Issue 81 Spring 2016 NEWSLETTER Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange Turning the Wheels of Time Social Entrepreneurship in Bulgaria Fulbright Bulgaria’s 2015-2016 Grantees Bulgaria: The Balkan Surprise Fulbright Fiction Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange The Fulbright Bulgaria Newsletter is a biannual magazine published by the Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange (Fulbright) in print and electronically. Opinions expressed by the authors are their own and do not necessarily represent those of the Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the material in this publication, the Bulgarian-American Commission for Educational Exchange does not accept liability for any errors or omissions. BULGARIAN-AMERICAN COMMISSION FOR EDUCATIONAL EXCHANGE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Meglena Kuneva Minister of Education and Science Honorary Co-Chairperson Eric Rubin US Ambassador to Bulgaria Honorary Co-Chairperson BULGARIAN MEMBERS: AMERICAN MEMBERS: Victoria Melamed Thomas Higgins Minister Plenipotentiary, CEO, Yatoto Ministry of Foreign Affairs Co-Chairperson Tammy Paltchikov Educational and Cultural Attaché Maria Metodieva at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria Family Economic Success Officer Trust for Social Achievement Brian Stimmler Counselor for Public Affairs Dr. Julia Stefanova at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria Former Executive Director of the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission Stratsimir Kulinski Co-Chairperson President American University in Bulgaria Jeffery Warner Teacher Support Manager Teach for Bulgaria Fulbright Bulgaria thanks its sponsors for their support: FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CONTENTS It’s hard to believe that a year has passed COMMISSION NEWS since I stepped into former ED Julia 02 Stefanova’s shoes and took over leadership of the Bulgarian Fulbright Commission. While her shoes may be hard to fill, during her twenty-three years in the position, she left a solid foundation for me to step onto: a fantastic staff, a vibrant alumni community, and a commission with a spotless reputation for excellence and transparency. However, I would like to think SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP that we have not merely rested on Julia’s laurels, but have tried 04 IN BULGARIA to build on her achievements. Over the past year, the commission staff and I have redesigned the Fulbright Bulgaria media presence, BULGARIAN GRANTEE MARIYA SHARKOVA giving our website a complete makeover (check out our new 07 look at fulbright.bg), launching a bi-monthly e-newsletter, and reformatting our paper newsletter as a bi-annual missive. We also BULGARIAN FULBRIGHT expanded our social media portfolio to include Instagram and 09 GRANTEES LinkedIn, in addition to our already extant Facebook, YouTube and Twitter profiles. Our changes have not been solely virtual, however, U.S. FULBRIGHT but have extended to our real-world contacts with the Fulbright 10 GRANTEES community. In order to provide our returning Bulgarian grantees with a forum in which to share their experiences, in October 2015 we launched the first annual “Fulbright Open Lectures” to great enthusiasm: in TED-style talks, a dozen recent and not-so- recent Fulbrighters shared their expertise on everything from nanotechnology and soil science to refugees and Chicago blues. However, the biggest change facing the Bulgarian Fulbright FULBRIGHT ALUMNUS Commission at the present is our impending move to new 12 BRIAN C. MURPHY premises. After twenty-three years at Alexander Stamboliyski 17 in the Ministry of Culture, we will be moving to a new location at 12 Vitosha Boulevard – in the heart of Sofia’s pedestrian zone! Thanks to the support of former Minister of Education Todor Tanev and his team, who helped locate this fantastic new space, the Fulbright Commission will occupy the entire fifth floor of an elegant administrative building from 1951. Renovations are now underway – stay tuned for an invitation to our house-warming party in summer! And of course, our alumni and friends from abroad are FULBRIGHT ALUMNUS always welcome to stop by Vitosha 12 and pay us a visit whenever 14 BOYAN DOBREV they are in Sofia. EXARCH JOSEPH I hope you enjoy this first issue of our redesigned newsletter – you 16 FOREIGN LANGUAGE SCHOOL will have the chance to find out what fellow alumni Brian C. Murphy and Boyan Dobrev have been up to, as well as to become acquainted FULBRIGHT FICTION with current grantees. Please don’t hesitate to send us your own 18 ANGEL AGOV news at [email protected] to include in future issues! 