Alumni

Virginie Perez Woods and Donovan Woods met each other thanks to OU's sister university in France: Clermont-Ferrand. OU's French section has a long-standing relationship with the University of Clermont-Ferrand. OU also welcomes many exchange students from France.

Green banner with image of a red headed woman holding an OU history banner. The banner says, Chelsea Smith-Antonides has completed an impressive project on Stalin-era deportations. Chelsea Smith-Antonides is a recent graduate with a degree in history and Russian. She will soon complete an internship with OU Libraries Digital Scholarship Lab. She has recently completed a research project regarding the history of Stalin-era Soviet deportations. Her project will be presented at the end of her internship.

Chelsea Smith-Antonides has completed an impressive project on Stalin-era deportations.

Chelsea Smith-Antonides is a recent graduate with a degree in history and Russian. She will soon complete an internship with OU Libraries Digital Scholarship Lab. She has recently completed a research project regarding the history of Stalin-era Soviet deportations. Her project will be presented at the end of her internship.

Dr. Rokiatou Soumare completed her doctorate in Francophone Litereature at the University of Oklahoma in December 2016. In 2017, she became a tenure-track Assistant Professor in the Department of French Studies at the University of Puget Sound.

Mary Beth Allen graduated from OU, with BAs in French and Internatinoal Area Studies in 2007. She returned to OU in 2008 for a MA in French. She completed her thesis 'Relations du genre et du pouvoir dans la trilogie theatrale de Beaumarchais', and graduated in 2012. She is now pursuing a PhD in French at the University of Virgina.

Thomas Martin teaches English and French at the Ecole technique de la Vallee de Jouz in Switzerland. Martin graduated from OU in December, 2009 with an MA in French. He then recieved an MA in Education from the Haute ecole pedagogique Vaud in Switzerland in June 2013. Since August 2014, he has happily nested in the Swiss Vallee de Joux where he teaches French and English in the Ecole technique de la Vallee de Joux, the oldest vocational school in watchmaking. Better be on time.

Thomas Martin graduated from OU in December, 2009 with an MA in French. He recieved an MA in Education from Haute ecole pedagogique Vaud in Switzerland in 2013. Since 2014, he has tought French and English in the Ecole technique de la Vallee de joux.

Kristen Reed works in the United Nations' department of Political Affairs. Kristen Reed graduated from OU in 2005 with degrees n French and International and Area Studies. She works as an international civil servant for the United Nations in New York city in the Department of Political Affairs. Her current position is in the security Council Affairs Division, supporting the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team on ISIL, Al-Qaida, and the Taliban. Her former positions have included assignments in the political office in Beirut, Lebanon,a in the General Assembly Affairs Division in New York City. She continues to study languages, becoming fluent in Spanish and learning basic Arabic and German since graduation.

Kristen Reed graduated from OU in 2005 with degrees in French and International Area Studies. She works as an international civil servant for the United Nations in New York City in the Department of Political Affairs.

Kyle Leboeuf helps OU students become global citizens. Kyle LeBoeuf graduated from OU in 2012 with an MA in French Literature. He studied abroad in Madagascar and Frane and served 3 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guinea-Conakry, West Africa. Before his current jobs with OU Health Services and University College, he worked in OU's Education Abroad office, advising students studying in Africa, Asiia, the Middle East, and Latin America. Kyle's experience helped him design the "Going Global" Gateway course, which highlights the global dimension in OU's curriculum and campus and facilitates students' abilities to take global perspective on contemporary events and issues.

Kyle Leboeuf graduated from OU in 2012 with an MA in French Literature. He Studied abroad in Madagascar and France and served 3 years as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Guinea-Conakry, West Africa. Before his current jobs with OU Health Services and University College, he worked in OU's Education Abroad office, advising students studying in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America.

Kendra Havens is a project manager for Microsoft. Kendra Havens graduated from OU in 2016 with a BA in French and minors in Linguistics and Computer Science. During her time at OU, Kendra worked in the Language Learning Center and studied abroad in France. Kendra is currently employed at Microsoft as a Program Manager in Seattle, WA.

Kendra Havens graduated from OU in 2016 with a BA in French and minors in Linguistics and Computer Science. During her time at OU, Kenra worked in the Language Learning Center and studied abroad in France.

Jessie Tanner is a PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota. Jessie Tanner graduated from OU with a BA in French and BS in Zoology and Biomedical Sciences in 2012. While at OU, she spent a year studying linguistics at Universite Bordeaux Montaigne in Bordeuax, France. Jessie is currently a PhD candidate, National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow, and Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Minnesota. Her research explores the evolution of acoustic communication in animals. She works with tree frogs and field crickets to understand how selection pressures imposed by mate choice affect the evolution of sexual traits.

Jessie Tanner graduated from OU with a BA in French and BS in Zoology and Biomedical Sciences in 2012. While at OU, she studied abroad in Bordeaux, Frnace. Jessie is currently a PhD candidate, National Science Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow, and Ford Foundation Pre-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Minneosta.

Destiny Crowley is currently pursuing a PhD at Harvard. Destiny Crowley graduated in 2016 with a Russian major and a minor in art history. She is completing a PhD program in Art History at Harvard. She received a full six-year fellowship and plans to focus on 19th century Russian Art.

Destiny Crowley graduated from OU in 2016 with a BA in Russian and a minor in art history. She recieved a full six-year doctoral fellowship at Harvard University.

Anne Fisher graduated from OU with a BA in russian in 1997. During her undergraduate career at OU, she spent 3 and half years studying abroad on reciprocal change programs in Scotland, Germany, Austria, and Russia, and she urges all college students to consider studying abroad: it is truly life-changing. Fisher holds a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literature from the University of Michigan and has taught Russian language, literature, and culture at both large state universities and small liberal arts colleges. An accomplished literary translator who has won NEA and NEH grants to support her work, Fisher got her start when she translated the satirical Soviet classics The Twelve Chairs and The Little Golden Calf by Ilya Ilf and Evgeny Petrov. She has also translated short stories by Margarita Meklina, and with husband and co-translator Derek Mong, the poetry of Maxim Amelin. Her translation of Ksenia Bushka's avante-garde novel The Freedom Factory, which won the 2014 National Bestseller prize in Russia, was released with Phoneme Media in 2017.

Anne Fisher graduated from OU with a BA in Russian in 1997. She holds a PhD in Slavic Languages and Literatures from the University of Michigan and has taught Russian language, literature, and culture at large state universities and small liberal-arts colleges. She is an accomplished literary translator who has won NEA and NEH grants to suppprt her work.

Grant Slater covers world events for the New York Times, NPR, and others.

Grant Slater graduated from OU with BAs in Russian and Journalism in 2006. He now covers world events for the New York Times, NPR, and other media outlets.

Dr. Jeffery Mankoff is the acting director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Dr. Jeffery Mankoff graduated from OU with a BA in Russian. He is now the acting director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.