Issue 91 Fall 2020 NEWSLETTER Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange

Digital +/- Presence

Old Bones and New Friends Говориш ли български? Clever, Kind, Tricky and Sly The Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission board consists of ten members, five American citizens and five Bulgarian citizens. They represent the major areas of state and public activity: government, education, the arts, and business. The Ambassador of the to the Republic of and the Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria serve as honorary chairpersons of the Commission and appoint the regular board members. The board members during Fiscal Year 2020 included:

Honorary Chairs BG Members of the Board Krassimir Valchev Karina Angelieva Bulgarian Minister of Education and Science Deputy Minister of Education and Science

Herro Mustafa Radostina Chaprazova Ambassador of the United States to Bulgaria Country Director, Arete Youth Foundation

Georg Georgiev Chair Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Drake Weisert Public Affairs Officer, US Embassy in Bulgaria Julia Stefanova* Former Executive Director Treasurer of the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission Brent LaRosa Cultural and Educational Affairs Officer, Tzvetomir Todorov* US Embassy in Bulgaria Managing Director, Bulgarian American Management Company

US Members of the Board Richard T. Ewing, Jr. President, American College of *Fulbright alumni

Sarah Perrine* Executive Director, Trust for Social Achievement Cover photo: Eric Halsey* AY2020-21 English Teaching Assistants in Belchin, Managing Director, Halsey Company September 2020.

Fulbright Bulgaria thanks its sponsors for their support: FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONTENTS

Fall 2020 was challenging time for all around the world, and Bulgaria was no exception. The summer of 2020 had given us a bit of a respite from strict pandemic measures – warm weather made outside activities possible, while case counts FEATURE remained relatively low. At 02 Six ETAs Return to Bulgaria Fulbright Bulgaria we were hopeful that the lessons learned FEATURE from Bulgaria’s effective 04 Digital +/- Presence campaign to curb of the virus during the spring would help the country avoid a major second SUCCESS STORY wave when the academic year began again in September. Thus with 06 Bulgarian Students in the U.S. cautious optimism we navigated the complexities of visa regulations and travel restrictions and brought our group of six returning ETAs HOLIDAY STORYTELLING to Bulgaria on September 1. We also helped three degree-seeking 08 Clever, Kind, Tricky and Sly Bulgarian students travel to the US to begin their programs.

The academic year began optimistically, with high school and universities offering in-person instruction. For nearly two months our ETAs were reunited with students they had not seen since March, and were able to restart their extracurricular activities. However, by early November, Bulgaria, like most of Europe, found itself facing a second wave of Covid-19 cases, which eventually forced all schools to shift to online instruction. The rising case counts also put pressure BG LANGUAGE TRAINING on the healthcare system here as in many places around the world, 09 Говорите ли български? thus the Fulbright Commission, in consultation with the US Embassy and other partners, made the difficult decision to suspend the US FOCUS ON US GRANTEE program in Bulgaria once again. 12 Danielle Harris

We would like to thank our brave cohort of six ETAs who came to FOCUS ON BG GRANTEE Bulgaria and worked tirelessly with their students this fall. We also 14 Vesela Petrova greatly appreciate the support of their host schools, the America for Bulgaria Foundation, the US Embassy, the Bulgarian Ministry of ACADEMIC YEAR 2020-2021 Culture, and everyone who supported our Fulbrighters in Bulgaria BG and US Grantees and the US during this difficult time. We look forward to Fall of 2021, 16 when we hope to resume the crucial work of long-term in-person academic and cultural exchange! FOCUS ON US ALUMNI 18 Dr. Naomi Martisius Angela FOCUS ON BG ALUMNI Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange 20 Ognian Georgiev 12 Vitosha Blvd, 5th floor, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria FULBRIGHT ALUMNI Tel: +359 2 981 85 67 I Fax: +359 2 988 45 17 24 ACHIEVEMENTS [email protected] I www.fulbright.bg FALL 2020 FEATURE

Six ETAs Return to Bulgaria By Iliana Dimitrova

Returning ETAs meet with Lina Jarad (left)

Despite the global suspension of the Fulbright programs for the first semester of AY 2020/ 2021, we were one of the few lucky commissions in Europe who were able to still host a limited number of grantees in the beginning of the academic year.

Despite the global suspension of the US trying to get to know each we were joined by Drake Weisert, the Fulbright programs for the first other, this time we all fit into a cozy Public Affairs Officer; Brent LaRosa, semester of AY 2020/ 2021, we were small meeting room, trying to get the newly appointed Cultural Affairs one of the few lucky commissions used to our new appearance, and Officer; and Ivanka Ivanova, Cultural in Europe who were able to still our smiles hidden behind face masks. Affairs Assistant at the US Embassy host a limited number of grantees But the enthusiasm was the same in Sofia. The meeting also included in the beginning of the academic if not greater, and the time passed Eve Gower, a health practitioner at year. On September 3, 2020, we quickly in catching up with each the embassy, who, together with were excited to welcome back other’s news and brainstorming on a Bulgarian colleague, joined us our six returning English Teaching how to best navigate the brand new online to touch upon various medical Assistants – Allison Rice, Danielle situation we had found ourselves in. issues. In the afternoon the group Harris, Emilie Ehrman, Lukas Koester, Angela Rodel, Fulbright Executive met for the first time in person with Matt Lauer, and Sara Huzar, for Director, and Nancy Schiller, Lina Jarad, Executive Director of the tiniest of all Fulbright Bulgaria President& CEO of the America for the BEST Foundation, who gave us Orientations. Instead of the large Bulgaria Foundation, greeted the a detailed overview of the activities halls filled with the chatter of over group, and spoke about some of the planned by the organization during 40 grantees from various corners of challenges ahead. Just before lunch the upcoming year. A special treat

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awaited us in the evening – a trip to the village of Belchin, where, amidst the ruins of the Tsari Mali Grad fortress, we enjoyed a beautiful ballet performance by Sofia National Opera and Ballet: “Zorba the Greek” by Mikis Theodorakis.

Our six returning ETAs were able to spend almost two months in the classroom with their students in Lovech, Ruse, , Dimtrovgrad, and Varna, as the pandemic situation remained relatively stable in the early autumn. However, by late October, case numbers in Bulgaria, Nancy Schiller greets the group as in much of Europe, began rising precipitously, putting unprecedented pressure on the healthcare system and forcing schools to switch to online teaching. In partnership with the US Embassy and our program sponsors, in November the Fulbright Commission made the difficult decision to suspend the ETA program once again, and all ETAs departed Bulgaria by late November. We were extremely grateful to our six ETAs who returned this fall and spent another few months teaching - you were a welcome ray of light to your schools and communities in what has been an otherwise very difficult year. We wish our AY2020-21 ETA cohort all the best and hope to see them in Bulgaria Meeting with US Embassy representatives again at some point in the future!

