – Q&A teacher America for Bulgaria Foundation English Teaching session Assistantship” award. The change was proposed by the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission and approved by returning to the program after a one year break, the the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, giving the total number of ETAs in AY 2016-2017 is 33. due recognition to the long-term commitment of the America for Bulgaria Foundation to the Fulbright All new ETAs arrived in Sofia at the end of August ETA program in Bulgaria.

Conclusion

The program for the AY 15-16 US grantees was insurance. The Bulgarian authorities require official successful and contributed to the promotion of confirmation that the insurance amounts to more the Fulbright program in Bulgaria. We did not face than thirty thousand euro, however, the coverage any significant issues with the implementation amount is not stated on the ASPE insurance cards. of the program. A few ETAs reported incidents of Learning from the previous years’ experience, the cyber-bullying or online harassment by students, Commission staff worked closely with ECA officer which in one case led to the immediate expulsion Scott Righetti and the relevant State Department of the student from the school. Also, some grantees officials to request additional letters well in advance struggled with depression and other mental-health from the administrator Seven Corners to confirm that issues and felt challenged by the lack of English- the ECA-sponsored insurance is up to $100,000. We speaking mental-health professionals in Bulgaria. will continue working with our partners in both the Fulbright Bulgaria staff guided them to Fulbright US and Bulgarian governments to provide the future Assist and also helped them locate the necessary grantees with timely and updated information, specialists in Sofia. advice and direct help, if necessary, however, a simple addition stating the maximum health benefit By working in close coordination with Bulgarian on the official ASPE cards would be a great solution. Fulbright board member Viktoria Melamed, Minister Plenipotentiary in the Ministry of Foreign Throughout the period under review, the Fulbright Affairs, Fulbright staff were able to quickly resolve Commission staff maintained regular communication any problems that arose during the visa process. with the officers from CIES and IIE Silvija Stoljevska, Eventually, all US grantees obtained visas on time Rachel Boylan, Carmel Geraghty, and Marla Mazer. and found appropriate housing. Another ongoing We appreciate their efficiency, responsiveness and issue related to long-stay visa applications is proof of readiness to solve problems promptly.

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 15 U.S. Alumni Accomplishments in AY 2015-2016

Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Haskovo in AY 2015/2016, Allegra Hyde, has a short story included Of This in the 2016 Pushcart Prize Edition. The Pushcart Prize: New World Best of the Small Presses series, published every short story year since 1976, is one of the most honored literary collection by projects in America. It is awarded annually for works Allegra Hyde, of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction published recipient by literary magazines or small presses during the of the previous year. In addition to that, Allegra’s short story 2016 John collection, Of This New World, which won the 2016 Simmons John Simmons Short Fiction Award, was published on Short Fiction October 1. The book has received excellent reviews Award thus far. Library Journal called Of This New World “a luscious collection...promising more good things to come” and Publishers Weekly named Allegra a “bright and bold new voice in fiction.”

In February 2016, Kong Ho (Fulbright Scholar, National Academy of Arts, AY 2009/2010) published a new book called Larger Than Life: Mural Dreamscape. In the book, he presents the impact of community mural on community in terms of educational, social, cultural, historical and technological contexts through his Fulbright Scholarship in teaching mural painting in Bulgaria and his community mural projects in Brunei Darussalam. The cover of the book features the mural Professor Ho developed with his students from the National Academy of Arts, and which can Larger than Life: Mural Retrospectives new still be seen in the main building of the Academy. book by Fulbright Scholar Kong Ho (National Kong Ho has also published several peer-reviewed Academy of Arts, Sofia, AY 2009-2010) articles and conference proceedings for the 2015- 2016 academic year.

16 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Fulbright alumnus and great friend of Bulgaria, by Gordon Brown) to produce the “Learning ethnomusicologist Prof. Timothy Rice from Generation” report. This report is a global review University of California Los Angeles, was awarded of the state of education and identifies innovative the honorary degree Doctor Honoris Causa of Sofia pathways to improve access to education and University “St. Kliment Ohridski.” The ceremony took learning outcomes for all, with a specific focus on place in the Main Hall of Sofia University on May 10th, those furthest behind. Her work focused primarily and it was followed by Prof. Rice’s lecture. on developing the cost projection and finance model which outlines historical trends in spending for education and mechanisms to help donors and countries finance education systems and initiatives that have the potential to get all students learning at the secondary completion level by 2030. The report was presented and well-received at the UNGA in September. Irina Bokova and Ban Ki Moon were part of the UNGA panel discussing the report and seemed very pleased with the report and recommendations. Shelby will also be publishing a more detailed report on the cost projection model Fulbright Scholar Timothy Rice receives the in the coming month. honorary degree Doctor Honoris Causa of Sofia University Knox College has named Dr. Brenda Tooley, Fulbright Scholar at the University of Veliko Tarnovo In April 2016, Brian Farrell, Fulbright Scholar at in AY 2010/2011 and FISI instructor in 2012 and 2014 Sofia University, AY 2012/2013, was an invited as the first full-time director of the College’s Eleanor expert for the annual doctoral seminar of the Irish Stellyes Center for Global Studies. The Eleanor Centre for Human Rights in Galway, Ireland, where Stellyes Center for Global Studies coordinates he delivered a talk titled “World Habeas Corpus study abroad and off-campus programs, brings Revisited.” In June 2016, Brian was awarded the to campus distinguished guest speakers and Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division’s scholars-in-residence who provide international 2016 Award of Merit. He was invited to deliver the perspectives, and promotes international travel and Geiger Lecture in History at St. Ambrose University. research by Knox students and faculty. The title was: “Fictitious Sieges, 3 A.M. Knocks, and Places Beyond the Seas: Habeas Corpus and In September 2016, Cascade Tuholske, Fulbright ETA the Delicate Balance of Governance.” He was in Sliven in AY 2011/2012, received a Master’s degree also invited to deliver a Simpson Forum lecture in Geography from the University of California, Santa entitled “Wrongful Convictions in the American Barbara. He participated in the American Association Criminal Justice System” at Simpson College in of Geographers Annual Meeting (San Francisco, September. In October, Brian Farrell was appointed CA. 28 March – 2 April), presenting a paper entitled to serve on the Iowa Supreme Court’s Access to “The Effects of Tourism on Land Cover and Land Justice Commission. His book Habeas Corpus in Use Change in Roatán, Honduras.” In 2016, he International Law will be published by Cambridge was the recipient of the following fellowships: U.S. University Press in the next few months. Borlaug Fellow in Global Food Security; Graduate Student Research and Travel Grant -Broom Center Shelby Carvalho, Fulbright ETA in Targovishte for Demography; Jack and Laura Dangermond in 2012/2013, is currently working at the World Geography Travel Scholarship. His article on “How Bank on education and labor issues. This year, Tourism Changed the Face of Roatán” was published she worked with the International Commission on by Nasa Earth Observatory- http://earthobservatory. Financing Global Education Opportunity (chaired nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=87557

