Russian Studies at Macalester

10/19/2026

More Than a Side Dish: The Story of Soviet Korean Carrots

Join Russian Studies for a hands-on culinary and cultural experience centered on Korean carrots, a beloved dish across the former Soviet Union. Together, we’ll prepare this flavorful carrot salad while exploring the story of Soviet Koreans, their forced deportation to Central Asia, and the ways migration, displacement, and adaptation shaped food traditions. Come cook, taste, and discover how one familiar side dish can tell a much larger story about history, identity, and culture.

This event will take place on Tuesday, October 20 at 6-7 pm in Kagin 117. See the attached poster for the link to RSVP. Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot today!

10/11/2026

This Macalester News story spotlights a teaching initiative by our wonderful colleague, Tamara von Schmidt-Pauli: a project-based course in which students learn to identify their own unique skills and strengths, then channel these in support of a nonprofit organization serving the diverse Russian-speaking community in and around the Twin Cities.

Russian studies and educational studies students are building meaningful connections with the Twin Cities' Russian-speaking community.

10/11/2026

See Anton Chekhov's The Seagull, a classic play about love, ambition, and art, in a contemporary adaptation at the Modern Rep in Minneapolis, from October 22 - November 7. On Sunday, November 1, the Museum of Russian Art will host a free pre-show talk at which you can learn more about The Seagull and how it continues to resonate today. See the link below for details and to purchase tickets:

Anton Chekhov's first MAJOR success, THE SEAGULL is a razor-sharp portrait of people who mistake ambition for purpose and love for salvation.

10/11/2026

"Winning the Cold War, Losing the Peace?" Webinar on October 15 at 7 pm CST

Our friends at East-West Connections are bringing together four prominent scholars of history who will discuss: to what extent was the Cold War “won” in terms of the subsequent relationship between the US and Russia?

Our speakers are:

Dr. Ivan Kurilla, Professor at The Ohio State University

Sean Warner, Master of Arts, Diplomacy & International; Conflict Management, Norwich University

Dr. Natalia Krylova, Professor of Russian, Lehigh University (PA)

Dr. Kathleen Collins, Distinguished McKnight Professor of Political Science, University of Minnesota

We are grateful for our so-sponsors of this event:

Global Minnesota

The Museum of Russian Art (TMORA)

Russian Studies Department at Macalester College

The Minnesota Committee on Foreign Relations

The Defense Language Institute Alumni Organization*

Webinar is free but requires pre-registration for access:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_9VfPxjO3QOuz_EhZ7_9L4Q

*Opinions expressed by presenters are their own and do not represent the positions of the DLI Foundation, DLI Alumni Association, DLIFLC, Department of the Army, or Department of Defense

05/03/2026

At this year’s Russian Studies Conference, organized around the theme of the spectacle in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, students and faculty from Carleton, Grinnell, and Macalester joined together to share insights and discoveries. The substantive presentations were followed by lively discussions. We loved the energy and intellectual curiosity that the participants brought to Markim Hall. It was delightful to see the students connect with one another during the breaks between panels and at the reception at the Russian House afterward. Professor Emeritus Jim von Geldern gave a fascinating keynote lecture, “A Tale of Crimea, Kyiv, and Two Vladimirs,” that brought together visual culture, performance, archeology, religion, and geopolitics, and showed how and why history matters.

The organizers of the conference—Professors Masha Fedorova and Julia Chadaga—are extraordinarily grateful to all of the people who helped make our event a success: the amazing panelists, attendees who asked great questions during the discussion, and everyone who came out to support our speakers. Special thanks to Josh Colbert, Martha Davis, Anna Moan, Spencer Mullen, Mikhas Shatsila, Liv Whitmore, and Jim von Geldern.

05/01/2026

Congratulations to Liv Whitmore '26, who has received the prestigious Fulbright ETA (English Teaching Assistant) Fellowship! Liv, a History and Russian Studies major, will be teaching English in Latvia in 2026-27. We are so proud of you, Liv, and your students will be truly fortunate to learn from you!
More details at this link:

These students join a long tradition at Macalester, which is consistently ranked a top producer of Fulbright recipients.

04/28/2026

Sharing the inspiration from our time with guest artist Lana Kartak as our students created their own куклы-мотанки, traditional Slavic dolls rich with symbolism and intention. 🧵
Each piece reflects not only artistry, but also a deeper connection to culture, history, and personal meaning. It was powerful to see students engage so thoughtfully with this tradition and bring their own stories into the work.

04/28/2026

Our students had the opportunity to learn from guest artist Lana Kartak, who introduced them to the tradition of куклы-мотанки—symbolic Slavic dolls made by hand. 🧵✨ Through this creative process, students connected more deeply with Slavic culture, history, and meaning-making traditions. Thank you, Lana, for sharing your artistry and offering such a meaningful cultural experience!

04/20/2026

Thank you to Samarkand for the delicious food and interviews! Such a meaningful experience for our Mac students!

04/13/2026

The first Minnesota Undergraduate Olympiada of Spoken Russian is in the books. Thanks to Ben, Liv, and Teagan for preparing hard and representing Macalester! Congratulations to Liv Whitmore ‘26 for taking the first place in the Advanced Russian category! 🤩🥳 It was an amazing experience of meeting and hanging out with like-minded students and faculty! We’re looking forward to next year!