AUBG Today Issue 52

AUBG today

Issue 52 | 2014

The Magazine of the American University in Bulgaria

Innovation meets Education

In this issue

| In Focus

| A Vibrant CommunitY

| Liberal Arts in Action

| They Make Us Proud

| News @ AUBG

| EMBA

Contents:

Page

| In Focus

|01

| Celebrating Excellence

|03

| Liberal Arts in Action

|06

| A Vibrant CommunitY

|13

| Farewell, Graduates

|24

| They Make Us Proud

|27

| EMBA

|31

| News @ AUBG

|33 Writers Ayna Pirkuliyeva, Dima Vitanova, Ina Gjika, Maria Markina, Nikol Meshkova, Nikoleta Gancheva, Petya Hristova, Tereza Denkova, Toma Tetimov, Yoana Savova Photographers Anastasiia Hryshchenko, Darya Yanitskaya, Igor Myakotin, Kaja Duknic, Kateryna Kostiuchenko, Lyuba Popova, Petya Hristova, Stanislav Hristov, Yana Aladzhova Published by: Office of Communications and Marketing Š Copyright 2014 AUBG. All rights reserved.

Editorial Board Albena Kehayova Venera Nikolaeva Consulting Editors Filitsa Mullen John L. Rodrigue

IN FOCUS Innovative Education at AUBG

Having expert faculty teach in the classroom is necessary for excellence in education, but no longer sufficient. In today’s world, students learn best when their education relates to real life and provides challenge in ways that lectures, textbooks, and exams cannot. At the American University in Bulgaria, innovation in education creates opportunities for active learning that involve real-life projects, internships, bringing leaders from government and industry on campus as speakers, and creating leadership experiences in relevant student organizations and events. These innovative educational practices provide important benefits to students, such as developing leadership skills, creating confidence, accumulating resume building experiences, and ultimately helping them launch their future careers.

Here are just a few of the many examples of active learning opportunities at AUBG:

In the classroom, students conduct research projects often together with their professors and present their findings on campus and at research conferences elsewhere. They go on field trips to research centers and museums, hold weekly debates, and write business plans for their own future companies.

Dozens of companies ranging from the Fortune 500 to entrepreneurial hi-tech start-ups come to campus every year to recruit for internships. For students, these internships anchor classroom knowledge in the needs of the marketplace and in many cases serve as stepping stones to exciting future careers.

Dozens of speakers from government, business, and academia visit campus to meet with students.

Recent speakers include heads of state, ambassadors, leading writers and journalists, business executives, and visiting faculty from universities across the globe. They not only present expert perspectives, but interact with students and engage in close conversations with them.

More than 25 active student clubs provide co-curricular opportunities for students to develop their capabilities and build their leadership skills. Activities in clubs range from 01

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producing documentary films to building robots and developing hi-tech applications, to acting in musicals and plays and singing in concerts, to strategizing about youth empowerment. Students participate in conferences and cultural programs often far away from Bulgaria to learn from experts and peers and become stronger leaders.

The mission of the American University in Bulgaria is to educate students of outstanding potential in

Dr. Ivan M. Manev Chair of AUBG Board of Trustees

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a community of academic excellence, diversity, and respect and to prepare them for democratic and ethical leadership in serving the needs of the region and the world. We are proud of our students.

To help these young men and women grow into the leaders of the future, we bring the state-of-the-art in innovative education. We will continue to provide extraordinary curricular and co-curricular experiences and expand on their range.

Dr. Manev serves as the Dean of the Maine Business School at the University of Maine. He holds a Ph.D. in Management from Boston College and is a Professor of Management and the Nicolas M. Salgo Professor of Business Administration. Dr. Manev's research is on entrepreneurship in emerging economies, cross-cultural leadership, and social networks.

His articles have appeared in leading journals such as Journal of Management, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of International Business Studies, Journal of World Business, Journal of International Management, Thunderbird International Business Review, International Small Business Journal, Venture Capital, and others. Dr. Manev has been faculty member at the University of Maine since 1997. During his tenure as Dean, the Maine Business School, which is AACSB-accredited, made significant advances in enrollment, quality of education, and reputational rankings.

Celebrating Excellence AUBG Honors Its Most Distinguished Students

By Ina Gjika

Honoring the young minds, who have embraced the mission and values of the first liberal arts university in Eastern Europe has been a tradition of AUBG for the past 20 years. It provides an opportunity for faculty members, students and staff to gather together in the stylish ABF Student Center Theater Hall and recognize the achievements of distinguished students in their academic fields and extracurricular activities.

In his welcoming speech, President Michael Easton emphasized that AUBG has established itself as an institution which attracts, nurtures, and prepares gifted young people from numerous nationalities for the challenges that await them in their future career development. AUBGers have always distinguished themselves as people with high aspirations and looking forward to bright futures. This year there were 116 students who had a GPA between 3.80 and 4.00 after completing two semesters in AUBG. Provost Steve Sullivan then recognized all the students who were on the Dean’s list for completing the past semester with GPA between 3.80 and 4.00. SG President Timur Huseynov also congratulated his distinguished peers and thanked the faculty body for all the support they render to his fellow students during their studies. “We are thankful for all the knowledge we accumulate that prepares us for living in this ocean of limitless opportunities called life,“ Huseynov said. “AUBG has taught us how to fight and not give up on our vision, to follow our dreams and transform the world around us!”

Provost Sullivan and Dean Krise also awarded students with outstanding achievements in the respective majors and minors, students who have excelled

in arts and athletics, the winners of the University Council Essay Competition, peer counselors, student advisors, and resident assistants.

The pinnacle of the event came when President Easton announced the recipient of the Presidential Medal. This year, for the first time in the history of AUBG, the award was given to two students of outstanding potential. The Serbian twin brothers Ivan and Boban Markovic received the prestigious distinction for their numerous extracurricular activities, their passion for education, and their participation in community services. The twins are graduating AUBG with majors in Political Science and International Relations, and Business Administration. Both of them are active participants in the student life of the university and the list of their accomplishments includes: participation in the AUBG Board of Trustees, student advisors, BLIMUN chairs, members of the Phi Beta Delta Honorary Society, members of the Political Science Club and the Better Community Club.

“During my four years at the university I discovered academic horizons, developed leadership qualities, learned life lessons, found new friends, fell in love and gave the best of me to succeed. On my graduation I will wear this medal with pride, because I know that I can contribute to the change I want to see in the world,” Boban shared. Ivan added that “this is an individual award, but we know that all students at AUBG share those values. We will make sure to pass the knowledge we acquired here to everyone who needs it and who wants to make their dreams come true. After all, giving someone a chance is in most cases all we need to succeed.”

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Presidential Medalists Boban and Ivan Markovic

By Yoana Savova For the first time in the twenty-one-year history of the American University in Bulgaria, the most distinguished academic award that recognizes the highest academic achievements and the most active commitment to community life went to two students of outstanding potential. The twin brothers from Serbia, Boban and Ivan Markovic, received this year's presidential medal—a tradition that dates back to the origins of AUBG and marks the pinnacle of the annual Honors Convocation ceremony.

The duo never imagined that both of them would be named winners simultaneously. However, they are grateful for this recognition of their previous achievements and consider it as motivation to keep up their good work for the future. They dedicate this recognition to those AUBGers who are the first university graduates in their families, as they themselves are: “We come from a carpenter family and we were supposed to become carpenters.”

The Marcovic brothers were recently accepted to all six top graduate programs in International Affairs that they applied to and are currently considering which offer to accept. While Boban is more inclined towards Johns Hopkins, his all-time dream school, Ivan is contemplating enrolling at Hertie School of Governance in Berlin. Asked about their long-term career plans, the duo responded that they intend to found the Markovic Brothers Foundation for Education and Development which will give equal opportunities to all disadvantaged young people, as they themselves once were. They have also pledged to give money back to AUBG to support students with high potential who are in need of financial Al Cyrus Theater Award AUBG changed my whole life, my understanding of who I am, and of who the people around me are, and I would never have chosen to spend my undergraduate life anywhere else. This is a place full of motivated people and opportunities, a place that makes you do your best in and out of the classroom and live life to the fullest. Today I know what I want to do and how I can do it. After having met so many extraordinary people during my four years of study and drawing on their professionalism and expertise I am confident that a bright future lies ahead of me. Innovation and creativity accompany every single aspect of the AUBG experience, but it is most evident in the students’ attitude towards their 04

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We were supposed to carve wood assistance.

The twins were not only successful in their academic endeavors but also took active part in student life on campus – as enthusiastic leaders of the AUBG Business Club, founders of the first AUBG Political Science Club, tutors and student representatives to various university councils (Ivan) and the AUBG Board of Trustees (Boban).

Moreover, they have made multiple philanthropic donations to their small hometown of Priboj in Serbia, hoping to bring about positive change and pave the path for their young fellow citizens.

Whatever the future may bring to the enthusiastic and ambitious brothers, they aim to “use every opportunity and push their borders.” They feel gratitude towards AUBG for making them ready and competent enough to achieve their goals and for recognizing their hard work on the way to their dreams.

Yan Hristov ’14 Bulgaria

extracurricular activities. The numerous clubs and organizations are the heart and soul of the AUBG spirit. They not only bring students together in the making of something awesome, but they inspire and motivate you to develop your interests and to try new things. They complement your academic achievements with a solid set of practical skills that will come handy in everything you will do after graduation.

Outstanding Achievement in Economics I believe that innovation is a key component to a successful education and there is a need to cultivate creativity in students. The modern world is developing very fast, and in order to be competitive on the labor market and successful in our chosen career path, we should be different. This difference comes from the ability to approach problems from unexpected angles and come up with unique solutions. Since my first day at AUBG, my professors pushed me to go beyond boundaries, to dig deeper, not to be afraid to ask questions that nobody thought of and to look for my own solutions. The interactive teaching methods, the personal attention that we receive from our professors and our employment of the latest

Saskia Troycke ’14, Germany

Outstanding Achievement in Business Administration AUBG attracted me with its diverse student body, the liberal arts program and the broad range of extracurricular activities that complement the solid foundation one receives in the classroom.

Through the liberal arts program I had a chance to get an insight into different fields of study and to find what I really enjoy doing and what is interesting to me. I was a member of different clubs and took part in many Outstanding Peer Counselor Being able to complement my studies with a large gamut of activities outside the classroom was a major item on my university search checklist.

And AUBG turned out to be the place for me to continue doing what I was passionate about – bringing in a positive change in the community I was part of. Here I am not only obtaining excellent academic preparation but I am also accumulating practical experience by participating in various clubs, organizing and attending international events, and communicating with people from diverse backgrounds. Two years after coming to this institution ready to grasp all the available opportunities and having been a Mathematics Tutor, Peer Counselor, and a Student Ambassador, organizing and participating in the annual Environmental Week and

Taisiya Merkulova ’14, Russia

technology throughout the learning process is what makes our academic journey at AUBG creative and innovative. Due to it, I am prepared to take the next step and pursue a Master’s Program in Comparative Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science and work on my own research to find new factors that can contribute to successful democratic development of countries in transition.

extracurricular activities through which I did not only discover myself, but also made many new friends from lots of different countries. The university is also a special place because of the innovative learning environment that it provides to its students – the small class size, the individual attention we receive from top international faculty and the hands-on approach to teaching makes learning an exciting experience.

In my marketing research class, for example, we worked on a real-life case with the Bulgarian beer brewing company Kamenitza. In addition, during my Strategic Management course, students had the chance to work closely on projects with Bulgarian start-up companies and share their ideas on how to improve their businesses. Now as a graduate, I’m sad to leave but I’m thankful and happy for the years I spent here, the friends I made and the things I learned. I think AUBG has prepared me very well for my future.

Margita Kolcheva ’16, Bulgaria

various charity initiatives, I can say that choosing AUBG is one of the best decisions in my life. For me, what you do while studying for your classes, not only boosts your creativity, but also determines how ready you will be for life after graduation.

And here I am today, waiting for my junior year, a Resident Assistant and president of the Better Community Club in AUBG, enthusiastic about the future and the possibilities that await me, because in order to move forward we should be ready to take risks and never stay complacent.

