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The Oberlin Center for Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies (OCREECAS): Bridging Cultures and Opportunities

The Oberlin Center for Russian, East European, and Central Asian Studies (OCREECAS) has been a beacon of academic and cultural exchange since its establishment in 1998. With the generous support from the Clowes Fund, Inc. and other private contributions, OCREECAS has grown to encompass 23 countries, spanning from Armenia to Uzbekistan.

The OCREECAS Region includes Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.

At the helm of OCREECAS is Director Kristina Paabus, who is dedicated to developing innovative programming for Oberlin students and graduates. Her efforts are ably supported by Internship Coordinator Maia Solovieva, who provides administrative resources and support.

OCREECAS is committed to fostering a rich cultural understanding of the region. They organise events such as cultural activities, visiting speakers, book clubs, and course development. However, they do not support travel to locations with US State Department travel advisories of 3 or 4, which currently include Afghanistan, Syria, and Yemen.

In addition to events, OCREECAS offers application-based grants for Winter Term projects, Russian Language Learning opportunities, and international internships in the OCREECAS region. They work closely with students to help develop grant applications and provide guidance within the rapidly changing conditions of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia.

The mission of OCREECAS is clear: to support student opportunities and programming related to the region. Through their efforts, they are helping to bridge cultural gaps, foster understanding, and provide opportunities for the next generation of scholars and leaders.