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Russian Studies Alums Share Their Stories

Click on the alumni profiles below to learn about recent Russian Studies graduates and the careers they are pursuing:

Luke Jeske

(class of ’16)

Concentrations at UF: History; (minors) Russian Studies, East-Central European Studies
Currently: Ph.D. in Russian history, UNC Chapel Hill (2018 -)
Previously: English Languages Teacher, Vladimir, Russia (2016-18)

Read Luke’s story.

Olga Sinyavskaia

(class of ’15)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies & Biochemistry
Currently: Medical student at University of Chicago Medical School

Read Olga’s story.

Andres Fernandez

(class of ’14)

Concentration(s) at UF: Int’l Studies; (minors) Russian Studies, East-Central Euro. Studies
Currently: MA, Harriman Inst. of Russian, Eurasian, & East European Studies, Columbia U. (2018)
Previously: Fulbright English Teaching Asst., Russia; English Teacher, Teach and Learn with Georgia

Read Andres’ story.

David Pruden

(class of ’14)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies, Int’l Studies; (minors) French, Int’l Relations
Currently: MA, Harriman Inst. of Russian, Eurasian, & East European Studies, Columbia U. (2018)
Previously: Math and English Language Instructor, Kuwait

Read David’s story.

Head shot of David Pruden

Isabelle Solomon

 (class of ’12)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies & Psychology
Currently:  Management and Program Analyst at the Department of Justice
Previously: MA, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University (2014)

Read Isabelle’s story.

Ian Somers

(class of ’12)

Concentration(s) at UF: History and East Asian Language & Culture; (minor) Russian Studies
Currently: English Language Teacher, China

Read Ian’s story.

Zach Wilkins

(class of ’12)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies, Statistics
Currently: Tableau Manager, Analyst at Communicus;  MA in Predictive Analytics, Northwestern U

Read Zach’s story.

Earl Joshua Hodil

(class of ’11)

oncentration(s) at UF: Russian Studies, History; East-Central European Studies (minor)
Currently: PhD Candidate, History Department, Yale University

Read Josh’s story.

Marina Fayer

(class of ’10)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies, Family, Youth, & Community Sciences; (minor) Business Administration
Currently: Associate, RBC Capital Markets
Previously: MA in International Business – Global Management Certificate, UF

Read Marina’s story.

CJ Wahl

(class of ’09)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies, Spanish Studies; (minor) East-Central Euro. Studies
Currently: Attorney, Law Clerk, Judge Robin Rosenbaum, U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit
Previously: JD, U Penn Law School

Read C J’s story.

James Slater

(class of ’07)

Concentrations at UF:  Russian Studies, History
Currently: Attorney; Co-Project Director, Homeless Legal Advocacy Project (Miami)
Previously: American Councils for International Education

Read James’ story.

Liza Shurik

 (class of ’05)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies, Photojournalism
Currently: Government Consultant

Read Liza’s story.

Trevor Holmes

(class of ’04)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies, Information Sciences; Ma, International Business
Currently: U. S. Marine Officer
Previously: MA in Finance, Tulane University; employment at Merrill Lynch, Wachovia, BBVA

Read Trevor’s story.

Nick Chadeayne

(class of ’03)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies, Political Science; MS, Management
Currently: Market Risk Analyst for Shell

Read Nick’s story.

Peter Spinella

(class of ‘05)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies & English; (minor) Music Theory
Currently: Moscow correspondent, covering Russia and the former Soviet Union

Read Peter’s story.

Marina Braginskaya

(class of ’02)

Concentrations at UF: Russian Studies, Criminology
Currently: Attorney, Counsel for Litigation for Import-Export Bank of the U.S.

Read Marina’s story.