2010 Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program

Understanding Contemporary Russia

The Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies at the University of Michigan received funding from the U.S. Department of Education to mount a short-term Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Curriculum Development Program in Summer 2010 for K-12 teachers in Russia on “Understanding Contemporary Russia.”

Twelve teachers from elementary through high school were selected through competitive review to participate in the program. Participants included teachers of English, ESL, language arts, Russian, social studies, and special education from Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Washington.

Following a pre-departure workshop in Ann Arbor, the group spent a month in Krasnodar and Moscow (June 18 - July 17, 2010). During their stay, the teachers attended classes on economics, education methodology, Russia’s history, regional culture, minority groups, and the environment. In addition, the group experienced Russian daily and cultural life through visits to schools and universities, museums and galleries, churches and markets, and by attending concerts. Participants were hosted by Kuban State University in Krasnodar and by the Russian State University for the Humanities in Moscow. During their stay, the teachers lived in private homes with host families in Krasnodar and in dormitories in Moscow.

Among the highlights of their time in Russia were meetings with U.S. Embassy officials and university rectors; a children’s folklore performance and staged Cossack wedding; and visits to the Black Sea and the Kremlin.

University of Michigan Group Leaders

Alexander Knysh, professor of Islamic studies
Olga Maiorova, associate professor of Slavic languages and literatures
Kelly Miller (PhD Slavic '02), head of programs and public outreach, Harrison Institute for American History, Literature, and Culture, University of Virginia Library

Participants

Bonnie Brush - English, East Kentwood High School (Kentwood, MI)
Bridget Cooley - world history, Grosse Pointe North High School (Grosse Pointe Woods, MI)
Vinton Eberly - Russian/English, Central Valley High School (Spokane Valley, WA)
Sean Flanigan - English, Loyola Blakefield High School (Towson, MD)
Attilia Gogel - history, Signature School (Evansville, IN)
Paul Kaliszewski - social studies, Cranbrook Middle School (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
William Linser - contemporary world affairs, Robinswood High School (Bellevue, WA)
Natalie O’Neal - English, George Nettels Elementary School (Pittsburg, KS)
Julie Phillips - Russian, Papillion-La Vista High School (Papillion, NE)
Wendy Pilichowski - English/social studies, Moline High School (Moline, IL)
Rachel Wilkinson - English, Loyola Blakefield High School (Towson, MD)
Amy Wojcik - Russian, Abington Heights High School (Clarks Summit, PA)