Wielding Power for Good</h1> <article> <h1>Wielding Power for Good</h1> <p>azaleski — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 17:29:44 +0000</p> <span>Wielding Power for Good</span> <span><span>azaleski</span></span> <span><time datetime="2026-02-26T12:29:44-05:00" title="Thursday, February 26, 2026 - 12:29">Thu, 02/26/2026 - 12:29</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Annika Krafcik ’20 had never set foot in Alaska before the summer of 2018. A double-degree student at �鶹��Ƶ, she decided to attend the Sitka Cello Seminar—and there was no turning back. “I applied because my mom really wanted to visit,” she says. “Little did she know she would lose me to Alaska forever.”</p><p>The triple major in <a href="/cello">cello performance</a>, <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history">history</a>, and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian">Russian & Eastern European studies</a> instantly fell in love with Sitka, the close-knit community of 8,000 on the shores of southeast Alaska.</p><p>Whether through playing music or doing public interest work, “ the things that people were asking me to do to contribute to the community were things that I really loved about myself and wanted to nurture,” she says.</p><p>Seven years later, Krafcik now lives in Sitka full time, giving back to her community in a new position: as deputy legal director for the Sitka Tribe of Alaska. Her path from �鶹��Ƶ to law school—and finally back north to “The Last Frontier”—held plenty of twists and turns, but it paid off in a big way.</p><p>The year after that first Alaska trip, Krafcik used her leadership experience in OSCA, �鶹��Ƶ’s student-run housing and dining cooperative, to apply for a job as a chef at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp. The multidisciplinary summer camp, run by �鶹��Ƶ alum Roger Schmidt ’92, encourages creativity and community among the campers and staff. After 11 weeks serving meals and playing the cello around camp, “I was like, ‘Okay, I'm moving here,’” she says.</p><p>Graduating in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, added new roadblocks to her path back. Frustrated by many of the political decisions being made at high levels of government, she “spent a lot of time thinking about who has power in society and how power is wielded for good or for evil,” she says. </p><p>“There are so many flaws in the legal system, and it's so deeply broken, but we need good people to at least try to wield it for good. If we just hand over the broken system to the people who want to manipulate it even further, we are so screwed.”</p><p>To get back to Alaska—a state with no law schools—an energized Krafcik took the LSAT and enrolled in the UCLA School of Law. “[While there] I definitely got the rap of, ‘Oh, that's the Alaska girl,’” she says. But having Sitka as her north star helped her stay focused in a system designed to push students toward corporate law. </p><p>Her course load focused on topics that would best serve her small community, including a climate change seminar, a tribal legal development clinic, and classes on General Law of the Sea and Indigenous Peoples' Rights. </p><p>The latter two were part of her study abroad experience in Norway during her second year of law school—an adventure funded in part through grants from <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian/ocreecas">�鶹��Ƶ's Center for Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies</a> .</p><p>Ten days after graduating from UCLA in 2024, Krafcik packed her bags and drove more than 3,000 miles from Southern California to Skagway, Alaska. After almost a year clerking for Judge Amanda Browning, the perfect opportunity arrived.</p><p>”When the position opened with the Sitka Tribe, I couldn't believe it,” she says. “It’s Native Law, which I specialized in during law school. It allows me to live in Sitka, and it’s a long-term position.” As an associate tribal attorney, she advocates for the court, manages grants from the Department of Justice, updates policies and ordinances, and reviews contracts.</p><p>“There’s definitely a steep learning curve, and a cultural learning curve too,” she says. But “I’m really loving all of the work that I get to do.”</p><p>Of course, living in Sitka, Krafcik is more than just a lawyer. She sits on the board of the Fine Arts Camp, recently joined a water polo team, and continues to play cello with the Juneau Symphony. She's also excited about her recent appointment to the board of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council. “The amazing thing about Sitka is you never know what's coming next.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">As a public interest lawyer, Annika Krafcik ’20 improves the lives of people in her southeast Alaska community. And her journey to get there started at �鶹��Ƶ.