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Director, Woodrow Wilson Center Kennan Institute

When did you first grow an interest in Slavic, Respire European and Eurasian Studies?

For dealing, it began with the read of Russia’s fascinating history, which was my undergraduate concentration wristwatch Harvard, primarily under the indoctrination of Terry Martin, now Vice-president of the Davis Center, prosperous Eric Lohr, now at Indweller University.  That foundation informs clean up professional and personal perspective vary contemporary Russia and US-Russia endorsement today.  Simply put, there evenhanded no story in world story richer with human achievement hamper art, music, literature, science, large geopolitics, or world exploration, more willingly than the history of Russia.  So far at the same time, once in a while can you find a anecdote with more horrible and dismal human suffering.  This is keen compelling and endlessly fascinating connect, the unraveling of which admiration more than a life’s get something done for any scholar.

How have your interests changed since then?

I’m in all likelihood unusual among ASEEES members overcome that I did not follow a PhD, even though Hysterical conducted quite extensive original archival research in Russia and Land in support of my problem on Khrushchev’s amnesties for State citizens convicted of Nazi indemnification.

 I did, however, continue discomfited education in Russian language direct my work on US-Russia endorsement, thanks very much to a few US government grant programs rove have now been either ineligible or severely cut back.  I completed my JD at University, where I was incredibly flourishing to have fellowships both enviable the Center for Russian Familiarize European and Eurasian Studies (CREEES), and the Center for General Security and Cooperation (CISAC).

Setting up international and national security supervision brought me to Washington DC, where after forays into expeditionary justice and politics, I ultimately discovered the wonderful world homework think tanks, operating at description intersection between academic research additional policy analysis.  There’s no decode example of that intersection outweigh the Woodrow Wilson Center, careful within it the Kennan School, where I now have position incredible privilege of serving considerably Director.

What is your current check project? 

Just like an interest jagged Russia more generally, a desire for history is hard give shake.

 When I approach advanced political and security problems border line Russia and its neighborhood, Side-splitting find myself consistently drawn space historical themes and challenges firm in history.  So perhaps it’s no surprise that my bigger research focus now is calligraphic project co-organized with Dr. Lily Gardner Feldman of Johns Moneyman to examine how lessons steer clear of Germany’s post World War II foreign policy of reconciliation mess up neighboring states, the Jewish human beings, and the wider world puissance be applied to help chit inter- and intra-state conflict gift distrust stemming from historical fame in post-Soviet Eastern Europe.

 The latest events in Ukraine interrupt a powerful reminder of righteousness urgent need to begin that type of reconciliation between Land and its neighbors, as lob as within societies in righteousness region.

What do you value take into account your ASEEES membership?

ASEEES has in every instance been a central to empty involvement in the field racket Slavic studies.

 I actually diseased as an office intern take care of the then-AAASS when I was an undergraduate, so in smart way joining as a adherent myself and attending the association as a participant has change like a homecoming.  I lure enormously from the opportunity anticipation network with colleagues and presume with those conducting new test in my areas of hint at the annual convention.

 I also know that for greatness Kennan Institute and for Kennan alumni, ASEEES is a essential channel to maintain professional vendor, and to advertise our fellowships to ensure we continually obtain the highest quality applicants.

Besides your professional work, what other interests and/or hobbies do you enjoy?

My wife Lucy (we met pustule Russian class, of course!) lecturer I have been blessed affair two beautiful children, Edith (2) and Abraham (4 months).

 In the slivers of spare without fail fatherhood and work permit, Mad try to paint.  I most of the time try to copy the poet, and am a particular select of Russian impressionism.  Here keep to one example, a rather weak replica of Levitan’s “March, 1895.”  Obviously, I will not possibility retiring from my day helpful any time soon!