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Liberal Arts in Action Frontiers in Computing: New Courses Supported

by Industry Expertise

By John Galletly, Dimitar Christozov and Volin Karagiozov IT pervades our everyday lives. It first started with email and the World Wide Web, but, thanks to the popularity of social networks like Facebook and Twitter, and media websites like YouTube, the growth of IT in our daily lives has sky-rocketed. The global mobile outreach is also spreading like wildfire and industry analysts predict that the number of active cell phones will reach 7.3 billion by 2014. In other words, there will be more in-use cell phones than there are people currently on the planet. Home appliances, such as fridges, cookers, washing machines and so on, will all be interconnected, and accessible from our mobile devices via the Internet.

However, there are downsides to this increasing reliance on IT. As devices and apps become increasingly sophisticated, so do e-criminals, and this means security features need to also become more sophisticated and difficult to break. The popularity of sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube has caused a phenomenal growth in the generation of data. This deluge of data – known as “Big Data” – has to be recorded and stored every day. Some examples of the explosive growth of data include: brands and organizations on Facebook receive 34,722 Likes every minute of the day; 100 terabytes (1012 bytes) of data are uploaded daily to Facebook; Twitter processes roughly 175 million tweets every day, and has more than 465 million user accounts; YouTube users upload 48 hours of new video every minute of the day.

It has been estimated that there are upwards of 2.7 Zetabytes (10 21 bytes) of data existing in the Internet today.

And it is not just social network and media websites that are causing Big Data problems. The problems also exist across the spectrum of businesses and industry as well as research institutions, where data collection and storage has increased manyfold. This problem has become so pressing that, in 2012, the White House launched a $200M “Big Data R&D” initiative to research the problem and come up with some solutions. Businesses, whether it is Facebook or Google, for example, need to mine and analyze their data, looking for gems of information that will hopefully improve their businesses. This has led to the development 06

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of new technologies that are intimately intertwined with Cloud Computing.

With respect to these challenges, the AUBG Computer Science faculty identified several distinct but overlapping areas for extending the curriculum mainly related to organizing the storage, access and use of huge amounts of data by diverse groups of users, preserving data security, privacy and legal use and organizing data accessibility in the modern mobile world.

In 2012, the department submitted a proposal for funding from the Bulgarian Ministry of Education (MoE) to develop seven ground-breaking, state-of-the-art courses. Courses on System Administration and Computer Forensics to examine security issues; courses on Cloud Computing, Business Intelligence and OLAP, Data Mining Techniques and Business Intelligence Applications to look at Big Data and Cloud technologies, and a course on Mobile Computing to focus on this rapdly expanding

field. In December 2012, the MoE gave green light to the project and the first course became reality in Fall 2013, followed by two more in Spring 2014.

The last three courses will be launched in Fall 2014.

Among the requirements imposed by the Ministry of Education was cooperation between the AUBG faculty and leading experts from the IT industry in the development of the syllabi and the latter were to deliver a certain portion of the lectures in each course – a requirement that AUBG gladly welcomed. In conjunction with the Bulgarian Association for IT (BAIT), 21 professionals were identified, who are engaged, on a daily basis, in the development and implemention of solutions to the challenges posed by each of the new courses.

The experts come from leading IT companies in Bulgaria such as VMWare, Xentio, Melon, Microsoft, Experian, MammothDB, Finanalitica, Transmetrics, Telerik, Balkan Services, Technologica, etc.

Teaching emerging professional topics within a

curriculum that is designed for a broader rather than deeper education is always a challenge. With the increasing dynamics in computer-related fields, these challenges require innovative and adaptive solutions. Cooperation with industry is the right way to achieve the desired satisfaction for all parties involved – students, faculty and business. The opportunity provided by the Ministry of Education via funding of such cooperative projects arms the university with the needed motivation and instruments to engage professional expertise in curriculum design.

Despite the challenges, the AUBG Computer Science Department is motivated to adjust the curriculum in a way to address the hottest topics and to prepare its students for a successful career in the IT field. An up-to-date curriculum combined with the highest standards in teaching is the key to fulfill the AUBG mission. The professional success of COS and IS alumni proves that we are on the right track.

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Interregional Cooperation at Scientific Computing

By John Galletly, Volin Karagiozov, Dimitar Christozov and Stoyan Bonev

Cross-border cooperation and exchange of knowledge and experience are key elements in creating a global learning community, and AUBG highly values both. Its Computer Science Department recently participated in an EU-funded cross-border project under the aegis of the European Territorial Cooperation Program Bulgaria-Greece 2007-2013.

The project aimed primarily at knowledge transfer in Grid Computing from Greece to Southern Bulgaria.

Specifically, the exchange of knowledge focused on how to build and use a Grid Computing cluster, and on the advanced computational methods and techniques used in Grid Computing. AUBG partners in this innovative project were the two largest higher education institutions in Thessaloniki – the Aristotle University and Macedonia University, and the South-West University in Blagoevgrad.

A grid is just a cluster of distributed computers – 10s, 100s, 1000s, 10,000s, or a larger number – that work together to solve highly-complex problems in the natural and social sciences, medicine and engineering fields. A characteristic they all share is the presence of huge datasets. Though similar in some respects, Grid Computing and Cloud Computing differ significantly in others. Both offer distributed,

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parallel computation for problems with enormous datasets. Cloud Computing provides this as a service, where the computers involved are owned by a single entity - the cloud-service provider, such as Google, Amazon or Microsoft. In Grid Computing, on the other hand, ownership of the computers is distributed – the computers belong to many different corporations, institutions and people around the world. Both Cloud and Grid Computing rely on spare capacity – in other words, the presence of processor cycles and storage.

A classic example was a project that used the spare capacity of millions of peoples’ home PCs to screen up to 250 million molecules for anti-cancer activity.

The software ran within a screen saver. A single computer, even an extremely sophisticated one, would not have been able to process such a volume of information for decades.

Recently, a European private-public consortium announced a project to develop a grid using smartphones and tablets – this grid being able to make computations some thousand-fold times faster than the best of today’s high-performance supercomputers.

John Galletly, United Kingdom Professor of Computer Science John Galletly is the author of a book about the parallel programming language, occam. The book actually made it to a second edition, and was even translated to Japanese. Additionally, he has published three chapters in books, 20 journal articles and over 50 conference papers. He has taught in 8 different countries. His research interests include parallel, distributed computing and the Semantic Web. Stoyan Bonev, Bulgaria Associate Professor of Computer Science

Stoyan Bonev has published four books on dynamic web applications, computer languages, and programming. He was the mentor of the AUBG student team who represented Bulgaria in the world finals of the Microsoft Imagine Cup competition in Australia in 2012.

Dimitar Christozov, Bulgaria Professor of Computer Science

Dimitar Christozov is the author of eight books and teaches classes in the fields of database systems, data structures and algorithms, data mining and information systems.

Volin Karagiozov, Bulgaria Associate Professor of Computer Science

Volin Karagiozov teaches classes in computer architecture, artificial intelligence, information security, system administration, UNIX operating system. His interests lie in the fields of robotics, virtualization, server management, mobile communications and cryptography.

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Moot Courts as a Teaching Tool At AUBG, I have been privileged to teach applied courses, such as Public Finance, Environmental and Energy Economics, and Law and Economics.

The economic analysis of the law is an increasingly popular field in the US, and AUBG naturally presents its students with an opportunity to get exposed to this interdisciplinary field. We present economic theory of property law, torts, crime and punishment. The application of economic analysis to law is pretty innovative for Bulgaria. To add a real-life element to the learning process, I have held a moot court in my class, where the students write legal briefs and simulate an appellate court.

But this is nothing compared to the practical experience our students can get by participating in the prestigious Jessup International Law Competition round held in Sofia. It is essentially a “moot court,� where students act as lawyers making arguments before an international panel of judges. Jessup is the largest moot court competition in the world.

It simulates proceedings before the International Court of Justice, which is part of the UN. Even though AUBG does not have a law school or Legal Studies major, our students have been participating in that competition for about five years in a row. They have been worthy opponents to students from schools, such as Sofia University and UNWE, where law majors are held in high esteem.

The competition typically presents a case in international law that involves a dispute between countries. This year the case involved a developed and a newly industrialized country, touching upon common property resources, such as fishing resources and the need for environmental impact assessment. It addressed the conflict between maritime development and environmental protection. Thus students get to apply some of the economic concepts they have learned in class and make sophisticated legal

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by Georgi Kalchev

arguments at the same time. It is an amazing opportunity for them to test their knowledge against colleagues from other universities, as well as to improve their presentational and argumentative skills and get experience with teamwork. AUBG students Borislava Kaneva and Atanas Mihnev, who were part of the University team this year, had excellent impressions from the competition.

All that takes a lot of preparation. The students study the case, prepare their arguments and rehearse for more than a semester. They have to pass qualifying rounds to compete in the national competition. Five AUBG students competed this year. They argued on both sides of an issue. The students had a team representing the applicant (that is the country bringing the case to the international court), and another team—representing the other side, the respondent, and a researcher. The culmination of the competition are the International Rounds in Washington, DC. Although the AUBG team had not yet set foot there, the experience has certainly been unique for the participants. And with persistence and perseverance, which are inherent qualities of the AUBG students, we will one day see our team on the stand at Washington, DC.

SOCIAL MEDIA AS INCUBATOR FOR INNOVATION A large part of my work in the classroom is designed to help students develop frameworks to better work in our increasingly complex world. The combination of analytical skills with the ability to communicate their analysis can make them better businesspersons, better government officials, and active democratic citizens.

As this issue of AUBG Today demonstrates, good universities are communities of innovation. Much of this innovation is extracurricular, as university community members apply their knowledge outside the traditional classroom. Innovation in the classroom happens when students and faculty explore new issues or explore existing issues in new ways.

In the spring of 2008, a group of intrepid students and I investigated the political applications of the then relatively new “blogging” phenomenon. It was an experiment that helped us better understand blogging by participating in an existing blogging community and observing how it functioned.

Blogs have now established a place in political communication, but what was novel in 2008 is old news in 2014. Enabled by the emergence of social media and multimedia platforms, mobile technologies, and apps, political communication and larger political behavior are changing. In response, this spring another valiant group of students and I explored contemporary practices of politics on the internet.

by Robert Phillips

Our guiding questions were how new information and communication technologies are currently used in representative democracies and how these technologies may help reconnect citizens to their governments.

What we found was that these technologies and platforms are being used by involved citizens and governments in a myriad of innovative ways. The Facebook page of a small town in Serbia informs citizens of problems, helps organize solutions, and brings greater accountability to municipal authorities.

In Montenegro, a new mobile app shows some promise in helping citizens report corruption and waste in government. Social media platforms in Albania assisted citizen-based protests that led to the government refusing to reprocess chemical weapons from Syria. In Bulgaria, social media platforms were used to encourage massive and long-lived demonstrations calling for more accountable, less corrupt government. In Russia, these platforms aided the release of Greenpeace activists. But the news is not all positive—elsewhere, governments and small groups use these very same technologies to infringe on human rights and democratic norms.

People tend to associate “innovation” with “technology” and “new.” What we saw over the semester is political innovation: innovative people using newly available technologies to govern themselves in the hope of governing themselves better.

We set our investigation in the context of contemporary challenges to representative democracy.

Research in both developed and developing democracies reveals that large segments of populations are dissatisfied with representative democracies that do not appear to meet citizens’ needs and/or do not involve citizens in decision making as they expect.

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Education without borders in a global learning community I was appointed as professor of German at AUBG in the Fall of 2005 and have been teaching various German courses including all levels of knowledge of the language, from beginners to advanced, as well as specialized language courses. I have also taught at Humboldt University in Berlin, at GoetheInstitute Sofia, and was a research fellow at BerlinBrandenburg Academy of Sciences in Berlin. Along with enhancing students’ language skills for the respective level, one of my main pedagogical goals is to arouse students’ interest in the German-speaking countries, to point to intercultural differences, as well as to get students acquainted with various types of dictionaries, written language corpora and other electronic resources of the German language.

My language classroom is a German speaking classroom where students are required and encouraged to speak German from the very beginning and new words and grammar is introduced in German with very few explanations in English (with beginners more so than with advanced students). This teaching method might seem daunting at first sight, but students quickly see the benefits. The learners should feel as if they were in a foreign country and have no other way to make themselves comprehensible. I strongly believe that students who have learnt a foreign language through this methodology are better prepared for the real-life language communication.

