Fulbright

Fulbright scholarships for BHF

Since April 2017 the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission has been awarding scholarships to US students and researchers in the fields of archaeology, anthropology, history, preservation of cultural heritage and museum studies in collaboration with the Balkan Heritage Foundation.

This special grant aims to support research in areas related to both Balkan archaeology and museum and heritage studies. It grew out of the Bulgarian-American Fulbright Commission’s partnership with the Balkan Heritage Foundation (BHF), an NGO whose mission is to support the study, preservation and promotion of cultural and historical (both tangible and intangible) heritage of Southeastern Europe.

The award is suitable for individuals whose ongoing research or research interest is related to one of the following highlight topics for the 2027-2028 grant period:

● Ancient Greek and Thracian civilizations (5th – 2nd c. BCE) in the territory of present- day Bulgaria

● Roman civilization in the Balkans (2nd c. BCE – 4th c. CE)

● Heritage Studies: management, conservation and preservation of archaeological sites

● Museum Studies

● Zooarchaeology

Accepted Degree Levels	Grant Period	Grant Length
Master’s Doctoral	Flexible Start	Up to 10 Months

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES

Olivia Thornberry

Date: 2017- 2018

Project title: Assessing UNESCO coastal site vulnerability at the Ancient City of Nessebar, Bulgaria

After completing her master’s degree in Sustainable Cultural Heritage, Olivia has been continuing her research in environmental archaeology and heritage management as the Fulbright History and Archaeology Research Fellow. Olivia is investigating the UNESCO site of the Ancient City of Nessebar, a coastal city on the Black Sea with both a rich history in its Old Town as well as in its submerged archaeological heritage. In her research, Olivia has three main objectives:

To understand the exact extent of human-driven threats to the outstanding universal value and economic-social-cultural value of Nessebar, including climate change risks
To understand the current preservation status of Nessebar’s submerged archaeological heritage and
To understand how the current methods for research and conservation can contribute to climate adaptation measures

She is very excited to participate in the Balkan Heritage Field School “Underwater Archaeology in the Black Sea” to further her technical skills in underwater archaeology and to get a better understanding of Nessebar and it’s vulnerabilities.

Kyla Baal

Date: 2024 – 2025

Project title: The Politics of Subsidiary Symbols on Amphorae and Currency Between Thrace and Greece

Originally from Florida, she holds a BA in Anthropology and Political Science from the New College of Florida and pursued graduate studies in Museum Studies at the University of Glasgow .

Her research explored how Bulgarian museums constructed and presented narratives of interaction between ancient Greek and Thracian civilizations, with particular attention to artifacts such as amphora stamps and coins. Working with institutions including the National Institute of Archaeology with Museum in Sofia and the Varna Museum of Archaeology, she analyzed how exhibition practices shaped interpretations of cultural identity and historical memory .

During her grant, Baal conducted extensive fieldwork combining museum studies and archaeology. As described in her final report, she carried out comparative museum analyses in Sofia and the wider Balkan region, conducted interviews with heritage professionals and community members, and investigated themes of nationalism and identity through both institutional and personal perspectives. She also participated in archaeological excavations, including work at a Roman-era burial site and an underwater archaeology field school in Nessebur, where she contributed to excavations, photogrammetry documentation, and the study of submerged cultural heritage.

Her project reflected an interdisciplinary approach that bridged archaeology, museum studies, and cultural heritage interpretation, contributing to broader discussions on how material culture is used to construct historical narratives and national identity in Southeast Europe.

Rebekah Mills

Date: 2023 – 2024

Project title: Digging into History: Cultural Heritage Conservation Efforts in Bulgaria

Originally from Delaware, her work focuses on cultural heritage preservation, site management, and the interpretation of historical spaces.

Her research examined cultural heritage practices in Bulgaria, with a particular focus on reconstruction, site presentation, and best practices in preservation. Through site visits, independent research, and engagement with professionals in the field, she explored how cultural heritage sites are experienced by visitors and how different approaches to conservation shape public understanding. As part of her project, she contributed to a report on cultural heritage practices in Bulgaria and co-authored a forthcoming book chapter on women in archaeology, as well as collaborative work on heritage and disaster response with international partners.

