December 20th and 21st 2024

The Sixth Annual Conference of Romanian American Professionals took place on December 20-21, 2024, providing a dynamic platform for researchers, professionals, and leaders within the Romanian-American diaspora to reflect on the evolution and resilience of our diaspora ecosystem and its instrumentality in nurturing stronger transatlantic ties in research and innovation. This conference aimed to advance interdisciplinary collaboration and enhance the impact of professional networks across the transatlantic landscape, focusing on critical themes essential for bolstering talent mobility and innovation.
Among the key highlights was the focus on navigating talent mobility. The conference opened with in-depth discussions on the opportunities and challenges of talent exchange among Romania, Moldova, and the United States. Experts shared insights on fostering efficient pathways for professionals seeking to engage across borders, highlighting the importance of these connections in today’s global landscape. Secondly, presenters highlighted the importance of building stronger institutional bridges. A significant portion of the event concentrated on strengthening transatlantic cooperation through our robust diaspora networks. Attendees and presenters explored how various collaborative efforts can effectively address community challenges, enriching both local and national ties. With regards to the drive of promoting innovation, the conference showcased the power of diverse perspectives in driving research and innovative practices. Presenters highlighted successful projects that leverage the unique backgrounds and experiences of participants to foster meaningful advancements in various fields.
Throughout the event, participants had the opportunity to engage with influential figures from the diaspora and share their own experiences and contributions toward cultural preservation and community development. The second day panel presentations emphasized the necessity of nurturing peer and mentor relationships, which are pivotal in guiding newcomers and emerging talent. The conference featured contributions from multiple academic and professional councils representing areas such as: Arts and Culture; Medicine and Public Health; Legal Counseling, Development, and Public Policy; STEM and Information Technology; Community Civic Engagement and Social Entrepreneurship. These councils serve as incubators for innovative ideas and best practices, reinforcing the collective mission of fostering resilience in cultural identity within our diaspora.
A notable highlight was the announcement of Romania's designation as the 43rd country to join the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. This milestone, achieved through our collaborative advocacy efforts, marks a historic opportunity for the Romanian-American community, significantly enhancing mobility and fostering deeper connections between Romania, Moldova, and the United States.
As our societies grapple with global shifts and emerging challenges, the imperative for transatlantic cooperation has never been more evident. The insights gained during this conference have reinforced our commitment to leveraging the strengths of our diaspora networks to drive social mobility and foster innovation.
The Sixth Annual Conference not only celebrated the achievements of our community but also served as a call to action for continued engagement and collaboration. Together, we are poised to navigate the complexities of our interconnected world, building on our shared cultural identity to support and uplift our communities. We look forward to future gatherings that build on these discussions and further empower our diaspora, fortifying our collective journey toward cultural resilience and innovation. Thank you to all participants for contributing to a successful and inspiring conference. Your dedication is vital as we continue to work together for a brighter future.
Welcoming remarks: Teodor Stan, President and Founder of Immigration Research Forum and 2023-2024 President of the Federation of Romanian American Organizations
Opening Plenary Session Speakers:
Formal Opening Address by Minister Counselor Anton Lungu, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Moldova to the United States of America;
Keynote speaker: Prof. Maria Bucur-Deckard, Ph.D. - John W. Hill Professor of History, College of Arts and Sciences, Indiana University Bloomington
“Acasa: Historical Perspectives on the Anxieties of the Moment”
Remarks by Alexandra-Ileana Mutiu, Vice Rector, Human Resources, Students’ Support and Development Unit, Babeș-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca;
Remarks by Dorian Branea, Director of the Romanian Cultural Institute (RCI) in New York
Remarks by Honorary Consul of Romania to Connecticut, Immigration Attorney Dana R. Bucin at Murtha Cullina LLP;
Implications of Visa Regime Changes and Impact on Scientific Diaspora Mobility
Marius-Ionuț Ungureanu, MD PhD - Associate Professor & Chair - Department of Public Health, School of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babeș-Bolyai University; Director - Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy; Adjunct Assistant Professor - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health; President - Health Workforce Research Section, European Public Health Association
Mihaela Serpe, Ph.D. Senior Investigator, Section on Cellular Communication NICHD/DIR - The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - National Institutes of Health
“Mihaela Serpe Lab: Section on Cellular Communication”
Asst. Prof. Arh. Cristina Maria Povian - Politehnica University Timișoara
“Fostering Global Research Connections: The Impact of Research Mobility and the Woodrow Wilson Scholarship”
Prof. Ileana Marin - ARCS Co-Founder, University of Washington Professor, Director of Romania, Moldova, and Ukraine Study Abroad; University of Bucharest – Doctoral School "Space, Image, Text, Territory"/CESI
Otilia (Vieru) Baraboi, Ph.D. - Executive Director at Alliance Française de Seattle, President & Co-Founder at The American Romanian Cultural Society (ARCS- Seattle)
Ana Bacioiu, Ing. MBA - ARCS-Seattle Secretary and VP of Strategy, team member of the 2024 VIII Edition of the Romanian American Heritage Awards (RANHA)
Jackson Howard, Regional Coordinator EURAXESS North America
"Transatlantic academic research opportunities for stakeholders in the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions and the European Research Council"
Medicine and Public Health Panel Speakers:
Dr. Nina Smart - Human rights activist, FGM expert, activist, sociologist and author, Dr. Smart’s professional and life experience straddles many cultures, Romanian, American, Indian and West African.
