Every spring since 1992, the Russian Studies department at Macalester has been hosting an undergraduate conference, open to students researching the post-Soviet sphere from any disciplinary angle. 

The conference began as an in-person gathering for students at Macalester and other neighboring institutions, including Carleton College and the University of Minnesota; a delegation from Grinnell College would often drive over from Iowa. 

In spring 2020, several months into the pandemic, we tried something different: a conference taking place over Zoom and open to undergrads all across the U.S. This format attracted record numbers of participants, and we stayed with a virtual format for a few years. 

We returned to an in-person conference in 2024, at which we were fortunate to host students from as far away as California, and welcomed a Macalester alum as our keynote speaker. 

The energy and vitality of that gathering have inspired us to continue holding the event in person while exploring the possibilities of hosting speakers via Zoom. 

Yours,

Russian Studies Department