Author Archives: Professor Alyssa Gillespie

Thank you and congratulations!

Dear students, I just want to round off this fabulous blog with a huge kudos to all of you. Your discussions (both oral and written) this semester have been SO full of perceptive insights, both about the works we have studied themselves, and about the ideas that have grown out of class discussions. Your collective engagement, and your acknowledgement and encouragement of one another’s ideas have been exciting and gratifying for me to watch.

In this incredibly unsettling time–which I know we have all experienced in different ways, with varying degrees of worry and stress–I have been so heartened, impressed, and inspired by the way that all of you have risen to the occasion, taken our work together seriously, and given this class your all. You are a very, very special group of students; I think we have formed a very special community together; and I will always remember you.

Thank you for your dedication, for caring so much, and for working so hard. I hope that we will all stay in touch! And I am looking forward with great anticipation to our sharing of final projects next Saturday!!

Welcome to our class blog

We are going to have a great semester together exploring the riches and riddles of Russian culture. This blog is a place for you to test your ideas, be creative, and engage with your peers on questions ranging from the artistic to the political. Welcome to RUS 2240! I look forward to your contributions and your comments!  – Professor Gillespie