Fulbright Grantees
We present the Fulbright grantees for academic year 2022-23. See the networking opportunities of the Fulbright Alumni, too.
Special care for all Fulbright grantees
Assistance with application processes
Assistance with on site integration
Events and networking opportunities
Academic and professional growth
Grantees from USA
University lecturers
Dr. Virginia O’Keefe
Field of Specialization: Public Health
Home Institution: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Baltimore, MD
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Trust for Social Achievement, Sofia
David Sandson
Field of Specialization: Communications
Home Institution: US Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Sofia University and Center for the Study of Democracy, Sofia
Matthew Cronin
Field of Specialization: Law
Home Institution: Office of the National Cyber Director, Washington, DC
Host Institution in Bulgaria: American University in Bulgaria and Sofia University, Sofia
Dr. Natalia Velikova
Field of Specialization: Business
Home Institution: Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
Host Institution in Bulgaria: University of Food Technologies, Plovdiv
Dr. Tanya Ivanova-Sullivan
Field of Specialization: Linguistics
Home Institution: University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Sofia University, Sofia
Charles Murdock Lucas
Field of Specialization: Theater
Home Institution: San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Sofia Puppet Theatre and National Academy of Arts, Sofia
GRADUATE STUDENTS
Elizabeth Meshel
Field of Specialization: Archaeology
Project Title: Comparing Funder and Institutional Heritage Conservation Priorities in Bulgaria
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Balkan Heritage Foundation, Sofia
Ryan Grieser
Field of Specialization: Music
Project Title: Digitally Preserving the Folklore and Melodies of Traditional Bulgarian Chordophones
Host Institution in Bulgaria: Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, and Academy of Music, Dance and Fine Arts, Plovdiv
ENGLISH TEACHING ASSISTANTS
Grantees from Bulgaria
Graduate Students
Maria-Magdalena Markova
Field of Specialization: Law
Host Institution: Harvard University, Law School
Degree: LLM
Alexander Leshev
Field of Specialization: Law
Host Institution: Harvard University, Law School
Degree: LLM
Trayana Kaleycheva
Field of Specialization: Media and Communications
Host Institution: Florida State University, School of Communications
Degree: Master of Arts
Boris Alexandrov
Field of Specialization: History
Host Institution: Missouri State University
Graduate School Degree: Master of Arts
Botyo Dimitrov
Field of Specialization: Materials Science
Host Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
Graduate School Degree: Master of Science
Visiting Researchers
Gabriel Georgiev
Field of Specialization: Aerospace Engineering
Project Title: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Aerodynamics
Home Institution: Technical University, Sofia
Host Institution: University of Maryland, College Park
Desislava Nikolova
Field of Specialization: Data Science
Project Title: Human Action Recognition for Pose-based Attention
Home Institution: Technical University, Sofia
Host Institution: Carnegie Mellon University, The Robotics Institute
Sevar Ivanov
Field of Specialization: Cultural Economics
Project Title: Financial Policy of the State Cultural Institutes in Bulgaria in the Performing Arts
Home Institution: University of National and World Economy, Sofia
Host Institution: City University of New York, Baruch College
Visiting Scholars
Civil Society Researchers
Rumyana Grozeva
Field of Specialization: Economic Development
Project Title: Paving New Paths for Development and Sustainability
Home Institution: Regional Economic Development Agency of Stara Zagora
Host Institution: International Economic Development Council, Washington DC
Hristina Katsipidu
Field of Specialization: Sign Language
Project Title: Building Bridges of Deaf Leaders of Tomorrow
Home Institution: Listen Up Foundation
Host Institution: Gallaudet University, Washington DC
Kristina Hristova
Field of Specialization: Journalism
Project Title: Civil Society’s Active Involvement Against the Disinformation Campaigns
Home Institution: Factcheck.bg
Host Institution: Poynter Institute, St. Petersburg FL
Hubert Humphrey Fellowships
Ana Bachurova
Field of Specialization: Sustainable Development
Home Institution: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Host Institution: University of California – Davis
Konstantina Kalaydzhieva
Field of Specialization: Economic Development
Home Institution: Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry of Bulgaria
Host Institution: Michigan State University
Nominations for AY2023-24
Bulgarian Scholars: Principals
Svetoslav Koynarski: Veterinary Medicine; Trakia University, Stara Zagora
Atanas Gotchev: Computer Science/Optics; Tampere University, Finland
Katerina Zlatkova-Doncheva: Special Education; Veliko Turnovo University
Aneta Vasileva: Architecture; University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, Sofia
Gergana Yordanova: National Security; Rakovski Defense College, Sofia
Radostina Angelova: Entrepreneurship; Sofia University
Alternates:
Angela Popivanova: Applied Math; Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Albena Bakracheva: Literature; New Bulgarian University
Civil Society Scholars
Principal:
Stefan Krastev, Anti-Corruption Fund
Alternates:
Veneta Novakova, Façade Engineering Association
Daniel Simeonov, Arte Urbana
Visiting Researchers:
Principals:
Niya Toshkova: Evolutionary Biology; National Museum for Natural History (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
Gyulten Hyusein: Cognitive Psychology; Koç University, Turkey
Alternates:
Veselina Dzhumbeva: Comparative Literature; Queen Mary University of London, UK
Diana Manchorova: Reproductive Biology; Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction (Bulgarian Academy of Sciences)
Grants for Bulgarians citizens
Up-to-date information about Fulbright grants, application deadlines and a full list of eligibility criteria.
Grants for US citizens
All programs which can be used by American citizens to apply for a grant and collaborate with prominent Bulgarian institutions.
Advisory services for students
Free services for high-school students who want to pursue higher education at an elite US university.
Testing center
Administering of iBT TOEFL, SAT, GRE and tens of other standardized American tests in Sofia.