Kaitlin Muench is a junior in the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University in DC. She is double majoring in International Affairs and Anthropology, with a minor in Cross-Cultural Communication. Her concentration is in Contemporary Cultures and Societies. She was named a 2006 George Washington University "Scholar in Residence" for her academic achievement.

Kaitlin currently resides in Avon, Connecticut, but lived during high school in Barcelona, Spain. She is fluent in Spanish and Catalan, proficient in Italian and French, and literate in Portuguese. She hopes to learn Romanian one day to complete the Romance Language family. Kaitlin is involved in many campus activities. Notably, she is the Director of International Relations for the Alpha Phi Fraternity, Iota Iota Chapter, at the George Washington University.

Next fall, Kaitlin plans to sail abroad with Semester at Sea, visiting over 15 countries around the world in 90 days. She aspires to one day serve her country abroad as a US ambassador for the State Department.

Christina Calderon is a junior in Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. She is majoring in Science, Technology, and International Affairs with a concentration in Security Studies. Christina enjoys studying foreign languages. She speaks Spanish and has advanced listening, speaking, and writing skills in Mandarin Chinese. She has also studied Portuguese.

During the Autumn Semester, 2006, Christina spent five months at Nanjing University in Nanjing, China. Her coursework consisted of intense Chinese language and culture study. She has also traveled extensively throughout China including Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, and Tibet. Her international travels have also taken her for living and cultural studies in such places as Lima, Peru and Tokyo, Japan.

At Georgetown, Christina works as a photographer for The Hoya campus newspaper. After graduation, she plans on spending time volunteering in Western China to learn more about China's minority populations while teaching English as a Second Language and cross-cultural communications. Her long-term goals include working for the United States government abroad along with learning German and Uygur.

Jack Newman of Los Angeles, California, is in his third year at American University. He is perusing an undergraduate degree in International Studies. His functional field is in the areas of "peace and conflict resolution". He is currently taking classes on the Balkans, Israeli-Arab relations, international conflict mediation, and the German language. During the Summer of 2006 Jack interned with Congressman Brad Sherman, Representative 27th District of the San Fernando Valley, California engaging in consistency relations and outreach.

Jack enjoys living in Washington D.C. and spending time with his friends from American University. He plays the bass guitar, is a fan of the University's "Eagles" basketball team. Jack is planning on studying abroad next semester and then perusing a Masters degree upon after graduation. His future plans include an engaging international profession.

Debbie Royal, a native of the Washington DC area, is a graduate student in the School of International Service at American University. She will finish her Master's in May 2007 with a concentration in International Politics and a specialization in International Organization. Her related concentrations include Europe and International Economic Relations. Debbie received her Bachelor's Degree from American University in May 2006, majoring in International Studies and International Politics. She also pursued a minor in Spanish, studied Italian, and was a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society.

During the Spring of 2005 Debbie's Italian studies took her to Rome, Italy for a semester through the AU abroad program. While there she improved her Italian and furthered her research interests in the European Union. Her abroad experience also allowed her the opportunity to travel extensively throughout Italy, and to England and Spain.

Debbie's other interests include Western European Politics, EU Eastern enlargement, and Transatlantic relations. When not busy with school, she enjoys keeping up with her musical hobbies through singing with the AU chorus, and volunteering for community organizations.

Brian was born and raised in Cornwall, New York. He is currently enrolled at the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University where he is planning on graduating from in May of 2007 with a B.A. in International Affairs. In addition, he is concentrating on both European policy and International Development along with minors in history and geography.

Outside of school, Brian is very involved on campus. He is an Americorps member in Washington D.C. For this, he tutors 6^th graders at a local elementary school for Heads Up, a local non-profit organization. He is also a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity, Alpha Eta Chapter at George Washington University and is involved in many intramural sports. Aside from academics, Brian loves to play soccer and passionately supports Arsenal Football Club based in London.

Kamilla Khabibrakhmanova is currently a sophomore studying at Georgetown University 's School of Foreign Service. She is majoring in Regional and Comparative Studies, with a focus on the regions of the Middle East and Russia/Central Asia. She was born in Moscow, Russia, and spent her childhood living in Russia and Canada before moving to New York for high school. Last summer, she traveled to Cairo, Egypt to learn the Arabic Language. She is fluent in English and Russian, speaks French and is currently trying to master her Arabic skills. Next yeah, Kamilla hopes to study abroad again in Cairo and then in France. At Georgetown, she is involved in the Alternative Spring Break leadership board, UNICEF, the Georgetown Program Board and also works as a Student Guard. She hopes to graduate in May 2009.

Outside of school, Kamilla enjoys playing the piano, traveling, taking photographs and learning about Central Asian history. She is unsure of life after graduation, but is currently entertaining thoughts about the Foreign Service, graduate/law school, consulting, or pursuing a career in academia.

