Advisory Board Members
Ștefan Cibian
Ștefan Cibian is the Executive Director at Făgăraș Research Institute and an Associate Fellow at Chatham House’s Africa Programme. He teaches courses related to international relations and development at Babeș-Bolyai University and the University of Bucharest. His research focuses on international development, peacebuilding, and the relationships between Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and the EU. Ștefan also actively supports civil society through leadership roles in ARCADIA, GRASP Association, and Mihai and Maria Frățilă Foundation, and contributes to several community foundations and international networks.
Radu Moțoc
Radu Moțoc has been a vital part of the non-governmental sector in Romania for more than 15 years. Since 2012, he has been leading as the Executive Director of the TechSoup Association. Before this role, he served as the Program Director at the Foundation for an Open Society. An alumnus of the Faculty of Political Sciences at the University of Bucharest, Radu also holds a significant position as a member of the Board of Directors at the Resource Center for Public Participation Foundation. His expertise and commitment are further exemplified through his participation as a fellow in the Marshall Memorial Program of the German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Aspen Young Leaders Program of the Aspen Institute Romania. Radu’s professional and personal interests are deeply rooted in the development of civil society and its crucial role in balancing the power dynamics between citizens and the state.
Alina Porumb
Strategy Designer and Architect of change – INSPIRE
Alina Porumb is a strategy designer and architect of change in the philanthropy sector, with over 25 years of leadership experience. Since 2018, she leads INSPIRE, supporting community philanthropy development in Africa, Europe, and Latin America. She’s also a pro-bono member of the WINGS board of directors since 2020. Previously, she contributed to the development of 17 community foundations in Romania and was recognized with the Olga Alexeeva Memorial Prize in 2015. Alina holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and has served in various roles, demonstrating a significant impact in the field of philanthropy and community development.
Ionuț Sibian
Ionuț Sibian is the Executive Director at the Civil Society Development Foundation (FDSC) in Romania. He stands as a remarkably enduring figure in the field of civil society development in the country, widely recognized as one of its most significant proponents. Presently, he serves on the board of the Orange Foundation. In a notable acknowledgment of his contributions and expertise, Ionuț was appointed by the Government as the representative of Romanian civil society in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) for the term 2020-2025. His work and dedication to advancing civil society are instrumental in shaping a more participatory and inclusive society in Romania.
Dana Pîrțoc
Dana Pîrțochas been at the forefront of fostering community relations in Romania, serving as the Executive Director of the Association for Community Relations since 2002 therefore, her extensive experience spans more than two decades. Dana has played a pivotal role in enhancing the understanding of civil society dynamics and donor activities/ trends in Romania. Her long-standing commitment and contributions have been instrumental in shaping the landscape of community relations and philanthropy in the country, making her a key figure in the realm of civil engagement & societal development.
Alina Kasprovschi
Alina Kasprovschi is the founder and executive director of the Bucharest Community Foundation (Fundația Comunitară București – FCB), a dynamic force in initiating and driving projects, and in bringing people together for the benefit of the citizens of Bucharest. Since its inception, FCB has been a reliable partner of De-a Arhitectura, actively supporting the association’s participation in Swimathon – an event combining swimming and fundraising for community projects. Under Alina’s leadership, FCB has played a crucial role in facilitating these initiatives, demonstrating a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Bucharest through community engagement and collaboration.
Ana Muray
Ana Muray has been actively involved in the realm of social entrepreneurship and systemic change for five years. Her journey in this field is built upon over a decade dedicated to public policy, civil, and social engagement through various prestigious platforms like Lions Clubs International, the Aspen Institute Romania (where she was a Fellow in 2010), and The German Marshall Fund (Fellow, 2016). Her mission has been to find sustainable ways to create social impact. Transitioning from a 10-year corporate career, she decided to give back her accumulated experience to those in need. Starting as a volunteer at Ashoka, she assisted the team with thematic conferences and workshops, serving as a facilitator and a bridge between the corporate world, civil society, and authorities. Seven years later, Ana holds roles within Ashoka International, continuing her commitment to driving social change.
Paul E. Sum
Paul E. Sum received his Ph.D. in Political Science from Northwestern University in 1996. He came to the University of North Dakota in the Fall of 2000. He teaches courses in Comparative Politics, Democratization, Global Perspectives, Human Rights, and Political Behavior. Sum’s research agenda explores various aspects of political behavior, including cooperation, civil society, inequalities, and democratic citizenship. Paul also is an accomplished international evaluator and consultant. He has worked with the U.S. Agency for International Development, the World Bank, the Council of Europe, OSCE, the National Democratic Institute, the International Research & Exchanges Board, and the American Council for Learned Societies. Sum maintains a special relationship with Romania. He held the position of Lecturer and Fellow at the Faculty of Political Science and Public Administration at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, Romania (1996-1998) under a program funded by the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Since 2007, he has held an academic appointment at the same faculty for the Masters in Research Design and Data Analysis Program. In 2009-2010, Sum was the recipient of a Fulbright Scholar Award to Romania where he lectured and conducted research.
Mălina Voicu
Mălina Voicu studied Sociology and Psychology at Bucharest University and is a Senior Researcher in the Research Institute for the Quality of Life at the Romanian Academy. Her current research interests deal with the nexus between population dynamics and social values and attitudes, with a special focus on the inter-relations among fertility, population aging and gender equality. Furthermore, the scope of her research includes the measurement of values and attitudes in large-scale international surveys, religious change in post-communist countries, support for democracy, and civic participation from a comparative perspective. She published several volumes as author or editor, such as Support for the Welfare State in post-communist Romania (Expert Projects, 2005, awarded with Dimitri Gusti Prize by Romanian Academy), Religious Romania (Institutul European, 2007), Mapping values orientations in Central and Eastern Europe (Brill, 2010, Loek Halman co-editor), Values, economic crisis and democracy (Routledge, 2016, Ingvill Mochmann and Herman Dülmer co-editors). Her work was published in international peer-reviewed journals such as European Sociological Review, Social Indicators Research, Ethnic and Racial Studies, International Sociology, Current Sociology, Democratization, and Social Compass.
Advisors
Suzana Dobre
Vice President for Strategy and Programs
Romanian-American Foundation (RAF)
Suzana Dobre, the Vice President for Strategy and Programs at the Romanian-American Foundation (RAF), has a rich history in the non-profit sector since 1994. Before joining RAF in 2011 as a Program Director for education initiatives, she was involved in programs focused on disadvantaged groups, including street children and people with disabilities, and provided consultancy on social and civic programs. Her academic background further accentuates her expertise: in 2004, she graduated from the London School of Economics with a master’s degree in European Social Policy. Suzana’s extensive experience and education highlight her deep commitment to social betterment and strategic program development.
Gabriel Bădescu
Gabriel Bădescu is a Professor of Political Science and serves as the Director of the Center for the Study of Democracy at Babes-Bolyai University in Romania. His academic journey is marked by prestigious fellowships, including a Fulbright Research Fellowship, an International Fellowship from the Open Society Institute, and a UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report fellowship. Bădescu’s research is deeply rooted in topics such as democratic transitions, civil society, education policies, inequalities, and research methodology. His expertise extends beyond academia into significant administrative roles. He served as the President of the Romanian Agency for Governmental Strategies between 2009 and 2010 and was a member of the Romanian National Council of Higher Education Statistics and Forecast from 2016 to 2018. Currently, he is a member of the Romanian National Research Council, contributing his extensive knowledge and experience to the development of research and higher education in Romania.