AUBG Office Hours
By AUBG
AUBG Office HoursNov 21, 2022
Prof. Sean Homer on Teaching Students to Articulate Opinion
Professor Sean Homer received his Ph.D. degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Sheffield. He teaches Modern as well as Postmodern Fiction, Psychoanalysis in Literature and, separately, in Film, Balkan Cinema, and Film Criticism courses at AUBG. One of the methods he uses in his classes is the reader-response theory where students share how the text makes them feel rather than what it might mean.
Professor Olga Nikolova on the Internal Forces of Transformation
Professor Olga Nikolova teaches American Literature and Nature Writing at AUBG. After completing her Master’s degree in English Studies at the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, she earned her Ph.D. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University. Her dissertation on Graphic Design, Modern Poetry, and Academic Writing further helps her at her job of editing her own literary journal Peat Nekogash (“Пеат некогаш”). Professor Nikolova is also an experienced translator and has been translating Ezra Pound’s poetry for more than 20 years now.
“To give an example, is like when you say, “I love you” to a person and you mean it. It may be the simplest phrase in the world, but when you mean it, it has power. And it's absolutely the same thing with good writing. This is what it means to be authentic, you mean it, and the reader can feel that it's theirs.”
Follow AUBG Office Hours on Instagram.
Prof. Orlin Stoytchev on Teaching Students How to Solve Problems
Prof. Orlin Stoytchev teaches Linear Algebra, Mechanics and Thermodynamics, and Electromagnetism at AUBG. He is interested in the intricate connection between mathematics and physics and how the two subjects influence the development of each other. He earned his Ph.D. in Mathematical Physics from Virginia Tech University and worked at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences for a while.
Listen to the interview with Professor Stoytchev to hear more about why everyone can be good at mathematics, the skills it teaches and future physics projects.
“You have to get the knowledge and the skills to be able to tackle any problem in your future lives, in your future professional lives.”
Follow AUBG Office Hours on Instagram.
Prof. Carter Mandrik on Marketing and Sustainability
Professor Carter Mandrik teaches Marketing, Marketing Communications and Marketing Research at AUBG. Even though he got his Bachelor's degree in Biology, he found his passion in the Marketing field and earned his Ph.D. in Marketing at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
Listen to the interview with Professor Mandrik to hear more about his sustainability projects at AUBG, the role of psychology in marketing and what it is like to work in a top corporation.
“It's possible to be sustainable and create strong brands and profits at the same time.”
Prof. Dimiter Kenarov on the Future of Journalism
Dimiter Kenarov is a freelance journalist who specializes in literary journalism. He graduated with a Master's degree in English at the University of California, Berkley. Kenarov's work has been featured in The Best American Travel Writing and has been labeled “notable” in The Best American Non-Required Reading.
"I mean I’d say get into journalism because that helps you to find out more about the world and more about a world that you are not familiar with cause every story in a sense you get to live the lives of your characters and get out of your comfort zone.”
Prof. Markus Wien on the Skills that You Gain While Studying History
Professor Markus Wien teaches Economic History, Global History to 1500, and Early Modern Europe at AUBG. Having graduated with Ph.D. from the European University Institute Florence, Italy, Professor Wien believes that the study of history gives students the knowledge and analytical skills to put everything into perspective.
"Only history really studies human life in its full richness and variety...You get a feeling of how different and how diverse human life can actually be."
Host: Teona Sima
Read the article on the AUBG blog.
Watch on YouTube.
Prof. Darina Sarelska on the Journey That Matters
As of Fall ‘22, Professor Darina Sarelska teaches MoJo: Making Journalism with a Mobile Phone and Digital Storytelling at AUBG. After having worked for Bulgarian media outlets for many years, she changed her career path and completed her Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. "Being able to tell stories and to connect to people and audiences in an emotional and compelling way, I think is key."
Listen to or watch the interview with Prof. Darina Sarelska to learn more about the obstacles that media freedom faces and the importance of media literacy.