The teaching and my research activities complement each other. During my time at AUBG, I participated in various conferences, published several scholarly articles and book chapters, and won the 1st price in two literary translation contests ( in 2007 for the best German translation of a Bulgarian text and in 2012 for the best Bulgarian translation of a German text). Some of my favorite research topics are German

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by Diana Stantcheva

phraseology, monolingual German dictionaries, foreign language education, language and gender, legal, technical and EU terminology, and written language corpora.

In Fall 2013 semester at AUBG, I started an international project with my colleague Dr. Dillmann, Associate Professor of German at Denison University (USA), about global connected language classes and intercultural learning. The project was realized through the Global Liberal Arts Alliance partnership, which seeks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience among liberal arts institutions around the world. The goal of our undertaking was – and continues to be – to enrich our connected courses with an intercultural perspective through direct communication between students and faculty members. We discussed shared small group assignments via Google Hangout and Google Docs all the while expanding and enhancing students’ language skills in German. In Spring 2014 semester, the students in one of my German courses and Denison students connected for the first time also synchronously via Jabber video conferencing software. The next step of our connected courses project will include more regularly synchronous class meetings via Jabber.

A Vibrant community New Generation of AUBG IT Talents on Their Way to Victory

By Petya Hristova

Useful tips from leading entrepreneurs and inspirational stories from people who have managed to change their lives were just a few of the exciting events that March offered to the AUBG community. The annual AUBG Programming Competition was certainly one of them. Each year students are challenged to display their skills by solving 3 programming problems. The competition is organized by the Computer Science Department and the Computer Science Student Union (CSSU) and it’s a tradition for the university – this being it’s 18th edition.

The event aims at involving students in competitive programming, with the best taking part in the Bulgarian National Competition. The three participants with the highest scores form the AUBG team.

Prof. Emil Kelevedjiev, a researcher in the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics in the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, was responsible for preparing the problems in coherence with the national requirements. Each of them consisted in designing a specific mathematical model and implementing it in a code without errors. Students could choose to write it either in C++ or Java. Most of the participants were in their second and third year, though there were also freshmen and seniors.

Stoyan Bonev, professor in Computer Science at AUBG, took an active part in the organization.

Teaching programming languages, he gives students the fundamental knowledge they need to apply in their work. He and his colleagues are working hard to provide students with the chance to learn about the demands of the current IT market by inviting experts in the field to give special lectures. They are aware that computer science is an

always evolving field, and in order to be successful students need to complement academic knowledge with real-life practical experience.

There were two students who won first place, each of them scoring the maximum possible points.

Junior Valentine Nykoliuk aspires to one day have an IT company of his own. With the knowledge he has in the IT field and the business skills he acquired in the university, he believes that he will have the ability to efficiently plan and distribute the tasks when designing a project. He has other talents too. Passionate about music and acting, Nykoliuk was part of this year’s musical – “All shook up!”.

He appreciates the liberal arts education at AUBG as it encourages action, not only when it comes to studies, but also in self-development in general.

Tornike Gogniashvili was the other person who scored the maximum points in the competition.

A sophomore from Georgia, he’s been involved with programing since 11th grade. Gogniashvili is now continuing his development in these spheres by majoring in Computer Science and Mathematics and this was his second time winning the programing competition. “Stay smart” is the advice Gogniashvili would give to the new programmers, who want to succeed in the IT field. Few points behind, still with an excellent score, was the third member of the future programming team – Aleks Angelov.

The achievement of the three students was recognized at this year‘s Honors Convocation Ceremony along with accomplishments of other exceptional students.

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Don’t Just Dream, Go Green

By Nikol Meshkova

This past spring semester, students participated in the Environmental Week by supporting eco-friendly and healthy lifestyle initiatives. The event has become something of an AUBG rite of spring ever since the former president of the Better Community Club came up with the idea five years ago. It is now one of the biggest events organized by BCC. The mastermind behind this year’s motto “Don’t Just Dream, Go Green” was professor William Clark.

“Through this theme we are trying to spread the message that action is needed if we want to achieve something because everyone is talking about preserving and caring about the environment, but no one is really doing anything to show it,” explained Teya Veselinova, President of the Better Community Club.

The noble cause was born as much from students’ passion as it was from practical necessity: “It's important to have this event, because due to our super busy schedules we tend to overlook what is happening around us and instead focus more on our well-being rather than preserving our fragile green planet. Our idea is for the Environmental Week to serve as an eye-opening experience,” said Tsvetiana Zaharieva, President of the PTPI. “The main environmental issues we have at AUBG are related to the use of resources. We need to be doing more recycling, we need to use fewer resources, and we need to consider better, more efficient, use of resources,” elaborated Professor Mark Leonard. “Our objective is to reduce the amount of trash generated on campus and to increase the amount of recycling that is done by the campus community.”

The organizers had prepared different activities and games to attract students‘ attention. This year they launched “green passports” where students had to collect stamps for their “acts of green.”

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These involved recycling, planting flowers, raising awareness, using their own mugs and containers at the cafe and the canteen, and taking active part in the events during the whole week. Photo competition, a screening of a green movie, treasure-out-of-trash workshop, campus beautification and healthy charitable bake sale completed the list, and the zumba and yoga sessions and the Olympics kick-off game kept participants’ spirit high throughout the whole week.

Many AUBG students took part in the different events and supported the cause with enthusiasm. “We are glad that there were so many students, faculty and staff who took part in the events of the Environmental Week, and our efforts to promote recycling,” observed Professor Leonard who is a member of the Green Campus Committee and an environmental economist.

“I have been interested in environmental issues for many years, and being part of this event is a good way for me to use my academic knowledge and personal interest to help the campus be a better place for all of the AUBG community to live and work.”

“We are trying to show that even starting with just baby steps can make a difference, we just have to make up our minds and realize that we are in charge of our future, and the future of the environment surrounding us,” concluded the president of the Better Community Club with a bright smile.

First EU Simulation at AUBG

By Yoana Savova

In April 2014 the European Society Club organized its inaugural European Union Institutions Simulations at AUBG with the help and supervision of Dr. Cosmina Tanasoiu, chair of the Politics and European Studies Department. The club was founded by Nina Brkuljan and seven fellow AUBGers. Brkuljan realized the need for a simulation that would allow students to put theory into practice after attending a policy-making class at AUBG. 70 students from 26 countries attended the conference that lasted for three days. A great deal of the participants came from universities other than AUBG owing to the vast and extensive promotion by the organizing team. The main objectives of the event were to allow students to simulate the decision-making procedures of the EU, to exchange practical and professional knowledge and ideas, and to experience different cultures and languages.

The highlight of the first day was the guest lecture

by Mr. Ognyan Zlatev, Head of the European Commission Representation in Sofia, who discussed recent EU policies. Prior to that,

participants broke the ice during teambuilding events and got acquainted with the rules and procedures of the two institutions they were going to simulate.

The participants were divided into groups – the first one simulated the European Council which comprises the heads of government of EU member states. The other group members took on the roles of state ministers in the Council of the European Union. The general topic of the conference was: “Developing a new European Area of Justice.

Discussing the European Commission's new framework for addressing systemic threats to the rule of law in EU28.” The participants in both institutions discussed and debated, drafted and amended papers and voted on them.

During the closing ceremony the two best representatives from each institution were picked by the chairs of the two councils. As Brkuljan said, “I had opportunity to also co-chair the Council of the European Union and I am proud to say that although the conference attracted participants from various recognized universities, the AUBG students dominated and had the best performance at the conference. Furthermore, the two best participants were AUBG students.” Georgi Manolov and Nikolay Nikolov, ironically both representing Germany at their respective institutions, were voted the top participants.

The European Society Club aims to transform the first simulation of this kind at AUBG into an annual tradition, “something new, challenging and inspiring” according to Brkuljan. Adrijan Delale, representative of Denmark at the conference, expressed the overall opinion of the participants: “The event was interesting, fun and educational. I would and probably will attend it again.”

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Google Marketing Challenge: AUBG Students Take on Global Competitors

By Yoana Savova

Many people associate Google not only with internet searches but with creativity and innovation.

A leading company in the world, Google also prides itself on the philanthropic ease with which it distributes user-friendly software and opportunities.

One such opportunity is the Google Marketing Challenge, which allows students to get hands-on experience in marketing campaigns using Google AdWords and Google+. Since the launch of the program six years ago, more than 65,000 students and professors from nearly 100 countries have taken part in it. The only requirement for the competing teams is to include three to six members of graduate or undergraduate programs who register together with a faculty member.

The teams have to pick a random company, preferably “a small local business that does not have a good online presence like pizza places or laundromats,” as Stoil Stoilov, Google’s Student Ambassador to AUBG, said. Thus, the students are simultaneously forced to devise creative campaigns and aid in the development of their native business environment.

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Each team is allocated a $250 budget by Google and must come up with an online advertising campaign using Google AdWords (a tool for boosting website traffic and sales) over a period of three weeks.

The winners are first picked on a regional principle while in the second round the ultimate global winner is chosen. The lucky ones receive awesome prizes such as trips to worldwide Google offices.

Two AUBG teams will be competing in the 2014 edition of the challenge: one is made up of Stoil Stoilov, Timur Huseynov, Alexandr Bronasco and Valentina Stefanovic. They picked TaxiMe, a start-up company that created the first Bulgarian mobile application for calling taxi cabs. The other team includes Max Shpirka, Elizaveta Laguzinskaya, Alina Synyavska, Andrei Pavlenko, and Yan Hristov, who chose HireHive, an online start-up that facilitates Human Resources selection. AUBG Marketing Professors Milena Nikolova and Rossen Petkov have agreed to help and register with the participants. Whatever the results may bring, these AUBGers feel that after participating in this challenge, they will be ready to take on the world.

Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Google

By Yoana Savova One question races through the minds of tobe-graduates: How can I make use of the theory that I learnt in my university classes? Stoil Stoilov, a senior from Bulgaria majoring in Business Administration and Computer Science, has certainly found his personal answer to this query.

Stoilov “championed the Google brand” as Google representative to AUBG last year. His role involved organizing workshops and events as well as acquainting students and faculty alike with popular Google products and opportunities at Google. He was also cooperating with numerous AUBG clubs and the official AUBG YouTube channel in order to establish an attractive online video presence for the university. Stoilov also participated in the annual Google Marketing Challenge together with a team of fellow AUBGers.

Apart from Google, Stoilov is an innovator who acts on his personal initiative. Three years ago, he founded AUBGTalks, a video project that records guest lectures at AUBG. As a freshman, he wanted to attend many guest lectures. Then one night there were three interesting events scheduled at the same time that he was unable to go to, and he thought: “Why doesn’t anyone record these?” He approached Journalism Professor Melody Gilbert and she enthusiastically helped him to start the project in November 2011.

In addition, Stoilov was accepted at the five-week Summer Entrepreneurship Program in 2013. Together with other AUBG

participants he took entrepreneurship classes at top US universities, visited Silicon Valley and worked on a business idea that he plans to implement in real life. The project is called “Locus” and is a computerized simulation which helps students to find the right career options for them. The founders of the start-up aim to aid high school students in trying out different jobs and finding the best one – as they themselves did not know what they wanted to do after high school.

During the summer, Stoilov did a business internship for Google at their EU headquarters in Dublin. He spent three exciting months working as a Business Associate helping people utilize Google AdWords to their fullest. “It was challenging and at the same time so enriching. I had to communicate with people directly, over the phone, and via e-mails and chat. It really brings your communicative skills to a whole new level,” he shared.

When asked to describe his Google experience, Stoilov answered that "it was challenging, but at the same time great. Many people see only the surface—the many benefits and the fun part. The truth is that people there are working hard, and lifelong learning is not a cliché when it comes to these professionals. I got to learn a lot. Everyone was really helpful, and you could see that these people really love their job.” His advice to all those who would follow in his footsteps is to carefully research the position they are interested in and prepare accordingly. And, of course, be ready to work hard, master new skills, and have a great time.

Stoil Stoilov ‘15, Bulgaria

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Innovation and Creativity at Student-Faculty Research Conference 2014

By Emanuil Dimitrov

The end of the academic year traditionally gives opportunity to AUBG students to present year-long research projects and to discuss and share their ideas with faculty members and other professionals from outside of AUBG. The conference sessions included topics from virtually all majors offered at the university ranging from computer science to political science and economics.

