sandra pralong

CV

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Sandra Pralong

SANDRA PRALONG, Ph.D.

Consultant, trainer, autor, public-speaker si coach. Fost inalt functionar ONU, consilier al Presedintelui Romaniei, presedinte de fundatie internationala si director al unui trust international de presa (Newsweek) la New York. Competente in managementul schimbarii, leadership si comunicare, advocacy, drepturile omului, dezvoltarea societatii civile si asistenta oficiala pentru dezvoltare internationala (ODA). Studii si specializare academica in Statele Unite si Europa de Vest. Detine un Doctorat in Stiinte Politice („Sciences Po”, Paris) cu mentiunea „Foarte Onorabil”.

EXPERIENTA PROFESIONALA

2014 – Prezent: Academia de Studii Economice (ASE), Facultatea de Administrarea Afacerilor in limbi straine, Bucuresti (Romania)
Profesor invitat
• Preda „Managementul schimbarii” studentilor de la programele de Licenta si Master in Business Administration (in limba engleza).

2014 – Prezent: Synergy Communications, Bucuresti (Romania)
Consultant, trainer & coach corporatist, organizator de evenimente si public speaker
• Creeaza si livreaza workshop-uri si training-uri de cultura organizationala, managementul schimbarii, leadership bazat pe valori, comunicare si coaching in mediul corporatist.

2012 – 2014: Asociatia Romane pentru Relatii Publice (ARRP), Bucuresti (Romania)
Presedinte
• Aleasa de colegi pentru a conduce corpul profesional din Romania responsabil pentru standardele, calificarile si excelenta in domeniul comunicarii, PR si CSR, in sectoarele public si privat.

2011: Decan „Scoala de Comunicare”, Bucuresti (Romania)
• Creeaza un program prin care comunicatori de top ofera training-uri pro-bono purtatorilor de cuvant si specialistilor in comunicare din administratia publica (traininguri in relatia cu mass media, branding institutional, etica, managementul crizelor, etc.).

2009 – 2011: Fondul ONU pentru Populatie (UNFPA), Bucuresti (Romania)
Consilier pe probleme de gen si societate civila
• Publica „Ce stim despre femei in Romania”, o colectie de date referitoare la gen (in parteneriat cu Academia Romana si Universitatea din Bucuresti).

2007-2009: Programul ONU pentru Dezvoltare (UNDP), Bucuresti (Romania)
Consilier pe probleme de asistenta oficiala pentru dezvoltare (ODA)
• Contribuie la intarirea capacitatii Ministerului de Externe de a acorda asistenta internationala;
• Cerceteaza si scrie un studiu despre „Avantajul competitiv al programului de asistenta oficiala pentru dezvoltare (ODA) din Romania si ‘semnatura’ Romaniei ca donator de asistenta pentru dezvoltare”.

2006 – 2009: Fundatia SynergEtica, Bucuresti (Romania)
Fondator si Presedinte
• Lanseaza si conduce SynergEtica, o fundatie pentru etica, integritate si civilitate in Romania;
• Co-fondatoare a agentiei de PR Synergy EurEst in Republica Moldova, care a comunicat in numele Delegatiei Comisiei Europene (2007/8);
• Proiecteaza campaniile de comunicare si advocacy in vederea atingerii Obiectivelor de Dezvoltare ale Mileniului (UNDP) pentru Parlamentul Republicii Moldova (UNDP) si de doua ori pentru Guvernul Republicii Moldova (UNDP si Banca Mondiala);
• Initiaza si lanseaza primul radio on-line dedicat societatii civile („Radio-ONG”) administrat in parteneriat cu Forumul Donatorilor Romani (FDR);
• Consultant la fondarea primei si celei mai larg dotate Fundatii din Romania (RAEF, 2007);
• Colecteaza si analizeaza date despre cele 16,969 de ONG-uri active in Romania pentru cercetarea doctorala;
• Invitata sa participe la Grupul de Lucru de nivel inalt al comisarului UE pentru Multilingvism si este numita ulterior Ambasador al Bunavointei in cadrul „Anului European pentru Dialog Intercultural” (2008);
• Vicepresedinte ales al primei platforme ONG din Romania pe tema cooperarii internationale pentru dezvoltare (FOND).

