Zorka Petrova Parvanova ( bg, Зорка Петрова Първанова; born 4 May 1958, in

Razlog Razlog ( bg, Разлог ) is a town and ski resort in Razlog Municipality, Blagoevgrad Province in southwestern Bulgaria. It is situated in the Razlog Valley and was first mentioned during the reign of Byzantine emperor Basil II. The municipali ...

) is a Bulgarian historian and former First Lady of Bulgaria from 2002 until 2012. She is the wife of

Georgi Parvanov Georgi Sedefchov Parvanov ( bg, Георги Седефчов Първанов, ) (born 28 June 1957) is a Bulgarian historian and politician who was President of Bulgaria from 2002 to 2012. He was elected after defeating incumbent Petar Sto ...

, the former President of

Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedon ...

Early life and career

Paravanova was born 4 May 1958 in

. Her education includes a degree from

Sofia University Sofia University, "St. Kliment Ohridski" at the University of Sofia, ( bg, Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“, ''Sofijski universitet „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“'') is the oldest higher education i ...

in the field of History and Ethnography received in 1982. In addition she received a

Ph.D. A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, Ph.D., or DPhil; Latin: or ') is the most common degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. PhDs are awarded for programs across the whole breadth of academic fields. Because it is ...

in History in 1989. From 1997 to 1999, she served as a lecturer at the

Varna Free University Varna Free University "Chernorizets Hrabar" (University Free of Varna) is a private university in Varna, Bulgaria, created in 1991 by resolution of the 37th National Assembly and granted the status of a higher school in 1995. It organizes regular ...

and the Slavic University in Sofia. She has authored at least 20 publications and monographs. Parvanova is married to

. They have two sons, Vladimir and Ivaylo.

Honours

* : Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold * : Dame Grand Cross of the

Order of the Dannebrog The Order of the Dannebrog ( da, Dannebrogordenen) is a Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single class known a ...

(2006) * :

Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana ( et, Maarjamaa Risti teenetemärk, sometimes translated as the Order of the Cross of St. Mary's Land) was instituted by the President of Estonia, Lennart Meri, on 16 May 1995 to honour the independence of ...

, 1st Class * :

Order of the Three Stars Order of the Three Stars ( lv, Triju Zvaigžņu ordenis) is the highest civilian order awarded for meritorious service to Latvia. It was established in 1924 in remembrance of the founding of Latvia. Its motto is "Per aspera ad astra", meaning "Thr ...

, 1st Class * : Dame Grand Cross of the

Order of Civil Merit The Order of Civil Merit ( es, Orden del Mérito Civil) was established by King Alfonso XIII of Spain in 1926. The order recognizes "the civic virtue of officers in the service of the Nation, as well as extraordinary service by Spanish and fore ...

(07/06/2003) Boletín Oficial del Estado
/ref> * : Commander Grand Cross of the

Order of the Polar Star The Royal Order of the Polar Star (Swedish: ''Kungliga Nordstjärneorden'') is a Swedish order of chivalry created by King Frederick I on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Seraphim. The Order of the ...

References

External links

Biography on the website of the President of Bulgaria
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parvanova, Zorka 1958 births Living people First Ladies of Bulgaria People from Razlog Bulgarian women in politics Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class Grand Crosses of the Order of the Dannebrog Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit Macedonian Bulgarians 20th-century Bulgarian historians Sofia University alumni Women historians