Recent News
In October, the Slavic Department celebrated the book release Slavic Horror Across Media: Cursed Zones, edited by Professor Agnieszka Jezyk and Chapter 2: “Post-Soviet Gothic and the Eastern European Zombie” written by Professor José Alaniz.Book Description:“In the Western cultural production that puts individual or collective fear at its center, East/Central Europe has been portrayed as…
In April, Global Literary Studies collaborated with Textual Studies for the third time to bring students a creative and unique opportunity. During the Printmaking Social Hour, participants designed and printed their own bookplates and bookmarks using linocut techniques, enjoyed snacks, and connected with fellow students.
A Message from UW PSEC Chair, Krystyna Untersteiner:Polish language and culture continued to thrive on our campus throughout the 2025–26 academic year!In October, Prof. Agnieszka Jeżyk (editor) Prof. José Alaniz (author of Chapter 2: "Post-Soviet Gothic and the Eastern European Zombie"), and scholar and writer Stevi Costa engaged in a lively discussion during the launch of …
During the 2025–2026 academic year, Yana Koza served as a Fulbright FLTA. She taught the Intermediate Ukrainian language course and led the weekly Ukrainian Language Club. Yana actively contributed to academic discussions on Ukraine through presentations at several conferences. At the Spring Research Symposium hosted by the Jordan Center for the…
Sasha Orlova continues to build an impressive record of teaching, research, and academic achievement. In Winter 2026, she taught RUSS 200, “The Art of Protest,” in the Department of World Languages & Cultures at Central Washington University and was invited to teach the course again during the next academic year, along with first-year Russian. This…
Our faculty continue to inspire through their teaching, scholarship, service, and community engagement. We are pleased to highlight accomplishments and updates shared by colleagues across a wide range of professional activities, including courses taught, publications, presentations, community engagement efforts, works in progress, and other noteworthy achievements. Please join us in…
Dear Friends of the Slavic Department,
Gordana Crnković
Greetings to everyone at the end of another school year! And what a year it was! Severe budget cuts caused massive administrative reorganization that affected all we do. Our Slavic faculty, however, valiantly dealt with the new and ever-changing work environments and kept their high-quality…
The Oleg Fomin Scholarship supports students in exploring the languages, cultures, and histories of the post-Soviet world through travel. Scholarship recipient Lynn Mai spent Spring Break exploring Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. The travel reflection below chronicles her journey through the Baltic States and the lasting impressions it left on her. Happy summer!…
John Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Language and Literature from the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures in 1995. Since retiring, he has remained active in academia, occasionally delivering guest lectures at the University of Washington and Western Washington University.
Zoya Mihailovna Polack
After more than five decades of teaching and service at the University of Washington, Associate Teaching Professor Zoya Mihailovna Polack is retiring from the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures. Since joining UW in 1973, Professor Polack has taught generations of students, sharing her passion for Russian and…