Alumni by Year

2009

Christopher Burks is a graduate student at Security Studies Program at George Washington University.

Aaron Chivington works as a photographer.

Max Gordon teaches at Cambridge Education.

Chris Hall

Thomas Mason studies at the  William and Mary Law School. "I'm a first year J.D. student. I intend to focus on international criminal law, hoping to work on stopping the weapons trade out of post Soviet coutries, or maritime smuggling in general" (updated fall 2009).  

Ann Mosher (ammosh@wm.edu)

Kathryn Mrkvicka works for the government.

Liz Owerbach received Fulbright Scholarship and will be spending the next year in Tolyatti, Russia (2009).  Check Liz's blog www.TolyattiTales.blogspot.com.
"Greetings from Tolyatti, Russia!
Yesterday marked the one-month anniversary of my arrival in Russia, and I wanted to take a moment to say hello!  I am happy to report that things are going quite well over here in the other hemisphere.  I am working at Tolyatti State University, teaching classes in English language, as well as American history, politics, arts, and culture.  I will also be continuing work on my documentary film (which currently still features all of you!)...I'm laying the ground work now and hope to begin interviews in the next month or so.  
 I am incredibly grateful to the community I have found myself in over here....everybody has been so friendly and welcoming, and so generous in spending time with me that there hasn't been a dull moment yet!  Highlights so far have included hiking in the Zhiguli mountains, a cruise along the beautiful Volga river, and a day-trip to the neighboring city of Samara.  Though Samara has its beautiful parts, I actually prefer Tolyatti.  Despite being a highly industrial and Soviet-style city, its districts have a very pleasant neighborhood vibe about them" (updated in September 2009).
 

Vadim Shneyder is a graduate student (Dept of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Yale University).

Bryan J. Terrill received Fulbright Scholasrhip and teaches English at Russian State Agricultural University in Moscow, Russia (2009).  "I am going to be keeping a blog so that everyone can stay up-to-date with my experiences (as long as I continue updating it), and you can find it at http://volcanicice.blogspot.com/"" (updated fall 2009). 


Laura Tourtellotte

2008

Trevor Albert ([[tgalbe]])

Johanna Blevins ([[jlblev]]) "I am currently working as an assistant curator of photography at the Mariner's Museum in Newport News, and I hope to continue with that for a while. My husband, Charley Quinn, and myself have our own contracting business that we hope will continue into next year. I also currently substitute for James Blair Middle School and I intend on continuing that next year as well" (updated summer 2008).

Colin Brauer ([[cmbrau]])

Linda Crossman ([[lbcros]])

Larisa Gervasi ([[lxgerv]]) "I am interning at Inova Health System Foundation in the Special Events department in Falls Church, VA" (updated summer 2008).

Leo Godunov (l.godunov@gmail.com) "I am now a grad student in Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service majoring in Russian and Eastern European studies. As the recent events has shown, Russia is still a major international player and my choice of area studies is quite relevant.
Otherwise, I am really enjoying Georgetown and it was definitely a good decision to come here. I have met some very interesting people, starting from a former ambassador to Russia to president Kwashnievski. The workload is heavy, and taking five classes uses up most of my time. I think I will only take four next semester. On some occasions, I only get a few hours a sleep a night, but grad school is still very rewarding" (Fall 2008).

Chris Hall ([[cnhall]])

Bettina Hilliard ([[bdhil2]])

Timothy Lee ([[tcleex]]) works for FedBid in Vienna, VA (updated summer 2008).

Zach Miller ([[zgmill]])

Kyle Minner ([[krminn]]) is currently attending the school of education here at W&M to get his masters in secondary education in English (updated summer 2008).

Ryan Neidlinger works for Bank of America.

Aylara Odekova ([[axodek]], maddy012@yahoo.com) is a graduate student at Monterey Institute of International Studies / Monterey, CA (updated summer 2008)

"I am in Monterey, Califonia. I am really enjoying myself here - the weather is gorgeous, 65F degrees every day, all day! I made great friends here at the Institute, there are a lot of Russians here too. So I took charge of the "We Speak Russian" Club on-campus. People here are as excited about the Russian language and culture as in W&M. So many students are already fluent or/and have lived in Russia. But most students actually come from Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbadjan, Georgia! Anyway, we already had an event - Bonfire on Pebble Beach and it went really well" (fall 2008).

Victor Osimitz (v.osimitz@gmail.com) is a computer engineer.  He works in Palo Alto, CA, for one of Silicon Valley companies (updated spring 2008).

Chris Pieper (ctpiep@wm.edu , ctpieper@gmail.com) has completed internship at US Commission on International Religious Freedom (updated fall 2009).  Chris got a Fulbright and will do research in Kazakhstan (updated summer 2008).

