Alumni News

It was well past 2 a.m. local time, and Anna Firsova (ENVS ‘03) was still awake and on Zoom, dressed for a party.  

She wasn’t alone. Dozens of her friends and classmates were also online with her, logged in simultaneously from across the globe. Brought together by an idea, and a shared experience.  

They were among the more than 120 alumni who joined CEU 2021 Online Reunion Gala on Friday, June 11. It was CEU’s second online reunion of the Covid era, and the depth of feeling and community spirit was unmistakable.  

When the Republic of North Macedonia joined NATO in March 2020, becoming its 30th member state, CEU alumnus Dane Taleski (POLS '15 Ph.D) was tapped as the country’s first-ever Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the Alliance.

A veteran researcher and policy analyst, Dane presented his credentials to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and got to work in January of this year. We caught up with him recently to discuss the importance of his work and the lasting influence of his CEU experience. 

How did CEU prepare you for your work?