BAS Officers

Biographies: BAS Officers

Sol Polansky, President of the Society, was the U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria 1987-90. He retired from the Foreign Service and is currently a member of the Board of Trustees of the American College of Sofia and Chair Emeritus of the Board of Trustees of the American University in Bulgaria. Ambassador Polansky graduated from the University of California at Berkeley, is a graduate of the National War College and attended the Russian Institute at Columbia University.

Stanimir Alexandrov, Vice President, is a partner of the international law firm of Sidley Austin LLP, specializing in the areas of international dispute resolution, including international arbitration and disputes before the World Trade Organization. Prior to that, he was Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria. Mr. Alexandrov holds both Russian and U.S. law degrees and is an adjunct professor of law at The George Washington University Law School.

Meryl Steigman, Executive Director, worked as a legislative aide on Capital Hill for three years before accompanying her husband to Foreign Service posts in Europe and Africa. She gave guitar lessons while in Africa. Upon her return to Washington, she worked with the State Department to write and edit reports on issues affecting women in the Foreign Service. She has been executive director of the Bulgarian-American Society since its founding in 1991. Ms. Steigman holds an AB from Hunter College and an AM from the University of Chicago.

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