During her grant, Mills engaged with both the academic and local community through workshops, networking events, and participation in cultural activities. Her work emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration within the cultural heritage field, bringing together perspectives from archaeology, conservation, and public history. She also participated in professional exchanges and informal community engagement, contributing to dialogue on heritage preservation and interpretation.

Her research contributes to broader discussions on sustainable heritage management and highlights the importance of integrating multiple perspectives in the preservation and presentation of cultural sites.

Tyler Lecours

Tyler Lecours

Date: 2023 – 2024

Project title: Unearthing Thrace: Greek Expansion in the Ancient World

A graduate of St. Francis Xavier University and a master’s student at Brandeis University specializing in Classical Archaeology, his work focuses on ancient Greek colonization and cross-cultural exchange in the Balkans.

His project explored the relationships between Greek colonists and Thracian communities through archaeological research and fieldwork. Working with the Balkan Heritage Foundation and collaborating with Bulgarian scholars, he conducted excavations at the Greek emporion of Pistiros and carried out site visits and research across key locations such as Sozopol, Nesebar, and Varna. His work examined how trade settlements functioned as cultural and economic bridges in antiquity and aimed to contribute to broader understandings of multicultural societies in the ancient Mediterranean .

During his grant, Lecours actively engaged with the Bulgarian academic and local community. He delivered lectures and presentations at schools and conferences, participated in archaeological exhibitions at the National Archaeological Museum, and contributed to ongoing excavations alongside Bulgarian institutions, including the Academy of Sciences . He also volunteered his time by mentoring students, supporting graduate school applicants, and promoting Fulbright opportunities. Over the course of his grant, he taught and mentored approximately 75 students and dedicated significant time to community-based educational activities. He built an extensive network of academic and professional contacts in Bulgaria and developed his Bulgarian language skills, facilitating deeper integration into his host community.

Elizabeth Meshel

Elizabeth (Liz) Meshel

Date: 2022 – 2023

Project title: Comparing Funder and Institutional Heritage Conservation Priorities in Bulgaria

A graduate of New York University and the University of British Columbia, where she specialized in Classical and Near Eastern Archaeology, her work bridges archaeology, historic preservation, and philanthropy.

Her project examined how funding decisions shape the preservation of cultural heritage and whether these priorities align with the needs and values of local communities. Working in partnership with the Balkan Heritage Foundation and engaging with institutions such as the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture and private foundations, she combined archival research, interviews, and fieldwork to analyze funding trends and institutional perspectives across the country.

Her research aimed to promote more equitable and community-centered heritage conservation practices.

During her grant, Meshel collaborated with professionals in the Bulgarian cultural sector, including the Bulgarian Donors Forum, contributing expertise on U.S. nonprofit and philanthropic practices.

She also engaged in cultural exchange through volunteer activities, language study, and participation in the local dance community, including performing Irish dance and learning Bulgarian traditions. Her efforts helped foster mutual understanding and build lasting professional and personal networks in Bulgaria.

Mary Rzepczynski

Mary Rzepczynski

Date: 2022

Project title: Cross-Cultural Influences on the Decorative Stone Elements of Nessebar’s Medieval Churches

Mary Rzepczynski possessed a BA degree in architecture when she came to Bulgaria in 2022 to explore the architecture of Nessebar’s medieval and post-medieval churches at the cultural confluence of the Byzantine empire with the medieval Bulgarian empire. Previously a city on the border of these two empires, Nessebar is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to many significant early Christian and Byzantine churches. Mary’s project seeked to expand the existing documentation of the stone decorative elements, such as columns and altar screens, and analyze the evolution of these cross-cultural building elements over time. Because of the many churches in one place, working at Nessebar allowed for the comparison of the stone architectural elements over time, limiting the variable of location in examining the cross-cultural interactions of decorative design elements. At Nessebar, she utilized traditional and digital techniques, such as measured drawings, sketches, and photography in order to document the decorative stone elements of these medieval churches.

Mary Rzepczynski participated in the Fresco-Hunt of theBalkan Heritage Field School. Her research in Bulgaria facilitated finding a job in a church architectural studio back in the USA.