Zorba the Greek ballet

3 Digital +/- Presence: An Exploration of Contemporary Communication

By Rada Kaneva

On November 21 and 22, 2020, the Bulgarian Fulbright Bulgaria and an Academic Exchange Commission hosted a hybrid conference entitled “Digital Officer at the US Department of State. +/- Presence.” The goal of the conference was to explore the After their greetings, the executive director of the Bulgarian Fulbright transformation of communication from personal to digital Commission and moderator of the or hybrid in spheres directly related to the Fulbright mission: conference Angela Rodel gave the education, culture, and society. floor to the first keynote speaker, Dr. Alexandra Glavanakova, head of the English Department at Sofia University, The new opportunities opened speakers, two musicians, and a and a current Fulbright grantee, who by forced online communication platform for discussion for the more shared highlights from the fascinating since the start of the pandemic, the than sixty participants who watched research she conducts on the role of challenges such changes posed, and the event online. literary reading in the posthuman age the importance of personal presence of acceleration and distraction. in this new digital-only world were The conference opened with HE discussed by Fulbright alumni in light Ambassador Herro Mustafa, the US The first panel aimed to explore of their personal and professional Ambassador to Bulgaria and Honorary the institutional dimensions of experiences. The conference was Chairwoman of the Bulgarian- digitalization. Fulbright alum streamed live from the Launchee American Fulbright Commission, and Professor Larry DiMatteo (University space in Sofia and included nineteen Scott Righetti, a long-time friend of of Florida) discussed the concept

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of artificial intelligence from a work and live between Bulgaria to his Bulgarian students upon his legal and ethical point of view. and the United States, including return. The conference concluded Professor Petya Osenova from Sofia ethnographers and immigrants. with an analysis of digital presence University offered a glimpse into The topic of digital presence in from a philosopher’s point of view. the opportunities digitalization professional life was discussed Dr. Tamara Albertini (University of offered for extracting data in the “Teaching and Knowledge Hawaii at Manoa) argued that while about the opinions and behavior Acquisition in the Digital Age” panel, philosophers may be “present” to of members of parliament, offering insights and advice from their audiences despite geographic government and parties, especially experienced educators: Dr. Tamara distances while they are online, in times of pandemic. Dr. Todorova (American University in once the recordings are posted, Mariya Bobina (Western Illinois Bulgaria) commented on how online they are no more “present” than in University) summarized the effect teaching can be an efficient tool the books and papers they publish. of technological advancements in for learning when using electronic Bulgarian business practices, and platforms suitable for that purpose, A highlight of the conference were Fulbright I America for Bulgaria and shared her own experience the performances of two musicians, Foundation English Teaching with some of them. Dr. Reneta one American and one Bulgarian. Assistant Prue Salasky shared her Bozhankova (Sofia University) Lilly Drumeva-O’Reilly (http:// experience with virtual education examined the situation of distance lillydrumeva.net/), who formed in a Bulgarian school. After a short education in an academic context Bulgaria’s most successful country question and answer session, the and in particular the teaching of and bluegrass band “Lilly of the Conference continued with the contemporary literature. Professor West” and received a Fulbright second panel - “Communication Ginny Whitehouse (Eastern award to study music in Nashville, and Community in the Digital Kentucky University) brought recorded a performance of the Environment,” which featured Dr. attention to the effects of online song “Turn Away” especially for the James Hollenbeck from Indiana education on underperforming event. The US side of the program University Southeast busting myths students, offering ideas for support was represented by John Thomas about inquiry-based online learning, systems that can create an adequate (https://johnwthomas.com), pianist, Jesse Scinto (Columbia University) safety net for struggling students. music director, concert producer, providing practical tips and tricks actor and composer. He embraces a for successful online presence, Dr. The last panel, “The New Normal: “music without borders” perspective Jeffrey Folks (formerly of Doshisha Digital Presence in the Arts, STEM as one of the best ways to create University, Japan) dissecting the and Philosophy,” offered a glimpse broad cultural exchange and mutual impact of digital transformation on digital presence from the understanding. John received a on communal living, Andrew Kim perspective of personal experience Fulbright grant in 2019-20 for (English Teaching Assistant in Stara of alumni in different fields. Milena research, study and performance Zagora) exploring the math behind Berbenkova (Intercultura Consult) in Bulgaria, where he was affiliated human online and offline existence, focused on the preliminary results primarily with the Academy and a Fulbright alum remaining of a research investigating audience of Music, Dance and Fine Arts. anonymous as an AA member, who attitudes towards today’s cultural analyzed the impact of digitalization offers in the digital environment. The conference offered great on recovery communities. Professional storyteller Priscilla insight into the opportunities and Howe shared impressions of how challenges of the digital age, and The second day of the conference listeners of varying ages respond despite its mostly digital format offered two more panels and to online storytelling. Georgi Iliev reminded us that Fulbright as an another keynote presentation, (Association of MBAs) showed that exchange program predicated on this time from a US Fulbright the outside world can be dissected long-term, face-to-face personal alumnus – Dr. Timothy Rice, in personal blogs and how one can interaction still remains a gateway Distinguished Professor, Emeritus, of benefit from analyzing world events to wisdom and empathy. We would ethnomusicology at the University in such a digital format. Dr. Michail like to cordially thank our wonderful of California, Los Angeles, who drew Todorov (Technical University of keynote speakers, presenters, parallels between the experience Sofia) talked about his stay and participants, and partners for their of digital presence and physical experience in the US during the engagement and support. We look absence and the presences and peak of the pandemic, which led to forward to sharing the collection of absences that impact all who introducing advanced technologies conference papers with you in 2021!

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EducationUSA Success Story Bulgarian Students in the U.S.

by Ilia Curto Pelle ‘22,

Non scholae sed vitae discimus. ~Seneca the Younger

My name is Ilia Calogero Curto Pelle, a weird mixture of Bulgarian, Italian, and Russian components, born and raised in Sofia with Sicilian and Uralic roots. Currently, I am a junior within the Classics Department of Princeton University. This is the story of how I got to where I am, what I do, and what my dreams for the future are.

