Olga Laskin

Olga Laskin is a recipient of the Summer 2017 Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship. The award provides undergraduate, graduate, and professional school students with financial support to develop fluency in less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) and expertise in the regions in which these languages are spoken. Every year the Center for Global Studies awards between 12-15 fellowships to UW students. Click here to learn more.

I am a third-year undergraduate student studying International Studies and Politics with a minor in Human Rights. Having been born in Jerusalem after my family immigrated from the Soviet Union in 1991, my international background has always been influential in informing my personality and passions. Namely, it has inspired me to preserve my culture and others while fighting for better living conditions amongst underdeveloped communities. My main interests lie in Middle East security and in the future I would love to pursue a diplomatic career in the region; working either with a peace-promoting NGO or the foreign service to promote a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Learning Hebrew and living in Israel was my first crucial step towards understanding the issues on the ground. Next, I am hoping to study Arabic and return to Israel in coming summers to work with Palestinian refugees.