2002 – 2005: Programul ONU pentru Dezvoltare (UNDP), Biroul pentru Europa si CIS, Centru regional Bratislava (Slovacia)
Consilier regional pe probleme de comunicare
• Conduce comunicarea UNDP in Europa Centrala si de Est, Tarile Baltice, Balcani si fosta Uniune Sovietica (in total de 27 de state);
• Obtine un nivel exceptional de atentie si recunoastere in presa internationala a proiectelor UNDP;
• Antreneaza personalul multi-etnic al UNDP (de la centrul ONU si din birourile statale) in comunicare, diseminarea informatiei, vizibilitate in mass-media, managementul cunostintelor, aptitudini de prezentare si redactare a rapoartelor, etc.;
• Creeaza o noua structura manageriala, buletine informative interne, supervizeaza alocarea de buget si conduce echipa internationala de experti si profesionisti in mass media.

2000-2002: Grupul Synergy Communications, Bucuresti (Romania)
Fondator si Managing partner
• Pune bazele unui serviciu de consultanta pentru a consilia organizatii internationale si corporatii in managementul strategic al comunicarii, reputatie si PR;
• Dintre clienti: Renault-Dacia, Erste Bank, Google, Bechtel, Berlitz, Regus, Unita, dar si institutii precum UNDP, UNICEF, Banca Mondiala, USAID, OCDE, Comisia Europeana, etc.

1998 – 2000: Presedintia Romaniei, Bucuresti (Romania)
Consilier personal al Presedintelui Romaniei
• Responsabila pentru comunicarea internationala si coordonarea politicilor catre romanii din afara tarii (diaspora);
• Indeplineste functia de purtator de cuvant al presedintelui pentru presa straina, tinand legatura cu mass-media straine pentru a realiza o acoperire extinsa si excelenta in strainatate (CNN, NY Times, Le Monde, Figaro, l’Express, Le Point, etc.);
• Initiaza programe pentru presa romana din strainatate si pentru studentii romani din afara tarii, organizeaza targuri de cariera si alte programe folosite si de administratiile prezidentiale ulterioare;
• Dezvolta un plan multi-partizan pentru inregistrarea alegatorilor si reprezentarea parlamentara a romanilor din afara tarii.

1994 –1998: Consultant international New York si Paris
• Ofera training si consultanta pentru oficialii guvernamentali pe probleme de comunicare a reformelor economice si sociale, dezvoltarea societatii civile si independenta presei;
• Realizeaza campanii de comunicare despre privatizare si reformele economice in Europa de Est;
• Transmite reportaje pentru CNN World Report; realizeaza si prezinta emisiunea TV „De la Marx la piete” („From Marx to Markets”);
• Dintre clienti pot fi amintiti: Cabinetul Primului Ministru al Romaniei, Guvernul Armeniei, Banca Mondiala, Agentia Statelor Unite pentru Dezvoltare Internationala (USAID), Programul Natiunilor Unite pentru Dezvoltare (UNDP) din Albania, Moldova, Ucraina, cat si Fundatia Soros, Fundatia Bertelsmann, Internews, etc.

1993 – 1994: TransNews Praga (Republica Ceha)
Director Executiv
• Pune bazele unui consortiu pentru schimbul de stiri intre televiziunile publice din Europa Centrala si de Est in numele Internews.