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 17 Alan Weltzien, Fulbright Scholar at Sofia University Storytelling Conference, she presented a workshop in 1997/1998, published two new books this past on Fulbright for storytellers. She is currently working year: Exceptional Mountains: A Cultural History of on a collection of Bulgarian folktales for publication. the Pacific Northwest Volcanoes (Univ. of Nebraska Press, 2016); and Rembrandt in the Stairwell, his third This past year Nancy Bartley, Fulbright Scholar at book of poetry (FootHills Publishing, Kanona, NY, the American University in Bulgaria in AY 2012/2013, 2016). Alan also participated in the annual Western has been working on a second book of narrative Literature Association (WLA) conference, during nonfiction. She spent part of the year researching in which he presented two papers and chaired a panel. India and London. Her completed screenplay, based on her first book, The Boy Who Shot the Sheriff, won In May, Dana Ray, Fulbright ETA in Dobrich in AY several script contests. 2013/2014 (http://www.danamray.com/) graduated with her Masters in English from Bucknell University. Ruth and David Marshall are now living in Winona, Her thesis was a creative project, and she wrote MN, retired, and enjoying volunteering. Dave, a a series of essays about her time in Bulgaria. The Fulbright Scholar at the University of Veliko Tarnovo project was well received and she is currently looking in AY 2000/2001, has taught four classes for Winona to place essays in literary journals. Currently, Dana State University’s Senior University, and will teach is working with a marketing and design agency, another this coming spring on “The Poetry of Rowland Creative. Peace and War.” Both are serving as docents at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum, and Dave is vice chair Since returning home, Priscilla Howe, Fulbright of the Great River Shakespeare Festival and also helps Scholar at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in out with Toys for Kids in the autumn. AY 2014/2015, has been able to put her research to use in a few ways. In autumn 2015, she developed Laurel Isbister (Student Researcher AY1996-97) a storytelling program for children called “Courage, was recently promoted to be the executive director Compassion and Kindness,” which includes the for the Greater Belhaven Foundation, a small Bulgarian folktale Baba Metsa i loshata duma. Priscilla neighborhood organization in Jackson, Mississippi. presented a performance of the Bulgarian stories The organization works to increase liveability, long- she found in her research at the National Storytelling range planning and economic vitalization of this Conference in 2015, at a benefit for the River and community. Greater Belhaven is one of the most Prairie Storyweavers, and in the Kansas City Fringe economically and racially diverse neighborhoods in Festival in 2016. She told two Bulgarian folktales as the city of Jackson. She started her new position on part of a group performance at the Story Center at November 9, 2016. Laurel continues to create and Woodneath Library in August. At the 2016 National perform original music that expresses cross-cultural connections, just as she did during her Fulbright year in Bulgaria.

Ted Efremoff, (Student Researcher AY 2008/2009) is putting the finishing touches on Mother Tongue, a 60-minute film created in 2016, which is a linguistic journey down the Danube River exploring the intersections and boundaries of identity, place and time. The film reveals attitudes toward neighbors, outsiders and borders within the Danube River Basin - from its German headwaters to its Romanian/ Ukrainian delta. It features nine major languages Fulbright Scholar Priscilla Howe bringing her spoken along the river: German, Slovak, Hungarian, collection of stories to China Croatian, Serbian, Bulgarian, Romanian, Ukrainian and Russian with subtitles in English.

18 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Minka Stoyanov, Fulbright graduate student in AY Connecticut State University, and he is currently 2013/2014, is now in her third year of PhD studies. leading an effort to establish an undergraduate In 2016, she presented an artwork and a paper at the education program in automobile restoration for a International Symposium of Electronic Arts (Artwork: major auto museum in the US. “Performing Hypo-Linguistics” is a performance that uses EEG brain sensors to allow two artists to create In 2016, Linda Rashidi, Professor Emerita from an audio-visual performance. Paper: “Cash Rules Mansfield University and Fulbright Scholar at Sofia Everything Around Me: ...” is available on her Academia University in AY 2006/2007, completed her two- account and reads the recuperation of hip-hop year term as President of the International Lawrence culture through Ranciere and Attali). In September, Durrell Society. Her term ended in June in Crete with Minka presented a paper “Performing Hypo- the ILDS’s biennial conference OMG XIX, which was Linguistics” at the RIXC Open Fields conference in joined by the newly-formed Patrick Leigh Fermor Riga, Latvia, and gave a talk in New York at “Theorizing Society. As President, she was the convener, chairing the Web” about gender and cyborgs. She is currently several sessions and moderating the banquet doing preliminary research towards expanding the festivities. interviews she made in Bulgaria into a book. In 2016, Julian Chehirian, Fulbright Student working In 2016, Dr. George Miaoulis, Professor of with New Bulgarian University in AY 2014/2015, Entrepreneurial Marketing and Fulbright Scholar returned to some unfinished business from his year at Sofia University in AY 2013/2014, returned to in Bulgaria - he filmed an interview that will be a part Bulgaria for a brief visit. While in Sofia, he presented of a short film about the exhibition and installation two lectures on cross-cultural marketing at he did at the Red House, and the written work from Sofia University’s Department of Economics and the project funded by Fulbright was just published Business Administration, and at VUZF University; in an anthology of the Center for Advanced Study he also supported Fulbright scholar Ronald in Sofia —Тялото при социализма (The Body Under Harvey in establishing Oxford Addiction Recovery Socialism). He also presented on his research at House in Varna. George presented courses in several conferences: the 2015 annual meeting consumer behavior, health care management, of the American Anthropological Association, an anthropology conference at Binghampton University, and he will also participate in an upcoming conference of the Association for Slavic, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies.

Three poems by Kaitlen Whitt (Fulbright ETA in Ruse, AY 2012-2013) were published in Still Journal: http://www.stilljournal.net/kaitlen-whitt- poetry2016.php. Kaitlen Whitt is a third year poetry candidate in Virginia Tech’s creative writing MFA program. She has composed stories for broadcast on West Virginia Public Radio and has published poems with Natural Bridge, Appalachian Journal and The Dr. George Miaoulis on his moped waiting for Blue Earth Review. the ferry to Islesboro Island, Maine

The story “Gagarin’s Shoelaces,” written by Eireene entrepreneurship, and new product innovation at Nealand (Fulbright Student, Sofia University, AY Sheffield University / City College in Thessaloniki, 2014/2015) was just published in the most recent Greece. He presented a series of marketing the arts edition (Vol. 23) of the Chicago Quarterly Review. workshops for Maine Artists on Islesboro Island, It’s a belated defense of St. Petersburg - leaky roof Maine, a course in Sales Management at Eastern crises, meat scandals, and much more!