Prof. William Clark on Teaching Students How to Care About the World
Professor William Clark teaches Principles of Biology and Introduction to Environmental Science at AUBG. He loved the community so much that he gained his Ph.D. in Forest Science so that he could become a professor at the university. He is also an avid biker and even crossed Bulgaria to go to Burgas by bike a couple of years ago.
“We should live each day fully and that doesn’t mean just for pleasure, but live for what really matters.”
Prof. Didar Erdinc on How Economics Can Help People
Professor Didar Erdinc has been teaching economics at AUBG since 1997. She holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Southern California. Currently, Professor Erdinc gives courses in Econometrics, Time Series Econometrics, Senior Thesis I & II, and Managerial Economics (Executive MBA).
Watch on YouTube
Read on the AUBG blog.
Prof. Jeffrey Nilsen on the Society Development through Economics
Professor Jeffrey Nilsen graduated from Princeton with Ph.D. degree in Economics and has been teaching at the American University in Bulgaria for 17 years now. Listen to the podcast to know why Professor Nilsen decided to study Economics and what his favorite out-of-classroom activity is.
Professor Nilsen teaches Principles courses as he calls them. These are Principles of Microeconomics and Principles of Macroeconomics. Also, he gives Money and Banking and Advanced Financial Crisis.
He believes that such courses teach analytical ability.
Host: Lyubomir Yanchev
Read the highlights of this conversation on the AUBG blog.
Watch on YouTube.
Prof. Ronald Harvey on Teaching Students How to Find Themselves
Professor Ronald Harvey teaches Introduction to Psychology, Psychology Research Methods and Media Psychology at AUBG. He is also the founder of AUBG’s Improv theater club. After spending 20 years in the IT field, he earned his Ph.D. degree in Community Psychology with specialization in drug addiction recovery at DePaul University, Chicago.
Listen to the interview with Prof. Ronald Harvey to hear more about his jobs before becoming a professor at AUBG, his rockstar youth, and his favorite dad jokes.
Watch on YouTube here.
Read on the blog here.
Follow on Instagram here.
Prof. Momtchil Karpouzanov on Teaching Students to Have a Standpoint
Professor Momtchil Karpouzanov teaches Microeconomics and Financial Accounting at the AUBG but he also holds the position of Academic Director of the Executive MBA program at AUBG. Having graduated from Paul Cezanne Universite Aix-Marselle III, he has taught in France, Cyprus, and Bulgaria.
Listen to the interview with Professor Karpouzanov to hear more about his teaching philosophy, his perceptions of politics, economics, and philosophy, and which are the seven languages he speaks.
"Students are young adults who are given tools and empowered to try using those tools with all the possible mistakes and that's good, that's fine. It's a good place to make mistakes in a safe environment, the safest possible environment. In a way, we are the punching balls on which you train how to use those tools, how to sharpen your knives, how to prepare arguments, and argue and defend your standpoint, and articulate your opinion. This is where your professors know they have done their job when you have your opinion which is obviously based on what has been discussed in class, what you have read, and not on the opinion you have heard on social media."
Host: Teona Sima
Read the article by Frantsiska Kutevska on our blog.
Prof. Jean Crombois on Engaging Students and Expanding Their Opportunities
Professor Crombois is a co-chair of the Political Science and International Relations department at the American University in Bulgaria. A journalist, who used to specialize in European Union (EU) topics, now teaches students about the history, policies, and procedures of the EU.
"I firmly believe that the students have to be exposed to as many voices as possible," said Professor Jean Crombois.
Hear more about the traditional study trip to Brussels, the connection with the alumni, and some tips on negotiating.
Host: Teona Sima
Read the article by Frantsiska Kutevska on the AUBG blog.
Prof. Laura Kelly on Journalism, Social Issues, and Teaching
Professor Laura Kelly teaches Journalism courses at the American University in Bulgaria. Currently, a contributor to the column "Letters from Home", she passes the knowledge gained from her vast experience in the media industry to prepare AUBG students for working in the field of journalism and communications.
"It feels critical to talk about that and the development and awareness of what's going on in the larger world, kind of a global perspective of what is happening, and also to exercise our capacity to become agents of change. So, if we know what's happening, then perhaps we can make decisions about how we want to live in the world, be in the world, things we want to contribute to the world."