The keynote speaker Silvia Prokopieva, an AUBG graduate and currently a senior expert in the Bulgarian National Bank, presented the issue of the new European system of financial supervision. She spoke about systemic risk and the banking regulations in the European Union. Having a solid first-hand professional experience with real-life economic phenomena, she nevertheless acknowledged the role of the academia and praised the quality of the students’ theoretical work. Economics and finance received a wide coverage throughout the different sessions.

Students presented their works on topics such as stock markets, banking crises as well as interest rates.

Integration of technologies in the educational process was yet another theme that dominated the agenda of the conference. Special guest lecturer at the Computer Science session was Samuil Angelov, a researcher and

lecturer who has accumulated experience working in various universities in the Netherlands. He elaborated on the topic of software architectures and his presentation was followed by two AUBG students who entertained the audience with their creative ideas.

Milos Vukicevic spoke about his research on the use of robots in speech recognition and surprised everyone when he actually took a small robot out of his backpack who responded to his commands.

Hristo Nenov on his part showed how easy it is to step in the shoes of a game maker and create our favorite games using the game engine Unity.

The efficient use of technology permeated even the Arts, Languages and Literature section of the conference. Amidst the thought-provoking discussions on the ideas of Lacan, Heiddegen and Freud, Prof. Diana Stantcheva (Associate Professor of German at AUBG) and Prof. Gabriele Dillmann, who teaches German at Denison University (USA) showed that where there is a will there is a way of realizing your ideas. They successfully connected their two courses and provided an opportunity to students from the opposite parts of the world to learn more about each other’s cultures and explore the full potential of modern technologies.

Refreshing coffee breaks provided further opportunities for networking and brainstorming and all the attendees enjoyed the delightful performances of students from the vocal classes of AUBG Professor Hristo Krotev and Nikolina Kroteva.

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Record Number of Companies at the Annual AUBG Job Fair

By Ina Gjika

Guiding students through their academic journey and providing them with valuable assistance as they enter the job market is a mission that AUBG pursues and accomplishes year after year through the experience and support of our accomplished faculty and the Career Center. One such event pioneered by the Career Center is the Annual AUBG Job Fair, which held its 21st edition in March. It took place in the Sports Hall of the America for Bulgaria Student Center and welcomed around 150 representatives from more than 45 companies operating in different industries in Bulgaria. This is a record number of participants, twice as many

as the previous year, with companies like Experian, ACNielsen LTD, Teach for Bulgaria, Easy Consult, Oil Tanking, Hop Online taking part for the first time.

As the head of the Career Center Mr. Ivaylo Aksharov pointed out, this is a result of an improvement of the economic condition in Bulgaria and also of heavy marketing of the event itself. The University collaborates extensively with the American Chamber of Commerce to receive information about potential employers of talented AUBGers. In addition, the Career Center sent out more than 250 personal invitations to various companies’ HR

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Departments and initiated a Facebook campaign to spread the word among AUBG students.

This year’s event differed from preceding editions in one more regard - companies were interested in applicants from a variety of majors and nationality was not an obstacle for applying for the desired positions or internships. Severina Mangusheva, who graduated this May, shared her delight at seeing so many options for students majoring in disciplines other than business and computer science. AUBG President Michael Easton opened the event by welcoming all the participating companies and students, wishing them a productive day of networking and job-matching. Throughout the day students met with company representatives, leaving their resumes and impressing their potential employers with well-thought questions and original thinking.

Easy Consult representatives shared that they decided to participate in the AUBG Job Fair after having several AUBG interns – students of incredible potential who know what they want to achieve and how to achieve it. Other companies such as Transmetrics and the NGO Teach For Bulgaria, were represented by AUBG alumni who currently work for them. Long-standing partners like Coca Cola, P&G, Mondelez, Deloitte, Ernst&Young and

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KPMG, which have always been present at AUBG events, reinforced their desire to keep on interacting with AUBG students through different competitions, internships, and guest lecture events.

Representatives from KPMG said that they have hired several AUBG students in the past and they have been extremely satisfied with their performance, problem solving skills and positive attitude and they look forward to continuing their relations with the university. Forton, another well-known company operating in the real estate business, stated that they were looking for energetic and dedicated students to participate in their internship program, which is oriented towards different departments.

The students, dressed in business attire, were also satisfied with this year’s edition of the fair. Armed with CVs and determination, they were eager to start putting into practice what AUBG has taught them. Evisa Lumani, graduating senior in Computer Science, summed it up nicely: “This year’s was the first job fair that I attended at AUBG, and I was impressed by the companies’ interest in students and their willingness to help.”

Society of Professional Journalists Opens First for Bulgaria Chapter at AUBG

By Dima Vitanova

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), a century-old organization dedicated to supporting and protecting journalists worldwide, launched a chapter at the American University in Bulgaria in the beginning of 2014.

Bred into the innovative and creative spirit of the small liberal arts university, 14 budding journalists, counseled by Professor Melody Gilbert, became the founding members of the first ever SPJ chapter to open in Bulgaria. “SPJ AUBG started out as a student extension of the Journalism and Mass Communication Department, and it took just one semester for everything to get organized, and for the club to start working,” said Kaja Duknic, president of the SPJ chapter at AUBG. The ardent Journalism and Mass Communication students joined one of the oldest journalistic communities that provides them with the opportunity to attend workshops, participate in contests and network with colleagues from around the world. „The aim of the SPJ chapter at AUBG is to bond the JMC students together in learning both from each other and from the practicing professionals they invite on campus for informal lectures,“ said Melody

Gilbert, chair of the JMC Department and academic adviser to the newly-found SPJ chapter.

The members of SPJ at AUBG employ an outsidethe-box approach towards translating the pillars of journalism into beneficial, hands-on workshops for their peers. A casual two-hour long chat with cinematographer Jesse Roesler focused on the point where journalism and corporate advertisement converge. This was just one of the many events organized throughout the semester, which together with mock recruitment interviews with several JMC professors let the aspiring journalists peek into some professional possibilities that spread ahead of them.

We are able to get advice from professionals and discuss what we can do better to make the right decisons when achieving our dreams.

Heidi Pullyard, Founding Member

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SPJ at AUBG not only nurtures students’ insights and aspirations in the journalistic world, but it also cultivates strong ties and friendships among its members. “I've met so many amazing people in SPJ AUBG, people that I had been seeing around but didn't know so well. I am glad to have had the opportunity to know them better,” said Duknic.

Gaining steam SPJ at AUBG will seek new recruits to expand and diversify its activities in the next semester. Duknic stressed on the importance of every member’s contribution to the chapter’s evolvement into a reliable source of help, support and advice about everything related to the field of journalism.

“SPJ AUBG can literally be whatever we want it to be, and it's up to the members to decide where they want to go with it. I'd like people to look at SPJ AUBG as an approachable, more convenient version of the Society of Professional Journalists, that offers everything that the SPJ offers,” Duknic said.

Buoyed by the immediate success and popularity of the SPJ at AUBG, its members expressed their determination to further improve and mould the chapter into a stepping stone for the JMC students’ future careers.

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Major: Business Administration Minor: Economics For me, innovation consists of two key elements: creativity and perseverance. During my four years at AUBG, I managed not only to excel academically but also to experience a broad variety of extracurricular activities - such as AIESEC, TEDxAUBG, and thePurple - that shaped my personality. I was among the founders of the iLeader Conference, took part in theater performances, debated with fellow AUBGers, and got inspired at numerous local and international conferences. One of the best aspects of AUBG is the collaboration with real companies. Each project we work on offers us the possibility to innovate and to learn about start-ups

Lyuba Popova ’16, Bulgaria

Major: Journalism and Mass Communication “Creativity is intelligence having fun” – this is one of my favorite quotes, and I try to implement in every single aspect of my academic and personal experience. Fortunately for me, AUBG offers an environment that not only fosters creativity and stimulates our desire for innovation,

Roman Sorocan ’14, Moldova

and corporations. The University enhanced our ability to analyze the world from a multitude of perspectives. AUBG is a unique place, and everyone graduating is fortunate enough to carry a piece of it into the world. I met a lot of innovative people here and many talented professors. I had an opportunity to grow, develop, learn, apply, create and innovate for 4 years.

but also provides students with ample opportunities to test their crazy ideas in real life through the large variety of extracurricular activities. I am currently the vice president of the StartUp@Blagoevgrad and can honestly say this is an amazing experience, which helps students to network with successful professionals from the start-ups sphere. It is one of the many benefits of the American-style liberal arts education which prepares students for a career in a highly competitive world and gives them the opportunity to fulfill their future as leaders. After almost two years at AUBG I believe I have made the right choice.

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Farewell, Graduates!

Final touches on the hairstyle before the ceremony

The last and most triumphant walk under the flags as AUBG students

Catching the excitement of graduation on a selfie

Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev addresses the eager crowd of new graduates

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A handshake of recognition and encouragement from the Head of State himself

US Ambassador Marcie Ries had some words of wisdom for the newly-graduated

Proud new holders of a world-class, globally recognized diploma

Aiming towards the sky – the very essence of education at AUBG

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Bulgarian President Salutes AUBG Anniversary Class of 2014

By Yoana Savova

At AUBG’s 20th Annual Commencement Ceremony, held on May 18th at the center square of Blagoevgrad, 242 new Bachelor graduates and 22 EMBA graduates threw their mortar boards in the air. This was a special class marked by many firsts: for the first time in the history of AUBG there were three valedictorians, two Presidential Medalists, and graduates from Germany, South Korea and Vietnam.

The ceremony was opened by AUBG President Dr. Michael Easton who saluted the graduates for their worthwhile efforts and urged them to appreciate the support that their families have provided them with throughout their academic journey.

Mr. Rosen Plevneliev, the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, and Marianne Keler, Chair of the AUBG Board of Trustees, greeted the students next. The Bulgarian President related his dream of a strong and democratic Europe and connected current events with people’s everyday lives: “Thinking, active and enlightened citizens can change the world for the better.” He stressed that in the future only nations with long-term vision and quality education will be successful.

Mrs. Keler expressed her gratitude for representing the AUBG Board of Trustees and extended greetings to the families present, the excellent faculty, Dr. Easton as well as the founders and benefactors of the university.

Then Teodor Dimitrov, a native of Blagoevgrad and fresh graduate, took the floor as student speaker.

Mr. Dimitrov encouraged his fellow graduates to never let go of their freshman spirit, to dream and 26

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to make a difference together.

The United States Ambassador to Bulgaria, the Honorable Marcie B. Ries, also addressed the graduates. A senior Foreign Service Officer, she has worked on UN and NATO issues and bilateral relations with Western Europe, the Balkans and Iraq. Mrs. Ries outlined five leadership values already integrated into the mission of AUBG and its graduates – diversity, respect, democracy, ethics and service.

The long awaited moment came when Dr. Steven Sullivan, AUBG’s Provost, conferred the Master’s and Bachelor’s Degrees. Out of the 242 undergraduates that come from 26 different countries, 43% are Bulgarian. 66% grasped the unique opportunity that the liberal arts education of AUBG provides – double-majoring. Business Administration was chosen by 36% of the undergraduates, with Political Science and International Relations, Economics, and Journalism and Mass Communication following.

After the official ceremony was over, the smiling graduates embraced each other, took their final photos as AUBG students and vowed to stay connected to their class and the university. The opening words of Mr. Dimitrov’s speech rang true then:

AUBG is not the Main Building, BAC or the ABF. AUBG is people, with their own names and dreams.

WE are AUBG.

They make us proud AUBG is all about Opportunity

By Yoana Savova Alexander Acosta Osorio ’12, Columbia

Not every class of AUBG can boast a graduate from Colombia. A native of Bogota, Alexander Acosta Osorio describes his AUBG experience with one word: Opportunity with a capital O. Alexander began his education in International Business in Colombia but moved to New York where he juggled volunteering, part-time work and pursuit of his artistic and cultural passions. Afterwards, he combined his educational and professional interests into one degree in Journalism and Mass Communication at AUBG. The university exceeded Alexander‘s expectations right from the start. Here he felt a part of a true campus community, unlike his previous exploits in Bogota and New York where he also lived off-campus. He considers AUBG a valuable immersive experience that sets the tone during one‘s learning process even if he lives off-campus. The university facilities impressed Alexander to the extent that he spent hours in the library “exploring and discovering.” He was also very satisfied with the diverse faculty from whom he learnt and drew inspiration. As he confesses: “It was one of those things I never expected to happen. But it did.”