“It is hard to believe that my time in Bulgaria is coming to an end, and I am so grateful to Fulbright Bulgaria and the Balkan Heritage Foundation for allowing me to have this opportunity. Receiving this grant was critical for my scholarly development. As my first major independent research project involving on-site work, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and encouraged to develop my own work and ideas in a new way. This has allowed me to build upon my existing foundation, but also to take the next step along the scholarly path. Following my time in Bulgaria, I will be working at an architecture firm that specializes in the design of churches (Duncan Stroik Architect) and serving as an assistant editor for the Sacred Architecture Journal. I hope to bring both the specific knowledge that I gained while in Bulgaria, and the skills I learned here to these positions. I will also be applying to PhD programs in the fall, and hope to continue working on the architectural history of cross-cultural spaces and places.

Attending the Balkan Heritage Field School “Fresco Hunting: Photo Research Expedition to Medieval Balkan Churches” was one of the highlights of my time in Bulgaria. I gained invaluable skills in photography and documentation, but also was able to experience first-hand the structuring and management of a large, complex, multi-year research project. Between trekking past goat herds to identify churches in the exploratory phase of the project to working on the final stages of the forthcoming e-book on the frescoes of the Boyana Church in Sofia, I was able to see into the life cycle of the project. Being involved in multiple stages allowed me to imagine how I might develop and lead a similarly complex project in the future.

Additionally, working with the Balkan Heritage Foundation was an indispensable chance to observe the research, teaching, and outreach of a non-profit organization in cultural heritage. One of the most meaningful experiences in Bulgaria was visiting the Museum of Christian Art in the crypt of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral with several Ukrainian refugees as part of Balkan Heritage’s “Cultural Welcome”. Balkan Heritage is a leader in public outreach and engagement, and understanding the variety of ways they achieve this was critical in pushing me to develop a PhD proposal that will include this, as well as considering how to make the research I did while in Bulgaria available to a general audience.

As someone who is still in the early stages of a scholarly career, receiving this grant has allowed me to continue to develop and explore my research interests. It also allowed me to be exposed to the many people working in the heritage sector, from museum professionals, non-profits, and academics. My Fulbright experience was challenging but immensely rewarding. Beyond the specific auspices of my research topic, I also had the incredible chance to dive into the broader history and rich cultural heritage of Bulgaria.”

Mary Rzepczynski

Abby Durick

Abby Durick

Date: 2019 – 2020

Project title: Funerary Prestige: Migration and Influences from Mycenaean Greece to Iron Age Thrace

Graduate student Abby Durick came to Bulgaria on a Fulbright grant with the intention of studying ancient migration and artisan interactions by examining funerary archaeology from the Iron Age to Early Classical Period in Bulgaria. In 2019 she participated in a Balkan Heritage Field School – Emporion Pistiros in Southern Bulgaria, but her research was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr. Matthew Schueller

Date: 2017- 2018

Project title: Entertainment Venues as Network Actors in Roman Macedonia and Thrace

In 2009 Dr. Matthew Schueller first participated in the Balkan Heritage Field School project at the Roman site Heraclea Lyncestis near Bitola in North Macedonia and in the following years (2011-2015) he was invited to return as a field instructor and supervisor in excavation and conservation projects in Bulgaria and North Macedonia. His archaeological experience on the Balkans reflected in his choice of topic for his PhD dissertation “Public Entertainment Venues as Network Actors in Roman Macedonia and Thrace”. The Fulbright scholarship and the collaboration with the Balkan Heritage Foundation facilitated his studies in Bulgaria and Greece (2017-2018) and Mr. Schueller successfully defended his PhD dissertation in 2020 in the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA.

“Through the support of the Balkan Heritage team and the Fulbright commissions in Bulgaria and Greece, I was able to finish the research for my dissertation project and to begin writing my analysis. As my host institution, Balkan Heritage provided me invaluable support as I tracked down publications and made connections with Bulgarian and Greek archaeologists that were vital to the success of my research. Even more valuable to me was how Balkan Heritage’s partnership with Fulbright led me to more deeply appreciate the cultural heritage of Bulgaria and Greece as well as the vibrancy of modern life in these countries.”

Dr. Matthew Schueller

Fulbright

Fulbright scholarships for BHF

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES

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