Maria Gouskova is a Professor of Linguistics at the Department of Linguistics, New York University (NYU). She is affiliated with the College of Arts and Science and holds editorial roles as an Associate Editor of Language and board member of NLLT and Phonology . Her research focuses on phonology, morphology, and lexicon, with a particular emphasis on morphophonological interactions, sublexicons, and phonotactic constraints. She earned her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2003) and a B.A. in English Linguistics and German Language/Literature from Eastern Michigan University (1998). Her work bridges theoretical phonology and experimental methods, addressing questions such as how phonological patterns interact with morphology, the role of sublexical phonotactics in grammatical processes, and the learnability of complex segmental inventories. Recent research includes studies on Russian diminutive affixes, gradient phonological constraints, and the phonological properties of compounds. Her publications span topics like allomorphy, lexical phonology, and the typology of morpheme structure constraints. She frequently collaborates on projects investigating the interplay between syntax, phonology, and morphology, as seen in studies of Russian prepositions and compound stress patterns. Her contributions to phonological theory include advancing models of sublexicon theory and nonlocal constraint induction.
Harsha Ram is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Literature at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on Russian and European Enlightenment, modernist literature, and the cultural histories of the Caucasus region. He holds dual B.A. Honors degrees in Italian and Russian from the University of Sydney and University of New South Wales, and a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from Yale University. His work bridges literary theory, post-colonial studies, and geopoetics, with a particular emphasis on Georgia's literary modernism and its intersections with Russian imperial culture. Key themes include spatial theory, peripheral modernisms, and the transnational dimensions of cultural production. Recent work examines the role of ritual feasts in Georgian national identity and the geopoetics of Eurasian avant-garde movements. Ram has published extensively on figures like Velimir Khlebnikov and Boris Pasternak, exploring their engagement with imperial legacies and revolutionary aesthetics. His book The Imperial Sublime: A Russian Poetics of Empire (2003) remains a seminal study of Russian imperial poetics. Current projects include studies on Georgian literary encounters with Russian culture and the symbolic dimensions of Caucasus representations. His scholarship frequently appears in leading journals such as Modernism/Modernity , Slavic Review , and Ab Imperio . He has held visiting positions at institutions globally and actively participates in interdisciplinary dialogues between literary studies, history, and cultural geography.
Svetlana Evdokimova is a Professor of Slavic Studies and Comparative Literature at Brown University, where she has been a faculty member since 1991. She previously taught at Yale University and holds a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Yale University and an MA in French Language and Literature from St. Petersburg University. She is a leading scholar in Russian literature of the 19th and 20th centuries, with a focus on Pushkin, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, and especially Chekhov. Her research explores the intersections between literature, philosophy, history, and aesthetics. She has published extensively on Russian Romanticism, the Russian intelligentsia, and the cultural significance of St. Petersburg. Her major works include Pushkin's Historical Imagination (1999) and Staging Existence: Chekhov's Tetralogy (2023), with a forthcoming monograph A Genius of Culture: The Chekhov Phenomenon . The recent publications reflect a deep engagement with Chekhov’s aesthetics, corporeality, and cultural philosophy, as well as Dostoevsky’s dialogues with Nietzsche and postmodern thought. Her work frequently examines the ethical dimensions of literature and the interplay between fiction and historical consciousness. Choice Outstanding Academic Title (2004) for Alexander Pushkin's Little Tragedies: The Poetics of Brevity NEH Research Fellowship (1995–1996) IREX Research Fellowship (1995) The Bogliasco Foundation Residency Fellowship (2018) Paul C. Gignilliat Fellowship, Yale University (1988–1989) Council on Russian and East European Studies Summer Fellowship, Yale University (1985) She has advised numerous graduate students and has secured competitive research grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, IREX, and Brown University. She is actively involved in scholarly communities, including the Modern Language Association, AATSEEL, and author-specific societies such as the North American Chekhov Society and the North American Dostoevsky Society. She teaches courses on Russian Romanticism, major novelists, theater, and cultural history.