Ever since I was a young child, I was enamored with history. I acutely remember reading about the Romans, the Greeks, Alexander’s conquests, and many other topics from children’s encyclopedias. Since then, my love for history has only grown. This is why the decision to study at the National High School for Ancient Languages and Cultures (NGDEK), Bulgaria’s premier high- school in Classics, was a natural one. There, I found incredible teachers such as Professor Vesselina Vachkova, who nurtured my passion for the past and shaped me into the person I am today. Thanks to her and many other mentors, I decided to pursue an academic career in ancient and medieval history.

Entering an elite university is not Private Archive, , PU, Princeton, USA, November 2019 easy. I applied to a number of schools, but the acceptance

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EducationUSA Advisor Snezhana Teneva and Fulbright Intern Ilia Curto Pelle, discussing the schedule for the U.S. College Alumni Fair 2021 in Sofia, Bulgaria

letter from Princeton was the from different regions, with a result of a process of preparation particular emphasis on Southern that included a lot of hard work, Italy and the Northern . Since Currently, I have decided persistence, and dedication. At my love for history is not limited to Princeton, I am pursuing an A.B. the classroom, I want to share my to try and give back to in Classics with a concentration passion with others as president of my home country as in Ancient History and additional the Princeton Classics Club and peer- much as I can, thanking certificates in Hellenic Studies, editor for the Princeton Journal for Medieval Studies, and History and Late Antiquity and Medieval Studies. my community for the Practice of Diplomacy. Moreover, I am the historian of the providing me with the Princeton Charter Club and I sing environment to grow up My academic interests include bass in the Princeton University Hellenistic numismatics and Glee Club. My other hobbies include in and achieve my goal epigraphy, the grand strategy of the playing the piano, since I just cannot of a career in academia. Balkan countries in the Middle Ages, stop listening to music and making the history of the Balkans and the music to the annoyance of everyone Near East during Late Antiquity, and around me, playing grand strategic US, to be published by the Fulbright many other topics. I have also met and military videogames, travelling, Commission and EducationUSA, and a number of brilliant professors and and reading and writing poetry. leading workshops and one-on-one mentors, who have inspired me to sessions on writing essays for college pursue other approaches and sub- Currently, I have decided to try applications. I want to express my disciplines outside of my comfort and give back to my home country special thanks to Fulbright Bulgaria’s zone. Thanks to my efforts and to as much as I can, thanking my Executive Director Angela Rodel and their support, I was awarded with the community for providing me with Educational Adviser Snejana Teneva Shapiro Prize for Academic Excellence, the environment to grow up in for allowing me to work with Fulbright one of the most prestigious academic and achieve my goal of a career as an intern and to give back to my prizes at Princeton, for my academic in academia. Currently, I am an community in these hard times. achievements during the 2019-2020 intern at the Bulgarian Fulbright school year. Commission. My motivation is to In the future, I hope to pursue a PhD try to help Bulgarian high-schoolers and go on to a career in academia, At Princeton, I began working at who dream of studying in the US researching historical questions that the Numismatic Collection of the to realize their goals. This includes fascinate me and teaching the new University, a decision that would the organization of a Virtual U.S. generation of leaders and scholars forever change my outlook on the College Alumni Fair on January that will come after me. In order discipline. In this role, I focus on 31 and February 1, 2021, the to learn more about me and my researching, inputting, and editing preparation of a volume of success research projects, feel free to visit data on coin finds and coin groups stories of Bulgarian students in the my website at www.curtopelle.com.

7 FALL 2020 HOLIDAY STORYTELLING Clever, Kind, Tricky and Sly: A Holiday Celebration with Bulgarian Folktales

By Rada Kaneva

On December 12, 2020, the Fulbright Bulgaria community gathered for a Zoom performance of storyteller Priscilla Howe’s favorite family-friendly Bulgarian folktales, from the trickster tales featuring Clever Peter and the fox Kuma Lisa to the wondertale “The Neverborn Maiden.” The event gathered fans of the art of storytelling, which apart from being the oldest educational method in the world, is just plain fun.

Priscilla spent five months in Sofia in 2015 as a Fulbright Scholar, collecting folktales. She started her career telling stories as a teenage babysitter, traveled abroad and worked as children’s librarian for a while, and in 1993 she quit her job, moved to Lawrence, Kansas, and leapt into full-time storytelling. Since then, she has told stories in fourteen countries on four continents, occasionally in French and Bulgarian, but mostly in English, often for ESL students. She performs, teaches occasional classes and workshops, and coaches other storytellers. The folktales she collected during her Fulbright grant Priscilla Howe telling the story of the “Unborn Maiden” in Bulgaria will soon be published by Parkhurst Brothers Publishers, in a book called Clever, Kind, Tricky and Sly: A Bulgarian Folktale Sampler.

If you missed the Zoom meeting, you can still enjoy Priscilla’s wonderful performance on the Fulbright Bulgaria YouTube channel: https://youtube/ MbbDfDfVQCA. We sincerely thank her for bringing joy to our busy everyday life and setting a great mood for the holiday season. Participants in the storytelling hour

8 BG LANGUAGE TRAINING FALL 2020 Говорите ли български?

By Iliana Dimitrova

The Fulbright Commission has long offered intensive training as part of our orientation, but feedback every year consistently shows that grantees just can’t get enough of their Bulgarian classes. While the charm of our tutors, former Peace Corps instructors Radost Sabeva and Zhana Zagorova, is undeniable, we understand that language learning also takes time and practice. With the idea of spreading the workload more evenly and encouraging grantees to acquire some basic language knowledge prior to their arrival, in 2018 the Commission Bulgarian language class during orientation began offering an Online Summer Course in Bulgarian Language and Culture. The course, designed Speaking Bulgarian is not a requirement for a Fulbright award by Zhana Zagorova, consists of in Bulgaria. Yet being able to chat informally with in video presentations, exercises and quizzes, and introduces grantees to their own language can make a huge difference to your Fulbright the language while also providing experience. We know that our language is difficult, and this is some cultural and historical context. why we deeply appreciate every effort by foreigners to pronounce Participants can watch the lessons “” without accidentally biting their tongue. and do the course work at their own pace, over the ten-week duration of the course.

In fact, it is quite possible that part (“What’s the gossip??”), which must And since we believe efforts should of the huge success of our ETA have melted many hearts not only in be rewarded, we have started Keegan Scott during his three years the teachers’ room at school, but also conducting end-of-year Bulgarian in is owed to his ability in judges’ rooms during multiple BEST language exams free-of-charge for to brighten up a room with an tournaments, and, for sure, in the all grantees who have successfully enthusiastic “Kakva e klyukata??” Fulbright office. completed the online summer course.

