Dr. Rumyana Marinova-Christidi received her Master's Degree in History and Archives from the Faculty of History at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski" and her PhD in Contemporary Bulgarian History from the same Faculty. She has been teaching there since 2005, was elected Assistant Professor in 2009 and became Associate Professor in 2014. Since 2018, she has been serving as the Head of the Jewish Studies Program (Hebraistika). Her areas of teaching expertise include Contemporary History of Bulgaria (from WWII until 1989), the Holocaust period, History of the Bulgarian Jews, Education and Ideology during Communism. Dr. Rumyana Marinova-Christidi has also been a visiting professor at the University of Haifa (Israel), Bar-Ilan University (Israel), the University of Western Macedonia (Thessaloniki, Greece), the University "Carlo Bo" in Urbino (Italy) and the Link Campus University in Rome. She is the author of two monographs and numerous articles.

Dr. Marinova-Christidi is the recipient of an award from the Organization of the Jews in Bulgaria "Shalom" for her "exceptional contribution to the realization of interethnic and religious dialogue, the fight against manifestations of hate and xenophobia and the strengthening of relations between Bulgarians and Jews." Additionally, she is a member of the Bulgarian delegation to IHRA and the European Association for Jewish Studies.

2023 IVLP Impact Award Project: 120 Years of Bulgaria-U.S. Diplomatic Relations: Where Are We Today?

Dr. Marinova-Christidi's 2023 IVLP Impact Award Project enhanced cooperation between Bulgaria and the USA, focusing on key challenges and threats in the Black Sea region as well as security, democratic governance, human rights, rule of law and education. Two seminars on U.S.-Bulgarian diplomatic relations were organized in Sofia and in Sliven with more than 50 attendees at each conference. Seminar events included diplomatic relation discussions, a special exhibition created by the National State Archives, and around 12 lectures on high-priority topics for the two countries, such as security and education. As a result of the seminars, the Bulgarian public grew in their positive attitude toward the U.S. and in their understanding of U.S. policy and its importance for Bulgaria. Many students expressed interest in and applied for internships and educational and training programs offered by the U.S. Embassy. The project strengthened cooperation between Sofia University and the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria and enhanced the positive image of the U.S. as a major partner of Bulgaria.

2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Facing the "New Normality" - Challenges, Approaches and Solutions

The aim of this 2022 IVLP Impact Award Project was to identify the main threats and challenges for Bulgaria and the United States in the Black Sea region and abroad. The project focused on topics such as misinformation in Bulgarian society, emanation from foreign sources, and foreign support in Bulgarian political society. Over 290 student attendees took part of the 4 seminars at Sofia University in collaboration with the Sofia Security Forum and The Atlantic Club in Bulgaria. Participants engaged with experts from both countries to process and design innovative and feasible solutions. Foreign diplomats were very interested in the discussion about US-Bulgarian foreign policy and offered to give lectures at Sofia University.

IVLP Exchange Experience

Dr. Rumyana Marinova-Christidi was a participant in the IVLP Project 21st Century Change Makers: Recognition and Remembrance - Documentarians Reflect on the 30th Anniversary of the Dissolution of the Soviet Union in 2021 organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning. She was a participant in the IVLP Project 21st Century Change Makers: Recognition and Remembrance- Documentarians Reflect on telling History after the Fall of the Soviet Union in 2022, also organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning.

U.S. Communities Visited in 2022

Albuquerque, NM; New York City, NY; Tulsa, OK

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually in 2021

Washington, DC; Los Angeles, CA; Tulsa, OK; Albuquerque, NM

"I found my participation in the IVLP project very interesting and useful in my career. It enriched my knowledge and broadened my perspectives/experience in US history and the current challenges facing Bulgaria and the US." - Dr. Rumyana Marinova-Christidi

Country: Bulgaria

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