What first piqued your interest in Eastern Europe?

My contact with the Eastern European region began with Russian folk songs that were often listened to and performed during family gatherings. Initially, I was only interested in learning the Russian language. However, pursuing a Russian major during my undergraduate years helped me develop an appreciation for learning the history, culture and contemporary politics of the entire region.

What became the focus of your studies as you progressed in our MA program?

During my time in the CSEES MA program at OSU, I took courses in film, literature, culture and linguistics. Learning about the cultural and linguistic diversity and the high level of mobility in this region ignited my curiosity in sociolinguistics. 

What are your future plans?

This fall, I will begin a PhD program in sociolinguistics at Georgetown University. I hope to investigate language acquisition and perceptual sociolinguistics within migrant communities, particularly of former Soviet émigrés in the U.S. I also hope to examine the current theoretical challenges in the methods used by language attitude studies, and explore how those methods apply to the highly diverse Slavic, East European, and Central Asian regions.  

 What, as you exit, was your impression of our MA program?

I have had a very pleasant growth experience in the CSEES MA program. This program is well-balanced between having a structured benchmark and a flexible curriculum. We have very supportive directors and coordinators who constantly check in with students to make sure we meet requirements throughout all stages of the program. There is a very friendly and collaborative atmosphere among MA students. We are all serious and ambitious about our disciplines, which allow us to generate interesting and productive discussions during class time. However, our interests are varied enough that there is never any tension in terms of competing for the same resources. In addition to aforementioned advantages, we are also constantly provided with a great career toolkit through weekly CSEES newsletters, Slavic Culture and Literature Forum meetings, talks from visiting professors and practitioners. 

Do you have any advice for current/future CSEES grads? 

For current and future CSEES students, it is never a bad idea to plan out concrete post-graduation plans early in the program, such that you can plan your courses, summer internships, or research projects to follow that direction. For those intending to enter a PhD program, it would definitely be helpful to choose the thesis-track for graduation, as during this arduous researching and writing process, you will be able to evaluate if this kind of work style is something you would be happy immersing yourself in for at least another five years. I also suggest keeping a journal for your research ideas and updating this journal regularly as you receive inspiration and develop ideas by reading scholarly articles, class discussions, or other course assignments. This advice was shared by Dr. Sims and I found it extremely helpful as it made me reflect on how interested I am in research, and constantly refine the feasibility of my research proposals. 

Just for fun: A random fact about yourself!

In the summer of 2018, I took a trip to Lake Baikal during a break between two summer camp sessions in Siberia. The original route was that I’d take a marshutka (shuttle bus) from Irkutsk to the Olkhon Island. However, I was escorted onto the wrong marshutka that took me to a small town called Ust-Uda, ten hours away from my original destination. I arrived in this town on the day of the locals’ Region Day (День Района). Although this was an unexpected detour, I had a wonderful experience observing the locals’ preparation for their holiday. The owners of the hotel also gave me a tour of the town and prepared a fancy meal (for free!) for me that is not on their menu. During our walk by the beach, we shared our living abroad experiences and I got to hear the owners’ vision for their business, e.g. how they aspire to introduce Ust-Uda residents’ to the greater world through cuisine and hospitality. I am sharing this experience because this journey somewhat parallels my own academic and professional journey. Sometimes a detour does not have to mean a delay in getting to our goal, but rather, an opportunity to enrich our experience such that we could be better equipped for our intended purpose.