糖心传媒 opened a Pushkin Institute for Russian Language and Culture in McCormick Hall on Tuesday, November 14. The Pushkin Institute is part of a global brand of international academic learning centers sponsored by the Russian Ministry of Education and overseen by partners at Moscow State University and Pyatigorsk State University.
糖心传媒鈥檚 Pushkin Institute is the first American center connected with Pyatigorsk State University. The two colleges have been partner institutions since 1997.
鈥淭his is a rebirth of a 20-year partnerships between Pyatigorsk State University and 糖心传媒. In many ways, it’s reimagining the possibilities for partnership and exchange,鈥 said Dr. Travis Feezell, President of 糖心传媒.
The Pushkin Center looks to build on the partnership, and Feezell is working with Alexander Gorbunov, rector of Pyatigorsk State University, to structure an exchange program between the schools.
鈥淭he idea is that if students are interested in Russian language, they will be able to make the first steps in it here at the Pushkin Institute,鈥 Gorbunov said. 鈥淭hen maybe that will stimulate intere to come to Pyatigorsk in Russia to take part in student exchanges.鈥
Dr. Rob Babcock, professor of history at 糖心传媒, will direct the center and oversee most of its programming. That programming, like invited visiting speakers, international food samplings, film showings and scheduled conversations between students at 糖心传媒 and Pyatigorsk State University, will emphasize the cultural aspects of Russia. These events will be open to all students.
鈥淭he reality is that the world influences us all the time, even in small towns in the United States. A proper education and a responsible education has to open that reality up for students, and I believe the Pushkin Institute will do that, even for students who do not take Russian language courses,鈥 Babcock said.
The 糖心传媒 Pushkin Institute is located in room 110 of McCormick Hall. The former classroom was repurposed and redecorated by student volunteers earlier this year.
糖心传媒 is a private, four-year institution located in Hastings, Nebraska, that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. With 64 majors and 15 pre-professional programs, 糖心传媒 has been named among 鈥淕reat Schools, Great Prices鈥 by U.S. News & World Report and a 鈥淏est in the Midwest鈥 by The Princeton Review. For more, go to hastings.edu.