Melikian Center: Russian, Eurasian & East European Studies

08/31/2026

🚨 REMINDER: We are meeting this Wednesday, September 2nd at 1:00 PM! 📚💡

If you saw our previous flyer post, this is your official sign to join! Don't forget to grab your spot for the undergraduate reading group led by Professor Henry Thomson, investigating how communist regimes collapsed in Eastern Europe but endured in Asia after 1989. 🌐✨

Come enjoy a catered lunch during our discussions and meet members of the Melikian Center community.

📍 Where: Durham Hall 240
👉 Scan the QR code on the flyer below to fill out the interest form right now!

08/28/2026

What an incredible turnout at last night’s Open House! 🎉 A massive thank you to our community, students, and guests for making the evening so special. The energy was amazing, and we are so grateful for your continued support of the Melikian Center.

08/26/2026

Don't forget! 🗓️ The ASU Melikian Center Open House is happening tomorrow, August 27, from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM!

Join us to learn about our programs and connect with students, faculty, and staff interested in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Eurasia. 🌐✨

08/26/2026

Looking for a good reading group this semester? 📚💡

Join Melikian Center Director Henry Thomson to read and talk about Capitalism, Communism, and the Revolutions of 1989. 🌐✨

Read excerpts from 3 accessible books about the year communism collapsed in Eastern Europe but survived in China. Over a catered lunch, discuss each book with faculty experts and members of the Melikian Center community.

A great introduction to Russia, Eurasia, and Eastern Europe for all interested ASU undergraduates.

Capacity is limited, scan the QR code on the flyer to grab a spot!

08/13/2026

Interested in global affairs, languages, or cultures? 🌍✨

Join us for the Melikian Center Open House! Discover how we support research, teaching, and public programs that advance knowledge across Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Russia.

Why attend?
🤝 Connect with students, faculty, and staff sharing similar interests.
💡 Learn about upcoming programs, regional research, and community events.
🌐 Explore diverse cultures and languages.
🗓 RSVP Deadline: August 25th (helps us plan, but walk-ins are totally welcome!)
📍 Where: Durham Hall Room 240

🔗 RSVP here: https://melikian.asu.edu/form/rsvp-open-house-2026-melikian

08/11/2026

Ever wondered how medieval geopolitics still echo in the modern world? 🌍

Dive into the deep origins and evolution of holy war this semester. HST 360: Crusades & Holy Wars is open for registration! Taught by renowned professor and Melikian Center faculty affiliate Dr. Stefan Stantchev, this highly-rated class sells out quickly. Don't wait to grab a seat! ⚔️

Fall 2026, Session A
(Gold: HUAD)
Time: M/W 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
Location: West Valley Campus, CLCC 158

👉 Ready to enroll? https://catalog.apps.asu.edu/catalog/classes/classlist?campusOrOnlineSelection=A&catalogNbr=360&honors=F&promod=F&searchType=all&subject=HST&term=2267 #:~:text=HST-,360,-Course%20title%3A

07/20/2026

How did a museum in a remote desert city come to hold the world’s second-largest collection of Russian avant-garde art? 🏛️✨
Explore the incredible story of bravery, preservation, and artistic preservation behind Uzbekistan's Savitsky Collection.
Sources: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2019/may/21/lost-louvre-uzbekistan-savitsky-museum-banned-art-stalin
https://desertofforbiddenart.com/about

07/02/2026

Proud to see Arizona State University engaging with global diplomacy firsthand at the U.S. Embassy Podgorica! 🔱🇺🇸🇲🇪

Otpravnik poslova Kiz je ove sedmice ugostio grupu studenata u studijskoj posjeti i njihove profesore sa Arizona State University u Ambasadi SAD u Podgorici, gdje su razgovarali o američkoj spoljnoj politici, diplomatiji i javnoj službi. Dok obilježavamo , ovakve posjete pružaju jedinstven uvid u diplomatiju na djelu, inspirišu novu generaciju američkih lidera i dodatno jačaju veze 🇺🇸🤝🇲🇪. Hvala na posjeti, ! 🌟

🔹🔹🔹

This week, Chargé Keays welcomed a group of study abroad students and their professors from Arizona State University to U.S. Embassy Podgorica to discuss U.S. foreign policy, diplomacy, and public service. As we mark , visits like these offer a firsthand look at diplomacy in action, inspire the next generation of American leaders, and strengthen 🇺🇸🤝🇲🇪 ties. Thank you for visiting, ! 🌟

06/26/2026

⚽💛 With the World Cup in Philadelphia, it’s the perfect time to look at the people and communities that built the city’s soccer culture long before the tournament arrived. 💙⚽

In *Gritty but Global: Philly's World Cup Adventure*, the Great Game Lab traces Philadelphia’s soccer story—from Ukrainian-led clubs that dominated local and national competition in the 1960s to the Philadelphia Union, its passionate supporters, and the next generation of players coming through local colleges and academies.

The story of soccer in Philadelphia is also a story of the lasting impact of the Ukrainian diaspora on the city’s sporting identity. 🔔🇺🇸🏆

Watch it here: https://www.pbs.org/video/gritty-but-global-phillys-world-cup-adventure-wwdw8w/

06/22/2026

Let’s all give a huge congrats to our faculty affiliate, Dave Fossum! 📢 🌟Dave has been officially selected as a 2026–27 Fellow by the National Humanities Center! He is one of only 29 scholars chosen from 453 nationwide applicants. While there, he will be focusing on his upcoming research project, Remembered Innovation: A History of Creativity in Turkmen Music. 🎶 📚We are incredibly proud to see his dedication and ethnomusicology expertise recognized on a national stage! 🔱 👏