'Eliminating FGM by 2030 - a Global Public Health Priority; Transcultural Efforts made of one Romanian Woman'
Crina Pupaza - Chief People Officer @ Nymbus | Talent Enabler | HR Strategy
“Implementing the UBB Alumni Mentorship Pilot Program with Romanian-American Alums”
Michael Bogdan Mărgineanu - Postdoctoral Fellow in Cancer Neuroscience at The Francis Crick Institute | Founder at Biomentorhub;
Diana Rotaru - Research scientist, Columbia University (New York, NY) VP for Entrepreneurial Initiatives at BioMentorHub | Manager of 4BiOMed with the OneHealth Incubator;
Mihaela Madaras, PhD R&D Manager - Sun Chemical Corporation US | VP of Biomentorhub, co-founder of One Health Incubator;
Presentation title: " Advancing the life sciences innovation ecosystem in Romania by leveraging diaspora expertise"
Vero Nica, Co-founder & President of VAR Cultural, Bucharest;
‘Wave’s Imprint: An International Cinematic Experiment’
Ian Vasilovski Toma, MD, PhD, MSHS, Associate Research Professor & Fulbright US Scholar, The George Washington University, Dept. of Clinical Research & Leadership
“Opportunities for collaboration with Moldova’s scientific and academic community and governmental agencies”
STEM and IT Panel Speakers:
Asst. Prof. Gina C. Adam, PhD - Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, George Washington University, Washington, DC
“Electronics Research and Transatlantic Collaboration under the Microscope"
Julia Costin Co-Founder & COO at Cyber Qubits | Revolutionizing Cybersecurity Education | Honorary Consul of Romania in Colorado
"Hacking Into Cybersecurity Careers"
Dr. Sylvia Biscoveanu, NASA Einstein Fellow, CIERA, Northwestern University
“Listening to the Universe: A journey from music to physics,”
Dorin Munteanu - President, Romanian-American Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.; Honorary Consul of Romania to the Commonwealth of Virginia (designate); Co-Chair DC Cyber Task Force;
In Memoriam Prof. Dr. Eliot Sorel:
Acad. Prof. Dr. Mircea Lazarescu - Emeritus member of the Romanian Academy of Medical Sciences; First president of the Romanian Psychiatric Association; Founding member of the European Psychiatric Association; Past vice-president of the Danubian Psychiatric Association
Georgiana Cosoveanu - Director Governmental Affairs and Policy, Romania Leadership Team, Johnson & Johnson Romania, AmCham Board of Directors Member, PhD Candidate
Ambassador Jim Rosapepe (ret.), Alianta President, Maryland State Senator and board member of the Council of American Ambassadors;
Community Civic Engagement and Social Entrepreneurship Panel Speakers:
Eugenia Popa & Dana Voler, Heritage Organization of Romanians in Minnesota, (HORA) St. Paul's, MN
Documenting Romanian Immigration - The premiere of the documentary JOURNEYS OF IDENTITY: Romanian Immigration Stories of Resilience
Stefania Magidson, President Blue Heron Foundation
Teodor Stan, 2023-2024 President of The Federation of Romanian American Organizations (FORA); Mihaela Ungureanu, 2024-2025 FORA President
The concerted efforts of consolidating the federation and implementing the Eighth Edition of the Romanian American National Heritage Awards (RANHA)
Adrian Ozarchievici - Romanian Business Professionals Association, (RomAmPro) NY/NJ
Roxana Cazan, PhD. Executive Director ARCHER, Senior Lecturer, University of Oklahoma
“Cultivating Cultural Identity and Resilience Through Community Engagement and Scholarship”
Mihai Lehene - President of Romanian United Fund (RUF)
Diana Dram - Global Strategic Sourcing Director, McDonald’s
Chicago Romanian Community Summit 2024 and Global Romania
Antonia Baroga Hau, Romanul School of Connecticut coordinator, Romanian language teacher, Board member of Romanul Corp.
Presenting on the importance of Romanian language and culture education in the US diaspora
Liliana Onita-Lenco - President of The Association of Romanians In New England (ARNE)
Humanities, Arts and Culture Panel Speakers:
Anca Mizumsky - Phoenix-based writer and psychologist, whose recently published novel “Those Who Buy Stars" delves into immigration as a moral experience
Dr. Carmen Bugan - George Orwell Prize Fellow featured among Oxford Alumni Authors, is an award-winning poet and writer who explores the expressions of historical and political upheaval in literature.
Tristia -poems, forthcoming Spring 2025
Adela Sinclair - Romanian-American poet, translator, and teacher, and a NYFA Grant recipient
“Romanian Roots and La Revedere”
Larisa-Ilaria Tabara, MA(c) TESOL, Fulbright Student, Michigan State
University and Ștefan cel Mare University, Suceava
Adriana Cordali, PhD author of the recently published Visual Rhetorics of Communist Romania: Life Under the Totalitarian Gaze
“The Necessity of Teaching about Totalitarian Regimes in Today's World”
Diana Girnita MD PhD FACR, the founder of Rheumatologist Oncall and author of: “The Complete Gout Management and Nutrition Guide: Empowering Strategies for Better Health” and “THRIVING WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: Your Science-Backed Guide to Conquering RA”
Closing remarks: Teodor Stan, President and Founder of Immigration Research Forum, call to action in support of transatlantic scientific diaspora leveraged academic exchange programs and institutional partnerships.
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