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 19 Bulgarian Grantees in AY 15-16 and AY 16-17

n the academic year under review (2015-16) Technical University, Sofia, and the close ties he has there were 15 Bulgarian grantees in the following maintained with his colleagues there. Icategories and fields: six scholars in computer science, plant physiology, ethnomusicology, The visiting scholars’ final reports express satisfaction economics and political science; one Civil Society with the Fulbright experience, especially in terms of research scholar in urban planning; one Hubert academic achievement and professional networking. Humphrey specialist in public health; six graduate The Fulbright experience had direct beneficial students in education, law, technology management, effect on their career prospects. Dr. Kiril Avramov art management, and molecular biology; one non- and Dr. Paskal Zhelev were promoted to higher degree doctoral researcher in textile design. administrative positions in their home institutions of New Bulgarian University and University of National The scholars and the civil society researcher were and World Economy; they are both responsible for awarded three-to-five month grants to prestigious US the international co-operation of their respective universities, research centers and non-governmental universities and are actively involved in the Fulbright organizations: Virginia Polytechnic Institute, community. In addition, Dr. Avramov is emerging as University of Rochester, Carnegie Mellon University, one of the leading political analysts with constant University of California, University of Illinois at presence in national Bulgarian media. Prof. Iliya Denev Urbana-Champaign, and University of Texas at Austin. (plant pathology) of Plovdiv University also continues All but one returned to Bulgaria and continued their co-operation with the Fulbright Commission in academic activities. Dr. Stanislav Panev (computer publicizing the Fulbright opportunities. Dr. Dimitar science) transferred his visa sponsorship to the US Valchev, a prominent young scholar in the field host university Carnegie Mellon to complete his of food technologies, presented an exceptionally research. His Bulgarian home institution and the interesting lecture during the second Fulbright Bulgarian Fulbright Commission did not object, given Open Lectures, and is ready to co-operate with the the relevance of his work to the research group in Commission on further educational activities.

Dr. Kiril Avramov and Dr. Dimitar Valchev present the outcomes of their Fulbright research to a Bulgarian audience

20 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Throughout the year under review we enjoyed very Maria Sharkova talks about the importance of a productive co-operation with the IIE Foreign Fulbright systemic approach to avoiding medical errors Department in the graduate students’ placement process. The material dimension of this co-operation is tuition waivers and institutional cost-sharing in the amount of $122,000. Our work with the CIES has been seamless as well; it is worth mentioning that Bulgarian scholars are really pleased with the support they received in the US. We would like to thank Matthew Taylor and the Hubert Humphrey Team from IIE, as well as Rachel Koepsel from CIES for their support and cooperation. Our Hubert Humphrey grantee, lawyer Maria Sharkova, stood out throughout her grant period in the US and The publicity campaign for the AY 2016-2017 upon return. She became one of the publicity figures competition resulted in 52 applications: 36 for of the Hubert Humphrey recruitment campaign. graduate study grants, 15 in the senior scholar With a number of articles and interviews about the category, and 1 for the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship. program, with her own expert achievements in the This number shows a slight decrease from the field of health law, Ms. Sharkova expanded the impact previous year (61), but it remains stable and reflects of her exchange. Her presentation during the Open the normal patterns of applicant activity. Lectures event was truly thought-provoking. The competitive selection process resulted in Of the seven graduate students and visiting researchers, the nominations of five senior scholars, seven three have returned to Bulgaria after completing graduate students, two visiting researchers, and their programs successfully. The graduates in law one Hubert Humphrey Fellow. The five selected and the researcher in textile design are pleased with scholars represented a variety of fields: teaching their studies and networking opportunities. Two of English as a foreign language, sociology, literature, the returnees (a Harvard law graduate and a textile engineering and chemistry. Their host destinations in artist) already shared impressions and results of their the US include: Cornell University, Georgia Institute Fulbright visit and demonstrated the enriching aspect of Technology, University of Massachusetts at of their programs. The students, who are still studying Amherst, University of Illinois at Chicago, Texas State in the US are making good progress, and should also University-San Marcos. The Hubert Humphrey fellow complete their programs smoothly. in journalism, a renowned young reporter, is currently working at Arizona State University. Unfortunately, the chemistry specialist had to suspend temporarily his visit for health reasons in the family, but we expect him to resume grant activities in June 2017 to complete his term.

In the student category, seven students were approved and are currently enrolled in Master’s programs in public policy, film studies, law, archeology, economics, and literary theory. Our graduate students were admitted to top universities with financial support: Harvard University (2), Stanford University, New York Medea Yankova explains the role of color in Film Academy - LA, Brandeis University, George the art of textile Washington University, The University of Maryland- College Park. Our six-month non-degree study grants

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 21 The grants competition for AY 2017-18 was Pre-departure Orientation for Bulgarian Citizens announced in November 2015, with a deadline in May 2016. The Commission staff publicized the program as extensively and effectively as possible, using all available means and media: our website, social media (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn); the press, radio and television spots and interviews, posters, outreach and consultations. Executive director Angela Rodel and Program Officer Maria Kostova completed an extensive publicity tour and visited major academic, professional and non-governmental institutions, as well as educational and career fairs. The campaign included presentations for “Teach for Bulgaria,” Careers in Bulgaria Forum, Job Fair at the University of National and World Economy, ABLE, National Career Days, Job Tiger, Forum for Doctoral Students at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Technical University Internships Fair. The recruitment effort and search for talent spread all over Bulgaria, information sessions and on-site consultations were offered in most major higher education institutions: National Defense Academy “G.S. Rakovsky,” Varna Economics University, Naval Academy - Varna, Sofia University, Sofia University - Business School, New Bulgarian University, Technical University , Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Southwestern University - Blagoevgrad, American University in Bulgaria - Blagoevgrad, Veliko Turnovo University, University of Rousse, and Trakia University – Stara Zagora. were awarded to doctoral students, working on their Ph.D. theses in law and literary theory, hosted 2017-18 Outreach Campaign: National Defense by Florida International University and New York Academy, New Bulgarian University, South University, respectively. The joint scholarship with Western University Thanks to Scandinavia Institute was awarded for a 10th consecutive year. The grantee is enrolled in a master’s program in law (personal data protection) at Stanford University.

On June 17, 2016, the Fulbright Commission staff conducted a one-day orientation for the departing Bulgarian grantees. Participating in the program were Commission staff members, US Embassy Public Affairs Officer and Consul General, Bulgarian Fulbright alumni, and US Fulbright grantees. The meeting was a frank and friendly exchange of advice and ideas and a team building opportunity for the new group of Fulbrighters before their departure to the US.

