Skip to main content

Q: Where did you study as an undergraduate? What was your major(s)?

I got my BA in history magna cum laude from George Mason University. I also minored in folklore and mythology, and was a part of the Honors College.

Q: What do you like about UNC’s graduate program in Russian and East European Studies?

I love the diversity of an interdisciplinary program; I can take classes in history, politics, anthropology, religion, etc. It allows for a broader understanding of a certain part of the world, and examines human history and culture through many different approaches.

Q: Why did you choose to specialize in this region of the globe?

I had been interested in the music, film, and history of southeastern Europe for some time, but my interest was really cemented for me when I visited Bosnia and Croatia in the summer of 2023. I joined the program because I was interested in understanding conflict resolution, but I really fell in love with the region itself along the way.

Q: Do you have work and/or study experience in the region?

Yes, I traveled to Bosnia and Croatia for two weeks in the summer of 2023.

Q: What are your research interests?

I would say that I’m a historian, first and foremost; my undergraduate honors thesis was about the participation of women in the Bosnian War (1992-1995). My primary interests are in the medieval-to-modern history of southeastern Europe, particularly the former Yugoslavia.

Q: What would you like to do after you graduate?

I’d like to write, both fiction and non-fiction, but I also want to work in conflict studies and with people affected by conflict. I’d like a job that allows me to do fieldwork. I can see myself having the role of an educator.

Q: What are your hobbies? What do you like doing in your free time?

I enjoy creative writing, I create visual art and make crafts, I like books. I work in a game store and can talk a lot about card and board games. I also enjoy working on my aquariums and put a lot of effort into the care and keeping of my exotic fish.

Q: What is your favorite visual reminder of the region and why?

When I was in the bazaar in Sarajevo, I bought a beret from a store right next to the old fountain at the center of the market. The beret has the Bosnian flag on it, so that is a direct reminder of my time in the country. The beret also reminds me of the experience of being in the marketplace, and of the salesman who, despite not speaking much English, helped me find one that fit me correctly. Everyone I met on that trip was welcoming and helpful to me.