Сега, живея в Америка, но миналата година живях в Смолян. Разбира се има много нещо че липсвам, като учениците, котките, и приятелите. Но мисля че е по-тъжно че тук, къде живея, няма планини и НЯМА СИРЕНЕ!!! ... И никой иска да правя хоро тук. Само искам да танцувам пак. Един ден, ще се върна, България!”

~Sam Johnson, ETA in

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Аз съм концерт пианист и Radost checking Nathan and Patrick’s work композитор. Свиря на музиката на България и други страни: музика без граници. Имам късмета да уча български език. Моята учителка е щастлива, спокойна и много, много търпелива. Не знам кое е по-трудно: български език или българска музика. Обичам и двамата!“

~John Thomas, US Student Researcher at AMTII Plovdiv Zhana and Radost teaching the Cyrillic alphabet

Zdravejte! Az kazvam se Jamie, i az bjah Fulbrighter pred devet godini, na AMTII v Plovdiv. Mnogo az obicham Bulgaria, i vsichki sŭshto shte go haresate! Koeto naĭ-mnogo obichakh v Bŭlgariya, beshe kuhnjat, skarat, rakijat, i tsŭrkvite. Bulgaria mnogo e haresva, s mnogo planina, reka, i prirodna krasota.”

~ Jamie Dahman, US Student Researcher at AMTII, Plovdiv

Град ми в България, Димитровград, е роденият град за един от най-известни Българи поети: Пеню Пенев. Любимият ми парк в града е кръстен на него, и има големи камени с неговите стихове написани върху тях. В този парк има всички ми любимите неща от България: красива природа, бездомни котки, и Български език. Уча се Български беше забавно предизвикателство, и винаги ще бъда много благодарена за мой колеги и ученици, всеки Българин който имаше търпението да ми слушам и ми помагам.”

~ Sara Huzar, ETA in Dimitrovgrad

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The tests, currently covering levels A1, A2 and B1, are designed, Познаването български език ми помогна facilitated and graded by Radost да се свържа по-добре с хората и беше Sabeva, and a pass will secure you a beautiful official certificate from страхотна практика за мен. Откакто се върнах the Fulbright Commission. So far, в САЩ, използвах българския език за да се we have nine US grantees who have свържа с българската общност в DC, както и с earned certificates of Bulgarian приятелите си в Ловеч. Вярвам, че времето ми language proficiency, but we hope в Ловеч беше толкова прекрасно заради близките приятелства, които that next year, with a full cohort of създадох в резултат на научаването да говоря местния език.” American Fulbrighters arriving in Fall 2021, there will be more people ~Emily Paxson, ETA in Lovech braving the exams.

Language Learning Tips from Zhana: Typical Mistakes of Bulgarian Learners, from Radost: Don’t be afraid to speak, experiment and make mistakes - play with the language and Gender and agreement of nouns and adjectives: learn from the mistakes you make. една къща, един сандвич, едно кафе

Find out what works for you and use Definite articles with nouns, adjectives and it: flashcards, listening to audio recordings, numerals: хубавата къща, големия(т) сандвич, watching videos, talking to native speakers, дългото кафе, дългите кафета translating, doing exercises, whatever it takes! Direct object and indirect object pronouns Find topics that you are interested in and and how they affect word order: аз те обичам learn about them in Bulgarian. = обичам те, аз давам пари на Кейт = аз й ги давам. Learn about the culture and lifestyles as well. Reflexive pronouns and word order: аз се мия Look for opportunities to practice and don’t = мия се, аз си лягам = лягам си. wait too long before you start to speak. Conjugation of verbs in present simple Accept the fact that language is not like and past simple: аз идвам, ти идваш, той, тя, math - there are a lot of rules and patterns but то идва, ние идваме, вие идвате, те идват; there is also some ambiguity. аз дойдох,ти дойде, той,тя,то дойде, ние Be consistent and patient - language дойдохме, вие дойдохте, те дойдоха learning is more like a marathon than a sprint. Verbal aspect: отивам – отида, идвам - Have fun!!! дойда, казвам - кажа, връщам се - върна се.

Confused yet? Споко! Here is a link to some online Bulgаrian language-learning materials: https://www.101languages.net/bulgarian/bulgarian-peace-corps-course/

11 St. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral in Burgas “You Have More Support Than You Realize” ETA Danielle Harris on Her Double Fulbright Experience in Burgas

Danielle Harris, Fulbright/America for Bulgaria ETA at St. Cyril and Methodius School and the Vocational School for Coding in Burgas, brought rich life and teaching experience to Bulgaria. A native of Virginia, she lived in , UAE, for seven years with her family. She graduated from James Madison University in Virginia with two BAs in History and Secondary Education, followed by an MA in Teaching in 2018. Before Fulbright, she taught around the world, including in Ghana and Spain. Outside of teaching, Danielle is passionate about language, culture, and outdoor sports.

What made you consider a I was enamoured. I’m a sucker Fulbright grant? for cultural experiences and was determined to make Fulbright work. When I was an undergrad, my After I found my school’s sign-ups, I professor was actually a Fulbright convinced some of my classmates to alumnus. He studied the political roll the dice and apply with me. After climate of Croatia, and was well a long year and a half we all ended up versed in international politics. After being accepted. Me to Bulgaria, and hearing about his time in Croatia, my friends to Poland and Czechia.