22 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Open Lectures Event

As a result of the intensive media and outreach applicants and their high professional qualities, with campaign, the Commission received a total number the help of ECA funding, both alternate scholars of 65 applications: 32 for graduate study grants, 29 in were promoted to principal status. They will have the senior scholar category, and four for the Hubert the chance to do research in the US for a period Humphrey Fellowship. The number of applications of three months. This leads to a record number of this year marked a record high participation for Bulgarian scholars in AY 2017-18. the Visiting Scholar category, twice as much as the previous year and the best yield of applications in On November 4, 2016, the Fulbright Commission the past 10 years. The number of graduate student held the “Fulbright Open Lectures” event for a applicants remained stable. The number of Hubert second time. This interdisciplinary format is aimed Humphrey applicants increased due to the later at popularizing the academic and cultural impact submission deadline (September 1), and the targeted of the Fulbright Program for Bulgarian citizens. recruitment campaign: including preparing special Presentations were delivered in Bulgarian and tailored leaflets and publicity materials for the competition. To to a broader, more diverse audience. Ten Bulgarian boost the interest in the Civil Society Scholarship, we Fulbright alumni presented the results of their studies specifically targeted members of NGOs, publishing in the US in inspired, informed and expert lectures. adverts in the Bulgarian NGO portal and preparing Topics varied from health law, cyber security and special leaflets. In effect, five applications were political science to theology, entrepreneurship and received in this category. business, food technologies, ethics and textile design. Over 45 Fulbright alumni, academics and graduate The interviewing committees nominated five students from BG institutions attended the event. principal and three alternate candidates for graduate The evening ended with a cocktail party that gave a study programs in film studies, law, psychology, chance for exchange of ideas and lively discussions. economics, transport engineering and computer The first reactions from the conference participants science; seven principals and two alternate and attendees are overwhelmingly positive. Video candidates for senior scholar grants in theatre, recordings of the intellectually stimulating talks will be immunology, linguistics, music, immunobiology, uploaded to our YouTube channel, website and social physics, AIDS research, economics and archeology; media as program promotion and a recruitment tool. two principal and one alternate candidates for BiT television interviewed ED Angela Rodel and two the Visiting Researcher category in organizational conference participants live about the event and the psychology, history and sociology; one principal Fulbright program, which contributes to our visibility, and one alternate candidate in the Civil Society accessibility and positive presence in the Bulgarian category in public relations and community murals; media. two principal candidates for the Hubert Humphrey award in prevention and treatment of addictions, (Link to BiT report http://www.bitelevision.com/ and human rights. Due to the increased number of otkriti-lektsii-na-fulbrajt-za-vtora-godina/)

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 23 Bulgarian Grantees’ Accomplishments in AY 15-16

n the period under review, Bulgarian alumni and law, public health and health policy; alone or in grantees demonstrated their talent and knowledge, cooperation with other NGOs, it promotes patient Iacquired during the Fulbright exchange. Their safety, mediation in healthcare and good practices achievements include book and article publications, in healthcare facilities. presence in the media, participation in conferences and in professional expert groups. With their active Ms. Sharkova took part in two high-profile conferences: involvement in the social and intellectual life of Bulgaria, the Fulbright alumni bring the message of • The Annual Conference for Healthcare empathy, cultural and academic exchange to broader Innovations, organised by Iconomedia and audiences. Capital, where she talked about “Conflict Management in Healthcare Settings: Hospital Upon her return form the US, Maria Sharkova, Ombudsman and Mediator” Hubert Humphrey fellow for AY 2015-16, became the CEO of the National Consultative Center for • The Forth Bioethics Conference, where she Medical Law. This NGO works in the field of medical presented a report on “New Practices and Protocols in Responding to Adverse Events in Hospitals.”

Maria continued sharing her expertise through a column in the website medicalnews.com: “Medicine and Law,” through her blog and articles for Mediapool. bg and Capital, as well as through lectures at seminars for physicians, midwifes, hospital managers and lawyers. Her latest project is participation as a main lecturer of a one-day seminar on “Medical Law, Patients Rights and Medical Malpractice” for members of the Bar.

Maria Sharkova at the Annual Conference for Healthcare Innovations, organised by Iconomedia and Capital (Photo credit: Nadezhda Chipeva, Capital)

24 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Prof. Petya Osenova, 2009-10 Fulbright scholar, The prestigious publishing house Routledge has published a book based on her research in computer just published Prof. Plamen Makariev’s monograph linguistics at Stanford University. The book is called The Public Legitimacy of Minority Claims: A Central/ Grammatical Modeling of the Bulgarian Language Eastern European Perspective, London and New and contributes to Dr. Osenova’s professorship title, York, Routledge, 2016. An important part of this awarded in morphology, syntax and corpus linguistics. study was conducted in Washington D.C. during his We are truly glad that the Foreword mentions special Fulbright visit in 2012. He has kind ly mentioned this thanks to the Fulbright Commission. Apart from hard in the book’s Preface. copies, the book is also available at: http://www. bultreebank.org/petya/GramModOsenova2016.pdf.

Prof. Petya Prof. Plamen Ossenova’s Makariev’s New Book New Book

After 12 years spent at the American University in Prof. Temenuzhka Seizova-Nankova from Shumen Bulgaria as senior faculty member Prof. Miroslav University, Fulbright scholar in 2008-09 at Ohio Mateev, 2001 Fulbright scholar, is now the Acting State University published a 340-page monograph Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs of the entitled Lexicogrammar of V_hand(s) Collocations. American University in the Emirates, Dubai. Recently A Corpus-driven Analysis. The edition is issued by he published his new research textbook titled: Konstantin Preslavsky University Press. Mergers and Acquisitions in Europe: Comparative Analysis of the UK and Continental Europe. The book was released by Lambert Academic Publishing in September, 2016.

Prof. Prof. Miroslav Temenuzhka Mateev’s Seizova’s New Book New Book

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 25 Dr. Kiril Avramov, 2015-16 Fulbright scholar, Reader, or How to Read Instructions?”at the Authorial was appointed as a Vice-Rector for Research and Instructions in XX c. Slavic Metafiction, 47th ASEEES International Affairs at the New Bulgarian University Convention, Philadelphia, Nov. 19th-22nd 2015, and (NBU). Following his stay at the Center for Russian, “Fulbright Metafiction” at the First Fulbright Open East European and Eurasian Studies at University Lectures, Sofia, Oct. 30, 2015. of Texas-Austin, in January 2016 Dr. Avramov completed an Erasmus + exchange, as a visiting In 2015-2016 Prof. Zornitsa Popova worked on lecturer at the Aleksanteri Institute, University of predicting impacts of climate uncertainties on crop Helsinki (Finland), where he delivered an intensive yield and crop water requirements. She proved that course titled “Profiles and Patterns of Populism in experimental corn yields could correlate strongly South Eastern Europe.” with Vegetation Health indices during the critical period of crop development; Vegetation Health (See:https://weboodi.helsinki.fi/hy/opettaptied.jsp? (VH) indices can be used as indicators of corn yield html=1&OpetTap=111335866&Kieli=6 ). at field scale; built statistical models and studied their performance for North-West Bulgarian plains; Dr. Stefka Kancheva from Veliko Turnovo University defined variability of maize crop water requirements continues building on her 2013 Fulbright experience for evapotranspiration and irrigation in time and space with a wide variety of academic activities in 2015- under different technologies; developed precise 16, including three publications on cultural heritage irrigation scheduling water saving options adapted to preservation and theology, editing scientific editions present weather conditions using field observation and organizing international conferences, such as data and 54-year climate data series. The obtained the 2016 conference on “Digital Preservation and results will contribute to developing an early warning Presentation of Cultural and Scientific Heritage.” and drought management system. In the process of research Prof. Popova published a significant number Our 2014-15 Fulbright visiting researcher in of articles, and participated in academic conferences. comparative literature, Katerina Kokinova was awarded her Ph.D. in Slavic Literatures from Sofia We are glad to report that our alumni keep sharing University (Feb. 25th, 2016) for the dissertation: “The with the Fulbright Commission and community Self-Reflection in V. Nabokov’s and W. Gombrowicz’s information about concerts, book premiers and works.“ Dr. Kokinova also participated in literary presentations, which reflect their post-grant conferences with papers such as: “Writing the development.