1990–1993: Fundatia pentru o Societate Deschisa, Bucuresti (Romania)
Co-presedinte al Consiliului Director si Director Executiv
• Creeaza si conduce prima fundatie filantropica privata din Romania;
• Proiecteaza si administreaza peste 250 de programe in domeniul dezvoltarii societatii civile, educatiei, media, drepturilor omului, statului de drept, artei si culturii etc;
• Selecteaza si pregateste un personal de 45 de persoane, deschide 3 filiale (inclusiv una in Republica Moldova), coopereaza cu institutiile locale, precum si cu donatorii internationali si bilaterali majori.

1988–1990: Revista Newsweek New York (SUA)
Director de promovare
• Responsabila cu publicitatea si promovarea revistei Newsweek in America de Nord;
• Schimba directia strategica si lanseaza o noua campanie de imagine care a adus Newsweek pe primul loc in memorabilitate intre publicatiile competitoare.

1985–1987: Revista Newsweek New York (SUA)
Manager, suplimente speciale
• Responsabila pentru continutul editorial, productia si marketingul a 12 mini-reviste anuale cu un venit de peste 5 milioane de dolari;
• Selecteaza jurnalistii si scriitorii, supervizeaza directia editoriala, artistica si designul, gestioneaza bugetele si coordoneaza operatiunile de la concept la distributie;
• Creeaza, lanseaza si redacteaza Management Digest Quarterly, pentru cele doua milioane de cititori de elita ai Newsweek.

• Alte pozitii: Manager Asociat pentru marketing (1985), Internship pe timpul verii (1984).

1982–1983: Organizatia pentru Cooperare si Dezvoltare Economica (OCDE), Paris (Franta)
Stagiar
• Evalueaza rolul pregatirii la locul de munca pentru demnitarii din administratia publica a tarilor in curs de dezvoltare.

PREDARE SI POSTURI ACADEMICE:

2014–prezent: Academia de Studii Economice (ASE), Facultatea de Administrarea Afacerilor, cu predare in limbi straine (FABIZ), Bucuresti (Romania)
Profesor invitat – preda „Managementul schimbarii” pentru studentii de la programele de Licenta si de Master.
1999–2000: Universitatea din Bucuresti, Facultatea de Stiinte Politice Bucuresti (Romania)
Profesor invitat – preda „Capital social si dezvoltare economica” pentru studentii la Stiinte Politice.
1997–1998: Colegiul Barnard, Universitatea Columbia New York (SUA)
Asistent – indruma studentii pentru cursul de „Comunitate Politica”.
1981–1982: Universitatea din Niamey Niger (Africa de Vest)
Profesor invitat – preda „Economia politica” pentru studentii de Master si demnitari ai guvernului aflati in proces de dezvoltare a carierei.
1979–1981: Ecole Roche Lausanne (Elvetia)
Preda „Istorie Europeana” si „Economie” pentru studentii la nivel de bacalaureat international.

EDUCATIE:

2000-2008: Doctor in Stiinte Politice (cu mentiunea „Foarte Onorabil”) la Institut d’Études Politiques (”Sciences Po”), Franta. (Disertatie doctorala despre impactul culturii politice in dezvoltarea societatii civile in Romania dupa 1990);
1994-1998: Master in Filosofie si Stiinte Politice la Columbia University, New York;
1983-1985: Master in Drept International si Diplomatie la Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Medford, Massachusets. Cursuri la Harvard. Parte din redactia The Fletcher Forum Quarterly;
1980-1981: Certificat de Studii Comerciale Superioare (echivalent Master of Business Administration), Universitatea din Lausanne, Elvetia (absolvirea programului de doi ani intr-unul);
1977-1980: Licenta in Stiinte Politice, Universitatea din Lausanne, Elvetia;
Pregatire in Arta (desen si pictura). Expozitii in Romania, Elvetia si Statele Unite.

COMPETENTE LINGVISTICE:

• Fluenta nativa: Franceza, Engleza, Romana (limba natala);
• Italiana buna;
• Germana si Spaniola de baza.