Host: Teona Sima
Read the article by Frantsiska Kutevska on the AUBG blog.
Prof. Ilya Levine on Teaching Students How to Better Understand the World
Professor Levine comes from New Zealand where he studied Economics and Politics. He graduated from the University of Melbourne, Australia with a Ph.D. degree in International Relations in 2013.
“There is less of that sense of chaos…once you start thinking about the world rationally, conceptually, and in an evidence-based manner. A lot of things start to make more sense and that’s a kind of comforting I think."
Host: Teona Sima
Read the article by Frantsiska Kutevska on the AUBG blog.
Prof. Elena Radeva On Gaining Life Skills
Aside from teaching, Professor Elena Radeva dedicates much of her time to social causes and urban initiatives. She is a strong advocate of clubs at AUBG because of how they prepare students for real life. Professor Radeva is grateful for being where she is.
Listen to the interview with Professor Elena Radeva who teaches Conflict Management at AUBG to learn more about teamwork and leadership. You can read some of the highlights .
If you are walking down the halls of Main Building and you are wondering where the music is coming from, then wonder no more. Because the culprit is right here. Professor Elena Radeva. And music is just one of her ways to break the ice before the class starts.
Host: Teona Sima
Prof. Nedyalko Delchev on Life and Theatre at AUBG
Professor Nedyalko Delchev has been teaching at AUBG for 26 years. A winner of the Bulgarian Oscar, he has diverse experience in directing theatre performances in AUBG and in theatres around Bulgaria and the world.
Host: Teona Sima
Read the article by Frantsiska Kutovska on our blog.
Prof. Evelina Van Mensel: "Being a university student is once in a lifetime experience"
Prof. Van Mensel got her Bachelor’s degree from Portsmouth University, which is where she first got interested in Mystery Shopping. Following her graduation, she has both managed her own business and has established and led the business of a major global marketing research provider. Professor Van Mensel obtained an Executive MBA degree from AUBG in Sofia in 2016, and has joined the university as a faculty member.
Read the highlights of this interview on our blog.
Host: Tsvetana Haydushka
AUBG Spring '22 Events Wrap Up
This episode was hosted by the supervisors - Dimana Doneva and Tsvetana Haydushka.
They made a recap on the bigger events on campus this semester, the back-to-on-ground experience, and shared their perspective on the activities organized by the AUBG community.
AUBG Civic Engagement and Extracurricular Activities
In this episode, we talked to Kalina Grancharova and her experience as part of the Civic Engagement program in collaboration with the local museum and their Treasure Hunt event.
Our main guest was Emma Kerencheva who talked about the last days of being part of the AUBG campus as a student.
Hear more about:
- the play "Art" by Yasmina Reza and the theater experience;
- Master's application process;
- the impact of the student clubs on growing and building skills
Another week closer to the end of this academic year
This week we talked to Viktoria Ivanova who told us what is it like to be a TedxAUBG host and an AUBG Daily president.
2022 Honors Convocation.
Student Faculty Research Conference.
Priorities of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Talks On Russian War Against Ukraine and its Impact.
MH25 Nominee Announcement.
Happy April Craziness!
Welcome back to the really busy AUBG semester! Here are only some of the topics you can hear being discussed in this episode:
Desislava Taseva told us about her experience during the Griffin’s Journey.
Kaloyan Todorov told us about Hack 4.0.
More Honors nominations are out!
Free Market Road Show 2022.
Social Entrepreneurship Practicum.
Do We Live in the Matrix? (the conclusion was a big No)
Musical kick off . Cancel Cultural Discussion . Jobs&Internship Fair . Earth Week . Fireside chat with Christo Grozev . Ukraine - Eu discussion
Episode 9 is here!