2016 FULBRIGHT Angela Rodel 20 BERLIN SEMINAR SPRING 2016 COMMISSION NEWS Outreach Campaign for the AY 2017-18 Fulbright Grants Competition by Maria Kostova Presentation at NBU The meetings with academics, For the AY 2017-18 grants competition campaign, the students, lecturers, researchers, civil Fulbright Commission planned 21 meetings, presentations, society activists and professionals participations in career and academic fairs at Bulgarian emphasized the importance of higher education institutions, research centers, and non- communication and interaction as part of promoting not only strictly governmental organizations throughout the country. academic opportunities in the US, but also the value of educational and cultural exchange. The aim was to promote the Fulbright Southwestern University, Blagoevgrad; award opportunities to as many American University in Bulgaria, During the visits this year the interest Bulgarian citizens interested in Blagoevgrad; Trakia University, Stara on the part of scholars and doctoral academic or professional qualification Zagora; Veliko Turnovo University and researchers was more marked, but in the US as possible. University of Rousse. graduate students also demonstrated focus and determination to make Executive Director Angela Rodel and The Commission took part in the the most of these educational Program Officer for Bulgarian Grantees Job Fair National Career Days in opportunities. Maria Kostova met with the academic Sofia, Rousse and Veliko Turnovo. leadership teams and presented the Presentations were offered for It was a pleasure and an honor to visit awards for graduate studies, research professional and non-governmental the best Bulgarian higher education and lecturing in the US to students organizations such as “Teach for institutions, meet their dedicated and faculties at numerous universities Bulgaria” and the Association of faculty, bright students, and discuss and academic institutions. Bulgarian Leaders and Entrepreneurs, with their leadership plans for co- as well as at the “Careers in Bulgaria operation with the Fulbright program, Stops on the Fulbright promotional Forum,” which is an annual initiative not only in terms of sending Bulgarian tour included the National Defense under the auspices of the Bulgarian representatives to US universities, but Academy, Sofia; University of President. also by hosting American lecturers and Economics, Varna; Naval Academy, specialists at Bulgarian institutions. Varna; University of National and Two more events are scheduled by the World Economy, Sofia; Sofia University end of the campaign: a presentation We are looking forward to the results (all disciplines); Sofia University at the Forum for Doctoral Students of these encouraging visits and wish - Business School; New Bulgarian at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences the best of luck to all who participate University; Bulgarian Academy of and participation at the Career Days in the AY 2017-18 Fulbright grants Sciences; Technical University, Sofia; of Technical University in Sofia. competition! 2 COMMISSION NEWS SPRING 2016 The Opportunity Funds Activities in Bulgaria by Snejana Teneva of the program, which covers the cost Fulbright Commission and EducationUSA Launch of test preparation, testing fees, and translation of application documents, Opportunity Funds Program in Bulgaria and also provides support for creating CVs and writing admissions essays, and guidance in selecting universities to which to apply. If successfully The EducationUSA Opportunity Funds program is also available in Asia, admitted to US universities with full program assists highly qualified yet the Middle East, Africa and Latin financial aid, these students will go economically challenged students America. Bulgaria, being the poorest on to the next phase of Opportunity who are likely to be awarded full member of the European Union, Funds during the 2016-2017 school financial aid from U.S. colleges and has many highly talented students year, which covers visa fees as well as universities. Opportunity Funds who are deterred from applying travel and relocation to the US. provides financial resources to to US universities due to cost. To cover the up-front costs of applying encourage these bright youngsters to The first module on Redesigned to US universities, such as testing, consider the US as their educational SAT prep took place at the National application fees, or airfare. In destination, the Bulgarian Fulbright Training and Logistics Center of the addition to their impressive academic Commission’s EducationUSA Advisor, Bulgarian Red Cross in the village achievements, Opportunity Funds Snejana Teneva, in close cooperation of Lozen near Sofia on April 3-9. It students also bring cultural and socio- with Regional Educational Advising gathered eleven Opportunity Funds economic diversity to U.S. campuses. Coordinator Cheryl Francisconi, students and three lecturers. Official has launched an Opportunity