WASHINGTON – Two Howard University students have won scholarships from the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) to study abroad in Russia this summer. Sophomores Tyler C. Gentry and Sophia D. Williams were selected based on their academic achievement, experience in Russian language studies, and essays on the potential impact that studying abroad in Russia would have on the advancement of their careers. Both are part of the Russian language program at Howard University, the only historically Black college and university to offer comprehensive Russian studies coursework for nearly 60 years.

“There are so many reasons why it’s important for students of color to study Russian. One of those is to diversify the pipeline for national security jobs and other positions in the global marketplace,” says Brunhilda Amarilis Lugo de Fabritz, Ph.D., master instructor of Russian at Howard University, who studied abroad with CIEE in Russia when she was an undergraduate.

Gentry, a political science major from Reno, Nevada, has been studying Russian literature and culture since his first year in college. He is a member of the Howard University Air Force ROTC battalion and is interested in integrating Russian area studies with political science into his military career. During Summer 2018, he completed an internship at the Pentagon, in Washington, D.C.

Williams, a political science major from Westbrook, Maine, has been studying Russian literature and culture for two years. She has been engaged in advanced level research, presenting research papers at the 2018 and 2019 Midwest Slavic Research Conference at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Her 2018 research presentation was titled, "Dubois and Stalin," and her 2019 presentation was titled, "Russia's Drive for Black Activists." Additionally, she is a member of Howard University’s women’s track and field team, specializing in the throw. She was recently named as a 2019 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Indoor Track & Field All-Academic honoree for her academic success during the 2017-2018 academic year.

“With the 60th anniversary of Russian at HU approaching this coming academic year, it is wonderful that these two Howard students will be able to travel to Russia and put to practice what they have learned on campus,” says Tonija Hope Navas, director of the Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center. “We are thankful for our partnership with CIEE which makes this opportunity available!”

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(Featured image (left to right): Sophomores Tyler C. Gentry and Sophia D. Williams - courtesy of the students)

About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue studies in more than 120 areas leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, two Marshall Scholars, one Schwarzman Scholar, over 70 Fulbright Scholars and 22 Pickering Fellows. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States.  For more information on Howard University visit www.howard.edu

Media Contact: Imani Pope-Johns, Imani.popejohns@howard.edu