AUBG fostered the sense of innovation and creativity that allows Alexander to prosper in his current professional life which spans nu-

merous and sometimes simultaneous jobs. In his opinion, the liberal arts education of AUBG is innovative in that it allows students to discover their passion, sharpen their critical thinking and problem-solving skills through hands-on experience, and become involved in extracurricular activities and internships. Even if some students remain uncertain about their professional path, all AUBG graduates acquire core skills that provide them with flexibility on the job market.

Alexander initiated his own creative endeavors at AUBG. He completed an internship with the ÉCU (The European Independent Film Festival) in Paris and took part in the Palace International Short Film Festival in Balchik, Bulgaria, where he networked with “dozens of extremely interesting and talented filmmakers, film students and journalists from Bulgaria and abroad.” Alexander melted the experience he had gained into creating the AUBG Short Film Festival, which was the first-ever film festival on campus. Founding this project with the cooperation of professionals met at Balchik, South-West University and the AUBG University Relations office, he created what turned out to be “exciting, creative, and nerve-racking.”

Alexander is currently working on Google’s newest business solutions, and he believes that the values of autonomy, independence and drive that AUBG instills are helping him to “push the boundaries of what I can bring to my project.” A born risk-taker, Alexander emphasizes: “If you don’t ask questions, if you are not critical, if you don’t challenge yourself at work, or in your everyday life, your results and whatever you want to achieve will reflect that.”

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AUBG is a Premium Place to Be

By Nikoleta Gancheva

The founders of Tavex, Blagovest Belev and Max Baklayan, met during their first year in the Skaptopara campus. Ten years later, as directors of the market leader in trading investment gold and silver and currency exchange, the duo views the time spent at AUBG as a great opportunity that put them ahead of others and encouraged them to innovate.

While they were at university, Belev and Baklayan shared the same interest in the world of finance and economics. Both of them were particularly affected by the classes of former AUBG professor Krassimir Petrov, who encouraged them to think outside the box. “His in-depth expertise about the world of finance and economy helped me be where I am today. He gave us knowledge that placed us ahead of others, in a very specific sphere, namely precious metals and their role in the modern world,” Baklayan said.

Apart from highly qualified professors, the liberal arts education was yet another AUBG feature which appealed to Belev. He liked the fact that students were not confined to only one subject before entry but had more freedom to choose whatever interested them and even had the option to change their major or add something to it. “AUBG is ages above all Bulgarian universities and among the top universities in Europe. At the same time Blagoevgrad is the perfect place to spend your student years. I am so happy I didn’t go to the US or Western Europe and stayed in Bulgaria instead. People are more willing to go to a middle to low level university abroad than stay in Bulgaria and study at AUBG, while AUBG is actually a premium place to be,” Belev said.

Baklayan also keeps precious memories of his AUBG experience. “I could

Blagovest Belev ’08 and Max Baklayan ’08, Bulgaria

easily say that AUBG surpassed my expectations - a vibrant multicultural society of young, motivated and capable students, skilled faculty, the beautiful and cozy city of Blagoevgrad that delivers an exceptional student life and not least the possibility to meet some of my best friends,” he said.

The first time Belev and Baklayan put their entrepreneurship spirit into practice was during their work-and-travel summers spent in Nantucket.

They realized that at a place where every business concentrates on profiting from the rich, there is a niche to target the furniture needs of local laborers.

Thus their first start-up was selling second hand furniture on the island.

As soon as they graduated from AUBG, Belev and Baklayan started working on their Tavex project.

From the very beginning they have been working hard to create a positive environment based on selected young professionals, and on loyalty and trust. These were some of the pillars which helped them turn into leaders on the market. “Tavex brought to Bulgarian currency and gold markets a new standard of service, becoming a symbol of transparency, affordability and integrity, which is highly admired by the local consumers,” Baklayan said.

Even though the two friends and partners have different personalities, they believe that what unites them and makes them such a great team are the similar value systems and clear long-term goals for the future. Here is a piece of advice that each one gave to current AUBG students: “Don’t go to established industries. Identify an uptrend and position yourself early in advance. Investment gold was such an area for us. Then be ready to go into details and know that problems will exist for as long as you are running a business, so you might as well face them with a smile.” Belev said.

“Be brave enough to try new and different things, do mistakes often and learn quickly, concentrate on your strengths and delegate to others your weaknesses. Focus on what you truly believe or even better love, in that way you will find purpose beyond money. Surround yourself with people who share your vision, not employees,” added Baklayan.

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AUBG changed the way I think and perceive the world around me

By Nikoleta Gancheva Sevdalina Yontcheva ’05, Bulgaria

Successful entrepreneur and Game Cloud Continental founder Sevdalina Yontcheva started learning how to innovate and think outside the box while she was immersed in the AUBG environment.

Nine years after her graduation she believes that everything is possible and that the boundaries we face exist only in our own minds.

Yontcheva graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration and Political Science, both of which lived up to her expectations for quality education.

“The courses and professors provoked me to think and put theoretical knowledge into practice, which in turn helped me become a more informed and articulate person,” she said. Apart from attending classes, she became a co-founder of the Latin American Dances and Culture Club at AUBG. “I met a lot of new people who shaped my understanding of life and pushed the limits of my imagination, inspirations and thinking. The extracurricular activities definitely help you think outside the box and give you the opportunity to explore your passions, fears and desires,” she added.

Today Yontcheva feels that the AUBG experience changed the way she thought and perceived the world around her. “I realized that capital and experience are not so important,” she said. “They could be gained, but the greatest asset is to have ideas, and there isn't any limit to what you can do with your life and your business.“ Since her graduation Yontcheva has managed to get valuable experience in a variety of fields and positions. She started her career in 2005 in an outsourcing center in Sofia, where she learned “the magic of sales, teamwork and night shifts.” She remained in the IT sector with a position in bank-

ing and the telecom sector sales at HP. This was followed by management of the business development and networking team of a big law firm. “That gave me the opportunity to be part of many deals and to taste different industries.

I was particularly attracted to the sector of Energy and Renewables and as a result I started working for a Swiss utility company, developing their first investment in a wind park in Kazanlak, Bulgaria,” Yontcheva shared.

Her new interests led her to also become project manager of a Danish company operating in the wind sector. Yontcheva also founded Relocation Services Bulgaria – a specialized organization assisting corporate and individual relocations of expats to Sofia. Apart from that, together with her dentist, and later on beloved husband, she invested in an AUBG friendly dental clinic called Smile Factory, offering healthy smiles to expats.

The most recent project of Yontcheva is Game Cloud Continental (GCC), an innovative platform for multiplayer games build with Unity Framework, which allows many players to play on the same game map. “It provides to the game developer a fast networking with a great context serialization technology. Since the performance of our server is unprecedented it will change the way in which people make games,” Yontcheva said.

After graduation she got in touch with many AUBG alumni who helped her with business networking and career advice. But more importantly, the friends that she made during her four years at AUBG are the people that she still hangs out with today. Yontcheva feels grateful for the chance to receive a liberal arts education, as well as local and international connections which are of such importance for her career and social life.

Thanks to her rich experience and passion for innovation, Yontcheva has come to believe that you can overcome all obstacles and turn ideas into reality, as long you “take the driver seat of your own life and stay positive.”

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Education at AUBG is one of a kind

By Nikoleta Gancheva

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Valya Nadova ’13, Bulgaria

One year after throwing her graduation hat into the air, AUBG alumna Valya Nadova is already building a career in Eleven – one of the most successful start-up accelerator funds in the region. Nadova is confident that completing a B.A. in Business Administration and Journalism and Mass Communication at AUBG gave her a broader perspective on life and presented her with a number of great opportunities. “If I have to put it shortly, AUBG education was different from my expectations, because it exceeded them,“ she said.

despite the differences among them, they stand united, which, I think, cannot be said for many Bulgarian universities.”

While at the University Nadova took a number of courses with professors who encouraged her to be creative, think outside the box, and work on “real world projects.” “It was prof. Nikolova and prof.

Andonova who brought me into the world of innovations,” she said. “Their help was, and still is important to me, because they gave me the push that I needed to get out of my comfort zone a bit and grab the opportunities.”

Nadova's first contact with Eleven happened right after her graduation, when she became an intern there and worked on a project together with prof. Nikolova and prof. Andonova. She loved the place right from the start and throughout the internship she kept wishing they would hire her. One year later, Nadova is manager of investment projects in the fund, and she enjoys working with interesting clients, while collaborating with a great team of professionals.

Apart from attending classes, Nadova was part of AUBG Daily and worked as a Resident Assistant for most of her time at AUBG. Today she feels that working while studying made her more responsible, organized and a better team player. In addition to that, the University taught her to meet deadlines, to handle critical situations and to be part of a diverse community – skills that are of essence in today‘s fast-paced world.

“I believe the most valuable part of the AUBG experience is the connections you create before you go out in the big world,” Nadova said. “The students are a great community and

“What I like about the position is that I constantly meet many people from various backgrounds and with original ideas, which reminds me of AUBG. I enjoy being involved in their lives and helping them build a company,“ she said.

Even though she has just started building her career and still has a long way to go, Nadova is determined to work hard and never give up no matter what challenges she faces. Her dreams are big and her philosophy is simple: “Be stubborn, be optimistic, and find what makes you happy,” she said.

EMBA The Past and Future of AUBG: Disruptive Innovation

By Dr. Yusaf H. Akbar In establishing AUBG back in 1991, its founders aimed to disrupt education in a rapidly transforming environment. For the first time, the interactive style of American liberal arts education came to Southeastern Europe, challenging the very foundations of educational traditions and policy that had prevailed for centuries. It gathered a generation of young talents from across the region and challenged them to think independently and critically. It encouraged them to be creative and to innovate. It urged them to stand up and be heard. In short it was a disruptive innovator!

A generation later, it is now becoming clear that AUBG has succeeded in starting a disruptive revolution in society. It has built the foundations for a new intellectual, economic, political, and cultural community for the region. In the next generation, we will see how many of AUBG’s growing alumni community will become leaders in the economic, cultural, political, and social spheres in their respective communities. I would wager that we would see a disproportionate number of AUBG alumni to be doing so very soon.

My university, Central European University based in Budapest and founded by George Soros, had the same aim in its founding too. Both AUBG and CEU have been pioneering and disruptive institutions.

In the arena of business strategy, we know two things.

First, the pace of technological and market change has increased meaning and it is increasingly difficult to build long-term strategies. Second, because of increasingly difficult-to-predict environments, to maintain leadership in their field organizations must, in the words of Jeff Immelt CEO of General Electric, “disrupt themsleves.”

This I believe is the big innovation challenge facing AUBG as it enters its third decade. It stepped out ahead of the crowd and offered uniquely innovative education in 1991, it must now renew its mission for a new generation of students.

While the new generation of students possesses many of the same values as its pioneering predecessors, for many, the goals that the first generation strove for are not as relevant as in the past. First, while at the very periphery of the region, there is a fear of a return to authoritarianism. There are countervailing forces at work (social media, Internet of Things and access to digital goods and services) that threaten existing

traditions of authority and hierarchy. Second, Bulgaria and a number of its neighbors are now EU members or are close to joining (and AUBG graduates are taking active roles in the new EU architecture).

Third, the emerging world (Africa, Asia and Latin America) represents a new disruptive frontier where the work of AUBG could be extended.

In short, AUBG needs to ask itself: how can it disrupt its model to further extend its mission and success?

What learning arenas remain to be developed that AUBG could participate actively in? Which areas of education innovation should AUBG embrace? And fundamentally, given its extraordinary success, what is the fundamental mission-driven logic for AUBG in the years ahead?

Here are some thoughts. First, AUBG could seek new educational arenas – extending its teaching and learning innovation to more remote places on Earth. Here the use of virtual hybrid learning technology could be crucial. Second, AUBG could also spread its innovative education by bringing in more students from Africa, Asia and Latin America. Third, AUBG could bring its educational change to life-long learning increasing its focus on graduate, and non-degree education. Fourth, and perhaps more challenging, AUBG could build an educational vision for the young leaders of the next decades – one based on collaboration, connectivity and creativity. This vision implies less “traditional” learning. It caters to young people who are as fascinated by access to knowledge as they are to ownership of knowledge. Above all, it means, the very routines that made AUBG so successful need to be disrupted in an innovative and constructive way.

