NOW
I graduated from the Russian Flagship Program at Portland State University in 2016. After undergrad, I received two graduate degrees: A master's in Nonproliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Terrorism Studies from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, and a master's in International Affairs from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. I currently work for a security contracting company in Silicon Valley. I am interested in using my skills to analyze and improve nuclear and lab-to-lab cooperation policies with Russia and other nuclear states.
THEN
Certification: Language Flagship Certified Global Professional
Honors and Awards: PSU Flagship Study Abroad Scholarship (Summer 2014); Boren Scholarship (2015-2016); Russian Overseas Flagship (2015-2016) Domestic Internships: Portland Police Bureau (2014 - Present)
International Internship: NTK TV - the Independent Television Channel
What do you plan to do with your fluency in Russian?
I’d like to work overseas. The relationship between the United States and the Russian Federation is unstable and has been for a long time. I'd like to work in diplomacy for the United States government in hopes that one day our two countries can see eye to eye.
What attracted you to the PSU Russian Flagship?
I’d heard of the program originally while taking first- and second-year Russian at Portland Community College and spoke with several students who had been enrolled in Russian Flagship at the time. All of them highly recommended it, and I continued to hear good things. Upon further research, I learned that the Flagship program at PSU happens to be one of the best in the country for those seeking a high proficiency in Russian. Having the love for languages that I do, how on earth could I possibly turn that down?
What’s the best aspect of being in the PSU Russian Flagship?
My Russian gets better every day I’m in class. I’m currently taking three classes, all conducted in Russian. I feel my proficiency getting better noticeably on a weekly basis. Another huge benefit of the program is the people. I've never had the privilege to work in a cohort with such kind, dedicated and helpful people, all of whom share the same passion that I do for the language.
Why is fluency in Russian important to you?
Russian is complicated. Anybody who studies it will say so. Many Russian majors find it difficult to get a job related to their studies after graduating because they don't reach the required level of fluency to work in a professional environment. Studying a language like Russian and graduating without the ability to get a job is pointless. Fluency is vital, and it's what the current job market is looking for.