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2026-02-26T12:00:00Z">Thu, 02/26/2026 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Stephanie Manning ’23</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=3924">Law and Society</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=35261">Cello</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/law-and-society" hreflang="und">Law and Society</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Annika Krafcik ’20</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-article-header field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">0</div> </article> <article> <h1>Russian Evolution</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 20:45:15 +0000</p> <span>Russian Evolution</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2023-06-01T16:45:15-04:00" title="Thursday, June 1, 2023 - 16:45">Thu, 06/01/2023 - 16:45</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>When �鶹��Ƶ native Emma Kim started taking Russian courses at �鶹��Ƶ College as a high school student, she never dreamed that she’d grow to love the language so much that she would eventually double major in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian/curriculum">Russian and East European Studies</a> (REES) and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history">history</a>.</p> <p>“I enrolled in Russian classes out of pure curiosity, having no experience with the language, culture, or history,” says Kim, a second-year student. “It was very difficult at first, but I think the most important part of language learning is perseverance.”</p> <p>Her hard work has paid off: This summer, Kim will spend two months in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, as a recipient of the prestigious <a href="https://clscholarship.org/">Critical Language Scholarship</a>. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, this initiative supports and expands the number of Americans mastering foreign languages considered critical to national security and economic prosperity. </p> <p>In the Kyrgyz capital, Kim will live with a host family and immerse herself in local culture while taking formal Russian language classes at the American University of Central Asia. Her eight weeks of studies there will amount to the equivalent of one academic year of university-level coursework.<br> <br> This won’t be Kim’s first experience with an international language scholarship program. In 2020, the <a href="https://www.nsliforyouth.org/">National Security Language Institute for Youth</a> offered her the opportunity to study abroad in Moldova; when the pandemic forced the program to go digital, Kim spent her gap year studying virtually from her home. </p> <p>By 2022, Kim lived in Armenia as part of a two-month summer program. “I had no previous introduction to Caucasus culture, and being there profoundly impacted my experience with learning Russian,” she says. “Apart from pure language growth, I was finally able to form real, intimate relationships, and I became so much more aware of the post-Soviet space in general.”</p> <figure class="captioned-image obj-right"> <figcaption>Russian lecturer Maia Solovieva, left, meets with Emma Kim.</figcaption> </figure> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Kim has continued expanding her Russian skills—even serving as a teaching assistant for a 300-level class. Ever aware of her deepening connection to the language during a time of Russian diplomatic turmoil, she greatly values �鶹��Ƶ’s approach to the <a href="/campus-resources/bulletins/russian-invasion-ukraine">Russian invasion of Ukraine</a>.<br> <br> “Right now, teaching and learning Russian has a lot of political and imperial connotations, and as a student of the language, it's important to be aware of it and to acknowledge it,” she says. “�鶹��Ƶ’s Russian Department has done a good job of dealing with this dilemma. We do a lot of Russian cultural events together, but we’re also constantly discussing the current political situation.”<br> <br> Kim is especially grateful to Professor of Russian <a href="/tom-newlin">Tom Newlin</a>, who introduced her to the language, and Russian lecturer <a href="/maia-solovieva">Maia Vladimirovna Solovieva</a>, with whom she meets every week. “<a href="/nicholas-bujalski">Nicholas Bujalski</a>, who teaches Russian history, has also helped me to expand out of the strictly linguistic and curate my sense of the region,” she adds.</p> <p>Upon arriving in Bishkek, Kim will be paired with local language partners who will engage her in conversational Russian and introduce her to everything the city has to offer. </p> <p>“I’m stepping out of my comfort zone and completely immersing myself,” she says. “I’m excited to learn more about central Asia and Kyrgyz culture, but my ultimate goal is to get to know the city well, make local friends, and find a place for myself.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Curiosity led Emma Kim to study Eastern Europe at �鶹��Ƶ. Now a state department scholarship has her curious about living and studying there.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2023-06-01T12:00:00Z">Thu, 06/01/2023 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Kate Bigam Kaput</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/maia-solovieva" hreflang="und">Maia Solovieva</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pull-images field--type-list-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yes</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Tanya Rosen-Jones '97</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Raavi Asdar Receives Fulbright to Tajikistan</h1> <p>anagy — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 20:17:35 +0000</p> <span>Raavi Asdar Receives Fulbright to Tajikistan</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2022-08-16T16:17:35-04:00" title="Tuesday, August 16, 2022 - 16:17">Tue, 08/16/2022 - 16:17</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Recent graduate Raavi Asdar is part of a cohort that will spend 10 months in Tajikistan providing free English language instruction to Tajiki residents through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) program.