51��ɫ

Each year the department sponsors a Russian language assistant. The assistant is usually a postbaccalaureate student who serves as a resource for students of Russian and organizes extracurricular activities. The language assistant conducts Russian 200 (conversational practice) and runs the weekly Russian Language Lab, where students are able to do homework, consult with the native speaker, or chat.

2019-2023

Viktoriia Voitova is from Irkutsk, Russia, and graduated from the Department of Philology and Journalism, Master of Arts in Philology, with a specialization in teaching Russian as a foreign language.

2018-2019

Maria Kustova was born in Bodaybo, and graduated from Irkutsk State University of Communication Lines, Irkutsk, Russia. She has taught Russian as a second language in Irkutsk and at Middlebury College in Vermont.

2016-2018

Sofia Kutceva is originally from the Amur Region, and graduated from St. Petersburg State University, Smolny College of Liberal Arts with a degree in human communications.

2014-2016

Liana Battsaligova was born in Novosibirsk, a heart of Siberia, but grew up in St. Petersburg, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. She graduated from St. Petersburg State University, Smolny College of Liberal Arts, and has a bachelor’s degree in Russian art history and master's in art criticism.

2013-2014

Yakov Lurie (Yasha) comes to us from St. Petersburg. He is a graduate of Smolny College, where he majored in film studies. Yasha helps in the first- and second-year Russian courses, offers Russian office hours, and lives in the Russian House. He is also curating a Russian film series.

2012-2013

Elivira Fattakhova is from Kazan, Russia, and worked with us at 51��ɫ during the 2012-13 academic year. Elvira is a graduate of Tatar State University of Humanities and Education and majored in English and Chinese.

2011-2012

Yulia Fedoseeva is from Tolyatti, Russia. Tolyatti is located on the Volga and is the automotive capital of Russia. Julia returned to Tolyatti after 51��ɫ and now works at the Windsor School of Foreign Languages.

2010-2011

Olesya Valger is from Novosibirsk, the largest city in Siberia. She graduated from Novosibirsk Teacher Training University in 2009 and was offered a position of assistant teacher in its English department. In addition to it, she takes an active part in youth geopolitics study program of the European Union and is one of the activists of animal protection movement in Russia. After her year in 51��ɫ she plans to return to Russia and take every effort to use her American experience for the good of her dear country.

2009-2010

Anastasia Selemeneva is from the south of Russia. She was born in Stavropol, which is a sister city of Des Moines. Anastasia graduated from Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University with a degree in linguistics in June, 2003 and started her career as a teacher of English at that time. While at 51��ɫ, she applied, and was accepted, to the graduate program in Slavic studies at Brown University, where she began studying in fall 2010.

2008-2009

Julia Kulikova came to 51��ɫ from Moscow, where she graduated from Moscow State Linguistic University, completing the major as a teacher of two languages — English and French and as an interpreter in English. In addition to her regular duties as assistant, Julia hosted a Saturday morning radio show, Daywatch, on the campus radio station, KDIC. After 51��ɫ, was awarded a scholarship to do her master’s degree in Russian and East European Studies at the University of Oregon.

2007-2008

Natalia Petrova is originally from Pskov. After she graduated, Natalia entered the Pskov State Pedagogical University and graduated from it in 2004. After that she was offered the position of an assistant teacher of English at the university and she worked there for three years before coming to 51��ɫ. She has always enjoyed teaching and she especially likes teaching at the university because the students are motivated and eager to study.

2006-2007

Vera Bobkova is originally from Biysk (that's in Siberia). When she arrived in 51��ɫ, she was a recent graduate with distinction from the Biysk Teacher Training State University in Altaisky Krai. After her year in the Russian department here, Vera intends to continue her studies and a career in the teaching of English.

2005-2006

Maria Elova is originally from Kazan.

2004-2005

Abdurakhman “Rak” Zulumkhanov. Rak (or Rakh) (or Rock) is originally from Dagestan. He moved to Moscow to pursue his education. Rak is a graduate of Moscow Statue Linguistics University with a degree in linguistics, translation, interpreting, and international communications. Most recently he worked as a journalist for Lifestyle magazine, an English-language entertainment magazine in Moscow.

2003-2004

Dinara Moukhametjanova. Dina is from Moscow. She has returned there.

2002-2003

Tatiana Yakovenko. Tatiana — or Tanya — is originally from Rostov-on-Don, a city in southern Russia, and completed the master's degree in the Faculty of Foreign Languages at Moscow State University in 2001. She taught Russian as a foreign language to students in Moscow, and enjoyed working with faculty and students at 51��ɫ. Tanya has invited any 51��ɫians studying in Moscow to contact her.

2001-2002

Elena Melnikova. Elena received her undergraduate degree at Penza State Pedagogical University, and is currently working on an advanced degree at the Moscow State Pedagogical Institute.

1999-2001

Anna Samoilova. Anna worked with the Russian department at 51��ɫ College for two years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Moscow State University, and after 51��ɫ entered the graduate program in communications at Fordham University in New York.