Nadya Peterson

Dr. Nadya Peterson is a Professor in the Department of Classical and Oriental Studies at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY), within the School of Arts and Sciences. She serves as the Director and Head of the Russian and Slavic Studies Program and is an academic advisor in the Master of Arts in Translation and Interpreting (MATI) program. She is actively engaged in teaching, research, translation, and cultural outreach.

Education:

• PhD in Russian Literature, Indiana University, Bloomington

Her research focuses on Russian literature, particularly Soviet and post-Soviet literary culture, Russian women writers, and the life and work of Anton Chekhov. She has made significant contributions to understanding subversive and fantastic literature during the late Soviet period and has developed innovative pedagogical materials for Russian language learning.

The most recent publications highlight a strong trajectory in literary translation, cultural analysis, and historical contextualization of Russian texts. Her work spans scholarly monographs, edited anthologies, and practical language resources, reflecting both academic rigor and public engagement.

Scientific Awards:

• Nominated for Best Translation in Fiction by the American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages (2015)
• Selected by Choice as a Notable Book of the Year

Dr. Peterson has advised students in translation and Russian studies and has secured academic programming support through Fulbright initiatives. She has hosted Fulbright teaching assistants from Russia and served as a national evaluator for the program. She has also taught Russian to NYPD officers, demonstrating applied linguistic service. She leads a long-standing cultural program that brings Russian poets, writers, filmmakers, and artists to Hunter College.

She is affiliated with the Russian and Slavic Studies division and the MATI program, and her work bridges academic scholarship, public education, and cross-cultural exchange.