Dr. Evelina Atanassova
Evelina Atanassova is an Associate Professor of Business Administration, Human Resources, and Leadership whose work bridges organizational theory, people analytics, and innovative pedagogy. She has extensive experience designing and leading undergraduate, MBA, and doctoral courses in organizational behavior, human resource management, leadership, research methods, decision-making, teams, and organizational development at UMass Global, California State University Fullerton, and Rice University.
She holds a Ph.D. in Organization Management and Human Resources from HEC Paris, where her dissertation examined social capital contingencies and strategies, as well as an M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Chapman University, an M.A. in Human Resources Management from New Bulgarian University, and a B.A. in Sociology from Sofia University. Her research interests include organization and management theories, social networks and social capital, and leadership, and she has presented her work internationally on topics such as generative AI in teamwork, student success, diversity, and social capital development. She is a co‑author of the book Organizational Change: An Action-Oriented Toolkit (Sage, 2023).
An award‑winning educator and former HR manager, Atanassova focuses her teaching and scholarship on building agile, inclusive learning environments that connect theory to practice and prepare students for leading change in complex organizations. She has been recognized with multiple institutional awards for teaching excellence, mentoring, and collegial service, and remains actively engaged in professional communities as a reviewer for leading journals and conferences. Fluent in several languages and experienced in international academic settings, she brings a global perspective to discussions of leadership, organizational change, and the future of work.
Education History
2016
Ph.D. in Management and Human Resources
HEC Paris, France
Dissertation: “Social capital: Strategies and contingencies"
2009
M.A. in Organizational Leadership
Chapman University, Orange, USA
Thesis: Reflections on organizational leadership
2005
M.A. in Human Resources
New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
Thesis: Developing a strategy for implementing performance management system in the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company
Scholarly Activities
2025
- 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.
2024
- Book Publication: Deszca, G., Ingols, C., Atanassova, E., & Tupper, C.F. (2024). Organizational Change. Sage.
2024
- Conference Panel on Innovative Instruction, International Conference on Assessing Quality in Higher Education
2023
- Conference Presentation "How to bridge the gap between higher education and industry with agility: Lessons from the Big Techs, The Paris Conference on Education"
Professional Experience
Research Assistant
HEC Paris, France
Supported academic research by conducting literature reviews, collecting and analyzing data, preparing reports, and assisting the development of publications.
HR Manager
Vivacom, Sofia, Bulgaria
Managed and developed performance management systems, job grading, workforce planning, and incentive schemes, while also consulting senior management, facilitating internal communication, and driving leadership development, all to align HR strategies with business goals, including supporting the launch of a new company brand.
HR Specialist
Vivacom, Sofia, Bulgaria
Designed job descriptions, consulted management on structuring teams and hierarchies, coordinated the job grading process, led HR generalist trainings, and conducted personality assessments to offer personalized feedback and career development guidance.
Education History
2016
Ph.D. in Management and Human Resources
HEC Paris, France
Dissertation: “Social capital: Strategies and contingencies"
2009
M.A. in Organizational Leadership
Chapman University, Orange, USA
Thesis: Reflections on organizational leadership
2005
M.A. in Human Resources
New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
Thesis: Developing a strategy for implementing performance management system in the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company
Scholarly Activities
2025
- 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.
2024
- Book Publication: Deszca, G., Ingols, C., Atanassova, E., & Tupper, C.F. (2024). Organizational Change. Sage.
2024
- Conference Panel on Innovative Instruction, International Conference on Assessing Quality in Higher Education
2023
- Conference Presentation "How to bridge the gap between higher education and industry with agility: Lessons from the Big Techs, The Paris Conference on Education"
Professional Experience
Research Assistant
HEC Paris, France
Supported academic research by conducting literature reviews, collecting and analyzing data, preparing reports, and assisting the development of publications.
HR Manager
Vivacom, Sofia, Bulgaria
Managed and developed performance management systems, job grading, workforce planning, and incentive schemes, while also consulting senior management, facilitating internal communication, and driving leadership development, all to align HR strategies with business goals, including supporting the launch of a new company brand.
HR Specialist
Vivacom, Sofia, Bulgaria
Designed job descriptions, consulted management on structuring teams and hierarchies, coordinated the job grading process, led HR generalist trainings, and conducted personality assessments to offer personalized feedback and career development guidance.
Related Programs
Organizational Leadership, BA
Business Admin, BBA
Human Resources, MS
Business Administration, Grad Certificate
Human Resources, Grad Certificate
Business Admin, MBA
Human Resources, BS
Organizational Leadership, Grad Certificate
Organizational Leadership, MA