Prof. Zornitsa Popova during conference participation

26 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Grant-Related Activities

“The Refugee Crossroads: Europe’s Crisis, International Best Practices and Bulgaria’s Role in Humanitarian Assistance” - a discussion initiated and organized by the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission in partnership with Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs

ver the past year, the Bulgarian Fulbright and whose portfolio includes refugee and migrant Commission has raised the profile of its issues. Dr. Gounev’s remarks were followed by the Ogrant-related activities, organizing a number keynote presentation by SIPA Davis Fellow and of events highlighting the Commission’s work and its Fulbright alumna (Bulgaria 1999-2000) Dr. Robin new location. Such activities bring information about Brooks, which was entitled “Europe’s Migrant the Fulbright to new audiences and help extend our Crisis?” The third speaker was Hubert H. Humphrey network of partners and potential candidates. fellow Diliana Markova, a human rights lawyer who spent the latter half of her HHH fellowship at On March 16, 2016, the Bulgarian Fulbright Refugees International in New York, reporting on Commission in partnership with Columbia UN policy development regarding refugees and University’s School of International and Public internationally displaced persons. Finally, members Affairs (SIPA) marked both institutions’ 70th of Dr. Brooks’ SIPA research-consultant team which anniversary with a public discussion entitled “The had been working with the Bulgarian State Agency Refugee Crossroads: Europe’s Crisis, International for Refugees to develop policy recommendations Best Practices and Bulgaria’s Role in Humanitarian gave a short presentation of European best Assistance.” The event opened with comments by practices with regards to the refugee crisis, noting Dr. Philip Gounev, a Ron Brown and SIPA alumnus effective methods certain countries had developed who is currently Deputy Minister of the Interior to meet the ongoing needs of arriving migrants. The

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 27 formal presentations were followed by a lively open discussion and Q&A session with the audience, Official opening of the Commission’s new which consisted of representatives of the local NGO office with Prof. Boyan Dobrev (left), HE US sector, government agencies including the UNHCR Ambassador Eric Rubin, and ED Angela Rodel and the European Commission, academics and concerned citizens. The conversation was recorded and is now available on the Fulbright Bulgaria Youtube channel.

The Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission was proud to be a sponsor of “Beyond the Borders,” the 10th Joint Meeting of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the US-based Bulgarian Studies Association. The meeting was held June 27-29, 2016, at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia. Eric Rubin took part in the ceremony and gave Nearly fifty Bulgarian and international scholars a short speech highlighting the international gave papers on topics related to Bulgarian studies, importance of the Fulbright educational exchange from literature and linguistics to music to history programs. Angela Rodel, Executive Director of the and political science. Both Bulgarian and American Commission, expressed gratitude to former Minister Fulbright alumni were among the lectors taking Todor Tanev and his team for their active support part. The BAS-BSA joint meetings began in 1973 at for the provision of the necessary office space by the University of Wisconsin, and have taken place the Bulgarian side and read a greeting address by approximately every four years, alternating between Meglena Kuneva, current Bulgarian Minister of the United States and Bulgaria. Previous host cities Education and Science. Professor Boyan Dobrev of include Varna, Smolyan and Blagoevgrad. This forum the National Art Academy presented his new work, a offers an excellent opportunity for Bulgarianists from 2.2 x 6 meter wall mural in the new Fulbright board diverse fields to share their research and network room, which represents the Fulbright exchange with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines. program as a “spiritual bridge” between cultures. The mural was created using the “TATTOOWALL” digital On September 27, 2016, the Bulgarian-American printing method, which is being applied for the first Fulbright Commission for Educational Exchange time in Bulgaria, and was a gift to the Commission held a ceremony for the official opening of its new by the professor, who is a two-time alumnus of the office on Vitosha Boulevard in Sofia. Ambassador Fulbright program.

Official opening of the Commission’s new office

28 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Academic Advising

EducationUSA presentation at “Geo Milev” English Language School, Burgas

EducationUSA advising is a major component of all across Bulgaria and particularly in the underserved the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission’s non-grant regions and has seen an increase in social-media- activities. It is an effective and time-tested instrument based consultations. In FY 2015, the number of social of promoting the EducationUSA brand, the strengths media users was 8,331 whereas in FY 2016 it reached of the U.S. educational system and the Fulbright 19,207. A total of 1,920 individuals visited the advising program in Bulgaria by providing up-to-date center for one-to-one consultation sessions, 2,260 information and competent guidance on educational individuals enquired by phone, 2,390 were consulted opportunities in the U.S., admission procedures by email, 1,410 visitors used the EducationUSA library at U.S. universities, financial aid, testing, language at the advising center, and 6,787 individuals attended training, the annual Fulbright and other competitions, the EducationUSA outreach events. etc. The Fulbright EducationUSA Advising Center has acquired an even greater importance in the context of Bulgaria’s integration with the European Union Undergraduate Admissions and Scholarships, and the still strong competition from European AY2016-2020 universities. It offers regular individual advising sessions Monday through Friday as well as monthly In 2016, 15 twelfth-graders, participants in the group advising sessions. Annually, the center services EducationUSA Program of the Fulbright Advising over 14,000 inquirers. Center in Bulgaria, have been accepted to U.S. universities and colleges with a total scholarship amount of $3,379,564 USD ($844,891 x 4 years). Center Statistics Students will be enrolled in the following colleges and universities: Adelphi University, NY; Bard College, NY; Although the number of in-person users of the Brandeis University, Boston, MA; California Institute services offered by the Fulbright EducationUSA of the Arts, CA; Case Western Reserve University, Advising Center in Sofia has dropped by 3.3% during Cleveland, OH; Drew University, NJ; Drexel University, the period under review (14,767 total contacts), the PA; Fordham University, NY; Ithaca College, NY; advising center has continued to expand its outreach Loyola Marymount University, CA; New York Film

