Undergraduate Students

Majors

Ryan Baird (Class of 2013)

Majors: Russian Language and Literature and Foreign Affairs

"During the end of my junior year in high school and after three discouraging years of German I was encouraged by the Russian language teacher to enroll in Russian 101 my senior year. Against all advice from my parents I enrolled and soon discovered that my tongue was meant to speak Russian. Shortly after high school I spent two years (2005-2007) in Ukraine as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My work there brought me very close to the people there. I obtained a greater fluency of Russian, and learned much about every day life in eastern Ukraine and about some of the history of that area. Returning home I studied Russian more in depth and have read a lot on the history of Russia and eastern Europe. My wife and I will celebrate our three-year anniversary this December and will also welcome our first child. We moved to Charlottesville a year ago after I completed my associates degree and now I plan on completing a degree in Russian Language and Literature while double majoring in Foreign Affairs. I hope to apply my understanding of this region and language to a rewarding career in Foreign Affairs or intelligence."

Rachel Ball (Class of 2012)

Major: Russian and East European Studies

"When I first arrived at UVa, I enrolled in First-Year Russian to satisfy the foreign language requirement for graduation. I have a knack for languages and wanted to take something that was challenging and used a different alphabet. While taking that first semester of Russian language, I was fascinated by the complexities of the language and the rich history. I quickly signed up for as many Russian classes as possible, including politics, history, culture, literature, and folklore. Now that I am a Fourth-Year and have had the opportunity to study in Moscow this summer, I have developed a passion for Russian language and culture."

Hillary Hurd (Class of 2013)

Majors: Russian and East European Studies and Politics Honors

"Ever since I saw the animated adaptation of "Anastasia" in 1997, I was totally taken with the idea of Russia and Eastern Europe. Despite the rather childish incentive to study Russian, I have not found a way to turn back. While the language, with all of its cases and complexity, has been a rewarding challenge, it’s the literature that has kept me hostage. From Tolstoy to Gogol to Dostoevsky, there are few writers holding such powerful lenses to the human experience and few places more naturally obscure than Russia."

Ross Koon (Class of 2012)

Majors: Russian and East European Studies and Commerce - Marketing; Commerce - IT (McIntire School of Commerce)

"I arrived at my study of Russian through the kindness of Lilia Safyanovna, who allowed me to sit in on her already-full RUSS 101 class on my first day as a UVA student. I had always been fascinated with Soviet-era history and politics, and wanted to explore the language. Little did I know it would grow to be the most beautiful, intriguing, frustratingly complex, and mystical subject I've ever studied. The incredible first-hand experience of the faculty and staff, along with their unending willingness to engage with and help their students, has opened a rich new world for me to explore. These past few years in the Slavic Department have transformed my study of Russian language, history, politics, literature, culture, and so much more from a simple hobby into one of my most fulfilling passions."

Meredith Richardson (Class of 2013)

Majors: Russian Language and Literature and German Language and Literature

"I started studying German in high school and fell in love with foreign languages—I wanted to learn to speak as many foreign languages as I possibly could! When I got to UVa, I started studying Russian and decided that though it is a devilishly difficult language, it is beautiful and enthralling. Of all the languages I’ve studied, Russian is my favorite. I decided to major in Russian Language and Literature so that I can become fluent in Russian and become very knowledgeable of the Russian culture through the literature. I hope to use my foreign language abilities in my future career and in my future travels.”

Kellianne Tomlinson (Class of 2013)

Majors: Russian and East European Studies and Bioethics

"My love of the Russian language and culture came from my 20th- Century topics class in high school. I originally wanted to do biology as my major, but after taking the History of Russia after 1917, I knew that biology was for longer the major for me. With every class I take I become more and more enthralled with Slavic culture and history. I must say that I am truly happy to be pursuing this as my major."

Larisa S. Aleksandrov (Class of 2012)
Maria A. Buser (Class of 2012)
Timour Bussiere (Class of 2013)
William F. Carden (Class of 2012)
Rachael A. Carrier (Class of 2013)
Tyler A. Deboard (Class of 2012)
Jessica Edwards (Class of 2012)
Lindsay J. Ferris (Class of 2012)
Molly M. Guinan (Class of 2012)
Audrey M. Hart (Class of 2012)
James E. Henderson (Class of 2013)
Alexandra Johnson (Class of 2013)
Kohl K. Kianpour (Class of 2013)
Nicholas S. Kincaid (Class of 2012)
Mark N. Kundzins (Class of 2012)
Francesca A. Licari (Class of 2014)
Alexis M. Moutafakis (Class of 2013)
Bergen E. Nelson (Class of 2013)
Daria A. Prokhorova (Class of 2013)
Samuel E. Pye (Class of 2013)
Alexis F. Robertson (Class of 2013)
Angela I. Skolnitsky (Class of 2012)
Camille A. Sloan (Class of 2013)
Patrick T. Stranix (Class of 2012)
John S. Surface II (Class of 2013)
Rebekah J. Wade (Class of 2013)
Alison S. Walter (Class of 2012)

Minors

Danny Rosenmund (Class of 2012)

Major: Music

"After initially only being acquainted with the great Russian composers of the late 18th century, I started to branch out into the language, literature, and art of Russia. I absolutely loved everything I encountered and found myself entrenched in the language and culture of Russia. After spending a month in the country studying with Professor Ryan, I plan to continue my studies of Russian music and culture in graduate school."

Caitlin Dunks (Class of 2012)
Rowan Sprague (Class of 2013)
Ethan Stone (Class of 2012)