University Board

Klaus Tochtermann, received his Diploma and his PhD in Computer Science from Dortmund University (Germany). After a PostDoc at the Texas A&M University in the U.S. he moved to Austria in 2000. From 2000 to 2010 he was the director of Austria’s leading research institute for knowledge management, the Know-Center. In 2006 he was appointed as full professor in Computer Science at the Graz University of Technology. Since 2010, he has been director of the ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics in Kiel and Hamburg Germany). He also holds a full professor position for Digital Information Infrastructures in the Computer Science Department at Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel (Germany). Under his leadership the ZBW received the international LIBER Award for Library Innovation in the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. In 2014 ZBW was awarded “Library of the Year in Germany”. Klaus Tochtermann has repeatedly held guest professorships abroad, such as at the University of St. Gallen (Switzerland) or the UITM in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia). Finally he is member in numerous national and international scientific expert committees.

A lecturer at Johns Hopkins SAIS, Edward P. Joseph served on the ground in all regional conflicts: across war-torn Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo and North Macedonia. In July 1995, contemporaneous with the collapse of the Srebrenica 'safe area', Edward and one UN colleague coordinated the evacuation of neighboring Zepa. Edward testified in two Hague Tribunal cases about his interactions with Ratko Mladic and other senior Serb commanders. In April 2012 as OSCE Deputy Head of Mission, Edward negotiated the first significant post-war deal between Kosovo and Serbia: the terms for holding Serbian national elections in independent Kosovo.
In 2023, Edward received the ‘Mostar Peace Award’ for his war-time and post-war service. Foreign Affairs editors chose his article, 'The Balkans, Interrupted' as a 'Best of the Year' selection. Two recent SAIS Review papers present original ideas to breaking the deadlocks between: Kosovo and Serbia; and North Macedonia and Bulgaria.
Formerly a US Army helicopter pilot, Edward deployed with NATO/IFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina, earning the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Edward earned his B.A. and M.A. from Johns Hopkins University, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He speaks Croatian / Serbian.

Prof. Dr. Veli Kreci over a long career in higher education prior to joining to the South East European University, he served as Assistant Director of the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Management (GCPPM), the GSPIA’s project in North Macedonia. He has served as Vice-Dean for Postgraduate Studies at the Faculty of Contemporary Social Sciences, at the South East European University. He currently serves as Director of the Max van der Stoel Research Institute and he is Associate Professor in the field of Public Policy at the South East European University. In 2019 he was Adjunct Professor at the Seattle University, WA Seattle.
Dr. Kreci received his PhD in Political Sciences from the South East European University, did his masters degree in Public and International Affairs at the University of Pittsburgh, and completed his undergraduate in Political Sciences at the Istanbul University. He was a Research Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh, GSPIA in 2009, and a Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, 2013-2014. Dr. Kreci is leading researcher and coordinator of several national and international academic research projects.

Visar Shehu, PhD, received his MSc in Computer Science from Indiana University Purdue University in Indianapolis and his PhD in South East European University. He has been a faculty member of CST department of SEEU since 2006, currently working as an Associate Professor. Since 2016 he has served as a Coordinator for Research and Mobility of the CST department. He is an author of many scholarly articles in his field and has managed research projects in the fields of data analytics and STEM education. Visar is actively involved in establishing strong cooperation between the industry and the academia. In this capacity he is a founder of two software development companies that successfully operate internationally with offices in North Macedonia, Kosovo, USA and Switzerland. Visar has been appointed a board member in 2020.

Elmedina Abdulahi is an accomplished senior librarian with extensive expertise in library management and cultural advocacy. Since 2019, she is serving as the head of the "Max van der Stoel" Library at South East European University in Tetovo, North Macedonia. Her academic journey includes a Master's degree in Public Administration from the same university and a Bachelor's degree in Ethnology from the University of Cyril and Methodius in Skopje. Elmedina's career is marked by her proactive engagement in professional forums and international conferences across the USA and Europe, enhancing her skills in library sciences and cultural heritage. She is a licensed librarian from the National University Library 'St. Clement of Ohrid' in Skopje and CNRS Luminy University in Marseille, France.
Recognized for her contributions, Elmedina has been honored with awards such as "Librarian of the Year" in 2022 and "Library of the Year 2020." Her leadership extends beyond academia, where she actively promotes community development and environmental advocacy through her involvement in various non-governmental organizations. In 2024, Elmedina was nominated as the "European Woman of the Year" by the Delegation of the European Union in Skopje, underscoring her influence in both professional and societal realms. She continues to play a pivotal role in establishing and supporting library initiatives across the region, contributing to the advancement of cultural and educational resources.

Sonja Topuzovska received her Diploma, MMS and PhD in “Ss.Cyril and Methodius” University, Medical Faculty in Skopje, R.N. Macedonia. Since 2013 she is a Full Professor of Medical Biochemistry at “Ss.Cyril and Methodius” University, Medical Faculty in Skopje. Currently she is on a position Vice-Rector for teaching at “Ss.Cyril and Methodius” University, Skopje. From 2008 to the present, she has been a member and chairperson of several commissions and bodies of the Medical Faculty participating in the preparation of the acts of the Medical Faculty. From 2009 to 2013 she was a member of the Finance Commission at the "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" University in Skopje. From 2014 to 2016, she was the chairperson of the Commission for Self-Evaluation at the University and from 2009 to the present, she is a member and currently president of the Professional Council for Doctoral Studies at the University. She is specialist in medical biochemistry and her research interest is in the field of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry. She is a member of several professional national and international associations. In 2019, Macedonian Medical Society awarded her with the highest recognition for achieved results in the profession, health, and work – the Trifun Panovski Charter.
She was twice a Vice-Dean for teaching (2009-2016) and from 2016 to 2023 she served two terms as the Dean of the "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" University, Medical Faculty in Skopje. Over that period, she contributed significantly to the development and improvement of the teaching, scientific research, health care and applied activities of the Faculty.

Mr. Gligor Bishev is Chairman of the Fiscal Council of the North Macedonia, member of the Supervisory Board of the Sparkasse Bank Skopje, and member of the Supervisory Board of Finance Think Tank. He graduated and defended his PhD on Faculty of Economics in Skopje in area of monetary economics and banking. He was on research studies, visits and training courses in the Vienna Institute for International Comparative Studies, London School of Economics and Political Science, IMF Institute, Bank of England, Austrian Central Bank, Central Bank of France and Switzerland. He had started his career as central banker, becoming Deputy governor and Deputy Chairman of the Council of the National Bank of the North Macedonia. He proceeded as commercial banker: CEO and Chairman of the Management Board of Stopanska Bank Skopje, and Sparkasse Bank Skopje.
He was part of the team that created the Macedonian currency, stabilization programs, financial sector reforms, banking sector rehabilitation, establishing and implementing macroprudential and supervisory standards, managing banking risks, issuance of Euro bonds on international financial markets.
For many years, Mr. Bishev has been lecturing on the Faculty of Economics in Prilep, and postgraduate studies in the Faculty of Economics in Skopje. He was Chairman of the Banking Association of the North Macedonia, Vice President of the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce, member of Business Advisory Council in the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana, member of Business Advisory Council on the American College, Co-chairman on the Second Working Table of the European Stability Pact, member of international research network of the Vienna Institute for International Comparative Studies, and external advisor to the five Prime Ministers of the Government of North Macedonia.
He published 380 scientific studies, analysis, papers in scientific and professional journals domestically and abroad. He was member of the expert team that prepared National Strategy for Economic Development of the North Macedonia for the period 2024 – 2044.