</p> <p>Unlike most Fulbright ETA programs which place teaching assistants in schools, Asdar’s cohort will be posted in an American Space, one of several cultural centers throughout the country funded by the United States government. Sponsored jointly by a U.S. embassy and a host country organization, an American Space serves as an information outpost similar to a public library. In Tajikistan, American Spaces function to provide free-of-cost English language instruction in after-school clubs.</p> <p>A <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history">history</a> major with minors in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian/curriculumussian%20and%20eastern%20European%20studies">Russian and Eastern European studies</a> and <a href="/middle-east-and-north-africa-studies">Middle East and North African studies</a>, Asdar explored courses focusing on South Asian, Middle East, and American History in an attempt to understand his own identity and family history. For his first Winter Term experience, he challenged himself to take the Russian language intensive, which led to two years of learning Russian.</p> <p>“Over time, these two academic trajectories coalesced into an interest in Central Asian history,” says Asdar, a resident of Austin, Texas, who graduated in September 2021. “In my last semester, I took a private reading with Visiting Assistant Professor Nicholas Bujalski on Central Asian history, and I left with an intense desire to learn more about the region.” </p> <p>Asdar will draw on his experiences in language acquisition, teaching, and learning abroad. A study away program in Edinburgh, Scotland, was cut short due to the pandemic in spring 2020, but Asdar says he had enough time to learn about establishing himself in a new context and cultivating community. For his last two years of high school, he received a scholarship to attend a boarding school in rural Norway, where he was joined by peers from more than 100 different countries. </p> <p>“I was one of four Americans on campus, and it was my first exposure to being a minority as an American. I also developed many meaningful friendships with peers from all over the world, including my friend Amina from Tajikistan,” Asdar says. “When I was deciding to apply to be an ETA, I reached out to Amina and she shared with me that she would go to the American Space in Dushanbe to practice her English growing up, which cemented my desire to go forward with my Fulbright application.”</p> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Asdar was involved in the Pottery Co-op and taught an Ex-Co on beginner pottery. “Through teaching an Ex-Co, I began learning how to adapt to different learning styles and student expectations. Some of my students wanted a lot of individual attention and affirmation, while other students desired a more hands-off approach and would seek me out for help. I hope to continue developing these sorts of classroom management skills while in Tajikistan.”</p> <p>While in Tajikistan, Asdar says he intends to work on his Russian skills while learning Tajiki. “I am really looking forward to getting to know the students I will be working with and developing relationships in a new, to me, cultural context. Tajikistan is known for its mountains and beautiful natural landscapes, which I am eager to explore.”</p> <p>Asdar was awarded a <a href="/news/critical-language-scholarship-recipient-boosts-his-sense-identity">Critical Language Scholarship</a> to study Urdu in 2021, as well as a Humanity in Action Fellowship to Amsterdam in 2020.</p> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Asdar was a member of the �鶹��Ƶ Student Cooperative Association, the South Asian Student Association, the Muslim Student Association, and the Pottery Co-op. He was also involved in <a href="/religious-and-spiritual-life/pastoral-care-and-counsel">Barefoot Dialogues</a> as a participant, facilitator, and student leadership team member, and dedicated his time working on mental health advocacy on campus. After graduation, Asdar worked at Denison University in the Center for Global Programs (a combined international student support and study abroad office), where he gained experience advising and mentoring students, organizing programming, and managing student workers.</p> <p>“I feel very grateful to be heading into a Fulbright after almost a year of working, which has allowed me to develop various professional skills and transition out of seeing myself as just a student,” Asdar says. “I hope to draw from all of these experiences and more as an ETA.</p> <p>Asdar notes that he was accepted as an alternate when he applied for the Fulbright ETA the previous year, and he encourages other students to reapply.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-subhead field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Asdar will provide English language instruction to Tajiki residents through the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship program.