The University of Kansas Center for Russian, East European & Eurasian Studies (CREES) has been a national leader for the study of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe since 1965. CREES is a designated National Resource Center, thanks to funding by the U.S. Department of Education, and serves as a resource for K-12 schools, the university, and the broader community.
Our Mission
CREES is dedicated to advancing the interdisciplinary study of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia among students, faculty, and community members in Kansas and beyond. We aspire to serve as the leading resource on our world area in the Great Plains by supporting innovative outreach programs in schools, community colleges, and universities, sharing our expertise with partners in business, media, the military, and government, and providing world-class opportunities for research, language training, professional mentoring, and study abroad. We seek to showcase the diverse histories, cultures, and societies of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia, explore the region’s relevance to global affairs, train the next generation of experts, and promote international understanding on campus and in our community.
Prepare for a Global Career
Interested in an international or global career? CREES offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in Russian, East European, and Eurasian studies, language training, study abroad opportunities, and internships in the REES region. For more information and to apply to one of these programs, please visit our website. Students may apply for language scholarships as well.
REES BA program: https://crees.ku.edu/academics/undergraduate/ba
REES MA program: https://crees.ku.edu/academics/graduate/ma
Funding/Language Scholarships: https://crees.ku.edu/funding-opportunities
Each year, CREES hosts numerous public events on campus and in the community, bringing leading experts on the region to Kansas and exploring the region’s significance. To see our upcoming events, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ku.crees/ or https://crees.ku.edu. Many of these lectures are recorded and are available to watch on the CREES YouTube page, https://www.youtube.com/user/KUCREES.
The Cold War in the Heartland, https://coldwarheartland.ku.edu, is a new web resource for those interested in discovering the unique history of this global conflict in the region and learning about the ways the Cold War’s legacies remain relevant today. Explore the website’s primary source documents, landscape case studies, and oral history interviews to discover the hidden or forgotten history of the Cold War in Kansas and the Midwest. The web resource provides tools for teachers and students to learn more, with guided discussions, activities, and an interactive timeline.
Educator Resources
CREES also provides support and resources for educators including grants, outreach events, teacher training workshops, lesson plans, and culture trunks (mini-lessons with hands-on artifacts on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia). To utilize these free resources, please visit: https://crees.ku.edu/resources-educators. The CREES Outreach Coordinator is available to give presentations on Russia or Eastern Europe in K-12 schools. If you’re interested in scheduling a classroom visit, please send a request to crees@ku.edu. CREES provides an excellent list of suggested book titles on the REES region for children and youth through its’ Global Literature and History List, https://crees.ku.edu/global-literature-2021.
Funding for Faculty at Minority-Serving Institutions and Community Colleges
CREES offers language scholarships to students, and fellowships for faculty at minority-serving institutions and community colleges. Aimed at promoting professional partnerships and expanding knowledge of a diverse and dynamic world region, these fellowships offer funding for a wide range of professional development activities related to Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia. Professional activities include conducting research; accessing library, archival and faculty resources at KU CREES or another institute; attending a training, workshop, or conference; enrolling in a class or seminar; participating in a study abroad program; or developing a new course. For more information and to apply for a grant, visit https://crees.ku.edu/funding-opportunities
Contact crees@ku.edu to register for upcoming events, subscribe to our mailing list, or for more information.
This blog was written by the University of Kansas Center for Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies