Zorica Trajkova Strezovska, PhD, is a Professor of English Linguistics at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her research focuses in the area of Applied Linguistics, Pragmatics, Intercultural Communication, Critical Discourse Analysis, and second/foreign language instruction and materials design. She has authored several books and numerous articles published in both domestic and international journals, including Springer, Thesis, Lodz Papers in Pragmatics, Respectus Philologicus, Journal of Contemporary Philology and others. In 2009, she participated in the Junior Faculty Development Program (JFDP) as a scholar at Arizona State University, USA. She has served two terms as Vice President of MAAA and currently acts as its President, actively contributing to projects that apply her U.S.-gained expertise.

Ognen Janeski is a seasoned TV personality and journalist, trainer, TEDx Speaker, and media consultant with over 25 years of experience in Macedonian television and international reporting. As a Reham Al-Farra UN Fellow (2016) and U.S. State Department Media CO-OP Fellow (2015), he has worked extensively on U.S.-Macedonian topics, including anti-corruption, elections, democratic governance, and human/citizens rights. He actively mentors young professionals in media and civil society through U.S.-supported programs such as USAID’s YouThink and collaborates with organizations like IREX, NDI, and IRI. As a No Hate Speech Ambassador for the Council of Europe and EU, he promotes social inclusion across the region. In 2024, he received the Premio EUROPA 2024 - Amerigo in Florence, Italy. He has held various leadership roles in MAAA since 2020 and is currently Vice-President.

Irena Popovska is  Head of the Anti Corruption Department  in the Secretariat of the State Commission for Prevention of Corruption in North Macedonia. She is also an authorized person for implementation of the Law on Whistleblowers Protection in her institution. Her professional interests and expertise are in the area of anticorruption and whistleblowers protection. She participated in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on the theme “Transparency and Accountability in the U.S”, Regional project for Europe and Eurasia, which was conducted from January 23 - February 10, 2012. She is a member of the Executive Board of MAAA in the second consecutive mandate and she is taking active part in many projects and activities, implementing and sharing her experience and knowledge gained in the US.

Rozita Petrinska Labudovikj, M.A., M.Sc. has been a member of the Macedonian American Alumni Association (MAAA) since 2009, as an alumna of the Junior Faculty Development Program in Library and Information Science at the University of Iowa. She has served on the MAAA Supervisory Board during two terms (2020–2021; 2021–2023) and is currently a member of the Executive Board (2023–2025). Rozita is also the President of the Association for Promotion of Education, Culture, and Sport Education for All – Skopje. She is actively engaged in research in the field of quality management as part of her doctoral studies.

Sefer Selimi is the Founder and CEO of Democracy Lab. He holds a BA in Business Administration from South East European University (SEEU) and a MSc in Diplomacy and International Relations from the International University of Struga. He is a 2016 alumnus of the Community Solutions Program, a U.S. department of State leadership program implemented by IREX. Over the course of his career he has worked as project manager for different local NGOs, implementing projects in the fields of transparency and accountability of local government. Sefer held the position of Development Officer for the department of Local Economic Development and Project Implementation of the Gostivar Municipality between 2013 and 2017. He also spearheaded the inception of the Gostivar Municipal Youth Council where he serves as Senior Coordinator. In early 2015, he also founded Youth Empowerment Platform. Sefer’s rich experience makes him very well-versed in relations between international development agencies and local institutions. He is committed to fostering sustainable cooperation and partnerships to make tangible change in local communities in Macedonia.