Elizabeth Blake is an Associate Professor of Russian and Division Coordinator in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Saint Louis University's College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on 19th-century Russian literature, particularly Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, with emphases on empire studies, exile cultures, and religious dialogues between Russian Orthodoxy and Polish/French Catholicism. She has published two major books: *Dostoevsky and the Catholic Underground* (2014) and *Travels from Dostoevsky’s Siberia* (2019). Her work bridges literary analysis with historical context, examining themes like human rights, cultural mobility, and gender roles. Blake teaches courses ranging from language proficiency to advanced topics in Russian literature and cinema, including *Russian and Soviet Cinema* and *Dostoevsky Through the Centuries*. She has received numerous grants including Mellon and Fulbright-Hays awards for research in Russia and Poland. Her academic career includes extensive reviews for journals like *Slavic Review* and *Canadian Slavonic Papers*, alongside professional involvement with organizations such as the North American Dostoevsky Society. Blake’s teaching excellence is recognized through awards like the Spirit of the Billiken Award (2016), reflecting her impact on both scholarship and student mentorship.
Ksana Blank is a Senior Lecturer at Princeton University’s Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. She coordinates the Russian Language Program and directs the Princeton-in-Petersburg Program, fostering academic exchange and interdisciplinary research. With a PhD in Russian Literature (Columbia University, 1997) and a BA in French Philology (St. Petersburg State University, 1979), her academic career spans over two decades at Princeton, preceded by teaching roles at Hunter College and Middlebury College Russian Summer School. Education: PhD, Russian Literature, Columbia University (1997) BA, French Philology, St. Petersburg State University (1979) Her research centers on Russian literature, emphasizing stylistic analysis and interdisciplinary connections with music, visual arts, folklore, and religious philosophy. Notable works include studies on Dostoevsky’s dialectics, Gogol’s The Nose , and the interplay between Russian modernism and Western art movements. She has authored multiple books and articles, many translated into Russian, and has published in academic journals across Russia, Europe, and China. Recent publications explore Dostoevsky’s paradoxes, Gogol’s linguistic innovation, and the intersection of Russian literature with music (Shostakovich), art (Malevich), and philosophy. Her 2023 book Парадоксы классики expands traditional interpretations of classic works through interdisciplinary lenses, while her 2021 The Nose guide deciphers Gogol’s wordplay and its narrative function. Earlier works address Tolstoy’s spiritual crisis and Bakhtinian dialogism in Russian literary theory. While no scientific awards are listed, her contributions to pedagogy include advanced Russian language courses and graduate-level Tolstoy studies. She currently works on Leo Tolstoy’s The Prisoner of the Caucasus and teaches courses on Russian literature, spirituality, and translation.
Laura Matthews is a Lecturer in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at Princeton University. Her work bridges nineteenth-century Russian literature with interdisciplinary themes such as pedagogical theory, social justice, and trauma-informed practices. Education B.A. from University of Pennsylvania Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures from Princeton University (2022) Research Interests span the intersection of literature and education, focusing on nineteenth-century Russian pedagogical reforms, metaphor theory in educational contexts, ethical dimensions in literature, and trauma-responsive child welfare frameworks. She also explores narratives of exile and displacement.
Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of BonnGermany
Stephan Conermann serves as Professor of Islamic Studies and Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Bonn, where he has held continuous academic appointments since 2003. His institutional leadership includes directorship of the Annemarie Schimmel Kolleg (2010-2022), Bonn Center for Transcultural Narratology, and significant administrative roles culminating in his current deanship since 2023. Academic Background: Doctorate in Oriental Philology/Islamic Studies (Kiel University, 1996, magna cum laude) Magisterstudium in Asian History, Oriental and Slavic Philology (Kiel University, 1992) Conermann's research examines pre-modern Islamic societies through narrative strategies in historiography, with specialized focus on Mamluk Sultanate governance (1250-1517), Delhi Sultanate/Mughal transitions, and Transottomanica mobility dynamics. His work uniquely connects asymmetrical dependencies (particularly slavery systems), power structures, and global entanglements across South Asia, Middle East, and Eastern Europe. His extensive publication portfolio shows consistent thematic evolution toward comparative frameworks analyzing slavery beyond Eurocentric models, narrative construction of power across cultures, and mobility as historical catalyst. Recent scholarship increasingly integrates transcultural methodology with digital humanities approaches. Academic Leadership: Supervised 290+ theses (59 PhD, 96 Magister, 47 Master, 88 Bachelor) Acquired ~9 million euros in third-party funding (DFG, BMBF, DAAD) Editor of 15+ publication series including Mamluk Studies and Dependency and Slavery Studies Conermann directs the Bonn Center for Transcultural Narratology and co-leads the EXC 2036 'Beyond Slavery and Freedom' cluster, fostering interdisciplinary research on pre-modern dependency systems through international collaborations across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
Carol Apollonio is a Research Professor in the Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies at Duke University's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences. She specializes in Russian literature, Russian-Japanese translation, and language pedagogy, with a career spanning academia and high-level U.S. Government interpretation in nuclear weapons negotiations. Education: Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures (1987) from University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Her research focuses on Anton Chekhov's literary legacy, cross-cultural translation dynamics, and pedagogical innovation. Recent publications in The Times Literary Supplement explore Chekhov's reception in English-speaking contexts and translation methodologies. Professional Activities: Co-editor of Chekhov's Letters (2018) Translator of Alisa Ganieva's works (2015-2022) Public intellectual contributions on Russian culture and academic labor
Vladimir Golstein is Professor of Slavic Studies and Interim Chair of Slavic Studies at Brown University. He has previously held teaching positions at Oberlin College (1990–1993) and Yale University (1993–2003), where he taught a wide range of courses on Russian and Western literary traditions. Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures, Yale University, 1992 B.A. in Philosophy, Columbia University, 1982 M.S. in Computers, Moscow Institute of Management His research centers on Russian culture, religion, philosophy, and poetry from the 19th and 20th centuries. He has published extensively on major Russian authors including Pushkin, Gogol, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov, Tsvetaeva, and Bulgakov. His book Lermontov's Narratives of Heroism (1998) explores heroism in 19th-century Russian literature. He is currently completing a monograph on generational conflict in Russian society. The recent publications reflect a consistent engagement with Russian intellectual and cultural history, blending literary analysis with philosophical and religious inquiry. His work often examines the moral and spiritual dimensions of literature, particularly in relation to the role of the intelligentsia and artistic expression under political pressure. There are no scientific awards listed in the provided text. Professor Golstein has supervised graduate and undergraduate students and teaches courses such as Russian Culture: From Peter the Great to Putin , Dostoevsky , Russian Poetry: Silver Age , and Roaring Twenties: Literature, Arts, and Politics in Post-Revolutionary Russia . While specific grant information is not mentioned, his ongoing research and publication record suggest active scholarly engagement. He is deeply involved in the academic life of the Department of Slavic Studies at Brown, contributing to curriculum development and leadership as Interim Chair. His interdisciplinary approach connects literature with philosophy, religion, and visual arts, fostering a holistic understanding of Russian cultural evolution.
Heather A. West serves as Associate Professor of French in the Department of World Languages and Cultures at Samford University's Howard College of Arts and Sciences, where she directs the Critical Languages Program and sponsors the French Club and Delta Upsilon chapter of Dobro Slovo (National Slavic Honor Society). Education: BA in French, Birmingham-Southern College BA in Spanish, Samford University MA in French, Mississippi State University MAEd, University of Alabama at Birmingham PhD in Romance Languages, University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa Research Interests: Dr. West specializes in contemporary Quebec literature and culture, with significant contributions to Caribbean literary studies across French, Spanish, and English traditions, particularly focusing on Haitian diaspora narratives within broader Romance language frameworks. Her interdisciplinary approach bridges Francophone, Hispanophone, and Anglophone cultural studies through postcolonial and diaspora lenses. Scientific Awards: Chevalier de l’ordre des Palmes académiques (Knight of the Order of Academic Palms) from the French government (2015) Advising and Grants: As campus representative for major international programs, Dr. West administers the David L. Boren Awards, Critical Languages Scholarship, College Language Association's Carroll Mills Young Scholarship, and American Society of French Academic Palms Summer Scholarship. She also serves as non-certifying advisor for the Benjamin Gilman International Scholarship Program, facilitating extensive student study abroad opportunities. Professional Leadership: Dr. West acts as Alabama state administrator for the National French Contest (Le Grand Concours) and serves as secretary of the National Association of Self-Instructional Language Programs, demonstrating institutional commitment to language education advancement.