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 29 Academy (NYFA LA), CA; NYU, Shanghai, CHINA; Pace Outreach activities also included meetings of the University, NY; Princeton University, NJ; Ramapo EducationUSA adviser with over 130 students at the College, NJ; Randolph College, VA; Stetson University, American University in Bulgaria to consult them on FL; Temple University, PA; University of Miami, FL; U.S. graduate study opportunities. University of Richmond, VA; USC School of Cinematic Arts (USC SCA), CA; and Vassar College, NY. They will be studying Acting/Drama, Biology/Molecular Monthly Group Advising Sessions at the Biology, Business Administration, Creative Writing, American Corner, Sofia City Library Economics, Engineering/Biomedical Engineering/ Electrical Engineering, Film and TV production, In our continued desire to reach out to as International Relations/Studies, and Physics. many Bulgarian students, parents, teachers and administrators interested in study opportunities in the One of the Fulbright EducationUSA Virtual Advising U.S. as possible, the EducationUSA Advising Center Program participants has been admitted on a full- offered a series of monthly public lectures on the ride scholarship at the Benjamin Franklin Summer U.S. undergraduate and graduate application process Institute and one more program participant has been based on Your 5 Steps to U.S. Study. The lectures are awarded the prestigious YES scholarship to attend a conducted on Saturdays, once or twice per month, at U.S. high school for one academic year. the American Corner at Sofia City Library.

Visits to American Spaces Virtual Group Advising Program

During and around the 16th annual International The EducationUSA advising center implements an Education Week in Bulgaria (November 16-20, 2015) innovative virtual educational group advising program the educational adviser Snejana Teneva visited the which prepares high school students from all over American Spaces in the cities of Sofia, Plovdiv, Ruse, the country to successfully apply for admission with Pleven, Burgas and Haskovo, giving presentations and financial aid to fully accredited U.S. colleges and engaging in productive discussions about educational universities. The program is run in partnership with the opportunities in the U.S. with over 400 high school American English Teaching Assistants, the American students as well as teachers, administrators, parents Spaces, Fulbright students/scholars, and others. It and librarians. has both a virtual and in-person component and was developed by the adviser to make educational advising available to students beyond Sofia. Currently Visits to Secondary Schools and Local Universities the advising program has had very good results. This past year, there were 503 students in the program: Executive Director Angela Rodel and Program 114 twelfth graders, 206 eleventh graders, 110 tenth Officers Iliana Dimitrova and Rada Kaneva visited graders, 60 ninth graders and 12 eighth graders. the 29 high schools hosting ETAs. In addition, Twenty-four of the twelfth graders were admitted to EducationUSA Adviser Snezhana Teneva presented U.S. universities with almost $3.4 million in financial aid. the main benefits of studying in the U.S. at the At REAC Cheryl Francisconi’s suggestion, the adviser following secondary schools: 2nd ELS, SOFIA, “Geo shared the program model and best practices with Milev” English Language School, BURGAS, “Acad. other EducationUSA advisers from Europe and Eurasia. Nikola Obreshkov” High School of Science and Mathematics, BURGAS, “Baba Tonka” High School of Also, on the basis of the virtual group advising Mathematics, RUSE, “Geo Milev” ELS, RUSE, “Romain program, Bulgaria qualified for the Opportunity Rolland” Foreign Language School, STARA ZAGORA, Funds (OF) Program which provides small grants to Sofia High School of Mathematics, SOFIA, and 2nd highly competitive academically talented students ELS, SOFIA. who are economically disadvantaged. OF students

30 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange must be actively involved in a cohort advising Dhabi (NYUAD), United Arab Emirates; University of program and working closely with an EducationUSA San Francisco, Economics Graduate Programs, CA; adviser. Since we have already a cohort program in Bentley University, Graduate School of Business, place, the Opportunity Funds program successfully MA; Yale-NUS College, Singapore; Concord complements our efforts. University, WV. They presented their institutions, the US application process and the opportunities for international students at American colleges and Weekly Individual Consultations at the American universities at the Fulbright EducationUSA Advising Corner, Sofia City Library Center, Radison Blu Grand Hotel, American College of Sofia, Sofia High School of Mathematics, First During the period under review, the EducationUSA English Language School of Sofia, 91 German Advising Center continued to offer free of charge Language High School, and the Anglo-American weekly consultations at the American Corner in Sofia. School of Sofia.

Promotion of the EducationUSA Brand at National Use of Social Media and International Education/Career Fairs

In FY2016, over 5,000 students and professionals During FY2016, the EducationUSA Advising Center visited the Fulbright EducationUSA stand at the has greatly improved and expanded communication following national and international education and with prospective students using social networks and career fairs: Integral World Education Fair in Sofia; social media. Students in Bulgaria are active users of Sofia University Golden Apple Career Fair; Education Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media. Beyond Borders Fair in Sofia; Career Days at the In order to reach out to them, we are keeping our University of National and World Economy and the social media presence up to date (EducationUSA Technical University of Sofia; Vision for Education Facebook and Twitter pages, an EducationUSA Study, Work, Travel Fair in the cities of Sofia and YouTube channel and a blog). Other efficient tools Plovdiv; JobTiger Career Days in the IT Sector in utilized for educational advising in Bulgaria include Sofia; SRT U.S. University Fair at the American College the Fulbright Commission’s website, email marketing of Sofia and the American University in Bulgaria, and and Skype sessions. The expansion of contacts is QS World Grad School Tour in Sofia. evidenced by the high number of individuals that have been reached out to: In addition, EducationUSA Adviser Snejana Teneva delivered presentations on Undergraduate and l EducationUSA Bulgaria Blog: 11,194 blog page Graduate Study in the US, and Fulbright Grants for views (32 posts) Bulgarian Citizens in the US for academic year 2017-18 at the Education Beyond Borders Fair, the l EducationUSA Bulgaria YouTube: 6,350 video American University in Bulgaria and Inegral World views (99 subscribers) Education Fair. l EducationUSA Bulgaria Facebook: 1,078 current Facebook profile friends U.S. Institutional Representatives l EducationUSA Bulgaria Twitter: 156 Twitter During the period under review, the EducationUSA followers Advising Center in Sofia was visited by representatives of eight U.S. institutions of higher education: l EducationUSA Bulgaria LinkedIn: 331 connections New York University, NY; Babson College, MA; Stanford University, CA; New York University Abu l Skype: 99 contacts

