Nadya Peterson

Dr. Nadya Peterson is a Professor and Director of the Russian and Slavic Studies Program at Hunter College and the CUNY Graduate Center. She is affiliated with the Department of Classical and Oriental Studies and serves as an advisor in the Russian component of the Master of Arts in Translation and Interpreting (MATI) program. Her career spans institutions like Princeton University, Indiana University, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Pennsylvania.

• PhD in Russian Literature from Indiana University, Bloomington

Dr. Peterson’s research focuses on Soviet and post-Soviet literature, Russian women writers, Chekhov studies, and cultural politics. She has significantly advanced understanding of Russian education and the intersection of literature with historical transitions. Her publications include critical editions, translations, and analyses of Russian prose and drama.

Her scholarly work spans diverse topics: Chekhov’s literary legacy, surrealism in Soviet-era plays, contemporary Russian fiction, and pedagogical approaches to Russian language. She has also contributed to cultural diplomacy through programs hosting Fulbright teaching assistants and public lectures on Russian literature and culture.

• Nominated for Best Translation in Fiction by American Association of Teachers of Slavic and East European Languages (2015)
• Subversive Imaginations: Fantastic Prose and the End of Soviet Literature selected as a Notable Book by Choice (1997)

Dr. Peterson founded an influential cultural program at Hunter College that invites Russian poets, filmmakers, and translators to engage with students and the New York community. She has also taught Russian to NYC police officers and participated in national Fulbright evaluations.