Evelina ATANASSOVA
Anaheim,USA
Summary
Educator with a strong foundation in academic teaching, research, and content creation. Adept at fostering engaging learning environment while collaborating effectively with colleagues. Skilled in curriculum development, student mentorship, and scholarly publication. Known for adaptability, collaboration, and delivering measurable results in line with institutional goals.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Professor of Business Administration, Human Resources and Leadership
UMass Global
09.2018 - Current
- Lead course development, including curriculum, assignments, activities and technology products.
- Oversee courses and adjunct instructors.
- Chair the School of Business and Professional Studies curriculum assessment and development.
- Serve as Institutional Review Board member.
- Integrate real-world examples into lessons, making course content more relevant and engaging for students.
- Mentor students and advise on career paths, degree requirements and post-graduate education options.
- Participate in the development of a comprehensive curriculum, ensuring alignment with standards and academic goals.
- Serve on academic committees, contributing insights and expertise. to enhance institutional policies and practices.
- Enhance student comprehension by implementing innovative teaching methods and strategies.
- Update curricula and lesson plans for primary instructors, researching developments in relevant fields and updating materials to reflect most recent data and statistics.
- Mentor new faculty members, offering guidance on effective teaching techniques and classroom management strategies.
- Serve students, clients and programs through participation in assessment processes, academic support units and university committees and task forces.
- Champion the use of technology in the classroom as an effective tool for enhancing student learning experiences across all subjects areas.
- Support diverse learners by adapting lessons and providing individualized instruction to meet their unique needs.
- Teach business administration, management and HRM courses at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.
Lecturer
California State University Fullerton
01.2018 - Current
- BA courses in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior, MBA course on Team Leadership
Adjunct Professor
Saybrook University
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Developed Ph.D. and Masters level courses for the Department of Leadership and Management
- Taught Ph.D. and Masters online courses
- Supervised dissertations
Adjunct Professor
Brandman University
04.2014 - 01.2018
- BA courses: Research methods, Organizational Development and Change
- MBA/M.Sc. courses: Organizational Leadership; Organizational Development and Change; Ethics and Leadership; Research Methods; Conflicts and Negotiations; Systems and Leadership; Human Resource Management
Visiting lecturer
HEC Paris School of Management
03.2015 - 05.2015
- M.Sc. course: Leading Organizations
Visiting lecturer
Audencia School of Management
09.2013 - 11.2013
- M.Sc. course: Human Resources Management
HR Manager
Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (currently operating as Vivacom)
09.2005 - 12.2010
- Implemented performance management systems, providing constructive feedback and coaching opportunities for employees.
- Collaborated closely with department heads in executing strategic workforce planning initiatives that aligned human capital resources with company goals.
- Monitored and handled employee claims involving performance-based and harassment incidents.
- Led decision-making and implementation of HR policies, procedures, programs and functions.
- Motivated employees through special events, incentive programs, and constructive feedback.
- Facilitated organizational change through effective communication and collaboration with senior management.
- Streamlined HR processes for increased efficiency with the use of HRIS systems.
- Promoted a culture of continuous learning through the coordination of professional development opportunities and workshops for employees at all levels within the organization.
HR Specialist
Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (Vivacom)
11.2004 - 08.2005
- Developed job descriptions for all positions in the company
- Consulted the management in designing new organization structures, including positions, number of employees per position, hierarchy, reporting, etc.