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 31 Hundreds of Bulgarian students visited the on three target audiences: university students, CollegeWeekLive site and attended the virtual high school students, and representatives of ethnic international college fairs to explore colleges and minorities. The funds were used for participation universities in the U.S., chat with admissions reps in national and international education fairs, and current college students, get personal questions adviser’s travel, purchase of books, promotional answered and gain advice on test prep, essay writing, items and publicity materials. The EducationUSA college search, financial aid, and more relevant topics Advising Center, in close cooperation with Regional from experts. Educational Advising Coordinator Cheryl Francisconi, has launched an Opportunity Funds program in MOOCs are another excellent resource for Bulgarian Bulgaria beginning in February 2016. From numerous students who plan to attend a US higher education applicants, twelve eleventh-graders from all across institution. They use them as an unofficial source of the country were selected to take part in the first academic orientations to help them better understand phase of the program, which covers the cost of what is ahead and figure out where to apply. MOOCs test preparation, testing fees, and translation of also give students a sense of their preparedness for application documents, and also provides support stepping into this type of coursework. for creating CVs and writing admissions essays, and guidance in selecting universities to which to apply. If successfully admitted to US universities with full ECA/A/S/A and U.S. Embassy Grants financial aid, these students will go on to the next phase of Opportunity Funds during the 2017-2018 In FY 2016 the Commission received a grant of school year, which covers visa fees as well as travel $21,600 from ECA/A/S/A and an additional financial and relocation to the US. assistance of $5,000 from the U.S. Embassy in Sofia to help the activities of the EducationUSA Advising The Bulgarian Fulbright Commission greatly Center and launch an Opportunity Funds program appreciates the financial support from ECA/A/S/A in Bulgaria. As a result, the Bulgarian Fulbright and is strongly motivated to continue to work for the Commission has further broadened its network of further improvement of educational advising and the contacts all over Bulgaria. Our attention was focused promotion of U.S. education in Bulgaria.

Training for EducationUSA Opportunity Funds Students

32 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Participation in International Events

1. Angela Rodel, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission, participated in the following international events:

l Participation in the NAFSA Conference and meetings with ECA and Fulbright representatives, May 2016;

l Two presentations given at the “Crossing Borders for Global Partnerships: European Fulbright Conference 2016,” with ECA, State Department, and Fulbright representatives, in Helsinki, Finland, June 2016;

l Presentations on contemporary Bulgarian literature in translation at the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in London and at University College London School of Slavic and East European Studies (Oct 2015).

2. EducationUSA adviser Snezhana Teneva participated in the 2016 EducationUSA Forum in Washington, DC, August 2016.

3. Program officer for Bulgarian grantees Maria Kostova participated in the UK College Day in London, September, 2016.

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 33 General Factors Impacting the Program

Ongoing Economic Crisis deterred some students from applying to university in the UK. The economic crisis continued to negatively impact the Bulgarian economy and all spheres of socio- European colleges and universities continue to political and cultural life, especially education. The aggressively advertise their programs through periodic general standards of living have remained low and educational fairs, visits of their representatives to Bulgaria continues to be the poorest country in the Bulgarian schools and universities, and extensive European Union. information on the Internet.

Inadequate funding in education continues to erode the quality of teaching and learning. A great number Rising Cost of US Education of university faculty are looking for professional The tuition in most US universities continues to realization abroad or outside the educational sector; increase. Financial aid, teaching assistantships and job the declining educational standards cause the best opportunities on campus are still limited, especially and the brightest to seek study opportunities at for international students. These factors tend to foreign universities; the low birth rate and the high discourage Bulgarian students from applying to US emigration rate are demographic factors that also universities and to divert them to Europe. Since 2010 account for the decreasing number of potential the number of Bulgarians studying at US colleges and students. Since the state funding of universities universities has decreased steadily: in 2010/11 - 1,957, is determined on the basis of enrollment figures, in 2011/2012 - 1,694; in 2012/13 - 1,473; in 2013/14 - Bulgarian universities are engaged in strong 1,252, and in 2014/15 - 1,171. According to the latest competition for students that inevitably leads to Open Doors data in 2015/16, the number of Bulgarian lowering of admission requirements. students in the US has further dropped to 1,016, which is a 13.2% decrease from the previous year. Educational Opportunities in By contrast, the number of international students in the US surpassed one million for the first time during Europe 2015/16 and reached 1,043,839 students which is an increase of 7% from the previous year. The number of European education continues to attract Bulgarian students from Europe in the US in 2015/16 increased undergraduate and graduate students because by 1.4% to 91,915 students. of: affordable tuition fees, geographic proximity, inexpensive travel, no visa problems, and prospects for employment after completion of studies. Due to financial restrictions, more and more US Between 30,000 and 80,000 is the number of the universities require guarantees of financial support Bulgarian students abroad according to unofficial for the second year from the Bulgarian Fulbright data by the Association of Private Universities. The students as a condition for admission or partial most popular destinations for Bulgarian students financial assistance. This is posing a serious challenge are: Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, to the grant budget of the Fulbright Commission and Austria, and France, although if anecdotal evidence requires urgent efforts to identify additional resources is to be believed, the Brexit vote has apparently or else decrease the number of grants.

34 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Support from the America Sept 2016. The new group of 33 English language teachers received intensive professional training for Bulgaria Foundation and Bulgarian language instruction. Over the last seven years the Bulgarian Fulbright An amount of $3,000 was added to the FY Commission has established very productive 2015 $15,000 grant from the US Embassy cooperation with the America for Bulgaria Foundation, to support the activities of BEST, a Fulbright increasing the number of ETAs from 2 to 30 between legacy organization in Bulgaria. The additional 2009 and 2015, with 30 ETAs being supported per funds were given to support the travel of four year in AY2014-15, AY2015-16 and AY2016-17. This Bulgarian BEST participants and their coach to past year, we negotiated a new contract with ABF Salt Lake City, UT, to represent Bulgaria at the to support 30 ETAs in Bulgaria annually for AY2017- United States National Speech and Debate 2020 for a total amount of $1,290,000 (or $430,000 Association Tournament in June of 2016. per year); the slight reduction in the total funding The Commission is highly appreciative of the as compared to the previous grant comes at the commitment of PAO Brian Stimmler and CAO sponsor’s request that we reduce the monthly Tammy Paltchikov, whose support was crucial stipend amount from $1,000 to $800 since all ETAs for the success of both of these projects. are now provided free housing by their host school.

In 2016 the Commission received a $5,000 Although the administration of the ETA project grant from the US Embassy to support the places more responsibility and effort on the Fulbright newly launched Opportunity funds program of staff, we highly appreciate ABF support because the EducationUSA in Bulgaria. results of the Fulbright presence at the host schools are more than visible and highly motivating. It is ]The US Embassy provided also a grant of worth noting that largely because of the increased $10,000 for the project of the US Fulbright number of ETAs Bulgaria is now on the list of the 25 specialist Scott Waring at AUBG “Capacity most popular destinations in Europe for US students. Building in Study Abroad Program Development.” Also, the number of applicants to the Bulgarian ETA program continues to grow every year, testifying to the visibility of this program not only in Bulgaria, but Support from ContourGlobal also in the US. Company We strongly hope that our relationship with ABF will As a result of the fundraising campaign of the continue and further expand after the conclusion of Fulbright Commission this year we received a the current three-year grant, because it substantially grant from ContourGlobal to the amount of helps the ongoing reform in Bulgarian school and $15,520 to host an ETA in Galabovo. university education. The Fulbright board and executive director have been actively lobbying ABF representatives and board members to garner their Support from Thanks to support for the long-term extension of the ETA program in Bulgaria. Scandinavia Institute In FY2016 the Commission received $20,000 from the Thanks to Scandinavia Institute to support one Support from the US Embassy Bulgarian Fulbright graduate student. This year the Commission received a $16,000 (28,000 BGN) grant from the US Embassy as co- We greatly appreciate the assistance of our US sponsorship for the organization of a training partners and hope that our cooperation will continue workshop for the AY 2016-17 ETAs in Sofia, 01-10 in spite of financial constraints.

