
Overview
Our Story

CREEES is Stanford University’s hub for the interdisciplinary study of the region stretching from the Berlin Wall to the Bering Strait.
In October 1969, Stanford University designated the “Committee for Russian, East European and Communist Studies” as the Center for Russian and East European Studies, recognizing the institutional structures in the field that had emerged at Stanford over the preceding decades.
For the past 50 years, CREEES has trained an annual cohort of Master’s students, supported students in research and language study, hosted renowned area specialists, and supported community outreach activities. In Autumn 2019, CREEES celebrated its anniversary with a series of events highlighting core areas of activity.

CREEES Chronicle: 50th Anniversary Edition
We are pleased to announce a special 50th Anniversary edition of the CREEES Chronicle, highlighting the many activities and initiatives of our students, faculty, visiting scholars, and alumni over the course of the past 50 years as well as the key events held to mark the anniversary.
The CREEES Chronicle: 50th Anniversary Edition can be viewed with an online reader or downloaded as a PDF.
"As we celebrate the anniversary of CREEES, we are at a unique juncture as we also witness the resurgence of interest in our field and the region."

The CREEES program has many strengths, but perhaps none more so than the lasting sense of community it builds. This is particularly difficult to accomplish in one academic year. However, the richness of experience that the program’s participants, faculty, and staff bring to the table binds us all in a shared pursuit of bettering our understanding of the region.
- Ian McGinnity, ‘15