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.
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.