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The best way to learn is by experience and by making your own story in your own way

By Yoana Savova Speaking of his education at AUBG, Georgi Malchev, a graduate of the EMBA program, says, “What counts is the journey.” And for him the journey has led to unexpected discoveries and subsequent personal and professional achievements.

Malchev served as Director at the Ministry of Economy when he became acquainted with the AUBG Executive MBA program and the then-Minister persuaded him that enrolling was worthwhile. It was not an easy climb as at the time he was working 10 hours a day including Saturday but Malchev does not regret a single minute of it: “I pushed myself to the limit, and the limit proved to be much far away.”

He found it to be very different from his previous educational experiences in that it not only developed his analytical skills, critical reasoning and teamwork capabilities but also because he was granted the opportunity to interact with knowledgeable professors, colleagues and entrepreneurs coming from diverse and comprehensive business backgrounds.

The professors, in Malchev’s own words, knew how to convey their passion for their field and allowed students to experience theoretical concepts in practice. He terms the typical educational system as an example from the area of gamification – “a setting intended to drive a specific behavior, but with the limitations of every specific technique,” poor game design and subjective referees. Yet professors like Veneta Andonova and Milena Nikolova at the EMBA program showed Malchev how academic concepts can be applied to real life business cases, and allowed him to be more innovative and give his best.

But more important still was his personal realization that “the limits are what your mind knows you want and you can achieve.” That is why, he pushed himself even further and mastered his public speaking skills as a keynote speaker and moderator at numerous business events, took part in three Impro Theatre performances, became a fitness enthusiast and an avid student of the art of creativity.

After completing his degree, Malchev was headhunted for a managerial position by a number of consulting companies. He currently works as partner in ilyan.com, a creative digital marketing agency, which grew expansively within three months and boasts offices in Sofia, London and Bucharest. Malchev focuses on creativity and innovation in his work: “I managed to develop my approach to innovation and creativity by focusing on

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Georgi Malchev ’04, Bulgaria

the end goal, and then on what could be achieved and finally on – the “how.” It allows me to order my ideas and prioritize.” He gives his best to his team members and students by allowing them to learn through experience, free their minds from all limitations and find their own way. Thus, he builds a team that is capable to follow its leader in any creative venture.

What Malchev took away from his AUBG experience is how to challenge himself and be flexible despite the risk-averse environment he grew up in. [He reminisces about the words of a 60-year-old Dutch deputy head of the European Certified Management Consultant Organization: “OK, you got the hard core skills from the studies and from the management consulting. But how about the soft core skills? What about experience in an industry, real-life experience how things actually happen in the businesses?”] The university also taught him to give back to the community and he now teaches and coaches young people and entrepreneurs, relishing in being part of a vibrant start-up community. And he seems to have found his own way, making sure that he enjoys the journey.

News @ AUBG AUBG Hosts Prestigious Student Leadership Conference

By Nikol Meshkova

Leadership is a skill that AUBG students cultivate throughout their academic journey and try to use in the most effective and innovative ways. Among the many other methods of preparing students for leadership and developing their outstanding potential, at the end of March the American University in Bulgaria had the pleasure to host an International Student Leadership Conference where bright students from Greece, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Kosovo, Italy, and Spain exchanged ideas and knowledge in a friendly and stimulating environment.

The first day of the conference provided our international guests with an opportunity to enrich their leadership skills and understanding through a variety of different activities. AUBG Professor Robert Phillips delivered an intriguing talk on the mystic ways that our brain processes information. He insisited on the importance of bringing other viewpoints into the rational decision-making process to avoid making hasty judgement.

Vladimir Borachev, Vice-President for Instituional Advancement at AUBG, gave an inspiring presentation on how to understand ourselves and others. “All of you here are the future leaders of your regions and countries.

This is why you need to have a clear understanding of yourselves as leaders and of other people who will be part of your experience,” Mr. Borachev began and briefly explained what leadership means to him, underlining that little things matter the most in leadership: ”As a leader you must have a clear vision; you must always interact with others; accept constructive criticism and understand that everyone’s different and has different strong points,” Mr. Borachev said.

around the idea of profit, pointing out that people have slowly but gradually lost their humanity. Keil also emphasized on the main stages in developing a successful business and being an active and prosperous leader. If there is one lesson the young leaders learned from his presentation, that is to always question everything. “This is the only way to destroy crystallized thinking and be a successful entrepreneur,” said Keil.

The intensive program was completed with valuable insight on the relationship between mass media and politics presented by the prominent Bulgarian journalist and politician Emil Koshlukov and some practical tips from experts in the field of NGO management. Darco Mandic, CEO of Medino Ltd, and Dorde Dordevic discussed the main problems and inconveniences at the start of a career and offered useful advice to those who want to develop in the non-governmental sphere. “Being a leader requires the ability to deal with different situations; it’s all about knowing your priorities and being open for opportunities,” said Dordevic. All of the sessions were followed by a Q&A session where students proved that although they come from different parts of the world there is one thing that unites all of them: their drive and ability to become successful leaders.

The conference ended the same way it started – with enthusiasm and a little better understanding of the world and the inner leader in every one of us.

Among the motivating presenters was also Steve Keil who offered a very innovative and curious perspective on the matter. He shifted students‘ gaze to the history of trade and marketing and the way they have evolved 33

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A global learning community in the making

By Venera Nikolaeva Increasing cross-cultural understanding and building up a community where knowledge is shared on a global level and is easily accessible by everyone – this ambitious goal has brought together two enthusiastic ladies teaching German. Gabriele Dillmann from the Modern Languages Department of Denison University (US) and Diana Stantcheva, AUBG Associate Professor of German, presented their successful project of linking two intermediate German courses at this year‘s Student-Faculty Research Conference at AUBG.

The project was realized through the Global Liberal Arts Alliance partnership, which seeks to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience among liberal arts institutions around the world. It involved active participation on the part of not only students and facutly, but also staff members at the two institutions, and showed that teamwork and true engagement lie in the heart of a successful globally connected course.

Getting to know another culture through learning its language is just one of the steps to developing an intercultural competency. Another important element is acquiring dialogue etiquette and the ability to cooperate with peers from around the globe towards achieving a common goal. Lastly, such global projects can only be accomplished provided that participants possess sufficient level of digital proficiency and digital etiquette. “Facebook texting is not a measurement of digital literacy,” pointed out professor Dillmann. “Students need to learn how to use tools like Google Docs, video conferencing tools such as Jabber and Hangouts, as well as desktop

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sharing tools.” Apart from providing forum for students to enhance their language competency level, this initiative aimed at teaching students skills sets that would allow them to make meaningful contributions to their globalized societies.

Throughout the course students had to complete e-mail communication assignments, shared information about interesting aspects of their home institutions, engaged in an extremely useful exercise on overcoming intercultural differences and held a conversation via Google Hangout on air. Each of the four components was followed with detailed in-class discussion on how the particular tasks were performed, what obstacles students faced and how they managed to resolve them. Both professors shared that students were extremely excited about the project, showed a sincere commitment to the tasks and many student pairs reconnected after the conversation assignment in order to continue their chats.

The growing interest of universities around the world in exploring the vast possibilities of modern technologies clearly indicates that the creation of a global learning community is indeed possible and under way. As an institution that stays abreast of the latest trends in the educational field, AUBG is committed to provide both its students and its faculty with a variety of opportunities to enrich the learning process. This said, the two globally linked institutions have pledged to continue their academic collaboration and move a step closer to achieving their mission – global community of learners and education without borders.

AUBG Students Finalists in a Prestigious European Movie Contest February 12, 2014

What does Europe mean to you? That was the question that participants in the prestigious „Europe at Heart“ competition had two weeks to answer reflecting on their personal experiences of living on the continent. The Federation of European Directors (the organizer of the contest) offered young people a chance to create something special, to show how they see Europe and what they hope the continent would be like in the future. Encouraged by professional Serbian moviemaker Ivana Todorovic, who visited AUBG in the Fall 2013 semester and receiving strong support from their experienced professor Melody Gilbert, two AUBG students, Rafie Drencheva and Hristiana Kirova, began their adventure, which brought them to Brussels for the finals.

Former Bulgarian President Joins in Remembering the Goryani February 23, 2014

The first democratically elected Bulgarian president Zhelyu Zhelev greeted AUBG students and guests on the occasion of the 141st anniversary of the death of Vasil Levski – one of the bravest Bulgarian revolutionaries. The university hosted a screening of Atanas Kiryakov‘s documentary „Goryani“ – a movie which reveals the little known story of the longest armed resistance against the communist regime in Bulgaria. The event, which was a part of the History Nights and Bulgarian Poets and Writers Series at AUBG, attracted many prominent members of the Blagoevgrad community, some of which were actual participants in the fight against communism.

New StartUp Challenge for AUBG Students

February 24, 2014

AUBG students had the opportunity to meet with representatives of six fresh start-ups whose ventures will serve as cases for their classes. This project was initiated by AUBG professors who believe that presenting start-ups in the university is a true win-win situation. In their view, this opportunity will allow students to apply their knowledge to real-life cases and meet with visionary people outside the AUBG community while at the same time presenting new companies with a pool of talented and ambitious prospective employees.

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International Week 2014: Fairy Tales, Talents and More February 27, 2014

AUBG once again proved that it is a place where numerous nationalities, traditions and viewpoints unite in one cohesive community, leaving no room for cultural biases and stereotypes. The Annual International Week, organized by the University Phi Beta Delta Honor Society, enlivened the campus with unique mosaic of national songs and motley palette of traditional costumes.

Harvard Professor Throws Light on Cold War Myths

February 28, 2014

“If you thought that threats and challenges of today were not seen during the Cold War, think twice,” says Professor Mark Kramer, Director of Cold War Studies at Harvard University, whom AUBG community had the pleasure of welcoming as a guest speaker for yet another entertaining episode of the Panitza Communist Studies Lecture Series.

Advanced Human-Computer Interactions in Augmented Environments March 14, 2014

A single device that operates your fridge, makes an analysis of your consumption habits and organizes your shopping list in accordance with your tastes or operates all equipment at your house – that might seem like something taken from a science fiction movie. Actually no, this is already happening in the more technologically-sav v y parts of the world. This and many more intriguing innovations were only part of the lecture delivered by Dr. Kamen Kanev, an expert in the field.

International Week 2014

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StartUP Conference Spreads Entrepreneurship Spirit on Campus March 20, 2014

Recent social trends and technological innovations, the importance of choosing the right team, and the challenges of starting up your own business were among the exciting topics discussed during this year’s StartUP@Blagoevgrad event. The third edition of the conference gathered together students, entrepreneurs, investors and educators from all kinds of spheres and backgrounds, who spent two days infecting each other with the enthusiasm of bringing a positive change to the world.

TEDxAUBG 2014: Stairway to Inspiration March 28, 2014 Along with the long awaited spring season, the end of March brought the exciting TEDxAUBG event on campus. More than 100 participants gathered in America for Bulgaria Theater Hall for yet another dose of inspiration. Nine engaging speakers, chosen among 30 applicants, came to Blagoevgrad from all over Europe to discuss with AUBG students their vision of the core of inspiration.

Telerik Welcomes AUBG Students April 06, 2014

A group of ten enthusiasts from the Computer Science Student Union at AUBG had the unique opportunity to visit one of the leading software companies in the region. Founded by AUBG alumni, Telerik, a Sofia-headquartered IT company with 9 other global offices, welcomed our students with friendliness and professionalism, and helped them gain insight into the latest technologies and practices in the IT industry.

STARTUP CONFERENCE 2014

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All Shook Up Musical@AUBG April 07, 2014

In what has become a tradition each year, the AUBG Broadway Performance Club presented another stunning Broadway spectacle on AUBG campus. The rendition of All Shook Up premiered on March 31st and brought students, faculty, and Blagoevgrad residents together to enjoy the magical allure of the young AUBG talents. After the outstanding performances at home, the crew headed on a tour in several Bulgarian cities including Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Stara Zagora, and Pleven.

AUBG Olympics 2014: Follow Your Fire April 30, 2014

The last Sunday of April brought AUBG sport enthusiasts at the Porter baseball field for a new dose of adrenaline and Olympic spirit. Despite the rainy weather this year’s edition of the AUBG Olympics gave the participants an opportunity to compete in 15 different disciplines, meet the captain and the coach of Bulgarian national volleyball team Vladimir Nikolov and Camillo Placi, and enjoy a variety of acrobatic performances.

