ENGAGE Program
For decades, The U.S. State Department and The U.S. Embassy Bucharest have been fostering educational and exchange programs with Romania, creating a robust network of tens of thousands of program alumni. These initiatives provide participants with unique opportunities to enhance personal and professional skills, broaden their networks, and gain a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, and values.
Many alumni of these programs have gone on to assume leadership roles across Romania's private, governmental, and civil sectors, applying the knowledge and experiences gained to drive positive change in their communities.
Through the Engage Romania – Building an Alumni Community program, our organization collaborates with The U.S. Embassy Bucharest to reconnect and strengthen ties with U.S. Government alumni. This initiative focuses on fostering meaningful connections, offering professional development opportunities, and cultivating a vibrant community of engaged leaders dedicated to growth and collaboration.
Mihaela Rovinaru - Open World Alumna
Mihaela Rovinaru, an Open World Romania alumna, is an educator and researcher passionate about the dynamics of international relations and sustainability. With a solid foundation in international economic relations and a PhD in economics and international relations, Mihaela has dedicated over two decades to intellectual development and interdisciplinary exploration. Her expertise lies in analyzing the geopolitical impact on the global economy and the environment, with a deep understanding of the complex interactions between state and non-state actors in today’s global challenges. Her approach is rooted in integrity, transparency, and respect, fostering productive collaborations and meaningful exchanges of ideas.
Ovidiu Stegari - YTILI Alumnus
Ovidiu is a dedicated entrepreneur and passionate community builder, focused on connecting people and creating meaningful impact.
As the co-founder of Helperz.ro, a platform that supports families in finding trusted childcare and household services, he has worked to simplify and improve the way families access reliable home assistance. His background in business development, marketing, operational strategy, and community engagement makes him a strong advocate for networking and professional collaboration.
Through the ENGAGE program, Ovidiu is committed to strengthening the alumni network by fostering connections, organizing impactful events, and facilitating opportunities for professional growth. His goal is to bring like-minded individuals together, support knowledge exchange, and contribute to a thriving alumni community that drives positive change in Romania.
Viorel Năstasă - Fulbright Alumnus
Dr. Năstasă is an outstanding physicist and researcher, holding a bachelor’s degree in biophysics, a master’s degree in biophysics and medical physics, and a PhD in physics with a specialization in optics, spectroscopy, plasma, and lasers—all obtained from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Bucharest.
In 2014, he received a postdoctoral fellowship offered by the Faculty of Physics, funded through the POSDRU Program, for his research on the interactions between laser beams and water-based microdroplets. The following year, he was awarded the prestigious Fulbright Senior Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015–2016), which took him to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA. There, he conducted innovative research in quantitative phase imaging (QPI) at the “Quantitative Light Imaging” laboratory of the Beckman Institute, publishing his results in high-impact ISI journals.
Beyond his scientific contributions, Dr. Năstasă has been actively involved in supporting young scientists by organizing international scientific conferences. As president of the SPIE Institute for Atomic Physics Student Chapter, he played a key role in coordinating international academic events.
Since 2018, Dr. Năstasă has been leading the Laser Experiments Diagnostic Laboratory (LEDL) at the Extreme Light Infrastructure – Nuclear Physics (ELI-NP) facility. Under his leadership, the laboratory has played a crucial role in developing experimental systems for commissioning the 10 PW laser experiments at ELI-NP
Brîndușa Petre - Fulbright Alumna
Dr. Brînduşa Alina Petre is a researcher and faculty member at “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, with extensive international experience in the USA and Germany. She earned her PhD in 2008 from the University of Konstanz, Germany, where she studied advanced biomolecule analysis techniques, and later conducted postdoctoral research at Washington University, St. Louis, MO (USA). Since 2012, Dr. Petre has returned to “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, where she has continued to develop her professional career and contribute annually to the education of new generations of students. Drawing on her international experience at prestigious institutions, she actively supports the promotion of scientific excellence and encourages international partnerships.
Throughout her career, she has been awarded prestigious fellowships such as Fulbright, DAAD, and NSF, and has collaborated with renowned academic institutions worldwide. Her work focuses on biochemistry, proteomics, and mass spectrometry, contributing to the advancement of the field through innovative projects and academic mentoring. One of her current scientific goals is the application of mass spectrometry to develop new enzymatic substrates for diagnosing rare lysosomal diseases.
Through active involvement in national and international educational and research programs, Dr. Petre promotes scientific excellence and supports the training of new generations of specialists in the field.
Cosmin Bârzan - IVLP Alumnus
Cosmin Bârzan, an IVLP alumnus, is an activist and leader at the Center for Civic Resources (CRC) in Constanța, a non-governmental organization dedicated to supporting and promoting civic engagement. As president of the center, Cosmin focuses on initiatives aimed at supporting local community development and encouraging citizens to actively participate in public life. Under his leadership, the center has launched projects targeting both civic education and environmental protection, while promoting constructive dialogue between authorities and citizens.
One of CRC’s key initiatives is the Comunitaria Center in Constanța, a hub dedicated to educational, cultural, and social activities, established in September 2022 by the Center for Civic Resources (CRC). The center offers a wide range of services, including social assistance, psychotherapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, visual and musical arts, digital education, and innovation—all aimed at supporting and integrating beneficiaries, with a special focus on children and youth.
Cosmin Bârzan is a strong advocate for civic education and the development of engaged young people in the community. By organizing civic education sessions and promoting volunteerism, the center has succeeded in attracting many young individuals eager to actively contribute to social change.
Nadina Nicolici - Fulbright and SUSI Alumna
Nadina, a graduate of the Fulbright TEA, SUSI, and OPEN programs, is an English teacher known for her passion and enthusiasm, as well as an educational leader dedicated to promoting collaboration and cooperation at the local, national, and international levels.
With solid experience in international projects and consistent involvement in impactful educational initiatives, Nadina teaches at the „Lorin Sălăgean” Technological High School in Drobeta Turnu Severin and is an active voice in the global educational community. She has coordinated and implemented over 175 national and international educational projects, collaborating with schools across Europe and other continents.
Nadina actively contributes to the professional development of educators, having served as a national trainer for the British Council, content leader in the OPEN Alumni community, T4 Education ambassador for Romania, and member of the Fulbright advisory board. She is a National Geographic certified teacher and has received numerous distinctions, including “Teacher of the Year in Romania,” “ePals Exemplary Teacher,” eTwinning mentor, and ePals ambassador. Through her work, Nadina promotes innovation in education, international collaboration, and the development of a generation of young people prepared to face the challenges of the modern world.
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