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 35 Administration, Budget, Fund-Raising, Income-Generating

$5,000 $20,000 Activities $10,000 $62,440 $16,000 $45,600 $619,492 $15,520

$454,000

$140,000

In FY 2016 the total Commission budget amounted to $1,388,052, including:

l $619,492 funding from ECA/US Department of State ($599,492 FY16 allocation and $20,000 end-of-year FY16 funds); l $140,000 funding from the Bulgarian government; l $454,000 grant from America for Bulgaria Foundation to support 30 English Teaching Assistants in language schools in Bulgaria; l $15,520 grant from ContourGlobal Company to support one English Teaching Assistant in the town of Galabovo; l $45,600 EducationUSA grants for advising and Opportunity Funds program ( $21,600 FY16 funding and $24,000 end-of-year FY16 funds) ; l $16,000 (28,000 BGN) US Embassy grant for training and cultural orientation of AY2016-17 ETAs; l $10,000 US Embassy grant for an US Fulbright specialist; l $5,000 US Embassy grant to support the FY16 Opportunity Funds program; l $20,000 support from the Thanks to Scandinavia Institute for a joint grant to a Bulgarian graduate student established in 2007; l $62,440 left-over funds. Conclusion

s the report above has discussed in detail, the AY2017-18 competition to numerous list-servs during FY2016, the Bulgarian Fulbright and professional associations the Commission had ACommission managed to implement its actively targeted the previous year (Byzantine Study program plan. AY2015-2016 saw an extremely strong Association of North America, American Institute group of grantees, especially the US scholars, US of Archaeology, Society for Ethnomusicology, graduate students, Bulgarian graduate students and H-Soyuz, H-Turk, H-EarlySlavic, etc); sent dozens ETAs. Thanks to our extensive recruitment efforts, of targeted, personal emails to American academics the response by Bulgarian scholars to the AY2017- in various SEE-related fields with steady streams 18 campaign was extremely impressive in terms of of graduate students in need of field research quality and quantity, with a record number of scholars opportunities; designed and printed posters and applying. While this year, thanks to new campaign flyers advertising the AY2017-18 campaign to and advertising strategies implemented over the past distribute at NAFSA and to send to the ten largest two years, we were able to attract more candidates Russian and East European Studies centers in the US. to certain under-subscribed grant categories (US Also, noting the heightening interest in art history students – 14 applicants; Hubert Humphrey – five and archeology-related projects by US students, applicants; Visiting Researchers – three applicants) the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission has designed a we will continue to devise new ways of attracting new grant in partnership with the Balkan Heritage diverse and high-quality candidates for both the US Foundation, an NGO that runs summer field schools and Bulgarian competitions. attended by hundreds of US students, aimed at students interested in Bulgaria’s archeological ED Angela Rodel continued the ongoing recruitment and cultural heritage that would combine field- campaign aimed at US graduate students, which school experience followed by close mentorship are typically the least numerous and weakest US by Bulgarian scholars over their academic year in candidate pool – she posted announcements about Bulgaria.

Annual Program Report, Fiscal Year 2016 37 Fundraising remains a challenge in Bulgaria, as In conclusion, I would like to sincerely thank there is not a strong tradition of philanthropy and all members of the Fulbright staff for their giving back. However, we have made some progress professionalism, responsibility and dedication to the in securing our first corporate sponsorship: the Fulbright program. I would also like to express my American energy company ContourGlobal gave the gratitude to the Fulbright Commission Board for their Bulgarian Fulbright Commission a $15,520 grant to help, cooperation and commitment to the Fulbright sponsor an ETA in Galabovo, where their power plant goals. Their contribution of time, support and is located. Nina Matsumoto arrived in Galabovo in guidance are crucial for the successful administration September 2016 and has been doing an excellent job of the program. at the Professional School of Energy and Electrical Engineering, according to the school principal, her The Bulgarian Fulbright Commission deeply mentor teacher and our ContourGlobal liaison, appreciates ECA’s support for the Fulbright program thus we hope this partnership will be continued in in Bulgaria, the efficiency and commitment of its coming years. We also hope to use it as a model to officers, especially Scott Righetti, and all our partners inspire other international companies in Bulgaria to and colleagues from CIES and IIE. support ETAs and other Fulbright programming in the country. Angela Rodel Executive Director

The Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange would like to thank its sponsors for their generous support:

38 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange Appendix 1 Bulgarian Media Coverage of Fulbright Activities

Timothy Rice: BLOGS: http://bit.ly/2jHrLzM Natalie Vieira: Colby Fleming: https://natalietakesbulgaria.wordpress.com/ http://bit.ly/2iY6UEW Molly O’Keefe: Reid Furubayashi and BEST students: http://churchesandraspberries.tumblr.com http://bit.ly/2jz7ah3 http://tinyurl.com/hwcy3lh Montana Rogers: https://montanarogersinbulgaria.wordpress. Kaitlyn Alkass: com/2015/08/20/summer-life-in-bulgaria/ http://tinyurl.com/z3cwpmn Erin Speltz: Anna Fuselier: https://erininbulgaria.wordpress.com/ http://tinyurl.com/jj637kt 2015/08/31/the-week-before-the-real-work- begins/ Claire Manning http://bit.ly/2j0YzCG McKinley Alden: https://ohdanubeboy.wordpress.com/2015/09/25/ Angela Rodel: september-25th/ http://tinyurl.com/z4tzj4b https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30L9_u1Aq9s Alex Bransford: http://www.bitelevision.com/andzhela-rodel-za- http://bransfordinbulgaria.blogspot.bg/2015/09/ stipendiite-na-fulbrajt-2016-2017-g/ lakes-and-lessons.html?spref=fb http://kultura.bg/web/анджела-родел-българката-от- америка / Moriah Kent: http://www.monitor.bg/a/view/Анджела-Родел-и- http://globalgirlgone.weebly.com/ мелодията-на-превода/ Colby Fleming: https://postcommunistcolby.wordpress.com/

Rachel Susser https://susserflute.wordpress.com/ Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange

12 Vitosha Blvd, 5th floor, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria

+359 2 981 85 67 +359 2 980 82 11 [email protected] www.fulbright.bg

40 Bulgarian–American Commission for Educational Exchange