My summer has been a well-balanced mix of teaching, research, reconnecting with colleagues from my previous studies, and spending time with family and friends.

From May 6 to June 27, I had the pleasure of teaching an online course titled “Vodka in Russian Society and Culture: Deconstructing Myths,” which focused on introducing Russian culture and history. It was rewarding to hear students’ impressions on important episodes from Russia’s political past and to see them draw parallels with similar instances in American and other collective experiences. 

From May 22 to 24, I was honored to take part in a panel on the Politics of Culture under Populism as part of the program at the Association for the Study of Nationalities (ASN) World Convention, co-hosted by Columbia University and the Harriman Institute. The panel presentation was the result of the research conducted during the Diplomacy Lab, which was run by Dr. Fazlıoğlu Akın as part of her seminar in Art Education.

I am taking this opportunity to express my appreciation to Dr. Fazlıoğlu Akın for supervising this fantastic team effort on researching cultural policy and diplomacy as an instrument for advancing populist political agendas. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Mershon Center for International Security Studies for the opportunity to participate in the Diplomacy Lab and engage with the largest international scholarly gathering at the ASN World Convention in New York. 

Special congratulations to our teammate Santiago Lacroix Eussler, who earned the well-deserved Best Doctoral Student Paper Award at the ASN Conference for his captivating research on the cultural strategies of populism in Argentina!

During the break, I also made sure not to miss my favorite summer activity – FLAS (Faculty of Arts and Science) Beach University on sociology and anthropology, which took place in the Montenegrin mountain resort of Kolašin from June 2 to 8. It was wonderful to be part of a community of students, educators, and enthusiasts who gathered from all over the world to enjoy lectures by professors Victor Vakhshtayn and Josef Zislin amidst the beautiful northern Montenegrin scenery.

While I greatly admire Professor Vakhshtayn’s scholarship, I want to highlight the remarkable FLAS students and their efforts to build the mythology of the collective biography of the FLAS community. I also want to congratulate FLAS on obtaining the accreditation and license to operate the educational program of the first Russian university in exile. I look forward to seeing the university grow and thrive! This is also an excellent opportunity to appreciate Pansion Kolasin, a family-run boarding house, and thank them for treating the group with the renowned Montenegrin hospitality.

After my trip to Montenegro, I briefly visited Sarajevo to attend the Bookstan International Literature Festival “No East No West,” which was held from July 2 to 5. It was interesting to learn more about the region's cultural scene and see emerging trends in its literature. 

As a proud graduate of Sarajevo University, I cherish reconnecting with my former colleagues, professors, and advisors. I especially appreciate attending speeches of my previous supervisors at Bookstan, Professors Senadin Musabegović and Marina Katnić-Bakaršić. 

Trips to Sarajevo are always memorable because of the country’s incredibly rich yet tragic history. During my visit, I explored the Historical Museum and the exhibit on the topography of anti-fascist resistance in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 1941 to 1945, which offers a powerful perspective on the region’s resilience and commitment to freedom.

My summer highlight was conducting ethnographic research on the ideological and cultural ties between Russia and the independent countries of the former Yugoslavia, with a particular focus on the Russian-speaking émigré community in Montenegro. I am thankful to the Mershon Center for International Security Studies for funding my trip through the 2025-2026 Graduate Research Grant competition. It was a fulfilling experience to assume the role of a fieldwork researcher and to engage with Montenegro's emerging Russian cultural scene. The research introduced me to many wonderful individuals who generously shared their daily experiences of the émigré journey, marked by challenges, hope, solidarity, and success. I look forward to reconnecting with them next summer and learning how their efforts to build a Russian-speaking community and integrate it into Montenegrin social life have progressed. 

While I truly enjoyed visiting bookstores, concerts, exhibitions, and public lectures, my favorite experience was socializing over shashlik with the Russian volunteer firefighters and eco-activists. Montenegro is lucky to have such a dedicated community that has bravely helped put out numerous fires this summer and contributed to preserving its beautiful natural environment. A notable guest at this gathering was a monk who had lived in a remote monastery in Montenegro, which was saved from fire thanks to the efforts of the Russian-speaking volunteers. 

I would like to share this artwork by Russian multimedia artist Vanya Tuzov, who resides in Montenegro. The piece is called “Four Montenegrins” and pays tribute to Malevich’s painting “Sportsmen.” This visual reference to Malevich can be seen as a symbol of the Russian-speaking community in Montenegro and thus as an unofficial emblem of the contemporary cultural connections between the two countries. 

This summer has been great for learning new skills, meeting new people, and reconnecting with old friends. I'm also excited about the upcoming autumn semester at OSU and look forward to attending many new lectures and events. One event I am especially eager about is the Ohio State National Security Simulation, hosted by the Mershon Center for International Security Studies on October 24-25. I can't wait to participate and learn from professionals and fellow students what it takes to make decisions under pressure in a real-world context!