ONORURI SI DISTINCTII

2013: Primeste Ordinul Coroana Romaniei in Grad de Cavaler, oferit de MS Regele Mihai I;
2007: Numita Ambasador al Bunavointei pentru a promova „Anul European al Dialogului Intercultural-2008”;
2006: Invitata sa fie „avocatul” Regelui Carol I in cadrul emisiunii TV ”Mari Romani” (format BBC)
2000: Primeste ordinul „Serviciu Credincios” din partea Statului Roman;
1993: Includerea in ”Who’s Who in the World”;
1989: Premiul intai pentru cea mai buna campanie de publicitate pentru un serviciu de informare publica – United Way pentru Newsweek la New York;
1988: Includere in ”Who’s Who of American Women”;
1987: Primeste Distinctia pentru Debut din partea Asociatiei Americane de Poezie;
1984: Citatie din partea Senatului Statului Massachusetts pentru „Contributii extraordinare aduse Commonwealth-ului Massachusetts”;
1983: Numita Ambasador al Bunavointei si castigatoare a bursei de studii superioare de la Fundatia Internationala Rotary.

Membru in consiliile de conducere a diverse fundatii si asociatii internationale: Fundatia Jean Monnet pentru Europa (Lausanne, Elvetia), Fundatia pentru Umanitate (Boston, SUA), Fundatia Principesa Margareta a Romaniei, Fundatia Ovidiu Rom (Romania), etc.

PUBLICATII:

• Cum schimbam mentalitatea? 25 de ani in Romania (”How can we change mentality? 25 years in Romania”), essays, Ed. Polirom, 2014
• Putere vs forta, sau transformarea Romaniei intre civic si politic, capitol in „7 teme fundamentale pentru Romania”, Dan Dungaciu, Vasile Iuga, Marius Stoian (coordonatori), Ed. Rao, 2014
• Mai romani decat romanii? De ce se indragostesc strainii de Romania, (”More romanians than romanians? Why foreigners fall in love with Romania”), coordinator, Editura Polirom, 2013
• La Mondialisation, entre Ethique et Empathie („Mondializarea, intre Etica si Empatie”), in Actes du Colloque Ferdinand Gonseth, Eric Emery (Editor), Editura l’Age d’Homme, Lausanne, Elvetia, 2011
• Ce nevoie avem de femei in viata publica?, capitol publicat in „Forta politica a femeilor”, Andreea Paul Vass (coordonator), Ed. Polirom, 2011
• Romania and MDG Goal 3: When gender equality means expanding democracy („Romania si Obiectivele de Dezvoltare ale Mileniului: Cand egalitatea de gen inseamna extinderea democratiei”), in Entre Nous Magazine, The European Magazine for sexual and reproductive health, No. 71, 2011
• De ce m-am intors in Romania? (”Why did I return to Romania”), Coordinator, Ed. Polirom, 2010
• Cum vad feminitatea (”How I see feminity”), text published in „Cele 4 dimensiuni ale feminitatii romanesti”, Monica Silvia Tatoiu (coordonator), vol. 1, Ed. Neverland, Bucuresti, 2010
• Sink or Swim – Romania’s Policy in the Black Sea Region: How to Empower New Non-state Actors („Scufundare sau inot – politica Romaniei in regiunea Marii Negre: cum sa imputernicim noii actori non-statali”) in Romanian Review of International Policy (Revista romana de politica internationala), Vol I, Nr I, 2006
• For Love or Profit? NGOs and the Development of Romanian Civil Society, (Din dragoste sau pentru profit? ONG-uri si dezoltarea societatii civile din Romania) Capitol publicat in „Romania Since 1989: Politics, Economics and Society” („Romania de la 1989: Politica, economie si societate”) Henry Carey (Editor), Lexington Books, Lanham, Boulder, New York, Oxford, 2004
• Bridging the Leadership Gap – A Strategy for Improving Political Leadership in the EU (Acoperirea deficientelor din conducere – O strategie pentru imbunatatirea conducerii politice in UE) in „Contributions to European Unification” („Contributii la Unificarea Europeana”) volum colectiv, „Thinking Enlarged Group”, Martin Brusis, Janis Emmanouilidis (Editori), Bertelsmann Foundation Publishers, 2003
• Thinking Enlarged: The Accession Countries and the Future of the European Union (Gandind la scara larga: Tarile in curs de aderare si viitorul UE) in „Contributions to European Unification”, („Contributii la Unificarea Europeana”) volum colectiv, Martin Brusis, Janis Emmanouilidis (Editori), Europa Union Verlag, 2002
• Country Assessment for Romania, (Analiza statala a Romaniei) in Nations in Transit Report (Raportul „Natiuni in Tranzit”), Freedom House, New York, anii 2001 si 2002
• Culture and Conflict Resolution—Reflections on Mental Models and Problem-Solving Strategies in Post-Communist Countries, (Cultura si rezolvarea conflictelor – Reflectii despre modelele mentale si strategiile pentru rezolvarea problemelor in statele post-comuniste) in „Romanian Journal of Political Science” („Jurnalul Roman de Stiinte Politice”) (in engleza), Vol 1, Numar 2, Aprilie 2001
• The Value of Liberalism—an East European Perspective (Valoarea liberalismului – o perspectiva est-europeana), capitol publicat in „The Meaning of Liberalism—East and West” („Intelesul liberalismului – in Est si Vest”), Zdeneck Suda si Jiri Musil, (Editori), Central European University Press, Prague, 2000
• Minima Moralia, capitol publicat in „Popper’s Open Society after 50 Years, The Continuing Relevance of Karl Popper” („Societatea deschisa dupa 50 de ani. Relevanta continua a lui Karl Popper”), Ian Jarvier si Sandra Pralong (Editori), Routledge, London si New York, 1999
• Y a-t-il une Ethique de la Liberté? (Exista vreo etica a libertatii?), capitol publicat in „Science, Technique et Valeurs” („Stiinta, tehnica si Valori”), Eric Emery (Editor), L’Age d’Homme, Paris, 1998
• Romanian Nationalism—Double Problem, Double Talk? (Nationalismul roman – dubla problema, dublu limbaj?), capitol publicat in „State and Nation-Building in East and Central Europe: Contemporary Perspectives” („Construirea statului si a natiunii in estul si centrul Europei: Perspective contemporane”), John S. Micgiel, (Editor), Columbia University, 1996