Charlotte Sabalis ([[crsaba]]) "I teach in Henrico County, just outside of Richmond. Work is good, challenging...some days are better than others, but that's first year teaching for you!" (updated fall 2008).

Ben Saxton-Ruiz ([[bjsaxt]])

Kaitlyn Smoot ([[kasmoo]]) "I will be doing the program Teach for America in Philadelphia, teaching secondary-level math for two years. After that I might try move to Russia to teach English or go to grad school" (updated summer 2008).

2007

John Adams serves in the US Army.

Carolyn Virginia Plunkett Adams works for the government.

Erin Alpert (era17@pitt.edu) is a Ph.D student at the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh.  In fall 2009 she received her M.A. degree.

Hannah Askin is a graduate students at the Department of Linguistics, Duke University.

Mandie Constanzer will go to law school.

Mary Catherine French (mcfren@sas.upenn.edu) is a Ph.D. student at the History Department, University of Pennsylvania.  She specializes in modern Russian history.

Jason Gardenier goes to the University of Virginia Medical School.

Molly Godwin-Jones. In her own words: "As you may remember, Laura Whittle and I spent September 2007-June 
2008 in Pyatigorsk, in the Caucuses.  I really enjoyed my time there,  but it made me realize how much I rely on American conveniences!   Living in Pyatigorsk was also very different from my study abroad  experience in St. Petersburg with William and Mary- we were much more  isolated and had to rely on our Russian in more every-day ways.  We  lived in the dorm and went to classes at the university, with the  ultimate goal of passing the TORFL in June (which I'm happy to say we 
both did!). Since returning from Pyatigorsk, I've been getting my masters at  Boston College.  I'm a graduate assistant here, and one of my favorite  opportunities was substituting for a few Russian classes.  I'll finish  this program in the spring, and next fall I plan to enter a Ph D  program with a focus on Russian/Slavic linguistics.  Or I may enroll  in a translating/interpreting certificate program... still not sure  yet what next year will entail!" (fall 2009).

Hannah Hethcox will be attending George Mason University, MFA in poetry.

Zach Keifer (chumaio@gmail.com) is a freelance filmmaker.  He is based in Charlottesville, VA (2009).  He has a youtube page which showcases all of my latest short films: http://www.youtube.com/user/CHUMAIO He also has a blog where he discusses his various projects and production
work:  http://chumaioproductions.wordpress.com/ (2009).

Patrick McKernan (pfmcke@wm.edu) is a business analyst for Fidelity Investments.  He is a freelance musician and devoted follower of Aleksandr Skriabin (2009).  He keeps his Russian in good shape by listening religiously Echo of Moscow Radio.

Richard Olson got married.  His wife is from Siberia.  Richard does webdesign and marketing for a trucking company in Bentonville, Arkansas (2009).  Richard works for a bank in Russia (updated in spring 2008).

Rob Simmons ([[rhsimm]]) currently teaches English in St. Petersburg, Russia.  He is the director of education programs at the International School "ENGLISH CITY" (2007-to the present, updated summer 2009).

Kate Stuber (kate.stuber@gmail.com) is an Assistant Manager for Green Leafe Gourmet Catering in Williamsburg, VA.

Peter Thomas (pthomas@iif.com) works for the Institute of International Finance.  Peter taught English in Novosibirsk, Russia in 2007 (updated in Spring 2008).

Laura Whittle will study at the Piatigorsk State University, Southern Russia, and will work for the United Methodist Church in Piatigorsk area.

Danny Wysong got married and works for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.  In his own words: "I use my Russian often working with law enforcement and translating websites. We also had several visitors come from the Duma (Victor Dedov being one of them) and I gave them a tour in Russian" (2009).  "I also married my college girlfriend last October and we just had our one year anniversary. Peter Thomas was a groomsman and Victor Osimitz also attended" (2009). In his own words,  "will be spending the coming months as a man-about-town and gentleman-thief" (2007).

2006

Micha Aurenz lives in Germany.  She is a Managing Director of ASB-Greenworld (www.asbgreenworld.com).

Daniel Burke is a Ph.D. student at the Physics Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Michael Doherty works for a software company in DC area.  He got married.  His wife is from Russia (2009). 

Paul De Bell "Last May I graduated from Columbia with an M.A. in Russian Translation.  My thesis consisted of a translation of selected aphorisms from Lev Shestov's "Apotheosis of Groundlessness" with a scholarly introduction. During the second semester I took a class devoted to putting on a performance of a cut-down version of Gogol's "Revizor" in Russian.  We had an experienced Russian theater director, Gariy Chernyakhovsky, to help us out for a couple of months, and the final result was a successful little show. I played the role of Khlestakov, the young down-and-outer who deceives all the important citizens in town into to offering him bribes and their daughters' hands in marriage. I enjoyed working on my part and on the staging to a somewhat greater degree than I enjoyed my other classes, though almost all of them were excellent" (updated fall 2008).