Susan Smith-Peter is a Professor of History at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York, specializing in Russian history beyond Moscow and St. Petersburg. Her research focuses on regional identity, civil society development, and imperial governance in 19th-century Russia, with particular attention to Siberia and provincial dynamics. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.A. from Ohio University. Her work analyzes how Tsarist administrative frameworks fostered subnational identities through statistical bureaus, agricultural societies, and provincial newspapers. Notable contributions include *Imagining Russian Regions* (2018), which argues that autocracy’s civil society initiatives inadvertently fueled revolutionary movements. Her research has been supported by grants from the Fulbright Program, American Historical Association, and IREX. Professor Smith-Peter’s publications span journals like *Slavic Review* and *Kritika*, exploring topics from sugar beet industries to colonial Alaska. She has translated key texts into Russian and edited historical documents such as *The Great Republic Tested by the Touch of Truth*. She serves on campus committees and previously chaired Columbia University’s Seminar on Slavic History and Culture. Key Awards: Fulbright Fellowship, American Historical Association Grant, IREX Grant Grants: Fulbright-Hays Fellowship, University of Illinois Grant, CUNY Grant Her interdisciplinary approach bridges economic, cultural, and political history, emphasizing regional agency within imperial contexts. Ongoing projects explore Siberian historiography and the legacy of 19th-century provincial activism.
Anindita Banerjee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Comparative Literature at Cornell University's College of Arts and Sciences, with cross-appointments in the Environment & Sustainability Program, History of Art and Visual Studies, Literatures in English, and Romance Studies. She serves as SAP Core Faculty for the South Asia Program and has been instrumental in establishing Cornell's Environmental and Sustainability Program, where she built and chaired the environmental humanities concentration for four years. Her research explores the relationship between imagining and making futures across diverse contexts, focusing on the evolving interfaces between science, technology, and culture; natural and built environments; media and information systems; and the migration of people, things, ideas, and images. Spanning Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Latin and African Americas, her work examines networks of exchange, innovation, production, and consumption that emerge outside conventional coordinates of the modern world. Her scholarship has been featured in BBC Culture, Radio Free Europe, Medium, and Meduza. She has authored multiple books including the award-winning We Modern People: Science Fiction and the Making of Russian Modernity (2013), which won the Science Fiction and Technoculture Studies book prize, and is currently working on Reactionary Worldbuilding (MIT Press, 2026) and Border Environments (Cornell, 2026). Her research demonstrates consistent engagement with science fiction as a critical lens for examining global environmental, technological, and social transformations. Science Fiction and Technoculture Studies book prize Ivy+ Mellon Leadership Fellow (2024-25) Academic Venture Fund grant from Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability Social Sciences and Humanities Research Fellowship Banerjee serves as a faculty fellow of the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and is a participating member of cross-college programs in Biology and Society, Media Studies, and Visual Studies. She co-led a workshop series and engaged-learning course on border spaces and environmental justice supported by a grant from the Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies. As an Ivy+ Mellon Leadership Fellow, she serves as Special Assistant to the Dean of the Cornell School of Continuing Education, focusing on academic leadership and governance with an emphasis on diversity and inclusion.