 _____________________________________________________________

SANDRA PRALONG Ph.D.

Consultant, trainer, author, public-speaker and coach. Former UN executive, counselor to the President of Romania, international foundation executive and international media executive (Newsweek) in New York. Established credentials in change management, values-based leadership and communications, advocacy, human rights, civil society development and overseas development assistance (ODA). Ph.D. in Political Science („Sciences Po”, Paris), graduated Magna cum Laude.

EXPERIENCE:

2014- Present: Academy of Economic Studies, Faculty of Business Administration (FABIZ), Bucharest (Romania)
Visiting Professor
• Teaching “Change Management” to students in the Business Masters and Bachelors programs (in english).

2014- Present: Synergy Communications, Bucharest (Romania)
Corporate consultant, trainer & coach, event facilitator and public speaker
• Design and deliver corporate workshops and trainings on organizational culture, change management, values-based leadership, communications and coaching in corporations.

2012-2014: Romanian Association of Public Relations (ARRP), Bucharest (Romania)
President
• Elected by peers to lead Romania’s professional body responsible for the standards, qualifications and excellence in the fields of communications, PR and CSR, in the private and public sectors.

2011: Dean “Scoala de Comunicare”, Bucharest (Romania)
• Created program where top communications executives trained pro-bono public administration spokespeople and communications specialists about media relations, institutional branding, ethics, crisis management, etc.

