Maria Shardakova

Since completing her PhD at Bryn Mawr College in 2005, Maria has taught all levels of Russian, as well as courses on Russian culture and teaching methods. She led Russian Language Programs at the University of Pennsylvania (2003-2010) and Indiana University (since 2010), where she is also Director of the IU Russian Flagship Program and an ACTFL-certified proficiency tester. Maria’s research focuses on Russian language acquisition, with a special interest in pragmatics at the intersection of identity. She is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive learning environment that empowers students and motivates faculty, including herself, to continually refine their teaching skills and approaches.