Our Mission
Think REEES empowers the next generation of specialists in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies by bridging the gap between academic passion and professional success. We provide students from all backgrounds with the mentorship and resources necessary to thrive in area studies. Through our collaborative network, we ensure every aspiring scholar has the support to turn their research into a meaningful career.
What We Do
Think REEES connects emerging scholars with the mentorship, resources, and professional opportunities they need to build careers in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies — and area studies broadly.
We do this through four interconnected areas of work.
Mentored Research
Each year, we pair a cohort of undergraduates with expert faculty mentors for a nine-month research journey. Students develop original research projects on topics of their choosing, supported by monthly meetings, dedicated library support, and a growing network of scholars across the country. Projects culminate in conference presentations and open-access Digital Humanities publications on our website.
Conference Presentations
Presenting original research at a professional conference is one of the most valuable credentials an emerging scholar can earn. We support students in presenting at regional and national conferences each year, including the ASEEES Annual Convention, Midwest Slavic at OSU, and the Southern Conference on Slavic Studies — giving them real experience, CV lines, and direct access to graduate programs and professional networks.
Workshops & Skill Development
We offer workshop series each year. This year's first series focuses on AI literacy — helping students think critically about AI in language learning, library research, and their fields. The second focuses on career- and future-ready skills: how to land an internship as a humanities major, how to navigate graduate school in REEES, how to fund language study abroad. These are the skills that set students apart.
A Consortium That Multiplies Resources
No student should be held back by the size of their home institution. Our consortium model — spanning OSU, the University of Miami, Howard University, and ASEEES — ensures that students at smaller schools and departments get access to faculty expertise, library resources, conference funding, and professional networks they wouldn't otherwise have.
The Results
Since 2019, we have supported 166 undergraduates from 44 colleges and universities, mentored by scholars from 43 institutions. Alumni have gone on to graduate programs at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, Columbia, UPenn, and UNC; earned Boren, Fulbright-Hays, Critical Language, and Mellon Mays fellowships; and landed internships at the Brookings Institution and American Councils.
Get in Touch
Whether you are a student looking for mentorship, a faculty member interested in joining our consortium, or an organization seeking to collaborate, we look forward to hearing from you.
Office Location
6296 Homestead Dr., Belgium, WI 53004
Contact
General Inquiries: Kelly Knickmeier Cummings at kellykc@thinkreees.org