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What sparked your interest in During my placement, I worked You had a difficult year – the Bulgaria? concurrently at two different program was suspended after the schools. I would work Mondays and Covid-19 outbreak, then it resumed The most common question I get Tuesdays at the Vocational School in September only to be suspended asked is “Why Bulgaria?” My students of Coding, and Wednesdays and again in November. What were the and colleagues are astonished that Thursdays at St. Cyril and Methodius lessons you learned from these out of every country involved with School. Both of these schools were unexpected changes? Fulbright (about 160) I chose to apply incredibly different. While St. Cyril for Bulgaria. Not once but twice. For and Methodius School was the oldest One thing that I learned throughout me, Bulgaria made a lot of sense. school in the city and a general Covid is that you have more support I was already fascinated by Balkan K-12 school, the Coding School was than you realize. I had co-workers history, was familiar with Cyrillic, and only three years old, dedicated to reach out to help me whom I had was keen on experiencing a different, programming, and only catered to only spoken to a handful of times. more vocational-style school secondary students. Moreover, St. People went out of their way to offer system. Moreover, I was anxious Cyril and Methodius is in the heart support. I’m really grateful to them. to understand a country that I was of Burgas, while the Coding School Both schools were also incredible less familiar with. Bulgaria is rarely is out in the suburbs, a 30 min bus in their resolve, and helped me discussed in American classrooms, ride from my apartment. Working at seamlessly organize for my trip home. but has its own unique culture that both schools helped me gain a well- has fascinated me from the get go. rounded view on the Bulgarian school What are you most proud of from system as a whole. your experience as a Fulbrighter? What were your biggest challenges in Bulgaria and how did you What I loved most about this double I’m proud that my students grew overcome them? assignment was getting to know and became engaged in English and students who came from all walks of American culture. When I first arrived, At first the biggest challenge was the life. Having twenty classes at both my students had a lot of questions. language. While Sofia is very English- schools revealed the diversity of my Most of their knowledge stemmed friendly, Burgas is less so. Buying bus students. What their goals were, from pop-culture. It was a wild ride. I tickets, getting food at restaurants what their families were like, what loved explaining and discussing why and the grocers, and paying bills all their lifestyle was like. I felt like I things were the way they were, and required some understanding of made a lot of great connections why Americans reacted differently to Bulgarian. After floundering for a few with my students, in and outside certain events. Some of my favorite weeks and having some embarrassing of the classroom. I’m grateful that I moments were when my colleagues slip ups, I was fluent in “Survival got to know and see these students had students share their work from Bulgarian,” i.e. keywords and phrases grow, despite the short and sad my lessons with them. It made me that visibly improved my quality of goodbyes we had. feel like I really made an impact. life, while I worked to learn more. It was amazing and humbling that a few phrases such as ‘for takeaway’ (за храна за вкъщи) could make my day. I valued the support my colleagues, Fulbright, and the patient locals provided me while learning the language. Some other notable problems I had to overcome were: learning my schools’ disciplinary systems, communicating with all the staff, modifying lessons for different english proficiencies, and getting to know my twenty classes.

During your Fulbright grant, you had a unique placement at two schools. Danielle Harris teaching at the Vocational School for Computer Programming What did you like the best about this and Innovation double assignment?

13 Fulgra at Cornell (The Fulbright Cornell students community) at their first BBQ for AY 2020-2021 A Semester Like No Other By Vesela Petrova

In 2019 I was selected as one of the Bulgarian Fulbright student grantees. I was excited and honored, as to me this was a show of appreciation and faith in my skills, personality, and expertise. Furthermore, it would give me the chance to experience life in the United States, a new, diverse, and vibrant culture. It was something I had always dreamed of doing, even more so after I visited the US when my mother was on her Fulbright grant there in 2017.

As a matter of fact, back then I was I have recently completed my first able to visit the university she was semester on the main university at and fell in love with the campus. campus in Ithaca. Unsurprisingly, That was the moment when I not everything has gone as initially decided that I would come back to planned. Because of the COVID-19 Cornell University. pandemic, study programs had to be rearranged, spaces readjusted Now, a couple of years later, to accommodate social distancing, I am a proud member of its and measures implemented to student body, pursuing my MA in prevent an outbreak. But the faculty Advanced Architectural Design - an and staff of Cornell have worked achievement that would not have tirelessly to give me and all other been possible without the support students a unique, albeit not quite of the two organizations that set me ordinary semester. on this journey: Fulbright Bulgaria Me with freshly won Fulbright cap and the Thanks to Scandinavia If not for some telltale signs, one Foundation. could almost forget there was a

14 FOCUS ON BG GRANTEE FALL 2020 pandemic raging. I was able to and in-person (when the weather In December, I was offered a attend in-person classes, I was and measures allow) social events position as a research assistant given access to all the usual working whenever possible. I have found in the Circular Construction Lab, spaces and university resources. both to be everything I have hoped a led by Prof. Felix Heisel. As part Yet, one could hear professors Fulbright experience would be. of the RhinoCircular project, I commenting from time to time work on the development of that the studios looked rather Despite the pandemic, in the software for the evaluation of empty. Students on the other hand past months I have been able to architecture sustainability. While it occasionally complained about experience American culture and is unusual for architects to develop facilities not being open 24/7. student life as close to normal as software themselves, I believe possible. I have been able to visit transdisciplinarity is the future of An atmosphere of relative security in-person classes and to adapt to my profession, for who can better was ensured by a rigorous weekly the increasingly important online develop the tools we need to realize testing program, a strict mask means of communication and our design ideas than we architects wearing policy and social distancing. collaboration. I have worked in ourselves? This also allows me to There was disappointment that all multicultural teams, where some get a more in-depth knowledge of study-related travel was suspended, members are in Ithaca, while others topics such as the circular economy, but in pulling back all students to join from Cornell’s Study Abroad material recycling and reuse, the huge rural campus, we were partner locations, often with a resource availability and carbon able to enjoy a certain normalcy 12-hour time difference. I have footprint, all of which are the others could not. This is something also been elected to be a class backbone of my area of specialty: greatly appreciated when hearing representative, which has allowed architecture and ecology. I can’t from friends that they are moving me to meet an incredibly diverse wait for the surprises, challenges to online education or not being and inspiring community of people and opportunities the next semester offered in-person and hybrid classes from different classes, which has will bring. I only hope it will be a life to begin with. enriched my world and broadened closer to the pre-corona normalcy my horizon. we all know and miss! A downside of the pandemic is undoubtedly the limited opportunity for social contact. While I might have initially been anxious about moving to an unknown country without a social circle and no usual ways to meet people, my worries were quickly alleviated. I met a vibrant and diverse class of amazing people from whom I was able to learn a lot. As a matter of fact, one of them is a Greek Fulbrighter with whom I regularly participate in Fulbright-organized events.

Another wonderful surprise was that there are several Fulbright communities in the region that have welcomed me and offered support and advice on adapting to life here. There is the Central New York Chapter of Fulbright run by academics and alumni, whom newcomers can turn to for valuable advice, to just chat, or to join their book club. And then there is the Cornell Fulbright Community comprised mostly of students, which First day of in person classes has reached out and organized virtual

