Cameron Cartland BA Russian and International Studies, 2008

Summer 2009: Internship with the World Wildlife Fund. The office Cameron is working for focuses on fisheries and sustainability in the Russian Far East.

I graduated from UAA in May of 2008 with a BA in Russian and International Studies. After graduating in May, I spent eight weeks in St. Petersburg, Russia on a study abroad program through an organization called American Councils for International Education. While in St. Pete, I lived with a host family and took classes at Russian State Pedagogical University. The program was a business language program, so my classes were focused on business communication. As well as taking classes, I had an internship at the Institute of Cultural Programs, an office affiliated with the mayor’s office of St. Petersburg that is responsible for marketing St. Petersburg culture.

My Russian degree from UAA prepared me well for both the internship and my time in Russia.  Anyone interested in Russian language and culture should consider becoming a Russian major. Russian speakers are in high demand right now in the United States. Learning Russian will not only open up opportunities for interesting careers after college, but also allow you to experience a new culture and way of life.