Meet Our Team

Renee first visited the Soviet Union in 1990 to study at Moscow State University after graduating from Boston University with a BS in Biomedical Engineering. She returned to Moscow in 1992, where she lived until 1998 and founded SRAS in 1996.

As Director of SRAS, Renee leads organizational strategy and program development, working with colleagues and partners to develop new academic opportunities and strengthen existing programs. She also works closely with faculty and study abroad professionals and regularly presents at conferences and universities.

Now based in Woodside, California, Renee travels frequently throughout the Eurasian Corridor and beyond, visiting program sites and looking for new ideas and opportunities in education abroad.

Josh first came to the region as an SRAS student studying Russian in Moscow in 2003 and went on to live there for nearly two decades. He holds a BA in History and an MA in Theater from Idaho State University, where his graduate research examined the political economy of Soviet-era censorship and the stage.

At SRAS, Josh contributes to program development and oversees our research internships and ambassador writing programs. As General Editor, his work includes Eurasian Corridor Perspectives, the SRAS Family of Sites, and Vestnik. When not at work, Josh enjoys spending time with his family, weightlifting, hiking, travel, and reading.

A graduate of Reed College, Lisa studied abroad at Smolny Institute and later returned to the region as an SRAS student at Moscow State University in 2017. These experiences helped shape her interest in international education. She now leads admissions and enrollment at SRAS, working closely with students from the application process through their preparation for arrival on site. She helps students navigate program requirements, enrollment questions, and the practical steps involved in preparing to study abroad.

Based in Minnesota, Lisa regularly visits SRAS program locations and brings that firsthand familiarity to her work with students. Outside of work, she can usually be found running in the woods or biking, hiking, camping, and fishing with her family.

Originally from Washington, D.C., Kiara holds a BFA in Theatre Arts from DePaul University and an MA in Russian from Middlebury College. She first traveled to the Caucasus in 2016 and has now lived in Tbilisi, Georgia, for seven years, drawn to the region’s cultures and to the storytelling woven throughout Georgian life.

Before joining SRAS, Kiara taught literature and drama at international schools in Georgia and Bulgaria. As SRAS’s Caucasus Program Manager, she supports students throughout their time in the region and develops and manages academic and cultural programming across the Caucasus. Outside of work, she can often be found studying Georgian or reading plays.

A native of Los Angeles with Bulgarian roots, Alexandra graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2023 with a BS in Political Science and a BA in Music. She participated in two SRAS programs, in Georgia and Uzbekistan, before spending nine months backpacking through the Caucasus, Europe, and North Africa.

As SRAS’s Outreach Manager, Alexandra works with students, faculty, and study abroad professionals across the United States, building university relationships and helping students and educators learn about SRAS programs and opportunities across the Eurasian Corridor. She travels frequently to university campuses and SRAS program locations and continues to explore new places whenever she can. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, weightlifting, and visiting historical sites.

A native of Latvia, Katya holds an MA in Asian Studies from the University of Latvia and studied at Kwansei Gakuin University in Japan. She brings more than 16 years of experience in international education to her work with SRAS.

As SRAS’s Baltics Program Manager, Katya develops academic and cultural programming and certificate programs, builds regional partnerships, and supports students throughout their time in the Baltics. Her professional interests include experiential program development, educational quality assurance, and cross-cultural community building.

She speaks Latvian, Russian, English, and Japanese and enjoys traveling, hiking, and badminton.

Leah’s interest in Central Asia began with her first Central Asian history course at Carleton College. She later earned a master’s degree in Central and Eastern European, Russian and Eurasian Studies through a joint degree program with the University of Glasgow and the University of Tartu in Estonia.

As SRAS’s Central Asia Program Manager, Leah supports students throughout their time in the region and contributes to program development. She also works with SRAS outreach, connecting with students, faculty, and study abroad professionals and helping introduce them to opportunities across the Eurasian Corridor.

Leah has traveled to all seven regions of Kyrgyzstan and hiked extensively throughout the country. She earned the title “Alpinist of Kyrgyzstan” after summiting Peak Alpiniada.

Aiseil studied Linguistics and Methods of Teaching Foreign Languages at the International University of Central Asia in Bishkek, graduating in 2022. During her final year, she spent a semester abroad at NLA University College in Bergen, Norway. She speaks Kyrgyz, Russian, and English.

Aiseil joined the London School of Languages and Cultures in 2022 as a Russian language instructor and now serves as the SRAS Program Coordinator in Bishkek. She supports SRAS students throughout their time in Kyrgyzstan, helps coordinate academic and cultural programming, and leads language workshops designed to extend learning beyond the classroom.

Aiseil enjoys traveling, exploring different cultures, learning languages, hiking, and spending time outdoors.

A native of St. Petersburg, Elena holds a BAs in English Pedagogy and Humanities from St. Petersburg State Pedagogical University. As SRAS’ Administrative Specialist, Elena is responsible for providing overall support to our organization and its various programs and services. In her free time, Elena likes traveling and exploring new places, meeting with friends, and playing sports.