15 Bulgarian Fulbright Grantees Academic Year 2020-2021

GRADUATE STUDENTS Polly Petkova HUBERT HUMPHREY FELLOWSHIPS Mariya Ivanova Field of Specialization: Linguistics Plovdiv University Home Institution: Teodora Trifonova Field of Specialization: Linguistics Host Institution:, DC Title of Project: MA in Applied Field of Specialization: Journalism Second Language Acquisition Home Institution: BTV Host Institution: Carnegie Mellon, PA VISITING SCHOLARS Host Institution: Arizona State University, AZ Tsvetelina Bayraktarova Denitsa Topchiyska Vladislav Slavov Field of Specialization: Law Field of Specialization: Law Title of Project: LLM Home Institution: New Bulgarian Field of Specialization: Education Host Institution:Harvard University, University Management MA Host Institution: Notre Dame Home Institution: Technical University, IN University-Sofia Lazar Lazarov Host Institution:Pennsylvania State Kristina Todorova University, PA Field of Specialization: Business Administration Field of Specialization: Economics VISITING SCHOLARS Title of Project: MBA Home Institution:University of Host Institution: University of National and World Economy DEFERRED TO Minnesota – Twin Cities, MN Host Institution: University of AY2021-2022 Missouri—Columbia, MO Vesela Petrova Alexandra Glavanakova Iskren Ivanov Field of Specialization: Architecture Field of Specialization: English Title of Project: MS in Advanced Field of Specialization: Political Literature Architectural Design Science Home Institution: Sofia University Host Institution: Cornell University, Home Institution: Sofia University Host Institution:University of NY Host Institution: University of Texas California - Santa Barbara, CA at Austin, TX VISITING RESEARCHERS Eliza Ivanova Iva Manova Bilyana Manova Field of Specialization: Psychology Field of Specialization: Philosophy Home Institution: Sofia University Field of Specialization: Law Home Institution: Bulgarian Academy Host Institution: Cornell University Home Institution: Southwestern of Sciences Medical College, NY University - Host Institution: Dickinson College, PA Proposed Host Institution:University of San Francisco, School of Law Milena Kuleva

Field of Specialization: Sports Home Institution: National Sports Academy Host Institution: Western Connecticut State University, CT

16 U.S. Fulbright Grantees Academic Year 2020-2021

SCHOLARS ENGLISH TEACHING SCHOLARS DEFERRED ASSISTANTS TO AY2021-2022 Dr. Jasmin Vassileva Emilie Ehrman Dr. Cristofer Scarboro Field of Specialization: Clinical Psychology Field of Specialization: Public History; American University in Home Institution: Virginia Relations Bulgaria Commonwealth University, Richmond, Project Title: Teaching English as a VA Foreign Language, Yambol, Bulgaria Dr. Elaine Struthers Host Institution in Bulgaria: Bulgarian Addictions Institute, Sofia Danielle Harris Health; New Bulgarian University

STUDENT RESEARCHERS Field of Specialization: History, Social Alexandra White Science, Education Emmanuel Aprilakis Project Title: Teaching English as a Business and Management; Sofia Foreign Language, Burgas, Bulgaria University Bulgaria- Joint Grantee Field of Specialization: Classics Sara Huzar Dr. Yanjun Yan Project Title: Traditions of the Ancient Theater Space Field of Specialization: History and Engineering; Technical University of Sofia Host Institution in Bulgaria:Sofia Global Affairs Project Title: Teaching English as University, Sofia STUDENT RESEARCHERS a Foreign Language, Dimitrovgrad, Lindsey Foltz Bulgaria DEFERRED TO AY2021-2022 Field of Specialization: Anthropology Lukas Koester

Project Title: The Bank of the Lucas Fagre Burkan: Jarred Foods and Biocultural Field of Specialization: Film and Media Studies Preservation in Bulgaria Bulgaria-Romania Joint Grantee Project Title: Teaching English as a Host Institution in Bulgaria:Plovdiv Anthropology/ Global Health; Trust for Foreign Language, Varna, Bulgaria University, Plovdiv Social Achievement

Aurelien Tafani Mathew Lauer Christopher Harper Field of Specialization: Cultural Bulgaria-Romania Joint Grantee Public Health; Cedar Foundation Field of Specialization: Archaeology Studies, Comparative Literature Project Title: Teaching English as a Project Title: Understanding Diet and Anastasia Koumtcheva Mobility in the Lower Danube Valley Foreign Language, Ruse, Bulgaria during the Fifth Millennium BC Architecture; New Bulgarian Allison Rice Host Institution in Bulgaria:Sofia University University, Sofia Field of Specialization: Biblical and Theological Studies, English Jose Fernando Rios Project Title: Teaching English as a Political Science; Sofia University Foreign Language, Lovech, Bulgaria

17 FALL 2020 FOCUS ON US ALUMNI

Old Bones and New Friends: A Fulbright Archeologist Makes Unexpected Discoveries

By Rada Kaneva

Dr. Naomi Martisius received her PhD in Archeology from the University of California, Davis, in 2019, shortly before taking up her Fulbright scholarship at New Bulgarian University. Little did she know that the discoveries she and her colleagues would make in the Bacho Kiro Cave during her Fulbright would change our understanding of human evolution and be featured in the world-renowned scientific journal Nature!

What sparked your interest in Europe are less well-known, but these a series of short trips to Bulgaria to Bulgaria? regions may very well hold the key to conduct analyses and then return a number of important discoveries to Germany to synthesize my study. My interest in human behavior is what related to human evolution as well This option was unsatisfactory to me, brought me to Bulgaria. Bulgaria has as cultural and biological interactions as I believe it is extremely important been at the crossroads for so many of differing human groups. So, it is to develop connections within the cultures over millennia, and so there very exciting to be working in such an country where the primary research is a rich history of people traveling important region. is being conducted. Through the within this region throughout every Fulbright, I had the opportunity to time period imaginable. It is a perfect What inspired you to apply for a immerse myself in the Bulgarian place to study cultural interactions. Fulbright grant? culture and develop an understanding I am a Paleolithic archaeologist, so of the history, political system, and my studies are focused on ancient When I was wrapping up my PhD work, people of Bulgaria. Further, the peoples of the Stone Ages. For these I was recruited by a German-Bulgarian Fulbright experience was a way for ancient time periods, other parts of team to work on the Bacho Kiro Cave me to establish my own connections Europe are better documented for a project in Bulgaria. I had an option to within Bulgarian academic circles and number of reasons. Parts of Eastern work out of Germany and then make build a wide support system within the country.

What were your biggest challenges working in Bulgaria?