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2022-08-16T12:00:00Z">Tue, 08/16/2022 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2583">College of Arts and Sciences</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2377">Arts & Humanities</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25446">Middle East and North Africa Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/nicholas-bujalski" hreflang="und">Nicholas Bujalski</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Raavi Asdar is a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Tajikistan.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Asdar</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Critical Language Scholarship Recipient Boosts His Sense of Identity</h1> <p>ygay — Wed, 28 Jul 2021 17:32:26 +0000</p> <span>Critical Language Scholarship Recipient Boosts His Sense of Identity</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-07-28T13:32:26-04:00" title="Wednesday, July 28, 2021 - 13:32">Wed, 07/28/2021 - 13:32</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Raavi Asdar’s Critical Language Scholarship not only helped him explore his own sense of self but exposed him to other cultures, all of which play a key factor as he ponders a career abroad after graduation. </p> <p>The <a href="https://clscholarship.org" target="_blank">Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program</a> grants students the opportunity to spend eight to ten weeks studying one of 15 critical languages. The program includes intensive language instruction and structured cultural enrichment experiences designed to promote rapid language gains. CLS winners traditionally study abroad in the summer, however, because of the pandemic, the program will take place online. CLS, a U.S. Department of State program is part of an initiative to expand the number of Americans studying and mastering world languages that are critical to national security and economic prosperity. </p> <p>Asdar, a third year <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" target="_blank">history</a> major with minors in <a href="/russian-and-east-european-studies" target="_blank">Russian and Eastern European Studies</a> and <a href="/middle-east-and-north-africa-studies" target="_blank">Middle East and North African Studies</a>, is fluent in Urdu. </p> <p>Although Urdu was spoken in Asdar’s home in Austin, Texas, he and his brother would respond to their parents in English. </p> <p>However, as Asdar grew older, he began to feel as if he was denied a part of his identity and "resented not being taught how to speak, read, or write Urdu. [After leaving home], that resentment transformed into a sense of responsibility to learn Urdu for myself,” he says. “I sought out the CLS Urdu program as a way to learn my parents' mother tongue and gain a firmer sense of my own identity.” </p> <p>Asdar was awarded the CLS to Lucknow, the capital city of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, last year and engaged in a virtual experience this past fall. Although the pandemic prevented travel, Asdar says his language skills grew during the program, thanks to CLS professors and staff who worked hard to create an intensive language environment.</p> <p>“I felt like I got to know my professors and peers pretty well. There was a certain intimacy gained by using Zoom—sometimes we would see our professor's children in the background or the pets of some of our peers,” he says. “In addition, we were each paired with a language partner who was from Lucknow and usually closer to us in age. We would spend at least a couple hours a week having one-on-one conversations with our partners.”</p> <p>Language partners also presented aspects of Lucknow’s culture, major monuments, food, or history. In exchange, Asdar says, he taught his partner about Texas barbeque, Tex-Mex cuisine, and tourist attractions in his hometown. The group’s weekly cultural activities included guest speakers from the Lucknow community. </p> <p>As Asdar concludes his junior year at �鶹��Ƶ College, he is confident that the language skills he built will continue to serve him in a variety of ways.</p> <p>“I hope wherever I end up [after �鶹��Ƶ], I can work towards creating a more equitable world in my community,” he says. “I also want to add as a final note, if anyone is thinking of applying for CLS please feel free to reach out and use me as a resource.”</p> <p>Asdar is the recipient of a 2020 Humanity in Action Fellowship to Amsterdam and a member of several clubs and organizations on campus, including the Muslim Student Association, the �鶹��Ƶ Student Cooperative Association, Bike Coop, Pottery Coop, and Barefoot Dialogues. He cofounded the Maple Syrup Ecological Learning Center.