Executive Director, Graduate Program in International Relations and Security Studies
University of Sofia, Bulgaria
Research Affiliate
Office Address:
Tzarigradsko shosse, 125, Bl. 4, Suite 509, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone:
+ 359-888-688-085Biography:
Lyubov Grigorova Mincheva is the Executive Director of the Graduate Program in International Relations and Security Studies at the University of Sofia, Bulgaria. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Maryland in 2000. She has served as principal investigator or co-investigator on a number of conflict and security related projects and has published extensively in both English and Bulgarian on ethnopolitics, spillover crisis, peacekeeping, crime, and terrorism. She has published or been published in three books, in both English and Bulgarian. She is a member of the Governing Board of the European International Studies Association.
Research Areas:
Violent Groups and Movements Crime and Terrorism Counterterrorism Countering Violent Extremism Chemical and Biological Threats Radiological and Nuclear ThreatsTopics:
Al-Qaida and Affiliated Movements Ethnic Conflict and Violence Global Security Group Behavior International Relations Leadership in Violent Extremist Organizations Left-wing Terrorism Not Terrorism Related Nuclear Terrorism Political conflict and Violence Radiological Threats Right-wing Terrorism Security Policy Terrorism and Economics Terrorism Databases and Resources Terrorism Trends Terrorist Networks Threat AssessmentBackground
Education:
- University of Maryland, Ph.D., Political Science, 2000
- University of Maryland, M.A., Political Science, 1996
- University of Sofia, Bulgaria, M.A., Philosophy, 1985
- University of Sofia, Bulgaria, M.A., English Language, 1985
- University of Sofia, Bulgaria, B.A., Philosophy, 1983
Honors:
- US Military Olmsted Foundation Major Medal of Recognition, 2017
- Fulbright Fellowship, START, 2014-2015
- Recipient, Sofia University grant for the publication and translation of Crime-Terror Alliances and the State: Ethnonational and Islamist Challenges to the Regional Security, 2013
- Post Doctoral Research Fellow, Sofia University-based Dialogue Europa Institute, 2010-2012
- Recipient, University of Maryland funding through CIDCM and START to support conference participation related to the Unholy Alliances project, 2005-2012
- Returning Scholar Fellow, 2007-2009
- Recipient, University of Maryland funding to support training in peace building activities, carried out in implementation of the Partners in Peace building in the Balkans project, 2005
- Recipient, Doctoral dissertation research grant awarded by the Open Society Institute in Sofia, 1998-1999
- Recipient, Financial aid from the Central European University in Budapest, supporting curriculum development initiatives, 1998
Professional Experience:
- Associate Professor, University of Sofia, Bulgaria, 2007-present
- Assistant Professor, University of Sofia, Bulgaria, 1986-2006
Service Positions:
- Member, Governing Board of the European International Studies Association (EISA), successor of the Standing Group in International Relations (SGIR) with the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR), 2010-2017
- Member, Academic Advisory Council of the professional journal, European Review of International Studies (ERIS), 2011-present
- Executive Program Director, Graduate Studies bi-lingual Program in International Relations and Security Studies, Department of Political Science, University of Sofia, 2006-present
- Affiliated Research Assistant, Center for International Development and Conflict Management, University of Maryland, 2000-present
- National Coordinator, Global Nextleaders Forum, an international teaching initiative based in Tokyo, Japan, aimed at establishing a student and professors' network among countries, 2011-2014
Project Activities:
- Coordinator, Rapallo Project, an international book project, 2015
- Principal investigator, The Spillover Crisis/Transborder Communal Violence Project, 2009-2013
- Co-principal investigator, Unholy Alliances: How Transnational Organized Crime and Terrorism Make Common Cause, 2006-2012
- Returning Fellow, Academic Fellowship Program at the Open Society Institute, 2007-2009
- Independent Researcher, HUMSEC (Human Security) project, 2006-2009
- Co-Director, Partners in Peacebuilding in the Balkans project, 2003-2006
- Sub-Saharan Africa regional expert and research assistant, Geno-/politicide Accelerator project, 1999-2004
- East Europe regional expert and research assistant, Minorities at Risk project, 1995-1999