Kevin Aspegren is the New President of AUBG May 19, 2014

The Board of Trustees of the American University in Bulgaria, announced the appointment of Kevin Aspegren as President of the University.

The decision was taken at its regular May board meeting in Blagoevgrad. “Mr. Aspegren stood out among a strong pool of candidates with his experience in professionally-focused higher education and his broad knowledge of Eastern Europe,” stated Marianne Keler, Board Chair.

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Knowledge Management and Innovations Discussed at AUBG

By Venera Nikolaeva

The innovation and the uptake of information and communication technologies have provided the necessary impetus for higher education institutions to re-invent themselves in order to respond to the growing demand of highly-skilled practitioners and users, able to function effectively in a fast-changing environment where lifelong learning is a must.

As an institution that values open-ended learning and prepares its students to meet new challenges and come up with innovative and optimal solutions, AUBG gladly hosts prestigious forums for international collaboration. One such event was the Knowledge Management Conference which took place between June 25 and 28 and brought a variety of topics and professionals on campus.

This was the second edition of the conference, organized within the framework of the International Institute for Applied Management (IIAKM) – one of the leading organizations, which advocates sharing and access to knowledge. It fosters research activities in areas such as knowledge economy, intellectual capital, IT for knowledge management and organizational learning. More than 50 participants from 10 countries, among which Poland, Qatar, Canada, Korea, USA and Israel, took part in this stimulating and innovative endeavor. Most of the attendees knew each other either due to visiting the conference for a second time or through working on common projects, which created a friendly and professional environment. The event started with an attention-grabbing workshop facilitated by IIAKM fellow and distinguished scholar professor John Girard. It focused on reviewing knowledge management concepts and assessing the business value of emerging knowledge management trends. The program continued in the same dynamic, entertaining and informative style with sessions on website design, managing consumer knowledge and trust, social aspects of learning, social media and knowledge economy, among others.

who managed the selection of articles this year, their quality has surpassed the expectations and some of them will be published in the Journal of Computer Information Systems, an A-ranked journal in the area of Information Systems.

Professor Christozov also pointed that the main goal of each conference is to bring together people working on similar projects and provide them with a forum, where they can exchange ideas, methods and possible solutions. “This goal was achieved and I believe there are several teams that will start working together after the conference,” he said. “I hope that we will continue to welcome prestigious international conferences as this puts us on the map of academic institutions and increases the opportunities for receiving references. The CVs of all of the participants will now include AUBG as keyword and this will make us more recognizable in the scholarly circles,” he summed it up.

Both the participants and the organizers expressed their delight of the organization of the conference and the cordial attitude of the hosts. “It was one of the most engaging and enjoyable conference I have ever attended. And the tour of Sofia was first-class. We learned so much and we enjoyed it tremendously,” shared John Girard. AUBG Professor Dimitar Christozov, one of the main organizers, added that according to Dr. Ewa Ziemba and Dr. Nitsa Geri,

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AUBG Launches a New, Thoroughly Modernized Website

By Venera Nikolaeva More than anything else, digital information defines the modern world. Smart phones and tablets are ubiquitous. Free Wi-Fi is always as close as the next café, and information rushes over us in incessant waves of headlines and hyperlinks. In such a world, universities need to find ways to grab the attention of potential students and hold it long enough to persuade them to enroll. AUBG is thus proud to present its new “lighthouse” to draw prospective students in from the digital sea: the new website.

The new site features enhanced technology and cutting-edge website design meant to reflect AUBG’s position as a regional leader in higher education and as an enticing destination for forward-thinkers.

Teaming up with Despark, one of Bulgaria’s leading website developers, we set out to re-create the Univeristy’s single most important informational and promotional tool. During the process, our team interviewed sundry members of the AUBG community—including faculty, students, parents, and staff—who provided valuable feedback and suggestions for improving the University’s web presence.

Modern and elegant in its design, the new site provides a number of improvements over the previous one, including enhanced multimedia placement, social media integration, greater ease of navigation, more interactive content, and other features of a contemporary university website.

Vitally, the site also reaffirms the AUBG brand by

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maintaining consistency amongst the different sections of the site.

The homepage will feature a plethora of videos, news, and stories about distinguished members of the AUBG community, and the social media integration will make it easy to share these stories with others. Our digital visitors are located all over the world, and the new technology will enable them to easily access our content on mobile devices.

In addition to reflecting the latest trends in web development and communication, the new website represents a strategic step towards enhancing academic and operational excellence through offering leading technology.

The new digital face of the University is further enriched with a first-class virtual tour, developed

by YouVisit—a world leader in producing university virtual tours. It is well known that many potential students enroll at AUBG upon visiting campus; the virtual tour is the perfect tool to emulate this experience. From their homes—indeed, from virtually anywhere—users can explore amazing 360-degree panoramas, photos, and videos associated with AUBG’s buildings and facilities and peek into AUBG’s academic and extracurricular activities, as well as life in Blagoevgrad.

With all of these improvements, the new website will shine a light on all that AUBG has to offer – a light so brilliant it will assuredly get potential students’ attention and convince them to make AUBG their education destination.

2014 HONOR ROLL OF CONTRIBUTORS AUBG ANNUAL GIVING DONORS IN FISCAL YEAR 2014 (1 July 2013 – 30 June 2014) The American University in Bulgaria gratefully acknowledges the following individuals and organizations for their generosity. Please note that the list reflects only gifts received during fiscal year 2014

Transformation Gifts Albanian - American Development Foundation Marianne M. Keler* and Michael Kershow Open Society Foundation Philippe Bertherat ** Telerik AD Leadership Gifts Albanian-American Development Foundation Chris von Christierson * US Embassy of Turkmenistan Sustainability Gifts Anonymous Anonymous Aurubis Bulgaria AD Carl Djerassi Claude Janssen ** David & Kathleen Flanagan Eurobank Bulgaria AD Fondation de France Gerard van der Sluys** HRH Princess Maria Luisa of Bulgaria Jan Protogerov Bulgaria Foundation Lumina Foundation for Education Michael & Louise Easton + Michael McGoldrick Pavel Ezekiev * Richard Ramsden ** Robert and Nellie Gipson Salgo - Noren Foundation Stephen & Evelyn Auth * Steven Sullivan + Stratsimir Kulinski ‘95 Susan & Joel Morse * Tianaderrah Foundation Turkmenistan Youth & Civic

Values Foundation US Embassy in Sofia Youlia Berberian-Maleeva ** Yvonne Panitza ** Development Gifts Alexander Dourtchev EMBA ‘10 Alexander Tsachev ‘95 Ambassador John Menzies * Ana Milicevic ‘01 Andon Ichev ’95, in memory of Richard Woolfe

Andrey Bachvarov ‘01 Andrey Kuljiev ‘95 Andrew Norman Anguel Anguelov ‘00 Ann Ferren Asen Kalenderski ‘09 Assya Madjarova ‘95 Asya ’02, EMBA ’07 & Alex Alexandrov ’96, EMBA ’05 Avus Capital OOD Boian Kalchev ‘96 Borislav Stefanov ‘01 Christo Angelov ‘95 Cornpauw Foundation Daniela Kissova ‘96, in memory of Dimi Panitza

David Reich Dessislava & Tancho ’00 Fingarov, in memory of Lyuben Petrunov

Diane Love Dilyan Pavlov ‘95 Ervin Luga ‘00 Gates Hawn George Gueorgiev ‘99 Georgi Y. Georgiev ‘95 George Manahilov Georgi Malchev ‘04 Georgi Zahariev ‘95 Ivaylo Vatev ‘95 Ivan Gramatikov ‘07

Ivan Manev* and Alexandra Todorova Ivan Vargoulev ‘95 Ivanka Lakova ‘96 John Gulliver * Karen Boucias ** Ladies Forum Lora Atanasoff ‘95 Mr. & Mrs. Lyubomir Minchev ‘95 Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Tomov ‘97 Mariya Mitova ’06 & Mois Moshev ’06, in memory of Marcella Mosheva & Blaga Mitova

Mihail Lambrinov Mihaylov ‘97 Milena Stefanova ‘05 Ministry of Education, Bulgaria Miroslav Mateev + Nikola Trifunovic ‘04 Nikolay Arnaudov ‘00 Nikolay Georgiev ‘03 Nora Georgieva ’95 & Dimiter Gurdjilov ‘95 Pauline Porter, in memory of William Porter

Petar Sogindolski ‘06 Petia ’96 & Rossen ’95 Hadjiev PricewaterhouseCoopers Rachael Johnson ‘10 Ralitza Nikolaeva ‘96 Robert Phillips Jr. + Ronald Vanden Dorpel * Elena & Rossen ’00 Ivanov Rossen Petkov ‘04 Sergey Koinov ‘96 Simeon Georgiev ‘07 Slavi Slavov Spas Dimitrov ** Stoianka Rousseva ‘99 Svetozar Georgiev ‘00 Svetlozar Petrov * Sylvain Payou EMBA ’12, in honor of

Maya Teufel ‘95 Tanya Kosseva-Boshova ‘96 Morgan Stanley Thomas W. Bird ** Nikolai Dimitrov ‘99 Thomas Celli * Nikola Mihajlovic ‘06 Thomas Higgins * Nino Gugushvili ’06 UniCredit Bulbank AD Rossitza Stoykova ‘00 Vassil Terziev ’01, in memory of Saso Ordanoski ** Lyuben Petrunov Stanislava & Andrey Gurov + Velitchka Hristova ‘98 Stefan Karaivanov ‘01 Vesna Stojanoska ‘06 Stefan Kantardjieff Vessela & Vladimir Borachev ‘95 Steliana Stoyanova Vicky Politova-Lukanova ‘95 Svetoslav Nikov ‘95 Violeta Matcheva-Raykolescu ‘04, Varbin Staykoff ‘96 in memory of my grandparents Ivan & Victor Ceban ’03, in memory of Vladimir Borachev

Violeta Machevi

Viorica Ursu

Woodbury Fund of the Maine Community Foundation Yury Zabello ‘02

William Weary Yordanka Noneva +

Support Gifts

Friends of AUBG Abbas Maniar, in memory of Lyuben

Albena Markova ‘96 Alexander Boumbarov ‘03 Alexander Oliver ‘01 Amanda Borlotti, in memory of Lyuben Petrunov

Barbara Brittingham Barbara Janeff Cosmina Tanasoiu + Daniela Rakova-Blagoeva Deloitte Audit OOD Desislava Nikolova ‘96 Elena Krumova ‘95 Emil Staykov, in memory of Lyuben Petrunov

Filitsa & John Mullen + George T. Lazar Gueorgui Nikolov ‘95 HRH The Duke of Bavaria, Herzog Franz von Bayern Ivan Rakov Iveta Gigova ** Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies Konstantin and Paulina Ivanov Kseniya ’04 and Jordan ’01 Marvakov Lyndell Grey

Petrunov

Actavis EAD Adriana King ’97, in memory of Lyuben Petrunov

Aglika Georgieva ‘98 Alban Pruthi ‘05, in memory of my loving father Shefqet Nasir Pruthi

Aleksandar Vasilev ‘04 Alexandre Naydenov ‘03 Alexandru Popovici ‘03 Alisa Magardicheva ‘99 Aliya Beissova ’00, in memory of Viorica Ursu

American Dream OOD Ana Stojanovic ‘06 Andrea Birch Andrei Panici ’04, in memory of Viorica Ursu

Andrey Donov ’01, in memory of Lyuben Petrunov Andrey Jiansky ‘95 Anelia Stoyanova + Anna Boteva ‘05 Anton Hristov ‘09 Anton Kolev ‘95 Antoniya Ilieva, in memory of

Asen ’11 & Viktor Dimitrov + Barbara Snowadzky Boriana Alexiev ‘97 Boriana Shalyavska + Boris Ivanov + Borislav Tyulekov + Bulgarian-Macedonian National Camelia Stoitsova + Ed & Loralee Cooley Educational & Cultural Center Charles Magee Christos Apartoglou, in memory of Lyuben Petrunov

Dane R. and Judith E. Gordon Daniela Kovacheva + Dannie Chalk +, in honor of Dan and Donna Chalk