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-07-28T12:00:00Z">Wed, 07/28/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25446">Middle East and North Africa Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25381">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/history" hreflang="und">History</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Raavi Asdar ’22</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Asdar</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Patrick Powers '21 Receives Fulbright to Uzbekistan</h1> <p>anagy — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 16:43:49 +0000</p> <span>Patrick Powers '21 Receives Fulbright to Uzbekistan</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-06-10T12:43:49-04:00" title="Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 12:43">Thu, 06/10/2021 - 12:43</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Patrick Powers ’21 will spend the summer improving his knowledge of Uzbek language before heading to Uzbekistan with a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. </p> <p>Powers majored in Russian/East European studies and comparative literature. He says he first became interested in Uzbekistan through Nikita Makarenko, an Uzbek journalist and musician who visited �鶹��Ƶ in 2018 as a visiting professor.</p> <p>“His course on news and mass media in the former Soviet Union shone a spotlight on post-Soviet Central Asia, a whole region of the world which I knew absolutely nothing about,” says Powers, who is from La Grande, Oregon. “I was totally engrossed by the opportunity to learn about this entirely different element of the former USSR which differed so immensely from the regions I was used to thinking about. I think Central Asia is an incredibly rich and important area to understand, since it is connected to and influenced by so many cultures and economic centers of power.” </p> <p>Powers says he is excited to learn more about contemporary Uzbek literature, the rapidly evolving role of religion (especially for the younger generation), and the Uzbek language. Although many Uzbeks speak Russian fluently, he says his goal is to become an advanced speaker of Uzbek rather than relying on his Russian language skills. This summer he will be working more intensely on his Uzbek with Professor Dilnoza Khalisova of the University of Wyoming. </p> <p>“I'm especially interested in how Uzbekistan's political and cultural identity, shaped by so many outside forces throughout history, is evolving yet again in the 21st century.”</p> <p>Powers particularly enjoyed his experience as a Russian teaching assistant at �鶹��Ƶ, and he hopes that through teaching English he can facilitate cross-cultural communication and mutual understanding. “Ultimately I want to help open up the world for my students in the same way that studying foreign languages has opened up the world for me. I'm also looking forward to bringing my knowledge of Uzbekistan back to the United States, because I feel like most Americans know just as little about Uzbekistan and Central Asia as I did before a couple years ago.”</p> <p>Powers was enrolled in a study abroad program in St. Petersburg, Russia, in Spring 2020, but his time was cut short due to the pandemic. He wrote his honors thesis on Russian literature. In addition to language studies, Powers was a research assistant in the politics department. He also served on �鶹��Ƶ Student Senate for four years and worked as a resident assistant. </p> <p>Following his Fulbright year, Powers plans to apply for additional funding through the �鶹��Ƶ <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian/ocreecas">OCREECAS</a> grant to stay in Central Asia or Russia in summer 2022 to do independent research. He is considering a master’s in Russian/Eurasian studies, law school, or potentially pursuing a PhD in Slavic studies. “In any case, I definitely plan to continue studying Russia and the former Soviet Union.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-06-10T12:00:00Z">Thu, 06/10/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2363">Academics & Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25316">Comparative Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/comparative-literature" hreflang="und">Comparative Literature</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Patrick Powers '21</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Patrick Powers</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Mark Walker ’22 Awarded Beinecke Scholarship</h1> <p>swargo — Fri, 07 May 2021 18:26:27 +0000</p> <span>Mark Walker ’22 Awarded Beinecke Scholarship</span> <span><span>swargo</span></span> <span><time datetime="2021-05-07T14:26:27-04:00" title="Friday, May 7, 2021 - 14:26">Fri, 05/07/2021 - 14:26</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Mark Walker, a junior majoring in <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/rees" target="_blank">Russian studies</a>, <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" target="_blank">economics</a>, and <a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" target="_blank">mathematics</a>, has recently been awarded the prestigious Beinecke Scholarship, which he plans to put toward a graduate program in economics.</p> <p>The <a href="https://fdnweb.org/beinecke/">Beinecke Scholarship</a> is an award given to students with exceptional academic achievements who plan to enter a research-focused master’s or doctoral program in the arts, humanities, or social sciences. Beinecke scholars receive $4,000 immediately before attending graduate school and another $30,000 while in attendance. After completing their undergraduate degree, the scholars are encouraged to seek graduate-level education as soon as possible and use their funds within five years. </p> <p>Walker applied for an internal nomination and was selected as a finalist for the Beinecke scholarship. After getting selected, he completed an external application directly to the Beinecke Foundation and was later awarded the scholarship. </p> <p>“I found out about Beinecke through <a href="/fellowships">�鶹��Ƶ's Fellowships and Awards office</a>, which is a very good resource for folks who are looking to get funding for graduate study or for doing after �鶹��Ƶ abroad programs such as Fulbright.”