Cory Bender

Taking classes at UMass, Amherst College, Mount Holyoke, and Smith, I was able to get a firm grounding in Russian culture, history, and politics, as well as first-rate language training. I was also able to travel to Russia on a Critical Language Scholarship, intern at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, and study abroad in Kyrgyzstan. These experiences prepared me well for my current job as a program officer at a Washington, D.C.-based NGO, where I develop and manage programs on religion and security in Central Asia and Ukraine.

My fondest memory of studying Russian at UMass is the mentorship and support of the professors from the Five College system, as well as the camaraderie that develops among the small group of people who devote their lives to this region.

Cory Bender (B.A., 2012) is a Vice Consul at U.S. Department of State in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.