Erik R. Scott

Erik R. Scott is the John P. Black Professor of History at the University of Kansas, serving as Director of the Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies and Editor of The Russian Review. His research focuses on modern Russia, the Soviet Union, Cold War history, migration, diaspora, and global international relations. He holds a B.A. from Brown University and a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, with research fellowships at the Kennan Institute and Georgetown University.

Research Interests: Dr. Scott explores migration patterns, Cold War legacies, and Soviet empire dynamics through lenses of diaspora, border policies, and cultural exchange. His award-winning works include Defectors (2023), analyzing Cold War refugee systems, and Familiar Strangers (2016), examining the Georgian diaspora’s role in Soviet evolution. Current projects include a history of the Soviet Union’s collapse through sports.

Teaching: He teaches courses on Russian history, the global Cold War, and diaspora studies, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches using film, literature, and everyday life analysis.

Awards & Grants: Recipient of NEH, ACLS, and Fulbright-Hays grants. His books have won multiple prizes, including the Ferrell Book Prize and Johns Family Award.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies and co-founded the Cold War in the Heartland digital humanities project for educators.