University Of Bucharest

Mircea Eliade was a Romanian fiction writer, historian of religion, professor at the University of Chicago, and philosopher. His stories and novels have been adapted into films, such as The Bengali Night, which was directed by Nicolas Klotz. His works have also influenced writers all over the world.

While Romanian gymnast Andreea Răducan began training at age 4. She won the individual all-around gold medal in the 2000 Summer Olympics but had to give it up due to a doping accusation. She, however, retained her team gold and vault silver, which she won at the same Olympic Games.

Andrei Alexandrescu is a Romanian-American computer programmer. He is best known for his groundbreaking work on policy-based design implemented through template metaprogramming. Andrei Alexandrescu is also known for authoring the book, Modern C++ Design.

Former president of Romania Ion Iliescu was in the news when in 2018, he was charged with crimes against humanity for being involved in the revolts following the toppling of the communist rule in 1989. He denied the charges, though over 800 people were killed after he assumed power.

Emil Constantinescu is a Romanian professor and politician. He served as the president of Romania from 1996 to 2000. During his term, he struggled with implementing the processes of privatization and was bogged down by multiple problems. Disillusioned towards the end of his term, he decided not to run for re-election. He is currently involved with many NGOs. 

Jurist and politician Victor Ponta held office as Prime Minister of Romania between May 2012 and November 2015 before resigning in the wake of Colectiv nightclub fire. He served as President of Social Democratic Party and was its candidate for 2014 Romanian presidential election. He later left the party and founded Pro Romania party and presently serves as its President.

Romanian physicist and communist-politician Nicu Ceaușescu, youngest son of 1st President of Romania Nicolae Ceaușescu and his wife Elena, also a noted communist-politician, was considered and prepared as the President's heir. Nicu remained closely associated with political-regime of Nicolae and served as Member of the Great National Assembly and First Secretary of the Sibiu Regional Committee of the Communist Party.   

One of Romania’s most prominent novelists, short story writers, and poets, Mircea Cărtărescu is best known for his novels such as Travesti and Nostalgia. He has previously been a Writers' Union of Romania writer-in-residence and has also taught at the universities of Bucharest, Amsterdam, and Stuttgart.

Romanian economist and politician Armand Călinescu served as Minister of Interior and Deputy Prime Minister before becoming Prime Minister of Romania. He was believed to be very close to King Carol II and possibly the real-power behind the throne during the King’s royal-dictatorship. Călinescu detested Iron Guard and anti-Semitism and was eventually assassinated by Iron Guard members with Nazi support.

The daughter of Romanian Communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, Zoia Ceaușescu was a renowned mathematician who had won the Simion Stoilow Prize. She was also known for her reckless lifestyle, her frequent travels, and her multiple relationships. Following her parents’ execution, she lost all her wealth and lived with her friends.

Starting his career in politics with the Democratic Party, Romanian politician Liviu Dragnea eventually switched to the Social Democratic Party and became its leader. He also served as the deputy prime minister of Romania and the president of the Chamber of Deputies. He was involved in a major corruption scandal, too.

Gabriela Firea is a Romanian politician and journalist. She is the current Minister of Family, Youth and Equality of Opportunity. Firea is perhaps best known for her service as the General Mayor of Bucharest from 23 June 2016 to 29 October 2020. She was the first female politician to serve as the mayor of Bucharest.

Cabral Ibacka is a Romanian actor, television personality, Tae Bo coach, and philanthropist. After starting his career in kickboxing and Muay Thai, Ibacka went on to establish himself as a TV host. He then gravitated towards acting and achieved popularity as an actor in 2005, when he portrayed Eduard Bălan in the popular miniseries Băieți buni. 

Herder Prize-winning Romanian poet and essayist Nichita Stănescu was also nominated for the Nobel Prize. Best known for his work 11 Elegies, he was a Communist at heart and lived most of his live in poverty. He was posthumously made a member of The Romanian Academy.

Known for his extremist views, Romanian politician Corneliu Vadim Tudor established the Romania Mare Party and became known as one of the most significant figures of Romanian politics following the Romanian Revolution. An author and journalist, too, he served as the court poet to dictator Nicolae Ceausescu.

Ion Gheorghe Maurer was a Romanian lawyer and politician. He is remembered as the longest serving Prime Minister of Romania as he served in that position for over 12 years. He also served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1957 to 1958. Maurer was also known for his ostentatious lifestyle, having accumulated a sizable wealth during his political career.

One of the most popular Albanian poets, Aleksander Stavre Drenova was known by his pseudonym Asdreni. Born in the Ottoman empire, he moved to Romania after his father’s death and got acquainted with Albanian intellectuals. The Albanian national anthem, Hymni i Flamurit, was penned by him.

Romanian cyclist Carol-Eduard Novak was a national-level speed skater till he lost his right foot in a car accident. He was also a practicing lawyer, who trained in cycling after work hours. He later set foot in politics and became the world’s first sports minister to win a paralympic medal.

Bessarabian-Bulgarian soldier/spy Ilie V. Cătărău caused 2 bomb attacks to increase tensions between Romania and Austria-Hungary at the onset of World War I. A secret intelligence double agent, he served both Russia and Romania. He spent his later years as a fugitive in Japan, France, and the US, and eventually became a monk.

Vazgen I was an Armenian philosopher and religious leader. He is best remembered for his service as the Catholicos of All Armenians from 1955 to 1994, the fourth longest reign of all time. Vazgen I led the Armenian Church at the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union. 

Teodosie Petrescu is a Romanian cleric. Since 2001, he has been serving as the Archbishop of Tomis. Since 2002, he has also been serving as a professor, having received his Doctor of Theology degree in July 1999. In 2002, Teodosie Petrescu was honored with the Order of the Star of Romania.

Teoctist Arăpașu was a Romanian religious leader who served as the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church. In 1999, he invited Pope John Paul II to Romania, which marked the maiden visit of a Pope to an Eastern Orthodox country since 1054.