ZORKA PETROVA PARVANOVA

Born on 04.05.1958 in Razlog, Bulgaria
Two sons: Vladimir and Ivaylo

Education:

1989 - Ph.D., Doctor of History

1982 - Degree from the History Department of Sofia University, major in History and Ethnography

Professional career: 2002 - Senior Research Associate in the Balkan Studies Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences /BAS/. 1994 - Researcher at the Balkan Studies Institute, BAS. 1997-1999 - Visiting lecturer at the Varna Free University and the Slavic University in Sofia. Research into the national problems in the Balkans of the 19-20th century /over 20 publications and a monograph/.

Spheres of activities as wife of the President:

- Problems of children at a disadvantage, socially and health-wise: charity and fund raising for orphanages; support of projects for the reintegration of parentless children and physically and mentally handicapped children;

- Drugs and drug related problems: Honorary President of the National Youth Organization for combating drugs; participation in conferences on the subject of drugs; cooperation with specialized NGOs;

- Gender problems: member of the National Committee Women and Science; participation in conferences and cooperation with NGOs working on the problems of women; support of initiatives for promoting prevention and early diagnosing of breast cancer; patron of the national campaign for fighting breast cancer in 2003.

In the area of culture: Honorary Patron of the Varna International Ballet Competition, the Roussalka Summer Music Academy, the 4th Balkan Festival of Films and TV programs for children and young people Zlatna Amphora (Golden Amphora) and others.