2009-2011: UN Fund for Population (UNFPA), Bucharest (Romania)
Gender and Civil Society advisor
• Published “What do we know about women in Romania”, a collection of data on gender (with the collaboration of Romanian Academy and the University of Bucharest).

2007-2009: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bucharest (Romania)
Senior advisor in official development assistance (ODA)
• Fostered the capacity of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliver international assistance;
• Researched and wrote study on the Competitive Advantage of Romania’s ODA and Romania’s “Signature” as a donor of development assistance.

2006-2009: SynergEtica Foundation, Bucharest (Romania)
Founder & President
• Launched and managed SynergEtica, a foundation for ethics, integrity and civility in Romania;
• Co-founded Synergy EurEst in Moldova to communicate on behalf of the EU Delegation (2007/8);
• Designed communication and advocacy campaigns for achievement of the MDGs (UNDP); the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (UNDP), and twice for the Government of Moldova (UNDP and World Bank);
• Initiated and launched Romania’s first on-line medium dedicated to civil society: www.Radio-ONG.ro, managed in partnership with the Romanian Donors Forum (FDR);
• Chief consultant in establishing Romania’s first and largest endowed Foundation (RAEF, 2007);
• Gathered and analyzed data on Romania’s 16,969 active NGOs for doctoral research;
• Invited to sit on EU Commission’s High-Level Working Group on Multilingualism and subsequently appointed Goodwill Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue (2008);
• Elected VP of Romania’s first NGO platform for international development cooperation (FOND).

2002-2005: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Bureau for Europe and the CIS, Regional Center, Bratislava (Slovakia)
Regional Communications Advisor
• Headed UNDP’s communications in territory covering Central and Eastern Europe, the Baltics, the Balkans and the former Soviet Union (total of 27 countries);
• Achieved record-breaking international media exposure and recognition for UNDP’s projects;
• Trained multi-ethnic UNDP staff (centrally and in Country Offices) in communications, information sharing, media outreach, knowledge management, presentation and editorial skills;
• Set up new management structure, created internal communications channels, oversaw budget allocation and managed international team of experts and media professionals.

2000-2002: Synergy Group, Bucharest (Romania)
Founder, Managing Partner
• Established thriving consultancy to advise international organizations and corporations in strategic management of communications, reputation and PR;
• Clients included Renault-Dacia, Erste Bank, Google, Bechtel, Berlitz, Regus, as well as institutions such as UNDP, UNICEF, the World Bank, USAID, OECD, the European Commission etc.

1998-2000: The Presidency of Romania, Bucharest (Romania)
Advisor to the President of Romania
• In charge of international communication and coordinating policy towards Romanians abroad;
• Served as President’s international spokesperson, liaised with foreign media to achieve extensive and excellent coverage abroad (CNN, NY Times, Le Monde, Figaro, le Point, etc.);
• Initiated outreach programs for Romanian-language media abroad and Romanian students in foreign Universities, organized job fairs and other programmes pursued by successive administrations;
• Developed multi-partisan plan for voter registration and Parliamentary representation of Romanians abroad.

1994-1998: International Consultant, New York (USA) and Paris (France)
• Trained and advised government officials on communication of economic and social reforms; civil society development and media independence;
• Designed communication campaigns on privatization and economic reforms in Eastern Europe;
• Broadcasted stories on CNN World Report; wrote and hosted TV show “From Marx to Markets”;
• Clients included: the Office of the Prime Minister of Romania, the Government of Armenia, the World Bank, USAID, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Albania, Moldova, Ukraine, the Soros Foundation, Bertelsmann Foundation, Internews, etc.

1993-1994: Transnews Prague (Czech Republic)
Chief Executive Officer
• Established regional TV news-exchange and video-features syndicate among Central, East-European and Russian broadcasters, on behalf of Internews.

