Fulbright Grantees

We present the Fulbright grantees for academic year 2022-23. See the networking opportunities of the Fulbright Alumni, too.

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Special care for all Fulbright grantees

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Assistance with application processes

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Assistance with on site integration

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Events and networking opportunities

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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) 

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Grants for Bulgarians citizens

Up-to-date information about Fulbright grants, application deadlines and a full list of eligibility criteria.

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Grants for US citizens

All programs which can be used by American citizens to apply for a grant and collaborate with prominent Bulgarian institutions. 

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Advisory services for students

Free services for high-school students who want to pursue higher education at an elite US university. 

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Testing center

Administering of iBT TOEFL, SAT, GRE and tens of other standardized American tests in Sofia.

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