 Elise Thorsen (enthorsen@gmail.com) is currently a Ph.D. student at the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, University of Pittsburgh.  She completed Middlebury Summer School in 2006 and a graduate program at the Center for International Studies at Moscow State University in 2008.  In 2009 Elise received her M.A. degree   (updated in fall 2009).

2005

Sara Costa (sara.campbell@dartmouth.edu).  Sara is a PhD student at Dartmouth College (updated spring 2008).

Craig Myers

Sarah Myers is in the process of applying for law school (fall 2008).

Michelle Minaskanian works for the United Nations (updated in 2006).

Jacob Shier. Received Fulbright and taught English in Ekaterinburg and Perm (Russia).  Received M.A. in translation from Columbia University.  "Right now I am in Daegu, South Korea on a one-yera teaching contract with Chungdahm Learning.  I've been doing lots of hiking and weekend traveling, and still read in Russian regularly, Anna Karenina being my current project" (Fall 09). 

Patrick Walsh

2004

Kim Cossey works for VCU International Admission Office (2009).  She teaches in a private boarding school in Virginia (2008).  Kim teaches English in St. Petersburg, Russia at Language Link English Language School (2004-05).

Elizabeth Hulley works for a charity organization in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Joseph (Matt) Kiser

Elizabeth Norton


"I think the last time I saw you was perhaps after my first year in Kazakhstan? I spent a total of three years in Kazakhstan, the first in Karaganda and the last two in Kokshetau. Then I moved to Wheaton, Illinois for grad school in Biblical Exegesis (where I was pleasantly surprised that Russian grammar gave me a head start on Greek grammar).  Even more surprising was the number of Russian spekaers I became connected with in the area.  I found out about a small Russian congregation at a local American church, and began attending there as a way to ease back into life in the US.  A year later (2005), a number of Meskhetian Turkish refugees moved into our area from Russia.  I became good friends (and a ready resource) for them, and continue to spend lots of time with them.
A little over a year ago, I married Vadim Romanovich, the son of one of the Russian-speaking couples in the Russian fellowship I had been attending. He is originally from Latvia and I have enjoyed being a part of his family and culture.  So, I do keep up with my Russian, though still with many mistakes" (updated, fall 2008).
Kevin Hessberg
Elizabeth Ruedy currently works in Washington, D.C. as the Assistant Program Officer for Russia at the International Republican Institute.
Rachel Showalter

2000

Alicia Boyd

Jacquelyn Dille

Megan Gilbride (mg@megangilbride.com) works as a film producer. 

Margot Gilliam

Heather Halpin

Sarah Hutchison currently works for the Department of State.  She got back from Turkmenistan in September 2008 and will be working at the embassy in Bulgaria from summer 2008 until summer 2010.  Sarah used to work at one of the institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy (updated spring 2008).

David Kern

John Martin

1999

Lisa Goldstein
Since finishing her Master's Degree in Library Science, Lisa has been working as a children's and teen librarian at the central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library. She reports that her Russian comes in handy with the Russian immigrants in the neighborhood.

Annie Harvilicz

Margaret Hunter

Turquoise Kelly
Since graduating from W&M, Turquoise has been teaching in Fairfax County Public Schools. She has found the time to complete a Master's degree at George Mason University in Multicultural/Multilingual Education. During the last few summers, she has traveled to Jamaica to work with students in the public schools and orphanages and plans on returning again this summer.

Katherine Knight

Ashley Martin

After graduating from W & M, Ashley worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Dalnegorsk (Russian Far East), then as a projects administrator for Europe and Eurasia for Chemonics International firm in Washington, D.C. Over the last few years, her work has taken her to Russia, Kyrgyzia, Armenia, Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina. She is planning to attend Law School in the U.S.

Rachel Mikeska recently finished a Master's degree in Historical Preservation at the University of Texas, Austin, and is now on an Alpha Bank fellowship program in Moscow, where she will be working with local government organizations concerned with preserving historically significant architecture. For more information about this program, go to http://www.cdsintl.org/fromusa/alfa.htm.

Heather Notter

Ashley (Richardson) Elzein

1998

Elizabeth Adams


Rian (Harker) Harris is in the Foreign Service

Juliana Mirabilio is a lawyer working for Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP in Washington, DC.

Greg Politzer graduated from VCU's medical school a few years ago and is currently practicing medicine in Pittsburgh. He is married and has a little boy.

Janah Putnam is currently a graduate student and an English teacher in Germany (fall 2006).

