RUSSIAN & EAST EUROPEAN STUDIES CONSORTIUM
	Arizona State University • Tempe, AZ 85287-2601 • PH: 480/965-4188 • FAX: 480/965-0310

The Mary Choncoff Fund for Macedonian-American Understanding and Exchange was established in 1995 to advance the long standing academic exchange between Arizona State University and the University of Ss. Kiril and Metodij (UKIM) in Skopje, Macedonia. The creators of the Fund have sought to contribute to American understanding of the Balkans, and specifically have sought to advance the cause of Macedonian-American understanding. The Fund is now endowed in the Arizona State University Foundation.

The Mary Choncoff Fund honors the memory of a local Tempe supporter of the ASU-UKIM academic exchange, Mary Choncoff (1923-1996). Of Aegean Macedonian parentage, Mary Choncoff became a librarian in Arizona public schools and a nationally known bookseller of out-of-print Western language publications on the Balkans. Mary Choncoff was known for the selfless support and encouragement she provided to the many Macedonian participants of the ASU-UKIM academic exchange.

In May 1997, the Open Society Institute - Macedonia (Soros Foundation) entered into agreement with the ASU Russian and East European Studies Consortium to provide dollar-for-dollar support to match the earnings from the Mary Choncoff Fund for the purpose of bringing a Macedonian scholar each year to Arizona State University for short-term research. The Mary Choncoff/Open Society Institute awardee delivers the annual Mary Choncoff lecture in the field of Balkan studies. The short-term researcher/lecturer is selected each year by a special committee established for that purpose by the Open Society Institute of Macedonia and the ASU Russian and East European Studies Consortium. Past awardees have included Elizabeta Dimitrova, assistant in the Department of Art History at the University of Ss. Kiril & Metodij; Biljana Bogatinoska, an architect from Skopje specializing in medieval architecture; and Todor Cepreganov, from the Institute of National History in Skopje. The present (2001) Mary Choncoff Fellow is Vladimir Milcin, Executive Director of the Open Society Institute - Macedonia, and Professor of Theatre Arts at the the University of Ss. Kiril & Metodij.

The Mary Choncoff Fund for Macedonian-American Understanding and Exchange accepts contributions from individuals and organizations. If you would like to make a tax deductable contribution, please send your check payable to the Mary Choncoff Fund/ASU Foundation to the address above.