As spring settles in 💐 we moved to the summertime and the campus was burning with life, events, and music 🎶
The highlight of the week was the Musical Kick-off with ‘Cabaret’! 💃Their first production after two years of hiatus was a boom for the eyes, ears, and mind 👯♀️
Then our dear host Cathy recapped Earth Week 🌱, Fireside Chat 🔥 with Christo Grozdev, Ukraine - EU discussion, and Jobs&Internship Fair. Also, we looked into 👀 the weekend with Griffin’s Journey, HackAUBG 0.4, and Consultant for a Day Challenge.
To bring to tell us more about the StartUp weekend we invited Aleksandra Dimcheva.
Until next Friday 🧚♀️
Health & Wellbeing Day . AUBG POS Club "STRAZHA" . Upcoming Broadway Performance . Earth Week . StartUp Weekend
Happy spring dear listeners 🧚🏻 Episode 8 is here! Spring break 🌸 ended and AUBG came back to life, back to pre-COVID 🤩 How? This episode will tell you! The second half of the semester was kicked off with Health & Wellbeing Day 💚 and POS club’s Strazha. We also look into what will happen ahead with Earth Week, StartUp Weekend, and Musical Performance Cabaret coming up! Our special guests were Mohamad Hachem and Bindi Usukhbayr.
Fire in Your Heart: from Physical to Artistic Challenges
True to the idea of “strong body - strong mind“, a crew member of AUBG Olympics, Kristina Dimitrova talks about the importance of Challenging Wednesdays and gives a sneak peek at the upcoming D-Day 2022. A fourth-year student, Evgeniya Trifonova talks about the life as an artist on the stage, the AUBG musicals, and the "Vagina Monologues" play which was screened in honour of the International Women's Day.
The events this week were organized with a goal to gather financial support for the students affected by the war.
Powered by Radio AURA.
Make Art Not War: from Mental Health to Sustainability
Art by AUBGers for AUBGers and beyond: from an International Women's Day Exhibition to a Peaceful Demonstration for Ukraine. In these turbulent times, a fourth-year student and a member of the Psychology club, Armela Gjylsheni gives tips and tricks on how to take care of one's mental health. Kristiana Dimitrova, a third-year student , shares some insights for the Sustainability club's Spring Cleaning Bazaar.
Powered by Radio AURA.
From "127 Hours" to Acoustic Nights
Mihaela Kafedjiiska shares some insights from Xaia Hiking club's screening of a biographical survival drama "127 Hours" by Danny Boyle. A former president of the Rock Jamming Club, Nick Bruhnev discusses how texting can help learn a language, what it is like to be a part of a funk-pop band, and why he chose to study in Bulgaria instead of France.
Powered by Radio AURA.
International Week and Senior Stories
Mariela Latinova, a president of PhiBetaDelta, shares how representatives of different cultures bring back the spirit of AUBG. As a graduating senior, Nino Kutubidze reflects on her life inside and outside of the classroom and gives tips to those who are about to kick off their university journeys.
Powered by Radio AURA.
Pre-Race Jim-Jams and Junior Stories
A co-creator of the "Motorgrad" Capstone Project, Yenlik O'Neill, shares behind the scenes of the short documentary production process and the subsequent movie screening event. Lyubomira Aleksova, a third-year student at AUBG, talks about how she juggles her academic and social life while producing this year's musical "Cabaret" and organizing an event in collaboration with ROITI Ltd.
Powered by Radio AURA.
Sophomore Stories, Museum Project, TEDxAUBG Workshops
Second-year students, Teddy Decheva and Hristian Yankulov discuss the lifestyle differences between the UK, Canada, and Bulgaria. Hrisitan reflects on how the pilot version of "A Month in the Museum" program shaped his perception of community engagement in and beyond AUBG. Marina Marinova, as a senior and a member of TEDxAUBG, shares several insights from the workshops on idea generation, visual aids, and stage presence.
Powered by Radio AURA.
"Poday Ushe", here are some Freshman stories
An Elevate participant, Tsvetana Haydushka ('20), shares her "journey of inspiration" within the AUBG startup accelerator program. A first-year student, Viktoria Bojinova discusses why she chose to come to AUBG, how to navigate around as a freshman, and what it is like to be a part of the More Honors club.
Powered by Radio AURA.