CREEES welcomes new cohort of MA students

Six new students recently arrived at Stanford to pursue their master’s degrees in Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies. The students come from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds and bring a variety of experiences and interests related to the area, ranging from politics to physics to literature and music.  

At Stanford, the MA students will work closely with CREEES-affiliated faculty as they pursue both coursework and a yearlong capstone project focused on their areas of interest.

Jacob Parsley, who served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kazakhstan and studied at Russian universities in Moscow and Saint Petersburg, will study post-Soviet civil society and language politics.  Charlie Powell, who holds a BA in physics, aims to reconcile his passions for science and the Russian language by researching the institutions and methodology of science in the Soviet Union.  Caroline Schottenhamel, who studied at University of Passau, Germany and Kazan State University in Russia, will continue exploring her interests in Russian and Eurasian history, politics, and culture.  Robin Swearingen, who has worked in Kazakhstan, Tajikstan, and Krygyzstan, will further explore his interest in Central Asian ethnic relations and nationalism as well as economic development.  Sheena Wildes, who spent a year studying at Saint Petersburg State University, will further explore her interests in Russian and European women’s history and literature.  Brigid Connor will investigate music of post-Petrine Russia.

CREEES is delighted to welcome the new MA students to the CREEES and Stanford communities as they continue their academic endeavors and further explore their intellectual interests.