Biography
Born in Ukraine, Elena moved around several countries in Eurasia, first as a military child, then with her own family for international development work. She feels blessed to have had an opportunity to see a lot of the world and experience its rich multicultural mosaic. The wanderlust and curiosity to learn led her to work for a number of international governmental agencies and nonprofits sponsored by UN, USAID, and EU specializing in legal, political, and economic reforms in the post-Soviet bloc. As her family grew, Elena took a break from active employment to dedicate time to raising two sons while accompanying her husband on his US State Department secondments in the Caucasus and Europe. In 2013, Elena’s family moved to Grand Rapids to be closer to her husband’s Michigan roots. Elena joined Calvin to support its business and economics departments and the international development program in 2015. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, gardening, exercising, reading, and discussing history, geopolitics, and literature.
Education
- MA, International Studies, Joseph Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver, 2003
- MA, English Language and Literature, Translation and Interpretation Certification, Kyrgyz State National University, 1998
- BA, English Language and Literature, Teaching Certification, Kyrgyz State National University, 1997
Professional Experience
- Manager/Senior Program Coordinator – American Bar Association Central and Eastern European Law Initiative
- Translator/Interpreter – multiple UN, EU, and US diplomatic agencies, USAID contractors, and international companies
Professional Associations
- Michigan Translators/Interpreters Network (MiTiN)
- Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program Alumni
Awards
- Dean List, Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver
- Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship Program Recipient, awarded by the US Government
- Highest Honors Recognition by the Kyrgyz State National University
- Master’s Thesis Recognition for Excellence and Recommendation for Use as Instructional Material by the Kyrgyz State National University