Ilona was born in Kyiv, Ukraine and moved to Alexandria, Virginia at the age of twelve. After becoming Valedictorian in High School, she now continues her academic pursuits as an undergraduate Honors student in American University's School of International Service. She is majoring in International Relations with concentrations in Asia and International Economic Policy, and is also minoring in Mathematics.

While interning at the Eurasia Center, Ilona is very involved with the Washington community: she teaches English and cross-cultural communication to Japanese businessmen at The Carrigan School of Language and Business, and is a Young Leader for The Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital. In the past, Ilona has volunteered for the UNHCR in Kyiv, Ukraine and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC. She spent the summer of 2003 in Rome, Italy, participating in a cultural program with The John Paul II Foundation, and perfecting her Italian language skills.

Ilona is fluent in five languages (English, Italian, Russian, Ukrainian, and Polish), conversational in French, and knows basic Spanish and German. She enjoys tennis, skiing, and scuba diving; paints and plays piano; and above all, loves to travel. Ilona aspires to work for an international organization, and after graduation, she would like to go to England to pursue a degree in International Law.

Laura Fenwick was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but now calls Berwyn, Pennsylvania her home. She is currently a sophomore in American University 's School of International Service where she is majoring in International Relations with a minor in French. She is also a member of the University Honor's Program. Her interests include international development and the effects of the expansion of the European Union. She speaks French and hopes to study abroad at the Sorbonne next year.

The Eurasia Center is not the first non-profit organization she has interned for. During her senior year of high school, Laura worked for the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, in the national headquarters in Philadelphia. There, she helped organize and run a national protest, and also had the opportunity to attend the 2005 UN Conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Other work experience includes child care and working at a florist.

Outside of academia, Laura enjoys traveling and doing mission work. She is also an active member of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity, and tutors each week through the DC Reads program.

Amanda, born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, is a senior in Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. She is majoring in International History with a self-designed concentration of Ethnicity, Identity and the State and will be graduating in May 2007. She has advanced Turkish and Spanish speaking, reading and writing skills. Turkish language and area studies have been a large part of her academic career.

Amanda began her relationship experience of Turkey with an internship at the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Washington during the summer of 2005. She then spent the spring of 2006 at Georgetown University's McGhee Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies in Alanya, Turkey, where she had the opportunity to focus solely on Turkish language, culture and politics and had the ability travel much of Turkey and see many of its border countries. She spent the following summer interning in Coca-Cola's Istanbul office, working under Public Affairs and Communications on Coca-Cola's surprisingly plentiful development projects.

After graduating in May, Amanda plans to pursue intensive Turkish language study at Bogazici University in Istanbul and in September 2007 will leave to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in a yet-to-be-disclosed Central Asian nation.

John O'Trakoun is a third-year student at American University majoring in International Studies and Statistics. Originally from Poughkeepsie, New York, he graduated as valedictorian of Poughkeepsie High School with distinctions from Vassar College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He is a member of the American University Honors Program and his linguistic background includes Laotian, Thai, French, and Mandarin. In the fall of 2006, he studied abroad at Beijing University. John's academic interests include Sino-American relations, game theory, and conflict resolution.

Outside of classes, John is a member of the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and provides supplemental instruction in AU's Applied Calculus courses. He enjoys martial arts, tennis, and skateboarding. Upon graduation, John would like to gain experience in international work through the Peace Corps before pursuing graduate education.

Ethan Meick, a native of Concord, New Hampshire, is a sophomore at American University planning to major in International Studies with a concentration in US foreign policy, and duel minors in German and Chinese. He speaks fluent German and is on pace to complete a translation certificate in the German language. This past summer, Ethan began taking Chinese classes coinciding with his growing interest in China.

Currently, Ethan is an applicant for the NSEP/Boren Scholarship, which would provide funding for six months of study in Beijing, China. Having already done research on China's history of environmental degradation and prospects for future regulation, Ethan is now writing a research paper this semester analyzing China 's support of Sudan's human rights violations. Ethan hopes to someday join the Foreign Service in the Department of State.

Outside of academics, Ethan is an Assistant Music Director and DJ at WVAU, the student-run radio station on campus. He is on the executive board of AUSFI, an organization promoting Israel and Israeli culture, and is an event coordinator for the Chinese Language Club. Ethan enjoys playing bass guitar in his free time and being involved in intramural sports.

Kent Harrel, born and raised in Houston, Texas, is a sophomore in the School of International Studies at American University. A member of the American University Honors Program, Kent is pursuing a major in International Studies with a focus on Central and Eastern Europe. Kent has a strong interest in languages, and currently studies German and Russian. He also plans to live abroad in Krakow, Poland for the entirety of next year while studying at Jagiellonian University .

In addition to working at the Eurasia Center, Kent works part-time for the transportation branch of the American University Student Government. He is also involved with the German Club and intramural sports.

Outside of school, Kent enjoys traveling, music, and sports. An avid soccer fan, Kent spends much of his time playing the sport and supporting his favorite team, Bayern Munich. In addition, he enjoys reading about Eastern European history and Cold-War politics.