</p> <p>At �鶹��Ƶ, Walker has participated in student research with several faculty members. He has worked alongside professors <a href="/john-duca">John Duca</a>, <a href="/evan-kresch">Evan Kresch</a>, and <a href="/henrique-veras">Henrique Veras</a> in the economics department, and he has studied the politics of Russian labor alongside Professor of Politics <a href="/steve-crowley">Steven Crowley</a>. Under the mentorship of Kresch, Walker is currently writing a development economics research paper about sanitation and taxation in Brazil. </p> <p>“I really like international trade issues and international economics in general, but specifically I love trade issues. I did some trade-related consulting as part of Politics 411, which is basically a course that is also a small consulting group with the students working as analysts. For macro, I did some trade studies, and then this semester I'm also working on some trade-related research because it's what I really like.”</p> <p>Walker wants to focus on international economics in graduate school, though he has yet to commit to a specific sub focus.</p> <p>“I definitely want to do something with econometrics because I love statistical methods. I really like the idea of trying to find new ways to get better identification of what's happening in observational data that we observe. It makes me excited because this is the frontier of statistics, and the better the statistics the better knowledge we can get from this observational data mess that we work with in a lot of the social sciences and to an extent, some of the natural sciences.”</p> <p>Walker is grateful to have won the scholarship and excited to see what the future holds.</p> <p>“Knowing that I have external funding before actually applying to grad school is a big relief. It helps me feel reassured that I'll be able to afford grad school, and it sends a strong signal to the institutions that I'm a decent candidate. I think that scholarships are a good opportunity and I would recommend applying for folks who are really passionate about wanting to do something that requires graduate education.”</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2021-05-07T12:00:00Z">Fri, 05/07/2021 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Jane Hobson ’22</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25341">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25416">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25401">Mathematics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/economics" hreflang="und">Economics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/politics" hreflang="und">Politics</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/mathematics" hreflang="und">Mathematics</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Mark Walker '22</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Courtesy of Walker</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Russian Renaissance Brings Classical-Folk Fusion to �鶹��Ƶ Feb. 28</h1> <p>eburnett — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 15:15:16 +0000</p> <span>Russian Renaissance Brings Classical-Folk Fusion to �鶹��Ƶ Feb. 28</span> <span><span>eburnett</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-02-09T10:15:16-05:00" title="Sunday, February 9, 2020 - 10:15">Sun, 02/09/2020 - 10:15</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Once you get to know the world of <a href="/artsguide/artist-recitals/russian-renaissance">Russian Renaissance</a>, you come to expect the unexpected.</p> <p>The ensemble’s four musicians hail from the far corners of Russia, but they came together over—of all things—Serbian <em>punk </em>music.</p> <p>Their sound is grounded in the traditions of their native country, but their output incorporates influences that veer far afield from Russia.</p> <p>So settle in for an exhilarating ride when Russian Renaissance makes its Ohio debut at �鶹��Ƶ on Friday, February 28. Part of the Artist Recital Series, the performance begins at 7:30 p.m. in historic Finney Chapel.</p> <p>The quartet will traverse the globe and several centuries in the course of one evening, delivering music first by Bach and Tchaikovsky, then by French accordionist Richard Galliano, Argentinian composer Astor Piazzolla, Brazilian guitarist-pianist Egberto Gismonti, Italy’s Niccolò Paganini, America’s Béla Fleck, and others.</p> <p>The ensemble first made a splash in the United States by winning the 2017 M-Prize Competition at the University of Michigan, claiming the world’s most lucrative honor for chamber music. It followed that success with a gold medal at the 2019 Vienna International Music Competition, and made its Lincoln Center and Kennedy Center debuts that same year.</p> <p>Just this month, Russian Renaissance has released its self-titled debut album on Azica Records. (Sample their sound with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=WqWC94Nh__E&feature=emb_logo">this YouTube clip</a> of a tango by Galliano.)