Lucinda Swanson | Guest Writer

3/22/02

On Friday, March 22, RU Russian History Professor Dr. Suzanne Ament will be performing through song at the "Night in Russia" event that is part of the Russian Cultures Festival.  The "Night in Russia" will take place in Cook Hall, room 107, at 7 p.m.

Dr. Ament is one of Radford University's amazing faculty members who truly provides an example for others.  Dr. Ament has lived and traveled in Russia extensively.  Over the past 20 years she has spent months at a time in Russia studying Russian songs and culture and has lived in places such as St. Petersburg, Moscow, and Naberezhnye Chelny, Russia.

Dr. Ament studied Russian Area Studies at the University of California-Santa Cruz, where she received her undergraduate degree, and then she continued to study Russian History in graduate work at Georgetown University and Indiana University.  Dr. Ament has an excellent command of the Russian language, knowledge of Serbian/Croatian language, and reading knowledge of Albanian and German.

Dr. Ament has presented papers, workshops and seminars, and conducted public performances all around the United States and Russia.  She has also had interpreting experience in Russia and America.  Dr. Ament is an accomplished singer and guitarist and has performed for groups throughout the former Soviet Union.

Perhaps what makes Dr. Ament the most amazing of all, though, is the fact that she has been able to accomplish all of these things while being blind.  Dr. Ament was born with Leber's congenital amaurosis, which caused her to lose her eyesight.  Dr. Ament has also been a speaker and panelist for discussions on disabilities, and wrote an article, "Study in Russian" for publication in A World of Options:  A Guide to International Educational Exchange, Community Service and Travel for Persons with Disabilities, by Susan Sygall.

Dr. Ament states, "I feel very at home in Russia, and I don't know why that is.  I have no Russian heritage.  I just feel sort of at home in that culture or environment."  Dr. Ament also comments, "I like to share my love of Russia with Americans and my students.  In the past, there has been so much disagreement and fear, especially for my generation.  I try to break down that barrier through my music."

When talking about the upcoming Russian Cultures Festival event, Dr. Ament states, "Russia truly knows the meaning of hospitality, and I hope this 'Night in Russia' can show a taste of that through good music and good times."

The "Night in Russia" event will include other performers from Ferrum College and Roanoke College.  The Ferrum College Choir will be singing a variety of Russian folk songs, and Russian students from Ferrum will also be conducting a "living" puppet play.  Students will be reading brief Russian poetry selections as well.

  Sasha Saari, Coordinator of International Students and Associate Professor of Russian at Ferrum College, states "Grand Russian Prince Mikhailovich once supposedly said: 'I have never met anyone who understood the Russians.'  Radford University's International Education Center has planned a wonderful year of events and programs that should help prove the Grand Duke wrong!"

For more information about the event on March 22, or other upcoming events for the Russian Cultures Festival, please contact Joe Flory, Director of International Education at Radford University at jflory@radford.edu, or call 831-6200.