Diana Stanislavovna Avdeeva is pursuing her second Master's degree at the Department of Russian and Slavic Studies at UA, specializing in Russian and East European Studies. She holds a B.A. in Linguistics and Teaching English and Italian Languages and Cultures from the Moscow State Linguistic University and a Master's degree in Russian as a Foreign Language from the Higher School of Economics in Moscow. Her research interests include nineteenth-century Russian literature, national identity, ethnic diversity in Russia and the global Russophone community, and modern Russian history and politics. Diana is presently focused on her dissertation, which examines nationalism, imperialism, and national identity in nineteenth-century Russian literature.
Diana is a seasoned instructor of Russian language and culture, both in-person and online. She favors the communicative teaching method and has taught second-year Russian courses, a course on Russian and East European cinema, and is presently co-teaching an in-person 102-level course while also leading an intensive 102-level course online.
Diana's passion for her students' growth led her to establish Intelligentsia Club, a Russian Speaking Club, together with another graduate student, to provide students with more opportunities to practice the language. She also serves as a Global Ambassador with the International Student Services, where she helps international students adapt to a new cultural and academic environment, hosts events, and participates in the Buddy Program. Diana has been selected to serve as Ambassador for the Open Dialogue Program this year and looks forward to promoting and ensuring freedom of speech on campus. She is grateful to the University of Arizona community and aspires to give back in various ways in the future.