Wendy Salmond is a Professor of Art at Chapman University, holding the Martha Weidlein Masters Professorship in Art within the Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. She specializes in Russian and Soviet art, design, icons, architecture, the Romanov Family, and Russian Revolutionary Culture. Dr. Salmond received her academic training with a BA (Hons I) in Russian Language and Literature from the University of Otago in New Zealand (1978), followed by an MA in Slavic Languages and Literatures (1983) and a PhD in Art History (1989), both from the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Salmond is a renowned scholar of Russian and early Soviet art, architecture, and design, with particular expertise in exploring the intersection of diverse cultural traditions in Russia and the formation of national identity. Her research spans the Arts and Crafts movement, Art Nouveau, and Russian modernism, with a current focus on transformations in the perception and function of icons in Russia, from objects of devotion to works of art. She has made significant contributions to the study of Russian icons through extensive writing, lecturing, and curatorial work, including serving as a visiting curator at Hillwood Museum and Gardens and guest curator for exhibitions at Hillwood and The New York Public Library. Analysis of Professor Salmond's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on Russian religious and secular art, particularly icons and their evolving cultural significance. Her work spans historical periods from Imperial Russia through the Soviet era, with particular attention to the intersection of religious tradition and modern artistic movements. The 2020 publication 'Eternity in Low Earth Orbit: Icons on the International Space Station' demonstrates her innovative approach, examining how Russian Orthodox icons have been incorporated into the International Space Station as sacred objects, connecting terrestrial religious traditions with space exploration. Among her notable honors, Professor Salmond holds the Martha Weidlein Masters Professorship in Art at Chapman University. She has also been recognized through invitations to curate major exhibitions and edit significant scholarly volumes on Russian art. Professor Salmond teaches courses on European modernism, graphic design history, gender and Western art, art history methods, and Russian art, design, and visual culture of the Imperial and early Soviet era. Her teaching emphasizes close visual analysis, sustained discussion, and the development of research skills. As a prolific translator of texts on Russian art and culture, she has edited volumes on Sergei Konenkov, the Bolshevik sales of Russian art in the 1920s and 1930s, and the reception of Art Nouveau in Russia. Her scholarly work extends beyond traditional academic boundaries through her active engagement with museum curation and public scholarship, creating bridges between academic research and public understanding of Russian art and culture.
Steven Lee is an Associate Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, affiliated with the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. He is a leading scholar in comparative ethnic studies, Soviet/post-Soviet studies, and 20th-21st century American literature, with a focus on transnational intellectual networks and revolutionary cultural movements. His work bridges Asian American, African American, and Slavic literary traditions while exploring intersections between global communism and cultural production. Lee’s research interests include the far left and far right ideologies in Northeast Asia during WWII, their influence on Asian American literature, and the role of manifestos as lived experiences. His current book project examines ideological imprints on Asian Anglophone writing. He is also affiliated with the Asian American Research Center, the Center for Korean Studies, and the Center for Race and Gender at Berkeley. His seminal work, The Ethnic Avant-Garde: Minority Cultures and World Revolution (2015), won the MLA’s Scaglione Prize, and he co-edited the award-winning Comintern Aesthetics (2020). Recent publications explore topics like Viktor Tsoi’s cultural impact, the Popular Front in Asian American writing, and transnational revolutionary manifestos. Lee’s research integrates methodologies from postcolonial theory, comparative literature, and political history. His sabbatical in AY 2024-25 focuses on finalizing his current manuscript while continuing to advise students through scheduled appointments.
Dragana Obradović is an Associate Professor and Associate Chair, Graduate at the University of Toronto's Department of Slavic Studies (St. George Campus). Her research focuses on the legacy of socialism in Eastern Europe, sexual politics, rural-urban divides in Yugoslavia, and Marxist criticism. She holds a PhD from University College London (2009), an MA from University College London (2005), and a BA from the University of Nottingham (2004). Her work examines the Yugoslav Wars through literary and postmodern frameworks, emphasizing ethical representation. She has published a monograph on this topic (University of Toronto Press, 2016). No scientific awards are listed, but her academic leadership includes overseeing graduate programs in Slavic Studies. Her academic trajectory includes education at prestigious UK institutions, and she maintains an active role in graduate student mentorship. No lab affiliations or grant details are provided in the text.