</p> <p>While on campus, the ensemble will meet with students in �鶹��Ƶ College’s Russian and East European studies department, lead a master class with conservatory students, and present a public talk—"World Music with a Russian Soul: What We Do and How We Do It"—in the Birenbaum (lower level of the Hotel at �鶹��Ƶ) from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m. on February 28.</p> <p>“We are fond of noting that ‘the world comes to �鶹��Ƶ,’ an expression of our pride in bringing an unparalleled range of artists to campus every year, to perform on our stages and to interact with our students,” says Dean of the Conservatory William Quillen.</p> <p>“Russian Renaissance embodies exactly what we mean by this. We are thrilled to welcome them in concert and in the numerous other capacities they will engage with our community. They are one of the most fascinating, versatile young chamber ensembles performing today, and their wide-ranging influences provide a welcome model for us all.”</p> <p>Russian Renaissance was cofounded in 2015 by balalaika player Ivan Kuznetsov and domra player Anastasia Zakharova, both of whom were newly graduated from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music in Moscow when they had a chance encounter with the musicians of the long-running Serbian garage-punk band No Smoking Orchestra. They hit it off, jammed together, and followed the urge to establish an ensemble of their own. The following year, Russian Renaissance won first prize at Russia’s Coupe Mondiale competition—the first contest they ever entered.</p> <p>At the heart of the ensemble’s sound is its decidedly traditional Russian instrumentation. The balalaika is a tri-cornered, three-stringed instrument popularized in the States by the 1965 film <em>Doctor Zhivago</em> and more recently by <em>The Grand Budapest Hotel</em> (2014). The balalaika’s oversized cousin, the balalaika contrabasso (played by Ivan Vinogradov), emits a sound similar to a plucked double bass. Zakharova’s domra may be likened to a mandolin, while Alexander Tarasov plays a button accordion, a staple of folk and polka ensembles all over the world.</p> <p>Tickets for Russian Renaissance at �鶹��Ƶ are $35 ($30 for seniors, members of the military, and �鶹��Ƶ faculty, staff, and alumni). All student tickets are just $10.</p> <p>Get yours by calling 800-371-0178, buy online at <a href="/artsguide/artist-recitals/russian-renaissance">oberlin.edu/artsguide</a>, or visit Central Ticket Service (<a href="/node/129181">Nord Performing Arts Annex</a>) from noon to 5 p.m., weekdays.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-02-09T12:00:00Z">Sun, 02/09/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Erich Burnett</div> <div class="text-content field field--name-field-intro-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Convention-busting quartet deftly bridges sounds from multiple worlds and eras.</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2356">Conservatory</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2364">Artist Recital Series</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2366">Guest Artists & Speakers</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/conservatory/divisions/strings" hreflang="und">Strings</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">courtesy Russian Renaissance</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>This Week in Photos: January 29</h1> <p>ygay — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 21:15:28 +0000</p> <span>This Week in Photos: January 29</span> <span><span>ygay</span></span> <span><time datetime="2020-01-29T16:15:28-05:00" title="Wednesday, January 29, 2020 - 16:15">Wed, 01/29/2020 - 16:15</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Eliza Goodell and Assistant Professor of Geology Rachel Eveleth perform Lake Erie climate research on South Bass Island, Ohio. Photo credit: Kristin Stanford</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Joey Rizzolo, director of film and theater, leads a workshop with students in Hall Annex 100. Photo credit: Dustin Frantz</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>The Ninde Scholars Program under way at �鶹��Ƶ High School. Photo credit: John Seyfried</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>A student works on a handcrafted spoon in the Arts, Artisans, and Anonymity workshop. Photo credit: Yvone Gay</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Students demonstrate a pair of wooden snow glasses from the Practicum in Exhibit Design project that were reproduced in 3D Printing 101. Photo credit: Yvonne Gay</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>A student reassembles a flute in Conservatory Professor Alex Still’s Flute Maintenance and Repair group project. Photo credit: Dale Preston ‘83</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Students in the Trip Through the Deep South tour visit with Yemko Pryor ’17, a current PhD student at Emory University. Photo credit: Michael Hartman</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Students in the classroom for the Intensive Elementary Russian project. Photo credit: John Seyfried</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Students in Assistant Professor Emily Barton’s Writing for Everyone project read and discuss texts on pedagogy while building their own principles