Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies

Given the region's fascinating past, its rich cultural legacy, and its current centrality in the global political arena, studying REEES at Bowdoin is both an intellectually enriching experience and a smart career choice.

The Department of Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (REEES) is a small, close-knit, and supportive community that fosters student engagement and achievement. Our faculty challenges students to immerse themselves in the Russian language and the history, politics, and cultures of the region.

Persecuted for Opposing the Ukraine War, Russian Scholar Teaches at Bowdoin
After being effectively forced out of his job in St. Petersburg due to his opposition to the Ukraine war, Russian academic Ivan Kurilla enjoys a semester at Bowdoin as visiting scholar.
Evan Gershkovich ’14 Convicted by Russian Court in Case Denounced by US as a Sham, Possibly Setting the Stage for Prisoner Swap
In a case that the US government and the Wall Street Journal have denounced as a sham, Evan Gershkovich ‘14, the first American journalist to be arrested on espionage charges in Russia since the Cold War, has been found guilty of spying by a Russian court and sentenced to sixteen years in prison following a secret, three-day trial, the Associated Press reports.
Friends, Faculty, Experts Discuss Ongoing Detainment of Evan Gershkovich ‘14
Classmates of Evan Gershkovich ’14 join a faculty member and a colleague to talk about the detained journalist, who has now clocked up more than fourteen months behind bars in Moscow, facing unsubstantiated espionage charges.