An interview with Verica Jordanova, President of MAAA

The newly elected president of MAAA, Verica Jordanova, talks about herself and her vision of MAAA and its operationsin the next two years.


Mrs. Jordanova, you are the newly elected president of MAAA. Please tell us more about yourself and why you applied for this position.

One of the leading forces in my personal life and professional career is the constant urge and desire for change. Seeking new challenges is what continuously inspires me to work on new projects. I began my professional development as a student of Interdisciplinary Studies in Journalism at the Faculty of Law in Skopje. My educational experience in the USA from 2004 to 2005 has taught me that in life, growth is achievable solely through constant change, through the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Today, I am an entrepreneur, and perhaps, the entrepreneurial spirit that I have been nurturing throughout the last few years played a role in my application for the position of President of MAAA. Being a member of this organization has been a delight, and the position of President is a duty and responsibility to professionally respond to the trust I have been given.

MAAA has become rather active in the last few years. In what direction, do you think, MAAA should focus its future activities?

The Macedonian American Alumni Association is an organization of professionals, distinguished experts, and people who have gained knowledge and experience from universities and institutions in the USA. I think this is the most crucial resource that the Association has, which is why our future activities should focus on involving our members in more projects, as well as in important social developments. These activities have already been planned out, and some are in the process of realization, such as debates involving experts, mostly our members. I would like to use this opportunity to invite all members of MAAA who wish to be involved in any activities to take initiatives which we will do our best to implement and develop.

What kind of activities have you and the executive Board done since your election?

One of our first “tasks” was to organize our traditional humanitarian New Year’s concert. We are overjoyed by the fact that we managed to organize a memorable concert which many of our members attended and which raised a fund that will be used for humanitarian causes. Additionally, in November, we had the honor of hosting Mr. Matthew Bikoff, Alumni Outreach Coordinator from The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State. Matthew had meetings with many of our members and was familiarized with the activities of the organization. In December, our Fulbright Alumni Mr. Elmas Hasanovic organized a panel discussion on the topic ‘Future Steps After Joining NATO’ at the EU Info Centerin Skopje. With the support of the Union of European Federalists of Macedonia, the Macedonian American Alumni Association organized the event.

What does the association do for the current and future alumni? How can they benefit from the activities of the association?

Networking and collaboration are key factors for the development of MAAA. The Association provides members with the opportunity to be in constant communication with each other and start joint initiatives. I see the main benefit mostly in the cooperation among members, which will result in many successful projects and activities, as well as in reaffirmed relations of collaboration and friendship with the United States of America.

What are your plans for the rest of your mandate? How do you think MAAA will be different two years from now?

My focus in the following two-year mandate is on activities. This involves mobilizing new members, organizing as many events as possible, and activating as many members as possible in the realization of the common goal – building a better society and strengthening the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Interviewed by Natalija Shikova