Milena Mileva

• How long in ACD: Since October 2021.
• What do you like about the work you do: I get to interact with people from diverse backgrounds who are united by the common goal of creating and sharing knowledge and who genuinely care about each other's well-being. I like helping college students design a plan for their studies, but I like even better helping them identify what it is they want to invest their energy and time in once they leave the familiar school setting.
• Past jobs/experiences:
  • My job titles over the years have varied, depending on the program I was working for at the time, but the nature of the job, that of teaching and learning, was always the same.
  • From teaching literacy skills to elementary school-age children, to teaching English as a foreign language to students of all ages, to teaching English composition and first-year seminar courses to college students, I have facilitated the learning experiences of others while growing as a learner myself.

Advice to students: Keep an open mind. Embrace the challenges and the opportunities you will find in and outside the classroom. Seek change that will make you a better you—a more inquisitive, more resilient, at times even more vulnerable, lifelong learner. Start those self-talks (and then, the conversations you have with others) with the positives first—what went well, what good outcomes could be expected, what you appreciate the most. Staying positive will make the good times even more enjoyable and the hard times easier to get through.

If you could be any major in your cluster, what would it be? Why?: I would choose a cytotechnology major. I find it fascinating that with the technology we have today and the knowledge we continue to develop about the blueprint of our cells, we can not only detect emerging cancer at its earliest stage, but be proactive with choosing the optimal treatment for cure. Early detection of cancer is, quite literally, a matter of life and death.

Biography: I was born and raised in Bulgaria, a beautiful country hidden behind the Iron Curtain for too many decades. I come from a progressive family, highly invested in education and family values. My love for reading was nurtured by the desire to explore the world I was not allowed to travel. I loved walking the ancient Roman cobblestone streets or spending after-school hours with friends in the ancient Roman amphitheatre. My sense of belonging to the modern world was born when I came to IUPUI as a graduate student in 1998. I fell in love with the campus and the people. Today, Indiana is my home (and IUPUI—literally my home as I continue to spend the greater part of my days on campus). This is where I made lifelong friendships, where I am raising my son, where I share the joys of life with my husband, and cuddle with our cats. I love meeting new people, dining out with friends, cooking at home, and hopefully soon, returning to Beef and Boards and other theatres for live shows and concerts. I love gardening and hiking out in my neighborhood parks. Traveling to new places, near and far, is always a thrilling and memorable experience.