The presenter - In Sun Cho (on the right) and a traditional Minhwa design (birds and flowers, on the left)

Boston College Celebrates Lunar New Year with Minhwa FolkArt Workshop Led by In Sun Cho

Boston College welcomed the Lunar New Year with a well attended minhwa folkart program on January 30, drawing 60 students and community members into Higgins Hall 310 for an evening of cultural learning and creative practice. The event featured acclaimed artist and educator In Sun Cho, who opened with a lecture titled “Understanding Korean Culture Through Its Folk Art”, introducing the symbolism, motifs, and everyday aesthetics that define Korean folk painting.

Following the lecture, Ms. Cho demonstrated traditional minhwa techniques before leading a handson workshop in which students experimented with brushwork, color layering, and characteristic motifs. Participants gained direct experience with an art form historically practiced by everyday Koreans, making the workshop one of the most engaging cultural arts sessions of the semester.

The evening concluded with a Lunar New Year reception that brought together around 80 attendees for food, conversation, and celebration. The event was organized by the Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies and the BC Korean Student Association, with support from the BC Global Korea Project, the Asian Studies Program, the International Studies Program, and funding from the Institute for the Liberal Arts.

Photos of the three CLS Winners: Luke Lu, Connor O'Brien, Caroline Serenyi

Three Boston College Students Awarded Critical Language Scholarship

Congratulations to three outstanding students who have been selected for the prestigious Critical Language Scholarship (CLS). With an acceptance rate of just 7% this year, the CLS represents one of the most selective and distinguished language programs in the nation.

2026 CLS Recipients:

Luke Lu ’27 — Russian
Connor O’Brien ’28 — Persian
Caroline Serenyi ’28 — Arabic

Funded by the U.S. Department of State, the Critical Language Scholarship Program provides immersive summer language institutes for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students. The program supports intensive study of languages deemed critical to the United States’ national security and economic prosperity, preparing students for meaningful engagement in a globalized world.

Please join us in congratulating Luke, Connor, and Caroline on this exceptional achievement!

Russian Language in Independent Kazakhstan and Central Asia. A lecture by Dr. Darkhan Bilyalov (Kazakhstan, Visiting Scholar at the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College)

Dr. Darkhan Bilyalov is a scholar and senior higher education leader from Kazakhstan. He is currently engaged with the Center for International Higher Education at Boston College. Prior to joining BC, he served as a Vice President at Nazarbayev University, the newest flagship research university in Kazakhstan, and earlier as the President of Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, the oldest university in the country. Dr. Bilyalov is an Academician and a Presidium member of the Kazakh National Academy of Sciences.

25 March 2026 5-7 pm in Devlin Hall 101
Free and open to the public.

Co-sponsored by the Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies, the East European Studies Program, and the Program for Islamic Civilization and Societies, Boston College.

On the left picture of the fron cover of Alexander A. Dolinin's book and on the right, author's photo.

How to Read Nabokov: The Case of "Spring in Fialta". A lecture by Professor Alexander A. Dolinin (U of Wisconsin-Madison)

A lecture by Professor Alexander A. Dolinin (U of Wisconsin-Madison)
10 March 2026 @ 12 pm
Lyons Hall 202
Boston College

Alexander A. Dolinin is Emeritus Professor of Russian Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the author of nine books, including three on Vladimir Nabokov. Dolinin helped to edit and annotate Nabokov's collected works in Russian (five volumes, 1999-2000) and in French (ongoing Pleiade edition). He has also published over 150 articles, focusing primarily on Pushkin, Nabokov, and Pasternak.

Co-sponsored by the Institute for the Liberal Arts, the Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies, and the East European and Eurasian Studies Program at Boston College.

Vitaly Starikov playing the piano on a dark stage.

Piano Recital by Vitaly Starikov, Silver Medalist of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition

You are invited to a piano recital by Vitaly Starikov, Silver Medalist of the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition (the musical equivalent of the Olympics).

The event will take place on Sunday, February 8 at 3pm in Gasson 100.
Vitaly will perform the following program:

Bach: Italian Concerto
Shostakovich: Sonata No. 2 in B minor, Op. 61
Debussy: 12 Etudes

The concert is free and open to the public.
Hope to see you there!

Prof. Franck Salameh wins Lewis Prize

Prof. Franck Salameh was awarded the prestigious Bernard Lewis Prize from the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa, for his recent essay on the subject of antisemitism.

CONGRATULATIONS Prof. Salameh!

Israel Palestine in World Religions: Whose Promised Land?

Please join us for a talk based on Professor Ilan Troen’s most recent book by the same titl.e. It will examine “Israel/Palestine” positions and positionalities within the great monotheistic traditions.

Ilan Troen is Emeritus of the Stoll Family Chair in Israel Studies (Brandeis, 2017) and the Lopin Chair of Modern History (Ben-Gurion University, 2007). He is former president of the Association for Israel Studies, dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and director of the Ben-Gurion Research Institute and Archives in Sede Boker, Israel. He is also the founding editor of "Israel Studies" (Indiana University Press), and has authored, co-authored, and edited a dozen books on American, Jewish and Israeli history.

Monday, November 17, 2025 4pm to 6pm
Devlin 101

Covwers of 4 new books by Maxim D. Shrayer: (from top left) Immigrato Russo, Nabokov in the Heights, Zion Square, Parallel Letters

Recent books by Maxim D. Shrayer

Immigrato russo: Tre novelle. Translated into Italian by Rita Filanti. Afterword by Stefano Garzonio. Rome: WriteUp Books, 2024.

Nabokov on the Heights: New Studies from Boston College. Edited by Maxim D. Shrayer. Boston: Academic Studies Press, 2025.

Zion Square: Poems. Teaneck, NJ: Ben Yehuda Press, 2025.

Parallel’noe pis’mo/Parallel Letters. Zug, Switzerland: Sandermoen Publishing, 2025.

Cover of Maxim D. Shrayer's book "Nabokov on the Heights"

Nabokov on the Heights - Publication Event

Join us on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 4:30pm, in Gasson Hall 100, to celebrate the publication of Nabokov on the Heights: New Studies from Boston College.

Curated by Maxim D. Shrayer, Professor of Russian, English, and Jewish Studies, this unique volume features contributions by former undergraduates and graduate students who participated in Shrayer’s research seminar, as well as English Department faculty who work on Nabokov. Meet a panel of contributors and delve into the complex themes and rich language of Nabokov’s works.

Nina Khaghany BA’24 recently completed an MA in English at Columbia University.
Matthew Lyberg BA’98 is Dir. of Quantitative Investments at Manulife Investment Mgmt.
Katie Pelkie, MA ’24 is pursuing an MFA in creative writing from Syracuse University.
Eric Weiskott is Professor of English at Boston College and author of Cycle of Dreams.

Moderated by Maxim D. Shrayer, Chair of the Department of Eastern, Slavic, and German Studies, and author of Zion Square.