The Undergraduate Student Ambassador for the Russian Program in the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures plays a vital role in promoting the study of Russian language, culture, and literature to prospective and current students. This position involves representing the program at university events, leading informational sessions, and assisting with outreach efforts to build a vibrant and engaged student community.
The ambassador supports department faculty by coordinating student activities, contributing to social media content, and creating a welcoming environment for new students. Through engagement initiatives, the ambassador shares their passion for Russian studies, highlighting the program’s unique offerings and the value of global cultural competence. This role is ideal for students who are enthusiastic, organized, and eager to help peers discover the benefits of studying Russian in today’s interconnected world.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Academic Year 2025-2026
Alexander (Sasha) Draper (Intermediate Russian, Russian Major and BCMS Minor)
Read about Sasha:
"My name is Alex, or Sasha, and I am a junior at the University of Pittsburgh studying Russian language and literature, linguistics, and minoring in the BCMS (Bosnian/Croatian/Montenegrin/Serbian) language family. I am also the current president of the BCMS Club and hope to use my knowledge and passion for Slavic culture to enter a career field in which I may be able to apply what I have learned from my studies. I am currently enrolled in Intermediate Russian and Advanced BCMS. My linguistic interests include accent/dialect development and variation, as well as historical linguistics; specifically how languages evolve and how they are affected by geopolitical factors. I plan on applying for the Summer Language Institute this year so I may further my knowledge and abilities."
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Academic Year 2024-2025
Hunter Fanella (4th Year Russian, Political Science and Spanish Major)
Read about Hunter:
"In the middle of my freshman year, I decided to pursue Russian language learning. As I have an interest in foreign service, I knew that I needed more than just International Relations and Spanish. So, I applied for the Summer Language Institute at Pitt, and was accepted. During the program, I quickly progressed in the language and participated in Russian cultural activities. After, I signed up for Intermediate Russian for my sophomore year. Due to my wonderful experience of SLI the previous year, I decided to attend the program for Advanced Russian during the summer of 2024. Only 16 months ago I learned the cyrillic alphabet, and currently, I take 4th year Russian where I am learning about political and cultural problems in Russia. Other than engaging with Russian just in classes, I have also been able to do so with learners at Brashear High School, working with their World Language Department.
Additionally, I have immersed myself into new cultures at Literacy Pittsburgh as a teacher aid and with the Community Conversation Course at Pitt as a teacher. In each of these classes, I have had Russian students that I have been able to interact with and engage in discourse. Before I graduate, I hope to study abroad in a Russian speaking country. After graduation, I plan on going to graduate school for Russian or work for the foreign service department. In the undergraduate student ambassador position, I hope to engage even further in the Russian Department at Pitt and continue the joyous events."