1990-1993: The Open Society Foundation, Bucharest (Romania)
Co-President of the Board and Executive Director
• Established and directed the country’s first private philanthropic organization;
• Designed and administered over 250 programs in: institution building, the development of civil society, education, media, human rights, rule of law, arts and culture, etc.;
• Hired and trained local staff of 45, opened 3 branch offices (including one in the Republic of Moldova), cooperated with local institutions and major international and bilateral donors.

1988-1990: Newsweek Magazine, New York (USA)
Director of Promotion
• Responsible for Newsweek’s North American advertising and trade promotion;
• Changed strategic direction and launched new image campaign, which ranked Newsweek 1st in recall among competing publications.

1985-1987: Newsweek Magazine, New York (USA)
Manager, Special Supplements
• Responsible for the editorial content, production and marketing of 12 yearly mini-magazines with revenues over $ 5 million;
• Identified writers, commissioned stories, top-edited and line-edited articles, oversaw art-direction and layout, managed budgets and coordinated operations from concept to distribution;
• Created, launched and edited Management Digest Quarterly, for Newsweek’s 2 million executive readers.

Other positions include: Associate Marketing Manager (1985), summer intern (1984).

1982-1983: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD), Paris (France)
Intern
• Evaluated the role of in-service training for public administration officials in developing countries.

TEACHING AND ACADEMIC POSITIONS:

2014 – present: Academy of Economic Studies (ASE), Faculty of Business Administration (FABIZ), Bucharest (Romania)
Visiting professor – teaches “Change Management” to students in Masters’ and Bachelors’ programs.
1999 – 2000: University of Bucharest, Bucharest (Romania)
Visiting professor – taught ”Social Capital” and ”Economic Development” to Political Science students.
1997 – 1998: Barnard College, Columbia University, New York (USA)
Teaching assistant – tutored students for course on the “Political Community”.
1981 – 1982: University of Niamey, Niger, West Africa
Visiting Professor – taught ”Economics” to graduate students and mid-career government officials.
1979 – 1981: Ecole Roche, Lausanne, Switzerland
Taught ”European History” and ”Economics” to international Baccalaureat students.

EDUCATION:

2000 – 2008: Ph. D. in Political Science (Magna cum Laude), at the ‘Institut d’Etudes Politiques’, Paris, France. (Dissertation on the Impact of Culture on the development of Civil Society in Romania);
1994 – 1998: Master of Philosophy in Political Science, Columbia University, New York, N.Y;
1983 – 1985: Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Medford, Mass. Coursework at Harvard Business School. Editorial team of The Fletcher Forum;
1980 – 1981: Certificat d’Etudes Commerciales Supérieures (equiv. Masters of Business Admin), University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Graduate two-year program completed in one;
1977 – 1980: B.A. in Political Science, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Trained in Art (drawing and painting). Exhibited works in Romania, Switzerland and the US.

HONORS AND DISTINCTIONS:

2013: Awarded the “Romanian Crown” Medal by HM Michael I, (former) King of Romania;
2007: Named Goodwill Ambassador to promote EU’s Year of Inter-Cultural Dialogue – 2008;
2006: Invited to publicly ‘defend’ King Carol I, in the TV series “Great Romanians” (BBC format);
2000: Awarded Medal of ‘Faithful Service’ of the Romanian State;
1993: Included in ”Who’s Who in the World;
1989: United Way—First Prize for Best Advertising campaign for a public service announcement;
1988: Included in ”Who’s Who of American Women”;
1987: Awarded Distinction for Debut from the American Poetry Association;
1984: Massachusetts State Senate Citation for “Outstanding contributions to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts”;
1983: Named Ambassador of Goodwill, awarded graduate scholarship by Rotary Int’l Foundation.

Member of the Board of various international foundations and associations: La Fondation Jean Monnet pour L’Europe (Lausanne, Switzerland); The Humanity Foundation (Boston, USA); The Princess Margarita of Romania Foundation; the Ovidiu Rom Foundation (Romania), etc.

