Hi! I’m Yana, and I’m a PhD student at New York University in the Departments of Comparative Literature and Russian & Slavic Studies. Before that, I graduated from Cornell University magna cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature. I speak four languages—English, Russian, Ukrainian, and French—and I’m currently learning German. I’ve received numerous academic grants and fellowships to continue my research and hope to pursue a career in academia after I complete my PhD. In the past, I’ve worked as a teacher’s assistant for NYU courses on literature and history, an NYU Russian-language instructor tutor, and a Russian language coach for the Broadway production of The Kite Runner. I also currently work as a Ukrainian- and Russian-language interpreter, bridging gaps between languages and cultures for new arrivals to the US. I’m passionate about teaching the humanities, and I enjoy helping students improve their reading and writing skills.
In my free time, I like to read literary fiction, scour through my cookbook collection for new dinner recipes, see films at one of NYC’s many amazing cinemas, garden, and do yoga.
College:
Education: Cornell University
Undergrad Major: Comparative Literature
Other Degrees/Minors: Master of Philosophy - Comparative Literature (New York University), PhD in Comparative Literature at New York University (Ongoing)
High School:
Class Rank: Top 5%
Awards & Honors: IB Diploma
Interests & Activities: Volunteering at local public library, volunteering at local nursing home as a companion to senior citizens, volunteering at Hilton Apple Festival, volunteering with local organization Open Door Mission to feed homeless, volunteering with the church I attended growing up, other volunteer activities that were part of the volunteering hour demands for IB Diploma, Youth Choir, Wind Ensemble at school (I played the saxophone), and local Symphonic Band, Piano Lessons from age 7 to 17
AP Exams: 5 AP World History; IB Chemistry HL, IB French SL, IB English Literature HL, IB American History HL, IB Statistics SL
Other:
Other Awards: Honors Thesis and Honors received (Magna cum laude), Dean's List Spring 2014 and Fall 2015
Other Interests & Activities: Postgraduate: During my time at Cornell, I wrote for our university newspaper, the Cornell Daily Sun, in the Arts & Entertainment Section. I was also an Editor for my junior and senior year at Kitsch Magazine, an arts and culture magazine based on campus, and wrote for the magazine from sophomore year to senior year. I also was involved at the Birding Club at Cornell, associated with the famous Cornell Lab of Ornithology. I was very interested in Urban Studies, and wrote my Undergraduate Honors Thesis on Paris at the turn of the 20th century, and German theorist Walter Benjamin's admiration for the French Surrealists, focusing specifically on writer Louis Aragon.
Additionally, I volunteered for a local food bank. I studied abroad in Paris my junior year in the Spring semester, which required an advanced knowledge of French, and was totally integrated into the Parisian university system (I took classes at Paris IV—La Sorbonne, for example, and at Paris I—Panthéon-Sorbonne).
I am currently still involved in birding activities through organizations like the Audubon Society in New York City, and have volunteered to help support Ukrainian refugees.
Location: Other