Denislav Todorov ‘95 Dessislava Stefanova ‘96 Diana Cheshmedjiev ‘01 Diego Lucci + Dobrodana Popova ‘08 Don Wallace Dren Sopa ‘06 Eftim Eftimov ‘08 Elena Poptodorova * Elitza Petrova ‘10 Elizaveta Chaikovskaya ‘08 Elka Bogusheva + Ellen Djampalska + Emilia Zankina + Evelina Baronova ‘10 Evelina Terzieva + Evgeniya MacDonald + Francois Riston * Gabriela Mateva ‘12 George & Yvonne Schexnayder Gergana Murtova + Gergana Yordanova-Nenkov ‘01 Gueorgui Koutzarov ‘98 Hristo Mirkov ‘96 Hydroenergy Company LTD Iliya Kardashliev ’04, in memory of Viorica Ursu

Lyuben Petrunov

Ilona Lalova ‘05 Inna-Dafi Stoilova Wenning ’97,

Artan Ajazaj ‘04

in honor of Paul and Peig Fairbrook

*Member, AUBG Board of Trustees **Member, University Council + Member, Faculty or Staff

HONOR ROLL OF CONTRIBUTORS

Ina Basho ‘04 Interhotel Grand Hotel Sofia AD Irina Gigova ‘96 Iva Komitski ‘95 Ivan Batachki ‘05 Ivan Evstatiev ’08, in honor of Monika Evstatieva

Ivan Gyulev ‘06 Ivan & Boban Markovic Ivelin Sardamov + Iveta Camilleri, in memory of

Nino Gugushvili ‘06 Norma Tucker Orlin Krumov in honor of Apostol Petkov Pateev Ltd. Patricia French Paul Fairbrook, in honor of Maia

Velimir Stilinovic Venelin Angelov ‘11 Vesselina Komitska ‘95 Victoria Jansen, in memory of Lyuben Petrunov

Viktor Spiriev ‘09 Virginia Lawton, in memory of Dimi

Parmakova

Panitza

Volin Karagiozov + Yulia Pechanova + Yuliya Sotirova + Zayd Faris, in memory of Lyuben

Jetmira Kaziu John Rodrigue + Kamelia Ivanova + Kamen Trendafilov ‘10 Kevin & Eva Aspegren + Kiril Alexiev ‘98 Kostadin Evstatiev ‘98 Krasimir Spasov + Kristina Dzhadzharova ‘07 Lachezar Stoynov ‘11 Laura Good, in memory of Lyuben

Petar Angelov ‘08 Philip Tilney Plamen Cheshmedjiev ‘02 Plamen Pavlov ‘04 Radu Colonescu ‘07 Ralph Earle II Ramachandran Bharath Richard Hibbits Robert and Ellen Bakish Robert & Yuliya White + Roger and Susan Whitaker Rostislava Ivanova ‘07 Sabri Tahiri ‘05 Simona Genkova + Sophia Batalova ’01, in memory of

Petrunov

Viorica Ursu

Leon Selig ** Lidia Salamurova, in memory of

Sophia Katsarska + Sophia Poster Stefan Gyoshev ‘08 Stefka Bengyuzova ‘12 Stoyan Bonev + Susan L. & Wayne C. Thompson Svetlana Petrova ‘07 Svetoslav Semov Tamara Todorova + Tanya Markova + Tatyana Dimitrova-Russler ‘96 Theodore Sippel Thomas Roncevic and Pamela Shaw Todor Mitev Toshka Borisova + Trimor Mici ‘05 Tsvetan Mladenov ‘07 Yelena Osipova ’09, in honor of

Lyuben Petrunov

Lyuben Petrunov

Ljuben Mutafchiev + Lucia Miree + Ludmilla Wightman Lydia Krise + Maria Dimitrova + Maria Lazarova + Maria Petrova ‘95 Maria Sotirova + Mariya Mehandzhiyska + Marisue and John Pickering Mark Kosmo Martin Manolov ‘08 Milena Lazarevic ‘04 Momchil Mitov ‘95 Mr. & Mrs. James K. E. Fagan * Nadya Han ‘07 Nancy MacKnight Nataliya Dimitrova-Popova ’99, in memory of Lyuben Petrunov

Nestor Dinkov ‘97

Petrunov

Zdravko Yovev +

Robert Phillips Jr.

Valentin Krustev ‘02 Vasil Strelkov ‘05 Vasil Zashev +

*Member, AUBG Board of Trustees **Member, University Council + Member, Faculty or Staff

AUBG Annual Giving Levels Transformation Gifts from $100,000 Sustainability Gifts from $5,000 and below $30,000 Support Gifts from $250 and below $1,000

Leadership Gifts Development Gifts Friends of AUBG

from $30,000 and below $100,000 from $1,000 and below $5,000 below $250

SPECIAL GIFTS In Memoriam Blaga Mitova Ivan & Violeta Machevi J. Dimitri Panitza Lyben Petrunov Marcella Mosheva Richard Woolfe Shefqet Nasir Pruthi

Viorica Ursu William Porter In Honor Apostol Petkov Dan and Donna Chalk

Maia Parmakova Monika Evstatieva Paul and Peig Fairbrook Robert Phillips Jr. Vladimir Borachev

ALUMNI GIVING Class of 1995 Alexander Tsachev Andon Ichev Andrey Jiansky Andrey Kuljiev Anton Kolev Assya Madjarova Christo Angelov Denislav Todorov Dilyan Pavlov Dimiter Gurdjilov Elena Krumova Georgi Y. Georgiev Georgi Zahariev Gueorgui Nikolov Iva Komitski Ivan Vargoulev Ivaylo Vatev Lora Atanasoff Lyubomir Minchev Maria Petrova Maya Teufel Momchil Mitov Nora Georgieva Rossen Hadjiev Stratsimir Kulinski Svetoslav Nikov Vesselina Komitska Vicky Politova-Lukanova Vladimir Borachev Class of 1996 Albena Markova Alex Alexandrov Boian Kalchev Daniela Kissova Desislava Nikolova Dessislava Stefanova Hristo Mirkov Irina Gigova Ivanka Lakova Maria Oprenova Petia Hadjieva Ralitza Nikolaeva Sergey Koinov Tanya Kosseva-Boshova

HONOR ROLL OF CONTRIBUTORS

Tatyana Dimitrova-Russler Varbin Staykoff Class of 1997 Adriana King Boriana Alexiev Daniel Tomov Inna-Dafi Stoilova-Wenning Mihail Lambrinov Mihaylov Nestor Dinkov Class of 1998 Aglika Georgieva Gueorgui Koutzarov Kiril Alexiev Kostadin Evstatiev Velitchka Hristova Class of 1999 Alisa Magardichev Aliya Beissova George Gueorgiev Class of 2000 Anguel Anguelov Ervin Luga Nataliya Dimitrova-Popova Nikolai Dimitrov Nikolay Arnaudov Rene Petrova Rossen Ivanov Rossitza Stoykova Stoianka Rousseva Svetozar Georgiev Tancho Fingarov Class of 2001 Alexander Oliver Ana Milicevic Andrey Bachvarov Andrey Donov Borislav Stefanov Diana Cheshmedjiev Gergana Yordanova- Nenkov Jordan Marvakov

Sophia Batalova Stefan Karaivanov Vassil Terziev Class of 2002 Asya Alexandrova Elena Ivanova Plamen Cheshmedjiev Valentin Krustev Yury Zabello Class of 2003 Alexander Boumbarov Alexandre Naydenov Alexandru Popovici Nikolay Georgiev Victor Ceban Class of 2004 Aleksandar Vasilev Andrei Panici Artan Ajazaj Georgi Malchev Iliya Kardashliev Ina Basho Milena Lazarevic Nikola Trifunovic Plamen Pavlov Rossen Petkov Violeta Matcheva - Raykolescu Class of 2005 Alban Pruthi Anna Boteva Ilona Lalova Ivan Batachki Milena Stefanova Sabri Tahiri Trimor Mici Vasil Strelkov Class of 2006 Ana Stojanovic Dren Sopa

Ivan Gyulev Mariya Mitova Mois Moshev Nikola Mihajlovic Nino Gugushvili Petar Sogindolski Vesna Stojanoska Class of 2007 Ivan Gramatikov Kristina Dzhadzharova Nadya Han Radu Colonescu Rostislava Ivanova Simeon Georgiev Svetlana Petrova

Tsvetan Mladenov

Class of 2010

Class of 2008

Elitza Petrova Evelina Baronova Kamen Trendafilov Rachael Johnson

Dobrodana Popova Eftim Eftimov Elizaveta Chaikovskaya Ivan Evstatiev Martin Manolov Petar Angelov Stefan Gyoshev Class of 2009 Anton Hristov Asen Kalenderski Viktor Spiriev Yelena Osipova

Class of 2011 Asen Dimitrov Lachezar Stoynov Venelin Angelov Class of 2012 Gabriela Mateva Stefka Bengyuzova

AUBG SOCIETY OF FELLOWS The AUBG Society of Fellows recognizes private cumulative giving, since 1991, in support of AUBG University Benefactors America for Bulgaria Foundation George Soros - Open Society Institute Anna K. Tchaprachikoff Athanas A. Zamphiroff Panitza Fellows Anonymous Alex Balkanski Minko Balkanski Philippe Bertherat Brother’s Brother Foundation Eliot Elieff The International Media Fund Marianne M. Keler The Salgo-Noren Foundation Davidson Fellows Ralph P. Davidson Elvin Guri

J. Dimitri Panitza Richard J. Ramsden John C. Whitehead The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation The Pew Charitable Trusts The Sallie Mae Fund Presidential Fellows Anonymous Chris von Christierson Gordon E. Cadwgan David T. Flanagan Norris Darrell Jr. Nellie & Robert Gipson William J. Hume Claude Janssen Lumina Foundation for Education Charlotte S. Metcalf MobilTel EAD Nancy R. Newhouse-Iovenko Telerik AD The Nando Peretti Foundation

The Starr Foundation Fellows Thomas W. Bird Duke Franz Foundation Craig Hall Ann S. Ferren and Jonathan D. Fife Freedom Forum Nan Frederick Mary Lee Herbster Terry Hopkins ING Bank – Sofia Branch Jules T. Kortenhorst HRH Princess Maria Luisa of Bulgaria Raiffeisenbank Bulgaria Representation of the European Commission in Bulgaria Harrison Richardson Leon M. Selig

AUBG Society of Fellows University Benefactors from $1m Davidson Fellows from $250k Panitza Fellows from $500k

Presidential Fellows from $100k

Fellows from $50k

ENDOWMENTS Endowments are permanent legacies that support AUBG in perpetuity 2002 USAID Endowment 2007 Anna K. Tchaprachikoff Endowed Scholarship

Michael & Louise Easton Endowed Scholarship

Ann S. Ferren and Jonathan D. Fife Scholarship for Community Service

2008 Michael Iovenko Endowed Scholarship

Athanas A. Zamphiroff Endowed Scholarship

Ilya V. and Katherine K. Talev Endowed Scholarship

David Huwiler and Svetlana Khamatova Endowed Scholarship Fund

2009 Metcalf/Ramsden Endowed Scholarship

Stephane Groueff Distinguished Endowed Scholarship

2010 Robert L. Woodbury Endowed Scholarship 2012 Eugenia Shudtz Brechka and Roberta Louise Nilsen Memorial Scholarship 2013 Stratsimir Kulinski ’95 Endowed Scholarship 2014 Dimi Panitza Memorial Professorship

Dimiter Ezekiev Distinguished Scholarship

Note:

Every effort has been made to make this listing 100% accurate. If, however, your name has

been omitted, misspelled, or misplaced, we sincerely apologize. Please let us correct our

mistake by contacting the AUBG Development Office at development@aubg.edu

HONOR ROLL OF CONTRIBUTORS

American University in Bulgaria Blagoevgrad Main Building 1 Georgi Izmirliev Sq. Blagoevgrad 2700, Bulgaria President’s Office: (+359 73) 888 307 Development: (+359 73) 888 366 Fax: (+359 73) 888 344 America for Bulgaria Student Center 12 Svoboda Bachvarova St. Skaptopara Campus Blagoevgrad 2700, Bulgaria Admissions: (+359 73) 888 111 admissions@aubg.edu American University in Bulgaria Sofia Elieff Center for Education and Culture 1 Universitetski Park St., Studentski Grad Sofia 1700, Bulgaria Switchboard: (+359 2) 960 7910 Fax: (+359 2) 961 6010 emba@aubg.edu U.S. Mailing Address: American University in Bulgaria 910 17th St., N.W. Suite 1100 Washington, D.C. 20006

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