LANGUAGES:

Native fluency: English, Romanian, French;
Good Italian;
Basic German and Spanish.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

• Cum schimbam mentalitatea?—25 de ani in Romania (“How to change mentalities?—25 years in Romania”), essays on the mindsets at work in Open and Closed societies;
• Putere vs forta, sau transformarea Romaniei intre civic si politic (”Power vs force, or the transformation of Romania between civics and politics”), chapter published in „7 teme fundamentale pentru Romania”, Dan Dungaciu, Vasile Iuga, Marius Stoian (coordinators), Ed. Rao, 2014
• Mai romani decat romanii? De ce se indragostesc strainii de Romania (“More Romanians than the Romanians? Why foreigners fall in love with Romania”)—Edited collective volume co-authored by 45 foreigners who explain why they decided to settle in Romania. Published by Polirom, 2013;
• La Mondialisation, entre Ethique et Empathie, chapter published in Actes du Colloque Ferdinand Gonseth, Eric Emery editor, l’Age d’Homme, Lausanne, Suisse, 2011;
• Ce nevoie avem de femei in viata publica? (”What need of women in public life”), chapter published in „Forta politica a femeilor”, Andreea Paul Vass (coordonator), Ed. Polirom, 2011
• Romania and MDG Goal 3: When gender equality means expanding democracy, in Entre Nous Magazine, The European Magazine for sexual and reproductive health, No. 71, 2011
• De ce m-am intors in Romania? (“Why I returned to Romania”)—Edited book written by 39 returnees who traded successful careers abroad to live in Romania. Published by Polirom, 2010;
• Cum vad feminitatea (”How I see feminity”), text published in „Cele 4 dimensiuni ale feminitatii romanesti”, Monica Silvia Tatoiu (coordonator), vol. 1, Ed. Neverland, Bucuresti, 2010
• Sink or Swim—Romania’s Policy in the Black Sea Region: How to empower new non-state actors, published in the Romanian Review of International Policy, (in Romanian), Vol. I, Issue I, 2006;
• For Love or Profit? NGOs and the Development of Romanian Civil Society, chapter published in ”Romania Since 1989: Politics, Economics and Society”, Henry Carey, Editor (Lexington Books, Lanham, Boulder, New York, Toronto, Oxford, 2004);
• Bridging the Leadership Gap—A Strategy for Improving Political Leadership in the EU, published in Contributions to European Unification, (collective authorship), “Thinking Enlarged Group”, Martin Brusis, Janis Emmanouilidis, Editors (Bertelsmann Foundation Publishers, 2003);
• Thinking Enlarged: The Accession Countries and the Future of the European Union, published in Contributions to European Unification, (collective authorship), Martin Brusis, Janis Emmanouilidis, Editors (Europa Union Verlag, 2002);
• Country Assessment for Romania, Nations in Transit Report, Freedom House, New York, 2001, 2002;
• Culture and Conflict Resolution—Reflections on Mental Models and Problem-Solving Strategies in Post-Communist Countries, published in Romanian Journal of Political Science (in English), Vol 1, Number 2, April 2001;
• The Value of Liberalism—an East European Perspective, chapter published in ”The Meaning of Liberalism—East and West”, Zdeneck Suda and Jiri Musil, Editors (Central European University Press, Prague, 2000);
• Minima Moralia, chapter published in ”Popper’s Open Society after 50 Years, The Continuing Relevance of Karl Popper”, Ian Jarvie and Sandra Pralong, Editors (Routledge, London and New York, 1999);
• Y a-t-il une Ethique de la Liberté? (Is there an Ethics of Freedom?), chapter published in ”Science, Technique et Valeurs”, Eric Emery, Editor (L’Age d’Homme, Paris, 1998);
• Romanian Nationalism—Double Problem, Double Talk?, chapter published in ”State and Nation-Building in East and Central Europe: Contemporary Perspectives”, John S. Micgiel, Editor (Columbia University, 1996).

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