1997

 
Scott Deacle

"After teaching Spanish for seven years in high school in New Jersey, I quit my job this summer to go back to school.  I am currently getting my Masters of Divinity at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, NY.  One of the families that is in my program spent a summer teaching English at Gerzen University in St. Petersburg where I studied Russian in 1995!  They are the first people I have ever met that were at the same school in Russia!  So we enjoy talking about the school and St. Petersburg.  They are hoping to move to Russia permanently after graduation.  Who knows if I will find myself there again when I graduate..." (fall 2008).

Studying language at William & Mary was one of the best decisions I have ever made, and has truly benefitted me in everything I have done.  Thanks so much for all that you do!  Encourage your students to keep going!!

Jenne Powers is working on her PhD in Russian Literature at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She was recently awarded a Fulbright Grant to do dissertation research in Moscow in the Fall and Winter of 2005-06.

Nicole Radshaw received her Masters degree in Slavic Languages and Literatures from the University of Virginia.

Mikhail Zeldovich received a law degree from Harvard University and is currently practicing law for the US government in DC.

1996

Sonia (Newman) Betz is married and living in Richmond with her husband Damian and their children, Cameron and Sabrina.

Amy Cogan. After working for Anderson Consulting, Amy served two years in the Peace Corps in Central Asia.

Karen Gilbride. After living in Russia for several years, Karen enrolled in a graduate program in Anthropology studying immigrant communities in the States. More recently, she was a program manager for the Center for Multicultural Human Services in DC.

David Harvilicz graduated from NYU Law School in 1999 and is currently working as an attorney in the Washington DC area.
"Can't believe Tony is leaving W&M! That's sad" (fall 2008).

Keri Moore received a Masters degree from the Colorado School of Mines in 1999 and worked for a while on the National Research Council staff in Washington, DC.

Wendy Pearson

Sara Taylor served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bangladesh and later attended Graduate School in International Development at the University of New Hampshire.

1995

Chris Crowl

"Heather and I spent most of September and early October in Astana, Kazakhstan pursuing the adoption of our first child - an eight-month-old boy, Nikolai Adilet Crowl.  After going to court (and giving a speech and answering questions in Russian!), the adoption was approved!  We will travel back there on the 25th to finalize the adoption, then the three of us will finally come home on November 1!" (Fall 2008).

Karen Gilbride works for the State Department.

Jodi Hevelone is an Aviation Safety Inspector for the FAA.

Miriam Kramer studied International Relations in England for several years before returning to the States.  She is currently the Director of Development and Communications at the Alliance of Peacebuilding in Washington, DC (summer 2007).


Courtney Moser Desautels
For once, I am actually in the country -- but I am expecting to deliver a child  on October 29th and my doctor would not be happy if I travelled that far.

Here's a story about how you never know how useful your Russian studies might become in the future. My husband and I began a job in Burundi, Central Africa this past summer. We're working with a Christian development organization called Mennonite Central Committee.  We support local organizations in peace-building, reconciliation and income-generation work, following the 14-year civil war in Burundi,  and genocide in neighboring Rwanda. When we started, I was already 5 months pregnant and one challenge was to find a decent gynecologist in a country with a crumbled infrastructure and poor health care facilities. Some expats pointed me to Dr. Mamunov...

And it turns out he is Russian. He also speaks French (the lingua franca in Burundi), but no English. Since I was just barely beginning my study of French, I decided it would be better to try my rusty Russian with him. It took a half hour mental warm-up before I got to his office for the first consultation. And it was still a pretty funny interview. Somehow, I never learned certain vocabulary phrases in my Russian courses at W&M like "edema" or "date of your last period". So we had to stumble through a few misunderstandings. But we did manage to communicate, and he even explained to me what we were looking at on the sonogram. Since then, I've found a Russian hardware store owner, and Russian has been more helpful than French with him too!" (fall 2008).


Cynthia Unruh


Sara VanGunst - last we heard, Sara was working as a Development Officer for IREX (the International Research and Exchanges Board)

Matt Wymer taught English as a second language for several years in Korea before returning to the States.

1994

Shirley Coggon
Came to the Homecoming reception with her husband (Jimmy?  also a W&M alum) and 4 kids.  Natalie, their daughter, is the oldest (8-9 yrs. old) (fall 2008).

Jennifer Greene is married and has a son.

Julie Greene

Bryce Johnson received a PhD in Slavic Linguistics from Duke University in 2000 and recently got married. He teaches at Neumann College in Pennsylvania (updated fall 2006).

Jim McKeon. After graduating from the College, Jim received a Ph.D. in Applied Science at William and Mary. He is married to Tracey Cesario (W & M '94) and lives and works in Woodbridge, VA.

Rebecca Young. After studying for several years in Rostov-na-Donu, Rebecca moved to California, received a master's degree in teaching English as a Second Language and is presently working in Fairfax county as an ESL teacher.