Rachael Neidinger
Ph.D. candidate in Slavic Languages and Literatures
Rachael’s interest in the Slavic world first came from figure skating and training with a former Soviet champion. After retiring from competitive ice dance, Rachael was able to focus on Russian and later Czech as NYU, where she earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees as part of a dual degree program. A visit to the samizdat archives in Prague crystallized her interest in dissident writings and social movements in the Soviet Union. Her master’s thesis, titled “Soviet Mystique” is an exploration of feminism’s role in dissent movements of the late Soviet period.
Her research interests include 20th century underground literature of Russia and the Czech Republic, feminism and dissent movements, women’s writing, absurd literature, folklore, and the cultural history of the Cold War, particularly as it relates to women and minorities. She is also interested in language instruction and pedagogy.