I had just completed my PhD dissertation and moving to Bulgaria on the Fulbright was my first foray out into the world as an independent researcher, which was a challenge. The main Bulgaria-related challenges were working with local researchers and adapting to a different type of academic structure. I quickly realized that I would not be able to work at the pace I had expected. I first had to establish and even prove myself before I was able to make Naomi Martisius reviewing bone samples substantial progress on my work. It

18 FOCUS ON US ALUMNI FALL 2020

was made very clear to me that my their bodies or clothing. The animal we would get a fair amount of press. ideas were not going to be accepted teeth pendants are some of the It was extremely exciting to be part immediately; instead, I needed most interesting finds at Bacho Kiro of something that was shared around to obtain and incorporate the full and may provide evidence for inter- the world, and I think it was just as support of various researchers on my population connectivity including the exciting for all of Bulgaria! project. My relationships within the sharing of certain cultural aspects. Fulbright network were extremely Your research is undoubtedly having helpful in this regard. Having local When you started the project, an impact in the scientific world, but support helped me to develop social did you think it would change our what impact has Fulbright had on you? strategies to overcome any setbacks. understanding of prehistoric people? It has become more and more clear The Fulbright experience has put me that these relationships are so much Definitely not! I joined the project in a position to succeed in a number more important than the actual to study some of the bone tools of areas. Professionally, I will have the research. I strongly believe that that were recently unearthed at ability to publish on my findings as active promotion of collaborative the site, which looked like artifacts I first author and co-author on several relationships with local researchers had studied for my dissertation. At other papers, which will be critical to should be an essential and highly that point, I didn’t realize that those a successful academic career. Also, valued component of research. tools were made by the first modern the collaborative relationships that humans in Europe, some of whom I developed are already leading to Tell us more about the international had left their own bones behind future projects. Hopefully this means research project at the Bacho Kiro Cave. to be discovered by our team of that I’ll be back in Bulgaria in the researchers. This discovery along with coming years. More personally, I think Bacho Kiro Cave is located in Central the new radiocarbon dating methods my Fulbright experience has made me North Bulgaria. I worked at the site used at the site show that these more patient and companionate. I had alongside other researchers on this humans were successfully living in a few frustrating experiences related joint Bulgarian-German project Bulgaria and doing very sophisticated to my research while in Bulgaria, but for the first time in 2017 and then things earlier than previously thought. through the support of Fulbright again during the Fulbright grant in Bulgaria and the friends I made October and November of 2019. Did you expect such interest in through the program, I was able to The project focuses on the Initial your work from scientists and non- gain perspective on these experiences Upper Paleolithic layers, which were specialists alike? and develop positive solutions. I don’t deposited by the earliest modern think I will ever forget the support humans in Europe about 45,000 Once the main paper was accepted for provided by Fulbright. I hope to take years ago. These people employed publication in the journal Nature in these experiences with me and apply technological concepts that had not May 2020 (https://www.nature.com/ these important lessons to future been used by the previous inhabitants articles/s41586-020-2259-z), I knew situations. of Europe, the Neandertals. Humans during this time period began making more sophisticated stone tools and utilizing animal bone and teeth for a wide variety of purposes. My role in the project was to study these bone and teeth artifacts and determine how they were made and used. This was largely done by analyzing the traces left on the objects through stereomicroscopy. Analyses thus far indicate that most of the bone tools were used to process or modify other materials including animal skins or plant materials. Some of the objects, such as the beads and pendants, don’t have a clear function and were Bone fragment from the Bacho Kiro Cave likely used symbolically to decorate

19 FALL 2020 FOCUS ON BG ALUMNI Boston on My Mind

By Ognian Georgiev, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow, AY2019-20

I was in the taxi on the way to the airport when it hit me. I was really going to miss Boston. I thought of this while slowly crawling through the congested street next to the Charles River, on the Cambridge side, looking at the majestic view across the water of the old and lovely Back Bay neighborhood. It was not so much the urgent departure (condensed in a day and a half) in the wake of the pandemic or the sadness about skipping the last few months of my program. It was the overall grief of saying good-bye to a wonderful moment in time you know is gone forever.

Boston was a revelation. I am a long-time journalist and have been traveling the world for more than a decade. I have been to the US before – once in 2008 when I traversed the country from New York to San Diego, and once in 2012 when I wanted to experience California more thoroughly. Yet none of this can compare to spending eight months as part of a wonderful group of Hubert Humphrey fellows in what is possibly the best university in the world – MIT.

Let’s start with the fact that Boston infrastructure Boston is (unbiasedly) one of the best US cities. As part of my Humphrey training, I traveled around the country and I can safely state that there is a good reason people want to live there. It is distinctly European in its public transportation and urban grid, but also quite American in its mentality and way of life. Add on top of that the fact that Harvard, MIT, Boston University, Tuffs, Northeastern and plenty of other schools invite over a quarter of a million new students into the area each year, which means a renewed vitality. And last but not least, the Humphrey fellows are amazing people from all over Ognyan in discussion with MIT Fellows the world who form a new family

20 FOCUS ON BG ALUMNI FALL 2020

Ognyan Georgiev with his Hubert Humphrey class

for you, away from home. I have kept of architecture and make friends with blame for that (as well as for my new the connection with them ever since dozens of very, very smart young passion to spend time in libraries). and this is one of the lasting effects people. And I wasn’t even trying to of the program. get close to what MIT does best: as a The pandemic put an end to my journalist, I’m a professional amateur, journey. It was unexpected but But there are, of course, more of so it was useless to try to learn honestly, so was the whole of 2020. those. I don’t think anyone needs an engineering or chemistry. I didn’t get to finish my work plan, I introduction to MIT, but let me try. skipped several good opportunities This is the mecca of engineering, the What I took from that experience and left Boston without the chance of hotspot of life sciences, the world most of all was the desire to learn. saying a proper good-bye. One note hub of practical knowledge. In the This re-awakening was unexpected to self: don’t ever delay anything short time I was there, I managed to yet it happened. I wanted to know until tomorrow. So was it worth it? spend some time in the lab of one more: data science, urban models, city A thousand times yes. As one of Nobel prize winner in economics, planning. It is a flame I still feel now in the best experiences of my life, the take a class in the media lab where Sofia, when I look for more and more Humphrey fellowship is a gift for the ink for your Kindle was invented, opportunities each day. My old clothes anyone looking to broaden his or her converse with a legend in the world don’t fit me anymore and MIT is to horizons. Take it.

Urban landscapes in reality Urban landscapes in models

21 FALL 2020 PARTNER IN FOCUS

Ekzarh Yossif I Foreign Language High School in Lovech: A Symbol of Long-Standing Bulgarian- American Educational Cooperation

By Iliana Dimitrova

Fulbright’s partnership with FLHS Ekzarh Yossif I in Lovech began in 1995 with their participation in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program, and continued in 2010 with the expansion of the English Teaching Assistantship program.

Dena Fehrenbacher was the first of many Fulbright ETAs hosted by the school and welcomed by the proud and close-knit community of Lovech. However the ties between the small Bulgarian town nestled in the northern foothills of the Balkan Graduation at FLHS Ekzarh Yossif I Mountains and the United States go back long before that, with the arrival of Protestant missionaries from the US in the second half of the 19th century.