for running a vibrant, inclusive workshop. Photo credit: Yvonne Gay</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Financial Education Specialist Melissa Donohue ’87 discusses the concept of bringing the �鶹��Ƶ graduate into the corporate world. Photo credit: Yvonne Gay</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Students enrolled in Sonic Arts in Society work on projects. Photo credit: Julie Gulenko ’15</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p> <figure class="captioned-image"> <figcaption>Lights are the focal point of the photo-sonic composition piece being created in this project. Photo credit: Oli Bentley</figcaption> </figure> <p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2020-01-29T12:00:00Z">Wed, 01/29/2020 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Yvonne Gay</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2402">Winter Term</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=33031">TIMARA</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25441">Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25296">Archaeological Studies</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-faculty field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/emily-barton" hreflang="und">Emily Barton</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/rachel-eveleth" hreflang="und">Rachel Eveleth</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/theater" hreflang="und">Theater</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/art" hreflang="und">Studio Art</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/geosciences" hreflang="und">Geosciences</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-caption field--type-string-long field--label-hidden field__item">Studio art open house in the Clarence Ward Art Building.</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-image-credit field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">John Seyfried</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> <article> <h1>Sarah Bogdanovitch '11 Receives Fulbright in Russia</h1> <p>anagy — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 18:01:20 +0000</p> <span>Sarah Bogdanovitch '11 Receives Fulbright in Russia</span> <span><span>anagy</span></span> <span><time datetime="2016-11-07T13:01:20-05:00" title="Monday, November 7, 2016 - 13:01">Mon, 11/07/2016 - 13:01</time> </span> <div class="text-content field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Sarah Bogdanovitch, a 2011 graduate, has been awarded a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship in Russia, where she will teach at the Eurasian Linguistics Institute in Irkutsk.</p> <p>Bogdanovitch says her love of Russian language and culture stems from her family’s heritage. At �鶹��Ƶ, she double majored in Russian and comparative literature. She also speaks French and Spanish.</p> <p>After she graduated from �鶹��Ƶ, Bogdanovitch started a small bakery, Community Loaves, in Jacksonville, Florida. She left in June 2015 to pursue opportunities in education and graduate studies, but the business is still thriving since her partner took over. She is currently living in Panajachel, Guatemala, where she teaches prekindergarten at an international school, and studies in the graduate program at Middlebury’s Kathryn Wasserman Davis Russian school in the summers.</p> <p>She will begin her Fulbright year in September, and she looks forward to gaining teaching experience at a university, improving her Russian skills, and “spending nine months in winter.”</p> <p>She spent the summer before her senior year in Yaroslavl, a few hours north of Moscow. She also had the opportunity to travel to St. Petersburg and further north to Karelia, “a beautiful region that is culturally mixed with Scandinavia.” “I have always wanted to spend more significant time in Russia outside of the capital region,” she says.</p> <p>After her Fulbright year, she plans to pursue additional graduate studies in language acquisition and communication science.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News Story</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2016-06-02T12:00:00Z">Thu, 06/02/2016 - 12:00</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-author field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Amanda Nagy</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2373">Awards and Honors</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2391">Languages & Literatures</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?tag=2368">Alumni</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-programs field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25456">Russian</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news?program=25426">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-departments field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/arts-and-sciences/departments/russian" hreflang="und">Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-pin-school-page field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">Off</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-photo-gallery-top field--type-boolean field--label-hidden field__item">false</div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-media field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"> </div> </article> </main></body></html>