Dr. Rumyana Marinova-Christidi serves as the Head of the Jewish Studies Program (Hebraistika) at Sofia University "St. Kliment Ohridski", where she has been teaching since 2005. She received her Master's Degree in History and Archives and her PhD in Contemporary Bulgarian History from the Faculty of History there.  Her areas of teaching expertise include Contemporary History of Bulgaria (from WWII to 1989), the Holocaust period, History of the Bulgarian Jews, and Education and Ideology during Communism. She 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." 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?

The 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 participants at each. Seminar events included diplomatic relation discussions, a special exhibition created by the National State Archives, and lectures on high-priority topics for the two countries, such as security and education. 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 project identified the main threats and challenges for Bulgaria and the United States in the Black Sea region and abroad. It focused on topics such as misinformation in Bulgarian society emanating from foreign sources, and foreign support in Bulgarian political society. More than 290 students participated in 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 design innovative and feasible solutions to challenges faced.

IVLP Exchange Experience

Dr. Rumyana Marinova-Christidi participated in the 2021 IVLP Project 21st Century Change Makers: Recognition and Remembrance - Documentarians Reflect on the 30th Anniversary of the Dissolution of the Soviet Union organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning, in partnership with International Citizen Diplomacy of Los Angeles, Tulsa Global Alliance and Global Ties ABQ. She also participated in the 2022 IVLP Project 21st Century Change Makers: Recognition and Remembrance- Documentarians Reflect on telling History after the Fall of the Soviet Union, also organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning, in partnership with Tulsa Global Alliance, Global Ties ABQ and the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City.

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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