After five centuries as part of the Ottoman Empire, Bulgaria after its Liberation in 1878 was a land of rapid changes in all areas of life and of people thirsty for culture and knowledge. In 1870, after a long struggle, the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, then called the , had finally gained its independence. At this time there were a number of Protestant missionaries actively working in , , Plovidv, , and one of them was September 15, the first day of school Reverend D.C. Challis. After opening an American Girls’ College in the city

22 PARTNER IN FOCUS FALL 2020

ETAs Emily and Jason with mentor Iskra The school’s new gym

of in 1880, he soon relocated you” letters and donations. Available Dobreva, have continued the school it to Lovech. In 1881, a single-room spots filled up quickly, as school fees tradition of helping students reach house became the first home of were affordable. their full potential and become the American Girls’ College, with well-rounded individuals. Over 99% only nine students and Rev. Challis In December 1941, with Bulgaria of their students have continued as their teacher. With the arrival of declaring war on Britain and the their education in Bulgarian Miss Kate B. Blackburn in 1892 as the US, Americans had to leave the and international universities school’s principal, it started growing country once again. After the end of – Cambridge, Oxford, Pomona, significantly; a boarding house was WWII, Melony Turner, who was the Stanford, Harvard, Columbia, and, built to accommodate the needs principal of the school between 1930 of course, the American University of the students, whose numbers and 1940, was allowed to continue in Bulgaria, many with full or partial increased rapidly. After being forced teaching, but not for long. In 1948 scholarships. to leave Bulgaria during WWI, in the Communist Party decided to 1918 Ms. Blackburn returned, and close down all foreign language Fulbright Bulgaria would like to thank remained the school’s principal schools, including the American Girls’ our friends and partners at Ekzarh until 1923. The popularity of the College in Lovech. On February 15, Joseph I for their ongoing support of school boomed after the war, new 1950, the school was resurrected as our English Teaching Assistantship missionary teachers arrived, and it the Ekzarh Yossif I Foreign Language program! was recognized by the government High School. It is the first and the as a semi-classical girls’ college. In oldest language high school in 1927 the college’s diplomas were Bulgaria. officially accepted for application to universities in the country, and on Today Ekzarh Joseph I FLHS is one June 3 of the same year the school of the most competitive foreign celebrated its first school holiday. language schools in the country, with over 800 students studying English, The school was unique for its German, French, and Spanish. The time and was known not only school has been one of the longest- for the quality of the education standing partners of the Fulbright it provided but also for building program, having hosted a total of young girls’ characters. The diverse seven ETAs, four of whom applied religious beliefs of all students for and were awarded a second year were acknowledged. The girls had grant extension. In the past 10 years the opportunity to participate in Dena Fehrenbacher, Emily Casey, different clubs to develop their Claire Sagstuen, Jason Syphrett, personalities and skills. Bulgarian Emily Paxson, Ian Rush, and Allison society deeply appreciated the work Rice, with the support and guidance of the American teachers, as was of mentor teachers Pavlina Zarcheva, ETA Allison with her BEST team evidenced by the countless “thank Iskra Marinova and Margarita

23 FALL 2020 ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS

2020 Alumni Success Story: Maria Androushko-Williams, Fulbright Graduate Student, New York Film Academy, CA, AY2016-17

I think that every success story begins with having or at least adopting a positive outlook on life, followed by striving to actualize this often tenuous worldview. In my case, I tried my best to make the proverbial lemonade from the “lemons” that 2020 continually offered.

And let’s face it––it was less “your enviable work ethic who has brought grandma’s recipe” and more of a my vision to life: a haunting aesthetic cryptic gourmet chef’s, bordering inspired by Japanese art. What makes on an alchemic experiment. The me most happy (and successful) year began with my receiving is that the project is genuinely a Fulbright Alumni Grant for a collaborative and I found not only practical workshop in low-budget a talented young artist, but a true genre filmmaking––a meaningful creative partner and a friend. extension to the courses I teach at New Bulgarian University. After many trials and tribulations, my students managed to professionally organize a shoot for a pitch-trailer in freezing temperatures before the end of the year. Stay tuned for the trailer!

In October I received a grant from the Bulgarian National Fund for Culture to develop one of my feature scripts into a digital graphic novel. The novel, House of Porcelain, is a historical mystery with dark fantasy elements, set in 19th century Japan. After months of searching, I found a wonderful young artist with an

24 ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS FALL 2020

Cascade Tuholske, Fulbright English Teaching Larry A. DiMatteo, Fulbright Scholar, Bulgarian Assistant, , AY 2011-2012 Academy of Sciences, AY 2011-2012

Cascade Tuholske completed his Ph.D. in Larry A. DiMatteo, Huber Professor at the Warrington Geography at the University of California, Santa College of Business and the Levin College of Law Barbara. He received a Postdoctoral Research at the University Florida, took part in a unique Fellowship from the Earth Research Institute collaboration between academic scholars, legal of Columbia University, and a National Science practitioners, and arbitrators, helping edit two Foundation SBE Postdoctoral Fellowship, which handbooks: one focusing on the intersection of he declined. The UCSB Department of Geography arbitration as an alternative to litigation and the recognized his outstanding work with their court systems to which arbitration is ultimately Excellence in Research Award. Cascade is co- beholden (The Cambridge Handbook of Judicial author of numerous publications in prestigious Control of Arbitral Awards); and the other analyzing scientific journals including Applied Geography the ongoing evolution of smart contracts, based and Landscape Ecology. upon blockchain technology, from the perspective of existing legal frameworks - namely, contract law (The Cambridge Handbook of Smart Contracts, Blockchain Technology and Digital Platforms).

Jay L. Halio, Fulbright Scholar, Sofia University, AY 2003-2004 Georgeta Bocheva, Fulbright Scholar, University of Alabama - Birmingham, AY2018-2019 On April 23, 2020, Dr. Jay L. Halio was presented with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Associate Professor Georgeta Bocheva, a specialist Award by Marquis Who’s Who, the world’s premier in pharmacology at Sofia Medical University, publisher of biographical profiles. An accomplished became a leading co-author of an international literature and language professor, Dr. Halio has research on the role of Vitamin D on cancer cells. written or edited over 40 books, including edited The paper, which includes the contribution of versions of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice scholars from five universities on three continents, and Henry VIII for Oxford University Press, and two was published in the 2020 issue of the specialized versions of King Lear for Cambridge U.P. Anticancer Research Journal.

25 12 Vitosha Blvd, 5th floor 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria Tel: +359 2 981 85 67 Fax: +359 2 988 45 17 [email protected] www.fulbright.bg