Elena Varshavskaya graduated from university as a teacher of the English and German languages. She worked at the St. Petersburg Hermitage Museum Department of Education for 20 years. She arrived to the US in 1996 and, after receiving her PhD degree in Art History, taught a wide variety of courses at the Rhode Island School… Read More
SRAS Blog
SRAS Expands Russian-Language Study Opportunities For 2022 And Beyond
Students seeking immersive Russian language study opportunities abroad saw the landscape shift abruptly in 2022. Both Russia and Ukraine, the most obvious and familiar locations, are no longer viable study abroad destinations and not likely to be in the near future. There are still many excellent study opportunities to choose from, however. SRAS has been… Read More
The SRAS Landscape: Reflections and Paths Forward in 2022
For months I have thought about the things I want to say about this year, 2022. So much has interfered with just sitting down to write, a combination of worry about friends and colleagues as well as trying to navigate a rapidly changing environment for study abroad and international business. Now, as we find ourselves… Read More
SRAS Travel Updates
Update as of March 07, 2022 SRAS does not currently recommend travel to Russia or Ukraine. Our other locations continue to operate as usual. SRAS has successfully implemented an evacuation plan for its students in Russia. SRAS programs in Kyiv began remotely this semester due to geopolitical tensions. Thus, we had no students on the… Read More
Support The NovaMova Family in Ukraine
SRAS stands with the Ukrainian people and all those in Russia and the world who condemn the current war against Ukraine. While this is a crisis for the world, it is first and foremost a tragedy for the Ukrainian people. While we cannot help every Ukrainian directly, we aim to do all we can to… Read More
Irkutsk: Modern Cultural Immersion and the Power of Nature (Extended SRAS Site Visit)
There were a couple of things I really wanted to do for the SRAS 25th anniversary. One was to spend time on Lake Baikal, exploring places I’d never had time for in my shorter visits. The other was to take intensive Russian language classes abroad, especially as I had not had as much time exposed… Read More
SRAS Commemorative Cookbook Published – Order a Copy Today!
To celebrate 25 years in education abroad, SRAS has produced a commemorative cookbook: A Taste of Eurasia. This beautiful 174-page publication is a collection of recipes that includes our favorites and those of our partners and friends who have helped shape our unique organization over many years. It’s an eclectic collection of food, personal memories,… Read More
SRAS Founder Renee Stillings Recognized for Outstanding Contributions To Polish-American Relations in Academia
Collegium Civitas has recently formally recognized SRAS Founder Renee Stillings for her “outstanding contribution in the field of study abroad programs and contribution to enhancing the Polish-American relations in academia.” Collegium Civitas was founded in Warsaw, Poland, in 1997 under the auspices of the Polish Academy of Sciences. Founded at a time when Poland was… Read More
The State of Study Abroad in Russia – 2021
As our first post-reopening semester in Russia winds down, we would like to comment on what we’ve experienced so far and what we anticipate for our spring 2022 semester. Next year, SRAS plans to run all programs in Russia – including those in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, and Irkutsk. We will continue to monitor the… Read More
SRAS 25th Anniversary Quest
We are celebrating 25 years of innovation in study abroad – and launching a new mobile app! The SRAS Explorer App is aimed at guiding students and visitors in fun and purposeful exploration of our region. Its versatility will allow us to further enhance individual and faculty-led programs by creating connections and encouraging student participation. … Read More