NOW
I’ve combined my degrees from PSU Architecture and Russian Flagship into a commission in the Air Force as a Civil Engineer Officer. I work primarily with facilities and asset management, both domestically and in contingency environments.
THEN
Certification: Language Flagship Certified Global Professional
Honors and Awards: SMARTGrant (2010-2011); PSU Flagship Study Abroad Scholarship (2014-2015); Russian Overseas Flagship (2014-2015)
Military Background: Enlisted in the Navy in 2005 and served as a Seabee on both active and reserve duty. Deployed to Guam and Thailand in 2006, working in collaboration with the Royal Thai Marines and then to Iraq in 2008 as facilities support for the Joint Special Operations Command.
International Internship: Caspian University, Architecture Department (2015)
What do you plan to do with your fluency in Russian?
With fluency in Russian, I plan on becoming either an architect for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or Naval Facilities and work on Department of Defense projects in collaboration with Russian-speaking nations or becoming a health facilities architect officer for the US Air Force.
What attracted you to RFP? Did your military experience influence your reasons to join?
Proficiency in Russian beyond what is normally achieved with a bachelor of art in Russian, and government opportunities that are open to Flagship students.
My military experience has taught me to challenge myself and constantly test the boundaries of what I think I am capable of achieving. Russian Flagship is a rewarding challenge that many veterans are uniquely prepared for due to experience with travel and a diverse living and working environment that the general student body might struggle with.
What’s the best aspect of being in RFP?
The best aspect of being in RFP is the amount of study dedicated to applied Russian and having a goal based on proficiency and interaction in addition to multiple majors.
Why is fluency in Russian important to you?
Fluency in Russian is a unique skill. Proficient linguists in other languages are fairly common, but being fluent in a critical language like Russian will give me a comparative advantage over similar architects.