In my last article, I outline the process I used to select a topic for ASU SunMUN’s Special Historical Committee 2023. The First All-Russian Congress of Soviets is an important but lesser-known event in history, where socialists from across revolutionary Russia met to decide their nation’s future.
ASU’s 14th annual SunMUN Model United Nations conference concluded on November 18th, 2023. With a record turnout of over 250 delegates from high schools across the Valley, and guest speaking appearances from the likes of Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, this conference was a milestone in ASU Model UN history.
Over winter break, Rob “Pyotr” Cuthbert, master’s student of Liberal Studies at ASU and a graduate affiliate of the Melikian Center for Russian, Eurasian, & East European Studies, traveled across Central Asia and Eastern Europe, spending two weeks in Ukraine as a journalist, reporting for a podcast, “Article One with Molly Hooper.”
There are many students who are achieving great success at Arizona State University, but Ashley Coogan is one of the Critical Language Institute’s stand-out students. When asking her about her experience learning both Polish and Ukrainian in their respective programs, she shared that the reason she chose Polish was due to her doctoral research being focused on the European Union.
For over thirty years, Arizona State University's Melikian Center has been providing students with diverse opportunities for engaging in language learning. Among these initiatives is the Critical Languages Institute, which offers both in-person and study-abroad experiences. Recently, Kevin Morris, a graduate of the Critical Languages Institute’s Macedonian Program and recipient of a U.S.
As the holiday season began to unfold its festive embrace, the Melikian Center found itself adorned with a particularly special accolade over the recent weekend. The Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (PCFR) bestowed upon the center the distinguished title of "Corporate Sponsor of the Year," marking a momentous occasion that resonated with the spirit of celebration and collaboration.
The Melikian Center and the Critical Languages Institute serve as prominent destinations for numerous students in the Arizona area. Among these students, one individual stands out not only for her dedication to pursuing her passions and interests but also for being featured in several ASU articles. Charlotte Benchoff, an alumna of the Critical Languages Institute, has been honored with the FLAS scholarship and Undergraduate Fellowship, two scholarships supported by the Melikian Center.