Spring Commencement 2006

Spring Commencement 2006 video

Spring Commencement 2006 slide show

UD celebrates 157th Commencent

About UD’s 157th Commencement

Senior class raises $56,500 gift for UD

Five students recognized for academic achievement

First Associate in Arts Program grads celebrate Commencement

Environmentalist Russell W. Peterson receives honorary degree

Dr. Charles M. Smith awarded UD Medal of Distinction

Southern Delaware convocation held at Rehoboth Beach

Bulgarian brothers both get doctorates in economics at UD

Townsend brothers continue True Blue family tradition

Commencements past 2006


UDaily is produced by the Office of Public Relations
150 South College Ave.
Newark, DE 19716-2701
(302) 831-2791

Bulgarian brothers both get doctorates in economics at UD

Martin Yosifov and Plamen Iossifov

3:31 p.m., May 27, 2006--On May 27, brothers Plamen Iossifov and Martin Yosifov put on their caps and gowns and joined thousands of their fellow students for UD's 2006 Commencement. But unlike many of their peers, the brothers' involvement with the University began many years ago and thousands of miles away from the UD campus. Their background is unique, their story is different, and the impression they have left on the staff of the UD economics program is remarkable.

Plamen Iossifov

In the summer of 1992, Plamen Iossifov joined the graduate-level economics program run by UD at the University of Economics in Varna, Bulgaria.

“I was among the first graduates of that program, in the course [of] which I discovered the professionalism and good heartedness of the UD economics faculty, in particular Dr. [Jeffrey] Miller and the now deceased Dr. [Kenneth] Koford,” Iossifov said. “My studies at the UD program in Bulgaria introduced me to the powerful analytic apparatus of economics, gave me an appreciation of its potential to improve the livelihood of people in transitional and developing countries, and encouraged me to pursue deeper understanding of its theoretical core and policy implications.”

After graduating from the University of Economics in 1996, Iossifov applied and was accepted to UD's master's program and later the doctoral program in economics.

In the summer of 1998, Iossifov worked as an intern at the World Bank in the Europe and Central Asia Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Sector Unit. Iossifov worked as a consultant for the organization until February of 1999. Iossifov also took a leave of absence from UD to work as a research assistant for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, D.C., and came back to UD in January of 2003 to finish his dissertation.

Iossifov is a macroeconomist, who, like his brother, recently completed his dissertation.

“I estimate U.S. money demand functions using longitudinal family-level data with the goal of obtaining precise estimates of the magnitude of the effects of real family income, assets and interest rates, and shed light on the effects of changing demographics of the U.S. population on aggregate money demand,” he said.

Iossifov said he will miss UD after graduation.

“I miss the many friends I left behind in Newark---both among the economics faculty and among the thriving Bulgarian community in the city,” he said. “They are too many to list, but I would like to mention Dr. Miller, who for a number of years invited all Bulgarian students at UD to his house in Baltimore over Thanksgiving. Also, Dr. [Burton] Abrams, in whose office I spent many an afternoon discussing our next publication or simply chatting over a cup of coffee.”

Jeffrey Miller, professor of economics, helped Iossifov with his master's thesis and served as a member of Iossifov's doctoral committee. Miller said Iossifov is a very bright and industrious student who does not always accept others' views.

Once, in Bulgaria, Miller said that a noted economist gave Iossifov advice on market-oriented forms that Iossifov realized were extreme for his country.

“He realized this particular advice was unreasonable in that it went beyond what you see in the West,” Miller said. “He did not accept the opinion of a world-renowned expert. He was very critical.”

When he had some free time, Iossifov enjoyed playing club table tennis and exploring the East Coast in his car.

Although he completed his doctoral degree requirements in August, Iossifov decided to wait to formally receive his degree until the spring 2006 commencement ceremony. Iossifov is now working as an economist for the IMF.

“ I really enjoy the life in the capital, with its rich cultural calendar, thriving night life and great diversity,” he said.

Iossifov said the translation of his last name from the Cyrillic alphabet, the alphabet of the Bulgarian language, had no direct translation so he decided to change the first letter to an “I”.

“In that way, I would always be ahead of my brother in alphabetical listings, which is no small consolation for a younger brother,” he said.

Martin Yosifov

Martin Yosifov said his brother's positive experience with the UD economics program spurred his interest in the University.

“[Iossifov] was very impressed in both professional and personal aspect with the UD economics professors and wholeheartedly recommended to me that I consider the graduate program in economics at the University of Delaware,” Yosifov said. “Plamen's recommendation was a key factor in my decision to apply to and join the graduate program in economics at the University of Delaware.”

Yosifov said he was initially uncertain whether to pursue macroeconomics or microeconomics.

“On one side, my prior educational background has been biased towards macroeconomics; on the other side, the courses I have taken with professors like Dr. [Saul] Hoffman, Dr. [David] Black, and Dr. [James] Mulligan, together with my involvement in the research work of Dr. [Charles] Link, opened up my eyes for the simple but powerful ideas underlying microeconomic theory,” he said. “Subsequently, with the help of my mentor, adviser and friend, Dr. Link, I decided to do a dissertation in the area of microeconomics. In particular, in my dissertation I have investigated the relationship between salary determination and contract length in Major League Baseball.”

Charles Link, MBNA America Professor of Business, said Yosifov was his teaching assistant before Yosifov decided to leave the University to get his MBA at the University of Virginia. After Yosifov received his bachelor's degree at UD, Link said he convinced Yosifov to finish his research paper on the economics of Major League Baseball for his master's degree at the University.

“Being from Bulgaria, [Yosifov] knew nothing about Major League Baseball,” he said. “He was very helpful in helping me with the data set that I've been working on for 18 years.”

After Yosifov moved to California, Link said he encouraged Yosifov to finish his dissertation on the baseball data and complete his doctorate. “[Yosifov] decided to take the field exam and did superbly well,” he said. “It was probably one of the best labor exams the committee has seen.”

Link said he admires Yosifov's pursuement of his degrees. “Martin is just a very competent gentleman, and he is already doing well in the business world,” he said.

Yosifov said he will miss the friends he has made at the University, but now has an excuse to come to back to Newark. Yosifov said he enjoys traveling on weekends and school breaks around the area and to cities such as Philadelphia and Baltimore.

Although they both came to UD, the brothers' graduation paths have been different. While Iossifov moved to Washington, D.C., after joining the UD graduate program, Yosifov moved to California. Yosifov said he has juggled a full-time job and his dissertation for two years, and plans to find a better balance in his personal and professional life after graduation.

Family

Both brothers said their parents were always very supportive of their academic choices and successes. Academicians themselves, both of their parents hold doctorates in fluid mechanics. Their mother, Yordanka Kazandzhieva-Yosifova, is a professor at the Techinical University-Varna in Bulgaria. Their father, Kostadin Yossifov, is the director of the Bulgarian Ship Hydrodynamics Centre-Varna in Bulgaria. The brothers also have a sister, Diliana Iossifova, who currently works in Munich, Germany, as a consultant in logistics.

Iossifov said their parents and sister will be at the Commencement ceremony, and that it will be the first time they have seen their entire family together in nine years. Iossifov said that after the ceremony the family will spend time together, traveling to New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

Article by Julia Parmley, AS '07

 E-mail this article

  Subscribe to UDaily

  Subscribe to crime alert e-mail notification