- Coordinated the job grading process in the company (HAY methodology)
- Prepared and conducted training sessions for the HR generalists
- Supervised the HR generalists on the respective corporate activities
- Performed personality testing and analysis (SHL/OPQ methodology); gave feedback to employees and consulted them about future opportunities and areas for potential development
Education
Ph. D. - Organization Management & Human Resources
HEC Paris
01.2016
M.A. - Organizational Leadership
Chapman University College
01.2009
M.A. - Human Resources Management
New Bulgarian University
01.2005
B.A. - Sociology
Sofia University
01.2004
Skills
- Research interests: Organization and management theories, organizational behavior, human resource management, social networks, social capital, leadership studies
- Teaching interests: Organization management theories and organizational behavior, organizational leadership, human resource management, research methods, decision making, conflicts and negotiations, teams, and organizational development
Affiliations
- Reviewer for Journal of Organizational Behavior
- Reviewer for The Academy of Management Annual Meetings
- Certified Coach by the International Coach Academy
LANGUAGES
English - fluent
Russian – speak, read, and write with basic competence
French – speak and read with basic competence
Bulgarian – native
Timeline
Associate Professor of Business Administration, Human Resources and Leadership
UMass Global
09.2018 - Current
Lecturer
California State University Fullerton
01.2018 - Current
Adjunct Professor
Saybrook University
01.2017 - 01.2018
Visiting lecturer
HEC Paris School of Management
03.2015 - 05.2015
Adjunct Professor
Brandman University
04.2014 - 01.2018
Visiting lecturer
Audencia School of Management
09.2013 - 11.2013
HR Manager
Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (currently operating as Vivacom)
09.2005 - 12.2010
HR Specialist
Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (Vivacom)
11.2004 - 08.2005
M.A. - Organizational Leadership
Chapman University College
M.A. - Human Resources Management
New Bulgarian University
B.A. - Sociology
Sofia University
Ph. D. - Organization Management & Human Resources
HEC Paris
Awards
May 2024 UMass Global School of Business and Professional Studies Faculty of the Year
May 2023 UMass Global Faculty Awards for Service, Mentoring, and Collegiality
June 2017 Outstanding Reviewer Award, The Academy of Management, OB Division
January 2016 Teaching Excellence Award, Brandman University
2015-2016 Scholarship for PhD studies, HEC Paris
September 2015 Teaching Excellence Award, Brandman University
2011-2015 Full scholarship for PhD studies, HEC Paris
Conference Presentations
- Atanassova, E., & Cabori, D. (2025, June 28-30). Empowering or impairing? The effect of Generative AI on class teamwork, learning, and engagement. [Conference Presentation]. Education and New Developments, Budapest, Hungary. https://end-educationconference.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Conference_Program_END2025.pdf.
- Atanassova, E. (2024, June 23-26). Engaging students online with media projects [Conference Presentation]. International Conference on Assessing Quality in Higher Education, Berlin, Germany. https://assessmentinstitute.indianapolis.iu.edu/international/berlin-resource-guide.html
- Atanassova, E. (2023, June 13-17). How to bridge the gap between higher education and industry with agility: Lessons from the Big Techs [Conference Presentation]. The Paris Conference on Education, Paris, France. https://pce.iafor.org/presentation/submission71038/
- Atanassova, E., & Galloway, L. (2022, June 15-19). Spotlighting student success: A stakeholder approach to analyzing and improving student performance through program reviews [Conference Presentation]. The Paris conference on Education, Paris, France. https://submit.iafor.org/submission/submission63567/
- Atanassova, E. (2021, June 2-4). Internalizing diversity through course curricula [Conference Presentation]. International Conference on Diversity in Organizations, Communities & Nations. Online.
- Atanassova, E. (2020, July 14-16). Measuring agency in social capital development: Constructs development and measurement validation. [Conference Presentation]. Sunbelt Virtual.
- Atanassova, E. (2019, October 31). Human Capital vs Social Capital: The Talent Management of Tomorrow. [Keynote]. HR and Leadership Forum, Sofia, Bulgaria.
- Atanassova, E. (2016, August 5-9). The Devil is in the Detail: The four routes to social capital. [Conference Presentation]. The Academy of Management Annual Meeting, Anaheim, USA.
- Atanassova, E. (2016, July 7-9). The Social Capital Path to Performance. [Conference Presentation]. 32nd EGOS Colloquium, Naples, Italy.
- Atanassova, E., & Lander, M. (2015, July 2-4). Should I bridge or should I bond? A meta-analytical investigation of the contingent value of social capital. [Conference Presentation]. 31st EGOS Colloquium, Athens, Greece.
- Atanassova, E. (2012, June 5-6). Investigating the impact of social network evolvement on social capital: A research proposal. [Conference Presentation]. The 4th International Conference and Doctoral Consortium by ISEOR and Organizational Development and Change Division of the Academy of Management, Lyon, France.
Publications
Atanassova, E., & Cabori, D. (2025). Empowering or impairing? The effect of Generative AI on class teamwork, learning, and engagement. Education and New Developments 2025 (2), pp. 125-129. doi: https://doi.org/10.36315/2025v2end026.
Deszca, G., Ingols, C, Atanassova, E, & Cawsey, T. (2023). Organizational Change: An action-oriented toolkit.Sage.
Skills
- Online teaching
- Educational leadership
- Teaching excellence
- Lesson planning
- Research and analysis
- Curriculum design
- Curriculum creation
- Course design
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