NOW:
Ms. Inna Makheddinova received her BA degree from Portland State University where she double majored in International Studies and Foreign Languages as well as completed the Russian Overseas Flagship Program. Throughout her college career, Ms. Makheddinova received multiple scholarships and awards including the nationally recognized Boren Scholarship, The Oregon Consular Corps Scholarship, The Oregon Laurels Scholarship, The Friends of Russian Culture Scholarship, and the PSU Diversity Recognition Scholarship.
While in college Ms. Makheddinova had the privilege of participating in the Engalitcheff Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems in Washington, DC where she studied at Georgetown University and interned for Conservation International. Additionally, Ms. Makheddinova had the pleasure of coordinating international visitor programs for the World Affairs Council of Oregon and volunteering for LEAD International. Her international experiences include studying abroad in Paris, France as well as in St. Petersburg, Russia where she studied at St. Petersburg State University and interned at a public opinion research center as part of the Russian Overseas Flagship Program. Among her accomplishments is the valuable role she played in the cultural exchange initiative Jazz Bridge to Russia as a Russian language translator and interpreter. As a result, Inna was selected to present the project at The Language Flagship National Student Meeting.
Currently, Ms. Makheddinova is an associate at Rubicon International, worldwide education technology and consulting firm headquartered in Portland, OR, where she enjoys supporting national and international client schools in their curriculum mapping initiatives and contributing to the firm's marketing efforts.
THEN
Certification: Language Flagship Certified Global Professional
Honors and Awards: The Diversity Recognition Scholarship, 2007; The Oregon Laurels Scholarship, 2008; The Friends of Russian Culture Scholarship, 2010; Phi Sigma Iota Award, 2010) Presenter, The Language Flagship National Student Meeting "Jazz Bridge to Russia", 2012; Boren Scholarship, 2012-2013; Russian Overseas Flagship, 2012-2013
International Internship:
Public Opinion Research Center “IzoStudio”
What do you plan to do with your fluency in Russian?
With my fluency in Russian, I hope to work either abroad in Russia, or for a local organization that has some sort of interaction with Russian-speaking countries. I am interested in helping development in countries through a variety of ways such as consultation on foreign trade and policy establishment, social construction, or connecting nations through cultural understanding.
What attracted you to RFP?
I was attracted to the RFPP by the rigorous plan it presents that is bound to lead to positive results in the future. RFP also has the ability to connect me with the right resources that can help enhance my skills in the Russian language. The program makes an effort to expose students to Russian outside of the classroom, which is a great benefit that can make the learning process more appealing.
What’s the best aspect of being in RFP?
The best aspect of being in RFP is that in the end, the student can achieve well-rounded, high-level knowledge of the Russian language and culture. Also, studying abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia, will be a unique experience that I am sure will satisfy a great gap in experience of the language presented when learning it in a classroom in the U.S.
Why is fluency in Russian important to you?
Fluency in Russian is important to me as it is my heritage as well as part of my career goals. I hope to pass this beautiful language on to my future family and inspire others around me to have an interest both in the language and culture of Russia.