Andrew Robarts

Andrew Robarts is an Associate Professor at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), specializing in Ottoman and Russian imperial history with a focus on the Ottoman Balkans and Black Sea region. He joined RISD in 2014 and teaches Middle Eastern and Russian history courses. Previously, he taught at the University of California, Riverside and Central Connecticut State University.

Robarts holds a BA from Bowdoin College and an MS and PhD from Georgetown University. His research explores the historical connections between the Middle East and Russia, networks of exchange in the Ottoman Balkans, and comparative empire studies. He speaks Ottoman Turkish, modern Turkish, Russian, Bulgarian, French, and German.

He authored two key books: *Migration and Disease in the Black Sea Region* (2017) and *Black Sea Regionalism: A Case Study* (2016), analyzing disease, diplomacy, and regionalism. His work bridges historical contexts with modern Russian-Turkish relations in the Middle East. Prior to academia, he worked in refugee relief with organizations like the International Rescue Committee and UNHCR across multiple regions.